Abstract: An improved vane-type rotary compressor includes a rotor which is constructed by four similar plates having evenly spaced slots and containing three sets of links with hooks and pistons in their central sleeves, and four vanes which are engaged with the hooks of the links and slidably mounted in the slots of the rotor while the edges of every vanes are lightly contacting with the inner surface of the cylinder having a gas inlet and a gas outlet of the compressor. The slidable vanes accompanying with the pistons in the sleeves of the links can reduce the contacting force of the vanes against the cylinder during the rotation to prolong the life of the vanes and to prevent the vanes from wear.