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A piston system for a reciprocating compressor is adapted for high speed, high pressure unloading conditions by providing a dual stage piston assembly wherein the piston is adapted for absorbing and redistributing a portion of the load during the high pressure applications or high pressure portion o

A piston system for a reciprocating compressor is adapted for high speed, high pressure unloading conditions by providing a dual stage piston assembly wherein the piston is adapted for absorbing and redistributing a portion of the load during the high pressure applications or high pressure portion of a cycle without reducing the efficiency of the system during normal loads. Pressure of up to 4000 psi can be handled without damage to the piston or other valve components. The valve plate is held in the closed position by a compression spring which is adapted to be engaged by a finger/driver upon reciprocation of the valve piston. The finger driver moves with the piston against the valve plate to open the valve on the plunger downstroke and move away from the valve on the plunger upstroke. A shock absorbing element is positioned in the plunger/finger assembly to absorb the shock of the driving downstroke, thereby reducing the shock of the finger against the valve plate.

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1. A valve assembly for a reciprocating compressor, the valve assembly comprising:a. a valve plate movable between a first position and a second position,b. a plunger adapted to be loaded with a driving force for driving a valve driver, said plunger having a first end and a second end,c. the valve d

1. A valve assembly for a reciprocating compressor, the valve assembly comprising:a. a valve plate movable between a first position and a second position,b. a plunger adapted to be loaded with a driving force for driving a valve driver, said plunger having a first end and a second end,c. the valve driver being carried directly by the plunger at the second end for engaging the valve plate and moving it from one position to the other,andd. a shock absorbing element carried by the plunger at the first end for absorbing a portion of the driving force for reducing the force carried by the driver and translated to the valve plate.2. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising a return spring engaging said plunger and disposed to provide a force on said plunger counter to said driving force, and wherein the shock absorbing element comprises a compression element mounted on the plunger.3. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said shock absorbing element is carried by the first end of said plunger and said valve driver is carried by the second end of said plunger.4. The valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the compression element is secured to said plunger so as to move in conjunction with the plunger upon actuation by said-driving force.5. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises:a. a housing, the housing having a cavity; andb. wherein said shock absorbing element is in the cavity.6. The valve assembly of claim 5, wherein the shock absorbing element comprises a compression spring component.7. The valve assembly of claim 6, wherein the compression spring component is a washer.8. The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the compression spring is a plurality of wave washers.9. The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the compression spring is a plurality of conical washers.10. The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the compression spring component is a plurality of Belleville-type spring washers in stacked, opposing assembly.11. The valve assembly of claim 6, the shock absorbing element further including a fixed spacer to fill a portion of the cavity.12. The valve assembly of claim 6, wherein the shock absorbing element, when fully expanded, is smaller than the cavity, thereby creating a load gap between the shock absorbing element and the housing.13. The valve assembly of claim 12, wherein there is a driver gap between the driver and the valve plate when the valve plate is in its normal position.14. The valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the load gap is smaller than the driver gap.15. The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising a piston for providing the driving force applied to said plunger.16. The valve assembly of claim 2, wherein said plunger is movable between a first position in which the return spring is under compression and the shock absorbing element is uncompressed to a second position where said return spring and said shock absorbing element are under compression.17. The valve assembly of claim 5, wherein said housing is integrally formed with said plunger.18. A valve assembly for a reciprocating compressor, the valve assembly of the type having a valve plate movable between a closed position and an open position, a valve driver for engaging the valve plate and moving it from one position to the other and a plunger adapted to be loaded with a driving force for driving the driver, the valve assembly further including a shock absorbing element associated with the plunger for absorbing a portion of the driving force for reducing the force carried by the driver and translated to the valve plate, the shock absorbing element comprising:a. a housing carried by the plunger, the housing having a cavity;b. a stop surface engaging abutment; andc. a shock absorbing element in the cavity.19. The valve assembly of claim 18, wherein the shock absorbing element comprises a compression spring component.20. The valve assembly of claim 19, wherein the compression spring component is a Belleville-type spring washer.21. The valve assembly of claim 19, wherein the compression spring component is a plurality of Belleville-type spring washers in stacked, opposing assembly.22. The valve assembly of claim 19, wherein the shock absorbing element further comprises a fixed spacer to fill a portion of the cavity.23. The valve assembly of claim 19, wherein the shock absorbing element, when fully expanded, is smaller than the cavity, thereby creating a load gap between the shock absorbing element and the housing.24. The valve assembly of claim 23, wherein there is a driver gap between the driver and the valve plate when the valve plate is in its normal position.25. The valve assembly of claim 24, wherein the load gap is smaller than the driver gap.26. A valve assembly for a reciprocating compressor, the valve assembly of the type having a valve plate movable between a closed position and an open position, a valve driver for engaging the valve plate and moving it from one position to the other and a plunger adapted to be loaded with a driving force for driving the driver, the valve assembly further comprising:a. a shock absorbing element carried by the plunger, the shock absorbing element comprising a compression element mounted on the plunger and adapted to be compressed as the plunger is driven;b. the plunger comprising a shaft having one end adapted for being engaged and driven in an axial motion by a drive force and an opposite end carrying the valve driver, wherein the driven axial motion of the plunger is translated directly to the valve driver; andc. the shock absorbing element further comprising a compressible element mounted on the plunger end opposite the valve driver, said shock absorbing element adapted for engaging a stop surface for controlling the stroke of the plunger, wherein the compressible element is compressed as the plunger is driven.27. The valve assembly of claim 26, further comprising a plunger assembly comprising:a. a housing carried by the plunger, the housing having a cavity;b. a stop surface engaging abutment; andc. a shock absorbing element in the cavity and adjacent the stop surface.28. The valve assembly of claim 26, wherein the shock absorbing element comprises a compression spring component.29. The valve assembly of claim 28, wherein the compression spring component is a Belleville-type spring washer.30. The valve assembly of claim 28, wherein the compression spring component is a plurality of Belleville-type spring washers in stacked, opposing assembly.31. The valve assembly of claim 27, the shock absorbing element comprising a compression spring component and a fixed spacer to fill a portion of the cavity.32. A valve assembly for a reciprocating compressor, said valve assembly comprising:A. A plunger having a first and second end;B. A housing carried directly by the plunger;C. A shock absorbing element carried by the housing;D. A valve plate movable between a first and second position; andE. A driver carried by the plunger separate from said housing said driver disposed to move said valve plate between the first and second positions.