The present invention relates to a piston-cylinder assembly for a radial piston compressor. The piston-cylinder assembly comprises a drive shaft with a cylindrical eccentric for guiding the movement of the piston to a top dead center position. A cylindrical piston guide ring guides the movement of the piston to a bottom dead center. Both the cylindrical eccentric and the piston guide ring are connected to the piston by means of respective concave/convex contact surfaces for the positive transmission of the forces.

A piston compressor has a piston guided in a compressor cylinder, wherein the piston and the compressor cylinder form a compressor chamber for compressing a fluid. A shaft is provided that rotates around its axis. A lifting element is arranged eccentrically to the axis of the shaft and is provided fixed to the shaft. The lifting element and the piston are configured in such way that the piston performs a movement between a maximum and a minimum lifting position when the shaft rotates around its axis.