MLS gasket with bore edge stopper bead

Abstract

An MLS cylinder head gasket includes a relatively thick intermediate layer having resilient sealing beads flanked by stopper beads. The stopper beads limit compression of the sealing beads, which surround combustion cylinder bore apertures. The three-layer gasket, particularly designed for heavy duty racing engines, provides a relatively robust cross-section in web-areas between cylinder bore apertures. A thin bottom layer includes wrap-around flanged portions extending about cylinder bore edges of the intermediate layer to partially overlap cylinder bore aperture areas of that layer. A thin top layer overlies the intermediate layer, as well as the overlapping portions of the bottom layer. In one described embodiment, the overlapping portions are limited to cylinder bore edges between cylinder bores. As a between-engine-overhaul indication of engine health, the top gasket layer is adapted via plastic deformation to form a permanent indentation in an aluminum cylinder head to signal excessive engine operation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.