US 5,310,197 AGranted

Gasket construction

AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.

InventorsCynthia F. Bruch, Mark W. Craig, Dale E. Geyer, Lynette M. Lipski, Roger A. McHugh, Tana L. Utley

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Abstract

A head gasket assembly (18) is used for sealing a joint between a cylinder block (12) and a cylinder head (14). At least portions of the head gasket assembly (18) must withstand high temperatures, high pressures and be flexible for sealing fluid passages such as lubricating oil and cooling water mixtures. The present head gasket assembly (18) is comprised of a main gasket body (40) constructed of a sealing material (46) having a plurality of apertures (48,50,52) positioned therein. A portion of the plurality of apertures (48,50,52) includes a combustion opening (52) having a first ring (54) positioned in the periphery of the combustion opening (52). A plurality of tape strips (60) having an end portion (62) attached to a side of the sealing material (46), partially surrounding the fire ring (54) and another end portion (64) attached to the other side of the sealing material (46). Thus, the flexible main gasket body (40) and the rigid fire rings (54 ) are fixedly attached together and provide a head gasket assembly (18) which has very good handleability, sealability and functional characteristics.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A head gasket assembly (18) adapted for use in an engine (10) having a cylinder block (12) and a cylinder head (14), said cylinder block (12) having a combustion chamber (20), a plurality of threaded holes (26) and a plurality of bores (24) defined therein, said cylinder head (14) having a plurality of bores (30,32) defined therein corresponding to the threaded holes (26) and at least a portion of the plurality of bores (24) in the cylinder block (12), said head gasket assembly (18) comprising:

a main gasket body (40) having a center core (42), a sealing material (46) attached to each side of the core (42) and a plurality of apertures (48,50,52) defined within the main gasket body (40) and extending through the sealing material (46) and the core (42), said plurality of apertures (48,50,52) including a combustion opening (52) and at least a portion of the plurality of apertures (48,50,52) correspond to the combustion chamber (20), the plurality of threaded holes (26) and the plurality of bores (42) in the cylinder block (12) when in use;
a fire ring (54) positioned in each combustion opening (52), said fire ring having a weld joint;
and
means for attaching (59) the fire ring (54) to the sealing material (46) prior to being installed in the engine (10), said means for attaching (58) including a plurality of tape strips (60), each tape strip (60) having an end portion (62) attached to a side of the sealing material (46), partially surrounding the fire ring (54) and having another end portion (64) attached to another side of the sealing material (46), said weld joint being spaced from and intermediate a pair of said tape strips (60).

1 more element

a main gasket body (40) including a sealing material (46) and having a plurality of apertures (48,50,52) defined within the main gasket body (40) and extending through the sealing material (46), said plurality of apertures (48,50,52) including a combustion opening (52) and at least a portion of the plurality of apertures (48,50,52) corresponding to the combustion chamber (20), the plurality of threaded holes (26) and the plurality of bores (24) in the cylinder block (12) when in use;
a first ring (54) having positioned in each combustion opening (52), said fire ring (54) having a weld joint;
and
means for attaching (58) the fire ring (54) to the sealing material (46) prior to being installed in the engine (10), said means for attaching (58) including a plurality of tape strips (60) being generally evenly spaced about the combustion opening (52), each tape strip (60) having an end portion (62) attached to a side of the sealing material (46), partially surrounding the fire ring (54) and having another end portion (64) attached to another side of the sealing material (46), said weld joint being spaced from and intermediate a pair of said tape strips (60).

1 more element

An engine (10) comprising:

a cylinder block (12) having a combustion chamber (20), a plurality of threaded holes (26) and a plurality of bores (24) defined therein;
a cylinder head (14) having a plurality of bores (30,32) defined therein corresponding to the threaded holes (26) and at least a portion of the plurality of bores (24) in the cylinder block (12);
a head gasket assembly (18) sealingly positioned between the cylinder block (12) and the cylinder head (14) and including;
a main gasket body (40) being constructed of sealing material (46) and having a plurality of apertures (48,50,52) positioned within the main gasket body (40) and extending through the sealing material (46), said plurality of apertures (48,50,52) including a combustion opening (52) and at least a portion of the plurality of apertures (48,50,52) corresponding to the combustion chamber (20), the plurality of threaded holes (26) and the plurality of bores (42) defined in the cylinder block (12);
a fire ring (54) positioned in each combustion opening (52);
and
means for attaching (58) the fire ring (54) to the sealing material (46) prior to being installed in the engine (10), said means for attaching (58) including a plurality of tape strips (60), each tape strip (60) having an end portion (62) attached to a side of the sealing material (46), partially surrounding the fire ring (54) and having another end portion (64) attached to another side of the sealing material (46), said tape strips (60) are sheared when the head gasket assembly (18) is in sealing relationship to the cylinder block (12) and the cylinder head (14).

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.