Metal plate gasket

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates generally to metal plate gaskets for use in heavy duty diesel engine applications, and more particularly to the sealing of the combustion chambers of such engines.

#2. Related Art

#These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated when considered in connection with the following detailed description and appended drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a metal gasket assembly constructed according to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken generally along lines 2—2 of FIG. 1 showing the gasket assembly in an uncompressed state; and

#A metal gasket assembly 10, as shown in FIG. 1, has a gasket plate 12 and a grommet 14. The gasket plate 12 has an opening 16 and a fixed thickness A of the gasket plate 12. The grommet 14 is generally U-shaped in cross section with a pair of legs 18, 20 having a portion defining an undeformed thickness B being generally greater than the thickness A of the gasket plate 12. The grommet 14 is received in the opening 16 of the gasket plate 12. In use, the legs 18, 20 of the grommet 14 are deformed by a compressive force such that the legs 18, 20 deform generally to the thickness A of the gasket plate 12 while remaining in a purely elastic state.

#The gasket plate 12, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is preferably stamped or forged from a generally incompressible material, preferably steel. The opening 16 formed in the gasket plate 12 has a predetermined diameter X and thickness A, where the thickness A is defined by the opposing sides 22, 24 adjacent the opening 16 of the gasket plate 12. Any number of openings 16 can be formed in the gasket plate 12 depending on the number of grommets 14 required in the particular application.

#The grommet 14, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is formed separately from the gasket plate 12 and from a ferrous, preferably medium to high carbon sheet of metal. The sheet of metal is stamped in a pre-heat treated condition to form an annular body 26 being generally U-shaped in cross section taken along a plane running along an axis 28 of the grommet 14. The legs 18, 20 extend outwardly from the axis 28 and preferably diverge from an arcuate portion 30 of the U-shaped body 26 and extend to form end portions 32, 33. The opposing external sides 26 of the legs 18, 20 form a convex surface 34 and an inner portion forms a concave surface 36. Generally at the end portions 32, 33, the opposing external sides 26 of the legs 18, 20 are spaced a predetermined distance apart corresponding to and greater than the initial thickness A of the gasket plate 12. The concave surface 36 of the grommet 14 defines a space 38 that is free from any compression limiting materials such that the legs 18, 20 are unsupported and free to deform upon application of a compressive force.