Metal gasket

Abstract

A multilayer metal gasket includes at least two metal gasket layers formed with an aligned opening and aligned opposing sealing beads surrounding the opening. A partial stopper layer is interposed between the gasket layers and is of lesser area than either of the gasket layers. The partial stopper layer extends from the opening outwardly beyond the sealing beads and is fixed to one of the layers on only one side of the sealing beads and is free on the opposite side.

1 . A multilayer metal gasket, comprising: 
 at least first and second gasket layers having generally planar bodies and formed with at least one aligned hole and at least one associate sealing bead in each of the gasket layers aligned opposite one another and projecting out of the plane of their respective bodies in radially outwardly spaced surrounding relation to said hole; and    a partial stopper layer disposed between said gasket layers and having an area less than that of either of said gasket layers, said stopper layer extending fully across said sealing bead from a position radially inward of said sealing beads to a position radially outward of said sealing beads, and being fixed to at least one of said gasket layers adjacent only one side of said sealing beads and is free on the opposite side of the sealing beads.    
     
     
         2 . The gasket of  claim 1  wherein said stopper layer is fixed to said at least one gasket layer on the side radially inward of said sealing beads.  
     
     
         3 . The gasket of  claim 1  wherein said stopper layer is fixed to only one of said gasket layers.  
     
     
         4 . The gasket layer of  claim 1  wherein said stopper layer is fixed at a radially inward end thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The gasket layer of  claim 4  wherein said stopper layer has a radially outward end that is unattached to said gasket layers.  
     
     
         6 . The gasket of  claim 1  wherein said sealing beads project toward one another.  
     
     
         7 . The gasket of  claim 6  wherein said stopper layer is formed with a bead that is nested with one of said beads of said gasket layers.  
     
     
         8 . The gasket of  claim 1  wherein said sealing beads project away from one another.  
     
     
         9 . The gasket of  claim 8  wherein said stopper layer is planar.  
     
     
         10 . The gasket of  claim 1  wherein said sealing beads project in the same direction.  
     
     
         11 . The gasket of  claim 1  wherein said stopper layer is planar.  
     
     
         12 . The gasket of  claim 1  wherein said stopper layer extends radially inwardly and outwardly beyond said sealing beads.  
     
     
         13 . The gasket of  claim 1  wherein said stopper layer is fixed to said at least one gasket layer on the side radially outward of said sealing beads.  
     
     
         14 . The gasket layer of  claim 1  wherein said stopper layer is fixed at a radially outward end thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The gasket layer of  claim 1  wherein said stopper layer has a radially inward end that is unattached to said gasket layers.  
     
     
         16 . An assembly, comprising: 
 an engine block having at least one cylinder opening fitted with a cylinder liner;    a cylinder head;    a gasket disposed between said engine block and said cylinder head having at least first and second gasket layers having generally planar bodies and formed with at least one aligned hole corresponding to said cylinder opening of said engine block and at least one associate sealing bead in each of the gasket layers aligned opposite one another and projecting out of the plane of their respective bodies in radially outwardly spaced surrounding relation to said hole; a partial stopper layer disposed between said gasket layers and having an area less than that of either of said gasket layers, said stopper layer extending fully across said sealing bead from a position radially inward of said sealing beads to a position radially outward of said sealing beads, and being fixed to at lest one of said gasket layers adjacent only one side of said sealing beads and is free on the opposite side of the sealing beads, and with said gasket engaging said cylinder liner.    
     
     
         17 . The gasket of  claim 16  wherein said stopper layer is fixed to said at least one gasket layer on the side radially inward of said sealing beads.  
     
     
         18 . The gasket of  claim 16  wherein said stopper layer is fixed to only one of said gasket layers.  
     
     
         19 . The gasket layer of  claim 16  wherein said stopper layer is fixed at a radially inward end thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The gasket layer of  claim 19  wherein said stopper layer has a radially outward end that is unattached to said gasket layers.  
     
     
         21 . The gasket of  claim 16  wherein said sealing beads project toward one another.  
     
     
         22 . The gasket of  claim 21  wherein said stopper layer is formed with a bead that is nested with one of said beads of said gasket layers.  
     
     
         23 . The gasket of  claim 16  wherein said sealing beads project away form one another.  
     
     
         24 . The gasket of  claim 23  wherein said stopper layer is planar.  
     
     
         25 . The gasket of  claim 16  wherein said sealing beads project in the same direction.  
     
     
         26 . The gasket of  claim 16  wherein said stopper layer is planar.  
     
     
         27 . The gasket of  claim 16  wherein said stopper layer extends radially inwardly and outwardly beyond said sealing beads.  
     
     
         28 . The gasket of  claim 16  wherein said stopper layer is fixed to said at least one gasket layer on the side radially outward of said sealing beads.  
     
     
         29 . The gasket layer of  claim 16  wherein said stopper layer is fixed at a radially outward end thereof.  
     
     
         30 . The gasket layer of  claim 19  wherein said stopper layer has a radially inward end that is unattached to said gasket layers.