Gasket assembly for oil pans and the like and method of making same

Abstract

A unitary, molded gasket assembly having a pair of side sections, each having a rigid assembly comprising a rigid core member and stop members. The stop members each define a fastener aperture through which a fastener is adapted to pass. The rigid core members extend along side portions of the gasket assembly. Elastomeric envelopes envelop each of the core members and provide side sections of a first thickness. Elastomeric end portions join the envelope. The stop members are hard, rigid, and high-temperature resistant, and are of a second thickness less than the first thickness. When the gasket assembly is compressed between elements to be sealed, the stop members limit compression of the gasket and limit displacement of the elastomeric envelopes. Each side section envelope is preferably provided with undercuts at its edges, the undercuts extending inwardly from the edges to over the core to limit displacement of the elastomer at the core edges. The cores and stops are preferably separate, the cores being of metal and the stops being of sintered metal. A method of making such a gasket is disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.