# US 9,518,659 B2 · Flat gasket with calendered sieve layer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,659 B2 - Document ID: US9518659B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/261,751 - Filed: 2012-04-05 - Published: 2014-04-03 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-07 - Assignees: Reinz-Dichtungs-GmbH - Applicants: Georg Egloff; Oliver Claus; Hans Waldvogel; Andreas Helfenbein; Robert Blersch - Inventors: Georg Egloff; Oliver Claus; Hans Waldvogel; Andreas Helfenbein; Robert Blersch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518659B2 ## CPC - F16J 15/0818: {Flat gaskets} - B01D 39/2027: {Metallic material} - B32B 15/02: {Layer formed of wires, e.g. mesh} - F16J 15/064: {the packing combining the sealing function with other functions} - F16J 15/0825: {laminated} - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract The present invention relates to a flat gasket with filter elements. In order to fulfill the increased requirements with respect to cleanliness, there is an increased demand for the integration of filter elements in flat gaskets. The corresponding filter elements mainly serve for picking of impurities accrued during production as well as other residues circulate via the operational fluids, especially during the initial period of operation of an internal combustion engine or a vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flat gasket comprising: at least a first metallic layer; and a second metallic layer; and a third layer arranged between the first and second metallic layer, with the first metallic layer comprising at least a first passage opening and the second metallic layer comprising at least a second passage opening, which are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction perpendicular to the planes of the layers, with the third layer adjacent to the first and second passage openings in a direction perpendicular to the planes of the layers showing no passage opening and spanning the passage openings in the plane of its layer, with the third layer as a sieve layer comprising a mesh material said mesh material comprising threads crossing each other while forming crossing points, wherein the mesh material in the area spanning the first and second passage openings in the plane of its layer and encircling these passage openings in the plane of its layer, the total height of two threads crossing each other at the middle of a crossing point of the two threads is less than 1.4 times the height of a single thread at half the distance between vicinal crossing points. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the mesh material in its entire area in the plane of the layer, for all crossing points, the total height of two threads crossing each other in the middle of the crossing point of the two threads is equal or less than 1.4 times the height of a single thread at half the distance between vicinal crossing points. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the mesh material in at least a first area shows a degree of compression compared to the initial, non-compressed mesh material composed of threads with essentially round diameter of greater than 30%. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The flat gasket according to claim 3, wherein the mesh material in at least a first area shows a degree of compression compared to the initial, non-compressed mesh material composed of threads with essentially round diameter of between 35% and at least 55%. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein in at least a first area, two crossing threads at their crossing point show a ratio of width to height of between 1.5 and 4. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The flat gasket according to claim 5, wherein at least in the first area, two crossing threads at their crossing point show a ratio of width to height of between 2 and 3. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein in at least a first area several or all remaining free areas in the cross section of the sieve layer along the middle of one mesh thread, several mesh threads or all of the mesh threads show an area of less than or equal to 0.008 mm2 per crossing point. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The flat gasket according to claim 7, wherein at least in the first area several or all remaining free areas in the cross section of the sieve layer along the middle of one mesh thread, several mesh threads or all of the mesh threads show an area of less than or equal to 0.002 mm2 per crossing point. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein at least in a first area the mesh material has been calendar compressed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the first layer, the second layer and the third layer each show at least one further passage opening, wherein the areas of the passage openings are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction perpendicular to the planes of the layers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second layer around at least one of the passage openings at least in sections, comprises a sealing bead. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the first layer and/or the second layer at least on a surface of the first and/or second layer that face the sieve layer is coated with an elastomer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The flat gasket according to claim 12, wherein said elastomer is selected from the group consisting of FKM (vinylidene-fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer) silicone rubber, NBR rubber (acryl-butadiene rubber), PUR (polyurethane), NR (natural rubber), HNBR (hydrated natural rubber), FFKM (perfluoro rubber), SBR (stryrene-butadiene rubber), BR (butadiene rubber), IIR (butyl rubber), FVSQ (silicone rubber), CSM (chlorosulfonated polyethylene), silicone and epoxide resins. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the mesh threads are comprised of metal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The flat gasket according to claim 14, wherein the metal comprises steel, austenitic steel, ferritic steel, stainless steel, and/or carbon steel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the mesh threads are comprised of a thermoplast material or a thermoset material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The flat gasket according to claim 16, wherein the thermoplast material is a polyamide and the thermoset material is a polyester. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the first layer and/or the second layer are comprised of stainless steel, spring steel, spring-hard steel or carbon steel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the sieve layer is comprised of a single piece of uniformly compressed mesh material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the sieve layer is comprised of a composition of at least two pieces with the pieces being connected to each other by at least one of an adhesive connection or a form-locking connection in the plane of the sieve layer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The flat gasket according to claim 20, wherein the connection of the at least two pieces is achieved through laser welding. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the mesh material has a width of the mesh of 80 μm to 250 μm. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The flat gasket according to claim 22, wherein the mesh material has a width of the mesh of 100 μm to 200 μm. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the sieve material has a height of 10 μm to 1400 μm. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The flat gasket according to claim 24, wherein the sieve material has a height of 60 μm to 400 μm. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein the mesh material is a woven material. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The flat gasket according to claim 26, wherein the mesh material has a plain weave or a twill weave. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The flat gasket according to claim 26, wherein said woven material comprises a first set of threads all oriented in a first direction and a second set of threads all oriented in a second direction different than the first direction. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The flat gasket according to claim 1, wherein said sieve layer is only woven mesh. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The flat gasket according to claim 29, wherein said sieve layer has compressed mesh areas that are impermeable within the plane of the mesh.