Patent attributes
A piston ring includes a lateral surface which covers a circumferential surface of a piston and support segments with retaining surfaces which engage with the top and bottom of the piston. A piston ring joint allows the piston ring to be elastically deformed in the radial direction and is provided with a tongue at one end of the lateral surface, which tongue engages in an opening in the other end of the lateral surface. The tongue is designed with retaining segments which extend in the circumferential direction and continue as extensions of the support segments. The retaining segments engage supportively with the top and bottom of the piston. The opening is provided with carrier segments at least in certain areas of the circumference of the piston ring extensions of the support segments and holding the ends of the piston ring in place axially with respect to the piston, the carrier segments being supported in the axial direction of the piston on the retaining segments. The piston ring joint of the piston ring has at least one sealing surface between the ends of the piston ring.
