Valve unit for a piston compressor and piston compressor

Abstract

A valve unit for a piston compressor includes a housing, in which at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve are arranged. The housing includes a first cylinder-head-side surface and a second, cylinder-side surface which is away from the first cylinder-head-side surface. The surfaces extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the valve unit. A peripheral wall of the housing of the valve unit, and which surrounds the longitudinal axis of the valve unit, includes at least one contact section. The at least one contact section is provided for contact on a contact surface on the cylinder or on the cylinder head and extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve unit for a piston compressor with a cylinder an with a cylinder head, the valve unit comprising a housing, in which at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve are arranged, the housing comprising:
 a first, cylinder-head-side surface;   a second, cylinder-side surface which faces away from the first, cylinder-head-side surface, the first, cylinder-head-side surface and the second, cylinder-side surface extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the valve unit; and   a peripheral wall which surrounds the longitudinal axis of the valve unit, the peripheral wall comprising cylinder or cylinder head contact section for contact on the cylinder or the cylinder head, the cylinder or cylinder head contact section extending obliquely to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . A valve unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a round outer contour, wherein the longitudinal axis defines a middle axis of this outer contour. 
     
     
         3 . A valve unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder or cylinder head contact section extends over one or more peripheral sections of the peripheral wall. 
     
     
         4 . A valve unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder or cylinder head contact section extends over a complete periphery of the peripheral wall. 
     
     
         5 . A valve unit according to  claim 1 , wherein an angle, at which the cylinder or cylinder head contact section extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis, is constant over a peripheral extension of the cylinder or cylinder head contact section. 
     
     
         6 . A valve unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder or cylinder head contact section is situated on an outer peripheral wall or an inner peripheral wall of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . A valve unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder or cylinder head contact section is formed by a conical surface or a spherical surface or by both a conical surface or a spherical surface. 
     
     
         8 . A valve unit according to  claim 1 , wherein an angle at which the cylinder or cylinder head contact section extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis is selected such that no self-locking occurs given a contact on a contact surface extending in a parallel manner. 
     
     
         9 . A valve unit according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing, radially outwardly of the longitudinal axis, comprises a projection projecting in a direction of the longitudinal axis;   the cylinder or cylinder head contact section is situated on a side of the projection which faces the longitudinal axis; and   the projection is preferably configured as an annular collar, on whose inner periphery the cylinder or cylinder head contact section is situated.   
     
     
         10 . A piston compressor comprising:
 at least one cylinder and cylinder head connected to the cylinder; and   a valve unit comprising a housing, in which at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve are arranged, the housing comprising:   a first, cylinder-head-side surface;   a second, cylinder-side surface which faces away from the first, cylinder-head-side surface, the first, cylinder-head-side surface and the second, cylinder-side surface extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the valve unit; and   a peripheral wall which surrounds the longitudinal axis of the valve unit, the peripheral wall comprising cylinder or cylinder head contact section for contact on the cylinder or the cylinder head, the cylinder or cylinder head contact section extending obliquely to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         11 . A piston compressor according to  claim 10 , wherein a valve unit contact surface with a contour corresponding to a contour of the cylinder or cylinder head contact section of the valve unit and which is in contact with the cylinder and/or cylinder head contact section of the valve unit is formed on the cylinder or on the cylinder head. 
     
     
         12 . A piston compressor according to  claim 11 , wherein the cylinder and/or the cylinder head comprises a recess into which the housing of the valve unit engages, wherein a peripheral wall of the recess forms the valve unit contact surface, with which the cylinder or cylinder head contact section of the valve unit is in contact. 
     
     
         13 . A piston compressor according to  claim 12 , wherein the recess is formed on a side of the cylinder head which faces the cylinder and/or on the side of the cylinder which faces the cylinder head, wherein the recess is a radial widening of an interior of the cylinder. 
     
     
         14 . A piston compressor according to  claim 13 , wherein the recess comprises a shoulder which is directed radially inwards transversely to the longitudinal axis and on which the housing of the valve unit bears. 
     
     
         15 . A piston compressor according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve unit contact surface for the contact section of the housing of the valve unit is formed on both the cylinder and on the cylinder head, wherein the contact surface which is formed on the cylinder head is aligned obliquely to the longitudinal axis and tapers obliquely in a direction away from the cylinder, wherein the contact surface formed on the cylinder, in at least in a peripheral section, is aligned obliquely to the longitudinal axis and tapers obliquely in a direction away from the cylinder head. 
     
     
         16 . A piston compressor according to  claim 13 , wherein the recess is formed on an end of the cylinder, which end faces the cylinder head, at an outer periphery of the cylinder.