MLS gasket with variable bead stopper layer

Abstract

A cylinder head gasket has a multi-layered steel body that includes a unitary metallic stopper layer interposed between beaded outer layers. The interposed stopper layer has an asymmetrically formed bead defining at least one raised structure that circumferentially and closely surrounds a combustion aperture. Specifically, the bead defines a trough having a series of variations of thickness or widths about its circumferential dimension. An epoxy resin material substantially fills the volume of the trough about its circumferential extent, irrespective of the variable trough depth or width. In the disclosed embodiment, a metal/epoxy hard coating material is placed in and cured in the trough. To the extent that the trough has a varying height or width about its circumference, the hard coating also has a varying height or width about the circumference of the hard coating-filled bead, so as to provide a substantially uniform sealing pressure under predetermined variable conditions including bore distortion and machining tolerances.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.