Method of sealing a high performance automotive engine and engine assembly

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ible composite facing layers laminated to the surfaces of

METHOD OF SEALNG A HIGH PERFORMANCE the core, the main body defining a plurality of combus AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE AND ENGINE tion openings, bolt holes and liquid passageways, and a ASSEMBLY fire ring for each combustion opening, each fire ring comprising a wire ring and an armor ensheathing the

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION wire ring and having legs which grip the edges of the The invention of this application relates to gasketing associated combustion opening, the wire ring of which for high performance racing engines. High output, high may be oversized and have a thickness greater than the performance automobile engines, such as those used for O thickness of the main body; providing a groove in one racing, present the gasket and sealing engineer with or both of the head and the block generally concentric severe operating conditions that are exceedingly diffi with each combustion opening, each groove having a cult with which to contend. Standard passenger car land area and a generally vertical wall which intersects laminated gaskets, used in a conventional manner, do with the main clamping surface of the head or block; not stand up to such service conditions and result in 5 and positioning the gasket on the block relative to the blow-out and leakage when cylinder pressures over head, so that when the head is torqued down, each come the clamping force of the head bolts or studs. groove receives a fire ring and compresses the wire ring When that happens, the head tends to lift away from the to provide a primary seal therewith at the land area, the block, unloading the gasket, and providing leakage wall engages the armor to form a secondary seal, and paths for liquids and gases. Further, if the lifting force is the head and block main clamping surfaces engage the great enough, the combustion seal may be lifted out of 20 armor to clamp the armor against the main body. position or may otherwise be forced out of position, In one form of the method the legs fully embrace the resulting in engine failure. facing layers to provide a tertiary seal therewith against A variety of mechanisms have been employed to seek the head and the block to seal against passage of con to overcome such problems. bustion gases therepast and to prevent pull-in of the For example, high output racing engine builders for 25 armor into an associated cylinder. Desirably, at least years have used a solid copper gasket and stainless steel wire rings placed in adjacent grooves in the cylinder one fine of the head and block main clamping surfaces de an annular corner at the edge of the groove which, head or in the block around the cylinders. This is very under load, bears against the adjacent armor and acts durable from a combustion seal standpoint, but the seal with a resultant ing of coolants is very difficult and requires multiple, provide a highly force 30 which intersects the wire ring to effective secondary seal for the engine.

separate auxiliary seals for that purpose.

Other engine builders have used an additional wire each of the head and block,portions

Vertically aligned groove each of may be provided in which receives the ring in a groove around the cylinder adjacent to the gasket body, adjacent to an associated armor having a fireThe ring when the head is torqued down. automotive engine and head gasket assembly of wire ring. This design is undesirable because the clamp 35 the present invention comprises a head, a block defining ing force intended for effecting the combustion seal is cylinders and a head gasket. The head and block to then divided between two wires instead of the one in the gasket as designed by the manufacturer. gether define a pair of confronting clamping surfaces Still other engine builders have used conventional and a perimetric groove surrounding each cylinder and passenger car gaskets and either installed a wire ring disposed between the pair of surfaces, the groove hav that contacts the gasket on a horizontal or upper surface ing a pair of confronting spaced surfaces having a first of the armor, or adjacent to the armor. The problem vertical dimension between them. The head gasket with this is that when such a wire is positioned on the comprises a main body of a first thickness including a armor and is loaded, the armor tends to split due to high central core and facing layers laminated to the core, the stress levels. When such a wire is positioned adjacent to 45 main body defining a plurality of combustion openings, the armor, it divides the clamping forces, or causes and a fire ring disposed and secured in each combustion loading on the gasket body itself to be insufficient to opening, each fire ring comprising a generally U-shaped seal effectively in the main body of the gasket, such as armor having a pair of legs overlying and underlying around the coolant and oil holes, or both. the main body adjacent each combustion opening and a It is therefore an object of the present invention to 50 central body connecting said legs and ensheathing a provide an improved sealing mechanism for high per wire ring for providing a combustion seal. The armor formance engines and which includes an integrated has a second vertical dimension greater than the first gasket having an armor and wire which may be in vertical dimension prior to assembly and which may be stalled as a single unit, and without the need for utilizing substantially greater than the thickness of the gasket separate or auxiliary sealing elements. The sealing as 55 main body, whereby, in use, the combustion seal pro sembly of the present invention provides effective seal vides a labyrinth seal against the spaced surfaces of the ing and resists both blow-out and pull-in of the wire ring groove and against a corner defined by the groove. in operation of the sealed engine assembly. In one form, the groove is defined in part by each of

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

the head and block. The groove may define an entry way from the cylinder thereto, the entryway being

