Abstract: A reciprocating compressor includes an apertured valve disc between a cylinder and a cylinder head. Valve orifices in the disc are arranged about two concentric circles centered on the central axis of the cylinder. The same number of orifices are spaced about each circle and the orifices about the inner circle are offset by half the angular spacing between the orifices spaced about the outer circle. Intake and delivery valve strips and stroke limiters are provided on both sides of the apertured valve disc and connected by a centrally-arranged nut and bolt fastener. The intake and delivery valve strips each comprising a discoidal center area from which narrow, radially-extending arms project outwardly and are formed at their outer ends with circular end portions. A tubular intake duct extends through the top of the cylinder and subdivides the cylinder head chamber into a suction chamber and an outer delivery chamber.