Final answer:
Option B). A packing ring is a machinery component used to seal a rotating or reciprocating shaft against fluid leakage.
Step-by-step explanation:
A packing ring is a piece of equipment that prevents fluid leakage from a rotating or reciprocating shaft. It is installed in the space between the shaft and the housing and is usually composed of rubber or synthetic fibers. The fluid cannot leak along the shaft because of the barrier that the packing ring creates. The part that comes into direct contact with the rotating or reciprocating shaft is the packing ring itself, as opposed to a gland or packing nut, which are used to compress the packing material.