In accordance with the present invention, a method substantially less in vertical dimension than the first for sealing a high performance internal combustion vertical dimension, thereby to prevent movement of the engine with integrated sealing elements is provided. combustion seal therethrough. The entryway may be The engine has a head and a block, each having a main defined in part by a locking lip formed with at least one clamping surface. An associated integrated head gasket 65 of the head and block.

is positioned between the main clamping surfaces. The Further objects, features and advantages of the pres method includes the steps of providing a gasket com ent invention will become apparent from the following prising a main body having a central core and compress description and appended drawings.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS generally horizontal land area L and a generally vertical wall W extending between land area L and the con

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an automotive engine fronting clamping surface S. The wall and clamping assembly in accordance with the present invention; surface S intersect in a corner C which may preferably FIG. 2 is a plan view of a gasket employed in the 5 be generally square, although it may be slightly cham engine assembly of FIG. 1; fered as well. The height of the groove is such that FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially when the engine is closed and the gasket is properly along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; positioned, the wire ring 44 will be significantly com FIGS. 4-6 are cross-sectional views like that of pressed. It may be possible to compress these wires less FIG. 3, but showing other embodiments of the present O than normally done, and still seal because of the second invention. ary seal. Less compression will reduce bore distortion DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE and brinnelling of aluminum heads.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS From FIGS. 2 and 3 it will be apparent that when the gasket is positioned on the block relative to the head

Referring now to the drawings, an engine assembly in 15 and the gasket 10 is torqued down between clamping accordance with the present invention comprises an surfaces S of the head and block via bolts (not shown), engine E (shown schematically in FIG. 1) having a head that the gasket is securely clamped into sealing engage H and a block B. A gasket 10 in accordance with this ment with the head and block and the wire ring is con invention is disposed between them in a sealing relation pressed. Indeed the gasket and armor produce a com ship against their respective clamping surfaces S. 20

The head and block define a plurality of combustion bustion area L., seal which has a primary seal against the land a secondary seal against the corner C and a cylinders as well as oil and coolant passages and bolt tertiary seal holes via which the engine assembly is clamped. The the legs 46 ofagainst the the head and block in the zone of armor at which the armor is clamped gasket 10 defines aligned, complementary combustion against the main body. The openings 20, coolant and oil passages 22, and bolt holes labyrinth effect, with any plural 25 seals also produce a escaping gas being under

reduced pressure at the secondary

The gasket 10 comprises a main body 12 which in making sealing of those zones somewhat and tertiary seals cludes a central metal core 30, such as of cold rolled easier. Of course, the liquid steel, and facing layers 32 laminated to the surface of facing layers 32. seals are provided by the composite metal core 30. Core 30 may be solid or perforated. Fac 30 The gasket and engine assemblies described provide ing layers may be of typical fiber/elastomer materials, combustion seals which are more effective than those such as glass fibers or other fibrous material and may currently used and which are more convenient than utilize nitrile, neoprene, or polyacrylic elastomers as those typically used in high performance engines. The binders. Fillers and other conventional ingredients may assemblies resist pull-in, the tendency of wire to be also be present. Graphite facing layers may be used as 35 pulled into the combustion well and if so used, will typically be used with a perfo uum under extreme conditions. cylinders under high vac rated metallic core. Similarly, physical At each combustion opening 20, a fire ring 40 is pro blow-out of the armors and associated wire rings is vided. Fire ring 40 includes an armor 42 and a wire ring avoided by the groove 50 and corner C, and by-pass of 44. Wire 44 may be of low carbon steel. Copper or gases in extreme operating conditions is avoided via the multiple (primary, secondary and tertiary) gas seals, stainless steel wires may also be used. Armor 42 may be stainless steel and is generally of a U-shaped cross sec byEnhanced sealing and interlocking can be achieved additionally grooving the clamping surface of the tion having a closed end, which receives and ensheathes the wire ring 44, and a pair of legs 46 which overlie and block as illustrated by FIG. 4. In that embodiment, a grip the main gasket body at the peripheries of the com 45 block groove 52 complementary to the head groove 50 bustion openings 20. The legs 46 may preferably fully is provided. These groove portions which define a pair embrace the peripheries of the main body or may com of confronting spaced surfaces cooperate with a fire prise tabs, as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 3,560,007, for ring 60 having an armor and wire ring as just described suspending the wire ring 44 in the opening. in the same manner to provide primary and secondary Although the gasket 10 itself so far described em SO seals at each of the two locations, rather than at one ploys well known features and components, it is differ location, thereby enhancing the sealing potential of the ent in the embodiment illustrated from most such gas assembly.

