Cylinder liner sealing structure

In an engine having a cylinder head, a cylinder block and a cylinder liner, the liner being mounted in a bore in the block, the liner and the head cooperating to define a piston bore, the liner having a hollow cylindrical body and an annular sealing collar projecting radially outwardly from the body, the collar engaging the block and having a collar sealing surface which faces generally towards the cylinder head, and sealing means engaging the collar sealing surface and engaging a corresponding head sealing surface on the cylinder head for preventing combustion gasses from escaping from the piston bore, characterized by:

• the collar sealing surface is frustoconical and extends uniformly from a radially inner edge which is adjacent to the body to a radially outer edge, the radially inner edge being farther from the cylinder head and the radially outer edge being closer to the cylinder head, the frustoconical collar sealing surface resisting radial expansion of the sealing means and producing a wedging action which increases the sealing engagement of the sealing means with the head and collar sealing surface as the sealing means expands radially.