Multiple layer gasket having selectively removable spacer layers

A metallic laminate gasket assembly for use in sealing mating components in an internal combustion engine and permitting selective variation of the compression ratio of the engine, said gasket assembly comprising:

• a plurality of metallic active layers, each having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough and a thickness defined by opposing top and bottom faces, wherein said respective thickness of each of said active layers are all substantially the same;
• a plurality of metallic spacer layers, each having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough and a thickness defined by opposing top and bottom faces, said apertures of said spacer layers corresponding to said apertures of said active layers, wherein said respective thickness of each of said spacer layers are all substantially different,
• said active and spacer layers being arranged in face-to-face engagement in an alternating manner with said apertures of said active layers and said spacer layers being aligned, wherein two of said active layers are positioned so as to serve as outermost mounting surfaces of said gasket assembly such that said bottom face of a first active layer is selectively and removably engaged with said top face of its adjacent spacer layer and a top face of a second active layer is selectively and removably engaged with said bottom face of its adjacent spacer layer;
• wherein one or more spacer layers may be selectively added to or removed in a non-destructive manner from said gasket assembly to selectively vary the compression ratio of the engine;
• wherein one or more additional spacer layers may be selectively removed in a non-destructive manner and substituted for one or more of said spacer layers, wherein said additional spacer layers have a thickness that differs from said thickness of said one or more spacer layers, such that selectively substituting said one or more additional spacer layers serves to selectively vary the compression ratio of the engine;
• and
• a retaining mechanism for selectively securing and maintaining alignment of said active and spacer layers together into a single gasket.

A metallic laminate gasket assembly for use in scaling mating components in an internal combustion engine and permitting selective variation of the compression ratio of the engine, said gasket assembly comprising:

• a plurality of metallic active layers, each having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough and a thickness defined by opposing top and bottom faces, wherein said respective thickness of each of said active layers are all substantially the same;
• a plurality of metallic spacer layers, each having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough and a thickness defined by opposing top and bottom faces, said apertures of said spacer layers corresponding to said apertures of said active layers, wherein said respective thickness of each of said spacer layers are all substantially different,
• said active and spacer layers being arranged in face-to-face engagement in an alternating manner with said apertures of said active layers and said spacer layers being aligned, wherein two of said active layers are positioned so as to serve as outermost mounting surfaces of said gasket assembly such that said bottom face of a first active layer is selectively and removably engaged with said top face of its adjacent spacer layer and a top face of a second active layer is selectively and removably engaged with said bottom face of its adjacent spacer layer;
• wherein one or more spacer layers may be selectively added to selectively lower the compression ratio of the engine, removed in a non-destructive manner to selectively increase the compression ratio of the engine;
• or selectively substituted with one or more additional spacer layers, said additional spacer layers having a thickness that differs from said thickness of said one or more of said spacer layers, such that selectively substituting one or more of said additional spacer layers serves to selectively vary the compression ratio of the engine;
• and
• a plurality of removable fasteners received in aligned retaining apertures of said active and spacer layers and a plurality of sets of nesting depressions formed on opposing faces of said active and spacer layers, said removable fasteners and said sets of nesting depressions serving to selectively secure and maintain alignment of said active and spacer layers together into a single gasket, wherein said removable fasteners may be selectively removed and said nesting depressions selectively disengaged, to permit said spacer layers to be selectively removed in a non-destructive manner from or added to said gasket assembly, or to permit selective substitution of said spacer layers with one or more additional spacer layers to selectively vary the compression ratio of the engine.

A metallic laminate gasket assembly kit for use in sealing mating components in an internal combustion engine and permitting selective variation of the compression ratio of the engine, said gasket assembly kit comprising:

• at least two metallic active layers, a first active layer and a second active layer, each having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough and a thickness defined by opposing top and bottom faces;
• at least one metallic spacer layer having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough and a thickness defined by opposing top and bottom faces, said apertures of said at least one spacer layer corresponding to said apertures of said active layers;
• each active layer adapted for being arranged in face-to-face selective and removable engagement with at least one of said at least one spacer layer such that two of said active layers serve as outmost mounting surfaces of said gasket assembly, wherein said bottom face of a first active layer is selectively and removably engaged with said top face of its adjacent spacer layer and a top face of a second active layer is selectively and removably engaged with said bottom face of its adjacent spacer layer, and wherein said apertures of said respective active layers and said at least one spacer layer are aligned;
• and
• wherein said one or more spacer layers are adapted to be selectively added or removed in a non-destructive manner from said gasket assembly to selectively vary the compression ratio of the engine.