Seal for a joint or juncture – Seal between fixed parts or static contact against... – Contact seal between parts of internal combustion engine
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-28
2001-01-30
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)
Seal for a joint or juncture
Seal between fixed parts or static contact against...
Contact seal between parts of internal combustion engine
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179299
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improvements in gasket assemblies. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multiple gasket layers that include self-aligning gripping members that cooperate to positively secure the gasket layers together.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Gaskets are often used to seal mating mechanical components. In one application, a cylinder head gasket for an internal combustion engine is formed from a plurality of metallic gasket layers laminated together. In addition to providing a seal between the engine block and the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, the metallic layers further provide structural support, as well as radial strength to resist gasket blow-out due to combustion chamber generated pressures.
Typically, the metallic layers are laminated together by welding to insure that the gasket layers remain properly secured and aligned during operation of the engine. However, welding is undesirable for a number of applications. For example, welding is a time consuming process that involves specialized tooling, thus increasing manufacturing costs. Further, due to the high weld temperatures generated, the metallic layers may become warped, thereby compromising sealing effectiveness. Additionally, weld beads formed by the welding operation may interfere with mating members before they are fully tightened together, thereby reducing the force available for sealing the gasket layers.
To avoid the difficulties associated with welding, it has been known to provide a metallic gasket with a plurality of bending strips of a first metal plate that engage holes in a second mating metal plate to connect the first and second metal plates together. While the use of bending strips is less expensive than welding, a bending strip produces localized stress loading, which may compromise gasket sealing effectiveness over time. Further, the edges of the bending strip are unprotected. Therefore, the bending strip may become accidentally dislodged from the hole or otherwise damaged. In addition, the bending strips often have limited effectiveness in gaskets that are subject to high frictional forces. The frictional forces may cause buckling and sliding of the metallic plates, thereby resulting in the bending strips becoming partially disengaged from the first plate. Thus, once again, sealing effectiveness is potentially compromised.
Another known gasket assembly includes providing a spacer ring disposed between each gasket layer. The spacer ring is formed with annular serrations on its opposite surfaces. When the gasket assembly is positioned between the cylinder head and the engine block, the compression forces therebetween cause the serrations of the spacer plate to deform and grip the gasket layers to hold the gasket layers together and increase sealing effectiveness. However, there is no means for positively locking the plates to one another when significant vibrations result from engine operation. Thus, the frictional forces deforming the spacer ring serrations against the gasket layers may be overcome such that the gasket layers slide apart from one another during engine operation, resulting in reduced sealing effectiveness and possible engine damage. Further, there is no mechanism for insuring proper gasket layer alignment prior to compression.
Therefore, there exists a need for effectively locking gasket layers together such that frictional forces do not compromise the alignment or sealing effectiveness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a multiple layer sealing gasket for sealing mating mechanical components, wherein the gasket layers are provided with meshing gripping members that operate to properly align and positively secure the gasket layers together.
The sealing gasket has at least two metallic gasket layers, a first gasket layer and a second gasket layer. The first and second gasket layers are each provided with a plurality of corresponding bolt holes and combustion bores extending therethrough. The bolt holes of the gasket layers are positioned so as to be aligned with one another, as well as with corresponding bolt holes in the mating mechanical components being sealed.
In accordance with the invention, each gasket layer further includes a plurality of gripping members positioned radially outwardly from a periphery of the bolt holes. The gripping members are disposed on engagement surfaces of each gasket layer, opposite to sealing surfaces that abut the mating mechanical components, so as to extend outwardly and generally perpendicular to the engagement surface. In a preferred embodiment, the gripping members have a generally V-shaped cross-section that is defined by alternating troughs and peaks. The troughs of each gasket layer are complimentary to the peaks of the other gasket layer such that the troughs of one gasket layer mesh together with the peaks of a mating gasket layer when the engagement surfaces of the respective gasket layers are brought into face to face engagement during assembly between the mating mechanical components. A fastener, such as a bolt, is positioned through the bolt holes in the first and second gasket layers and the mechanical components to secure the mating mechanical components together. The fastener and mechanical component serve to exert a compression force on the gasket layers, effectively trapping the peaks within the troughs and preventing the gasket layers from sliding apart during operation. Thus, as the troughs and peaks mesh together, there is no need to perform a separate bonding operation to laminate the gasket layers together.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3606361 (1971-09-01), Pohl et al.
patent: 4121846 (1978-10-01), Skrycki
patent: 4335890 (1982-06-01), Nicholson
patent: 4372564 (1983-02-01), Nicholson
patent: 4390185 (1983-06-01), Nicholson
patent: 4817967 (1989-04-01), Belter
patent: 5222745 (1993-06-01), Akbar et al.
patent: 5626348 (1997-05-01), Takada et al.
patent: 1923482 (1970-11-01), None
patent: 4116125 (1992-11-01), None
patent: 4240132 (1994-06-01), None
Beres John L.
Dana Corporation
Knight Anthony
Rader & Fishman & Grauer, PLLC
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