Unexpected, it has been discovered that the inner annular binding ring's inner upper edge has an area that is under tensile stresses. By removing the ring material under tensile stresses, the propensity of the inner
raschig ring to fracture is significantly lessened. Such binding ring material can be conveniently removed by chamfering the inner upper edge of the inner annular binding ring at an angle of greater than about 60 from the vertical. The remaining ring material is under compressive stresses and is less likely to fracture during the high-pressure operation. Such chamfering operation creates a transition slope that mitigates tensile stresses.
The invention, then, is high-pressure apparatus (belt/die, pre-tensioned loaded windings, or other configuration) which has a series of annular
raschig ring for confining material being subjected to high-pressure treatment. The series of annular binding rings has an inner annular binding ring having an inner upper edge, an outer upper edge, an inner lower edge, and an outer lower edge. The inner lower edge is chamfered at an angle of greater than about 60 from the vertical.
Advantages of the present invention include the ability to lessen fatigue failures of inner annular binding rings of HP apparatuses. Another advantage is the ability to achieve such fatigue failure lessening by a machining operation. A further advantage is that the chamfered inner ring still is worker safe. These and other advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
The method of claim 13, wherein said inner
raschig ring is part of a binding ring assembly that contains a plurality of binding rings each having an inner lower edge, wherein more than one said binding inner lower edges is chamfered.
