Packaging ring with diagonal relief opening

A method for sealing a translationally oscillating piston rod of a piston compressor using at least one packing ring, which has a central cylindrical opening, through which the piston rod extends, wherein the packing ring has at least three ring segments each having a first segment end and a second segment end in a circumferential direction, wherein a first tangential contact surface of the first segment end of each ring segment abuts a second tangential contact surface of the second segment end of the ring segment adjoining in the circumferential direction for creating a radial seal and wherein a first axial contact surface of the first segment end of each ring segment, which first axial contact surface faces towards a first axial ring end of the packing ring, abuts a second axial contact surface of the second segment end of a ring segment adjoining in the circumferential direction, which second axial contact surface faces towards a second axial ring end of the packing ring, for creating an axial seal, wherein the packing ring is arranged in the piston compressor so that the first axial ring end faces toward a low pressure crankcase side of the piston compressor and the second axial ring end faces toward a high pressure cylinder side of the piston compressor, wherein a first pressure to which the first axial ring end is subjected is less than a second pressure to which the second axial ring end is subjected, wherein on at least one ring segment of the at least three ring segments at least one relief opening is provided which extends from a radially inside inner circumferential surface to a radially outside outer circumferential surface or to the second axial ring end of the ring segment, wherein a first relief opening end of the at least one relief opening, which first relief opening end opens into the inside inner circumferential surface, travels in dependence on the radial wear of the ring segment in the direction of the first axial ring end and towards the low pressure crankcase side of the piston compressor, due to at least a portion of the at least one relief opening adjoining the radially inside inner circumferential surface of the ring segment being formed inclined or curved in the direction of the first axial ring end, the relief opening axial distance decreases so that the position of the first relief opening end on the radially inside inner circumferential surface travels in the direction of the first axial ring end, wherein the first relief opening end is spaced apart from the first axial ring end at a relief opening distance which is 4% to 40% of an axial ring width of the ring segment.

A packing ring comprising:

• a first axial ring end;
• a second axial ring end;
• at least three ring segments, each of the at least three ring segments having a first segment end and a second segment end in a circumferential direction,
• the first segment end including a first tangential contact surface and a first axial contact surface, the first axial contact surface facing towards the first axial ring end, and
• the second segment end including a second tangential contact surface and a second axial contact surface, the second axial contact surface facing towards the second axial ring end, wherein the first tangential contact surface abuts the second tangential contact surface of the ring segment adjoining in the circumferential direction for creating;
• a radial seal of the packing ring and the first axial contact surface face of each ring segment abuts the second axial contact surface of a ring segment adjoining in the circumferential direction for creating an axial seal of the packaging ring;
• at least one relief opening provided on at least one ring segment, the at least one relief opening extending from a radially inside inner circumferential surface of the ring segment to a radially outside outer circumferential surface or to the second axial ring end of the ring segment;
• wherein the at least one relief opening includes a first relief opening end which opens off-center into the radially inside inner circumferential surface of the ring segment, so that the first relief opening end is closer to the first axial ring end than to the second axial ring end;
• wherein at least a portion of the at least one relief opening adjoining the radially inside inner circumferential surface of the ring segment is inclined or curved in the direction of the first axial ring end,
• wherein, when the ring segment radially wears, the radially inside inner circumferential surface moves in the direction of the radially outside outer circumferential surface and the first relief opening end on the radially inside inner circumferential surface travels in the direction of the first axial ring end.

A packing ring, comprising:

• a first axial ring end;
• a second axial ring end;
• at least three ring segments, each of the at least three ring segments having a first segment end and a second segment end in a circumferential direction,
• the first segment end including a first tangential contact surface and a first axial contact surface, the first axial contact surface facing towards the first axial ring end, and
• the second segment end including a second tangential contact surface and a second axial contact surface, the second axial contact surface facing towards the second axial ring end, wherein the first tangential contact surface abuts the second tangential contact surface of the ring segment adjoining in the circumferential direction for creating;
• a radial seal of the packing ring and the first axial contact surface face of each ring segment abuts the second axial contact surface of a ring segment adjoining in the circumferential direction for creating an axial seal of the packing ring, the at least three ring segments arranged about a common axis, thereby defining a central bore configured to accept a translationally oscillating piston rod;
• at least one relief opening provided on at least one ring segment, the at least one relief opening extending from a radially inside inner circumferential surface of the ring segment to a radially outside outer circumferential surface or to the second axial ring end of the ring segment, wherein the radially inside inner circumferential surface shares a common diameter from the first axial ring end to the second axial ring end, extending about the common axis;
• wherein the at least one relief opening includes a first relief opening end which opens into the radially inside inner circumferential surface of the ring segment, and is spaced apart from the first axial ring end at a relief opening axial distance which is 4% to 40% of an axial ring width of the ring segment, wherein an interface between the first relief opening end and the central bore is defined along the common diameter;
• wherein at least a portion of the at least one relief opening adjoining the radially inside inner circumferential surface of the ring segment is inclined or curved in the direction of the first axial ring end, so that the relief opening axial distance decreases when the ring segment radially wears;
• and
• wherein when the ring segment radially wears, the radially inside inner circumferential surface moves in the direction of the radially outside outer circumferential surface and, due to the inclination or curvature of the at least one relief opening, the relief opening axial distance decreases so that the position of the first relief opening end on the radially inside inner circumferential surface travels in the direction of the first axial ring end.