Multi-layer steel cylinder head gasket with integrated pressure sensor

A multi-layer cylinder head gasket for sealing combustion chambers of an engine, the gasket comprising:

• first and second metallic sealing layers, each of the sealing layers having inner and outer planar surfaces, wherein said inner planar surfaces substantially face one another;
• a third metallic layer comprising a spacer layer interposed between said inner surfaces of said first and second layers;
• each of said three layers comprising at least one combustion aperture, and wherein each of the layers is sandwiched together so that the combustion apertures are concentrically aligned, and extend contiguously through the gasket layers between the outer surfaces of said sealing layers to collectively define a gasket combustion aperture adapted to circumscribe one of the combustion chambers of an engine;
• said spacer layer further comprising a second opening spaced from but adjacent to said combustion bore aperture of that layer;
• wherein said opening is not in direct gaseous communication wit said gasket combustion aperture;
• and
• said spacer layer further comprising a pressure sensing device attached to an interior wall of said second opening, said interior wall facing said gasket combustion aperture, said pressure sensing device adapted to measure deformation of said interior wall resulting from pressure changes occurring in the combustion chamber;
• wherein said first and second metallic sealing layers comprise a pair of beaded layers, each bead positioned symmetrically on said respective beaded layers.

A multi-layer cylinder head gasket for sealing combustion chambers of an engine, the gasket comprising:

• first and second metallic sealing layers, each of said sealing layers having inner and outer planar surfaces, wherein said inner planar surfaces substantially face one another;
• at least one spacer portion interposed between said inner surfaces of said first and second layers;
• each of said layers including at least one combustion aperture, and wherein each of said layers is sandwiched together so that said combustion apertures are concentrically aligned, and extend contiguously through said gasket layers between the outer surfaces of said sealing layers to collectively define a gasket combustion aperture adapted to circumscribe one of the combustion chambers of an engine;
• said spacer portion further including a second opening spaced from but adjacent to said combustion aperture;
• said spacer portion further including a pressure sensing device in communication with an interior wall of said second opening, said interior wall facing said gasket combustion aperture, said pressure sensing device adapted to measure pressure changes occurring in the combustion chamber;
• and
• a sensor connection harness and at least one sensor connection wire in communication with said pressure sensing device for accommodating a transmittal of data to an engine management system.