Exhaust manifold flange

Abstract

An exhaust header having a recessed sealing surface that receives an annular graphite gasket for affecting a fluid tight seal. The exhaust header further includes one or more exhaust head pipe flanges and one or more exhaust head pipes. Each exhaust head pipe flange is fixedly attached to one of the exhaust head pipes to form a passageway through the exhaust header. During installation, each exhaust head pipe flange is aligned with a passageway from an exhaust port of an internal combustion engine. A one to one registration between the exhaust head pipe flanges and the exhaust ports is achieved. The gasket circumscribes the exhaust port when the exhaust header is aligned with the surface of the internal combustion engine. Torquing of one or more fasteners compresses the gasket against the surface of the internal combustion engine to form the fluid tight seal between the passageways of the exhaust port and the exhaust header.

1 . An exhaust header for collecting exhaust gases from one or more exhaust ports of an internal combustion engine, the header comprising: 
 a plurality of flanges, each having a passageway extending therethrough and further comprising; 
 a recessed seal surface configured so as to support therein a gasket in a manner such that at least a portion of the gasket is exposed to gas flowing out the exhaust port, wherein the seal surface is configured to circumscribe a single exhaust port;  
 a web connecting at least two of the plurality of flanges so as to inhibit relative movement between the connected flanges; and  
 a plurality of graphite gaskets, each located on the seal surface and configured to form a seal between the internal combustion engine and each flange.  
   
     
     
         2 . The exhaust header of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of flanges is made of metal.  
     
     
         3 . The exhaust header of  claim 2 , wherein the metal is iron.  
     
     
         4 . The exhaust header of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of flanges comprises two bolt holes.  
     
     
         5 . The exhaust header of  claim 1 , wherein the seal surface is recessed approximately 0.1 inches.  
     
     
         6 . The exhaust header of  claim 1 , wherein the seal surface has a substantially annular shape.  
     
     
         7 . The exhaust header of  claim 1 , wherein the seal surface has a substantially rectangular shape.  
     
     
         8 . The exhaust header of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the passageway varies.  
     
     
         9 . The exhaust header of  claim 8 , wherein the cross-sectional area increases.  
     
     
         10 . An exhaust header for collecting exhaust gases from a plurality of exhaust ports from an internal combustion engine, the plurality of exhaust ports being disposed in a surface of the engine, the header comprising: 
 a plurality of flanges, each having a passageway extending therethrough and further comprising a plurality of bolt holes, the plurality of bolt holes being disposed so as to receive a fastener in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the engine, and a recessed seal surface configured so as to support therein a gasket in a manner such that at least a portion of the gasket is open to the passageway, the recessed seal surface being configured to circumscribe a single exhaust port;    a web connecting two of the plurality of flanges so as to inhibit relative movement between the connected flanges; and    a graphite gasket configured to be positioned against the seal surface and form a seal between the internal combustion engine and the flange.    
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of flanges is made of metal.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the metal is iron.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the seal surface is recessed approximately 0.1 inches.  
     
     
         14 . An exhaust header for collecting exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, the engine having a mating surface through which a plurality of exhaust ports expel exhaust gases, the exhaust header comprising: 
 a plurality of flanges configured to be compressed toward the mating surface, each having a recessed sealing surface configured to circumscribe one of the plurality of exhaust ports, the recessed sealing surface being disposed so as to support therein a gasket;    a web connecting at least two of the plurality of flanges so as to inhibit relative movement between the connected flanges; and    a plurality of gaskets comprising graphite and configured to contact the mating surface, each being located in the recessed sealing surface and configured to form separate seals between each flange and the mating surface around one of the plurality of exhaust ports.    
     
     
         15 . The exhaust header of  claim 14 , wherein the web connects two adjacent flanges.  
     
     
         16 . The exhaust header of  claim 14 , wherein the web is configured to contact the mating surface at least when the exhaust header is attached to the engine.  
     
     
         17 . The exhaust header of  claim 14  further comprising at least two bolt holes, wherein one of the two bolt holes is open to an edge of the flange.  
     
     
         18 . The exhaust header of  claim 14 , wherein the recessed sealing surface has a substantially circular shape.  
     
     
         19 . The exhaust header of  claim 14 , wherein the recessed sealing surface has a substantially rectangular shape.  
     
     
         20 . The exhaust header of  claim 19 , wherein the graphite gasket comprises metal reinforcement.