kets by its use of an oversized wire ring 44 and an armor The grooves 50, 52 illustrated thus far may extend having a thickness which is substantially greater than inwardly to the engine cylinders. It is also possible to the thickness of the main body 12. A typical gasket may 55 recess the grooves so that they lock the armor and wire have a body of about 0.388 to 0.452 inch with an armor ring, not only against blow out, but against pull-in as having a 0.46 diameter low carbon wire and an armor well. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate that. Thus, it is seen in ing of 0.06 inch thick stainless steel for an overall armor FIGS. 5 and 6 that an entryway to the grooves 150, 152 thickness of about 0.58 inch. is provided which is defined in part by locking lips 160, The sealing system of the present invention also con 162 formed with the head or with the head and block. templates the provision and use of a groove 50 in one or The locking lips define an entryway which is substan both of the head and block of the engine. Thus, a peri tially less in vertical dimension than the distance be metric groove surrounding each cylinder may be ma tween the confronting surfaces of the groove. The seal chined into the clamping surface S of the head adjacent ing effects of the grooves 150, 152 with their armors and generally concentric with the combustion opening 65 100,120, respectively, and their functional cooperation 20 in the main body 12 of the gasket. The groove may with the associated gasket is otherwise the same as just be variously configured, but it defines a recess in the described with respect to the embodiments of FIGS. head having a surface which may be referred to as a 1-4.

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It will be appreciated that the primary and tertiary 2. The method of claim 1, and wherein said legs fully seals are effected by the torquing of the engine to a embrace said facing layers to provide a tertiary seal sealed condition via the bolts. At rest there is no force therewith against the head and the block to seal against acting to push the armor outwardly. However, when passage of combustion gases therepast and to prevent the engine is running, the cylinder pressure tends to act pull-in of the armor into an associated cylinder. outwardly against the armor in the director of arrow A 3. The method of claim 1 and wherein said wall and (FIG.3). Due to the torquing load imposed by the bolts said head or block main clamping surfaces define an (arrow X in FIG. 3), a resultant reactive load (repre annular corner at the edge of the groove which, under sented by arrow R in FIG. 3) is imposed at corners C of load, bears against an adjacent armor and acts with a the grooves. The angle of the resultant reactive load 10 resultant force which intersects the wire ring to provide will vary with cylinder pressure and effective torquing a highly effective secondary seal for said engine. load. Thus, for example, when the engine is not running, 4. The method of claim 1 and wherein vertically the force represented by arrow A will be zero and the aligned groove portions are provided in each of said resultant will be zero. The greater the pressure, consid head and block, each of which receives said fire ring ering also the torquing load, the steeper the angle at 15 when the head is torqued down.

which the resultant reactive load at the corner acts 5. An automotive engine and head gasket assembly against the armor. Typically under higher load condi comprising a head, a block defining cylinders, and a tions, the angle of the reactive resultant load effectively head gasket, intersects the wire ring, thereby producing a highly said head and block together defining a pair of con effective secondary sealing effect at the corners C. 20 fronting clamping surfaces and a perimetric groove From the foregoing it will be apparent to those opening into and surrounding each cylinder and skilled in the art that further modifications may be made disposed between said pair of surfaces, said groove and provided without departing from the spirit of the having a pair of confronting spaced surfaces having invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to a first vertical dimension between them, be considered as limited only to the extent made neces 25 said head gasket comprising a main body of a first sary by the appended claims. thickness including a central core and facing layers What is claimed is: laminated to said core, said main body defining a 1. A method of sealing a high performance internal plurality of combustion openings, and a fire ring combustion engine having a head and a block, each disposed and secured in each combustion opening, having a main clamping surface, and an associated head 30 each said fire ring comprising a generally U-shaped gasket between said main clamping surfaces, the armor having a pair of legs overlying and underly method comprising: ing said main body adjacent a combustion opening providing a gasket comprising a main body having a and a central body connecting said legs and en central core and compressible composite facing sheathing a wire ring for providing a combustion layers laminated to the surface of the core, said 35 seal, said armor having a second vertical dimension main body defining a plurality of combustion open greater than said first vertical dimension prior to ings, bolt holes and liquid passageways, and a fire assembly, whereby, in use, the combustion seal ring for each combustion opening, each said fire provides a labyrinth seal against the spaced sur ring comprising a wire ring and an armor ensheath faces of the groove and against a corner defined by ing said wire ring and having legs which grip the the groove.

edges of the main body adjacent the associated 6. An automotive gasket and head gasket assembly in combustion opening; accordance with claim 5 and wherein said groove is providing a groove in one or both of said head and defined in part by each of said head and block. said block generally concentric with each said 7. An automotive engine and head gasket assembly in combustion opening, each said groove opening into 45 accordance with claim 5 and wherein said groove is said combustion opening, each said groove having defined by said head.

a land area and a generally vertical wall which 8. An automotive engine and head gasket assembly in intersects with the main clamping surface of said accordance with claim 5 and wherein said groove de head or block; and fines an entryway from said cylinder thereto which is positioning said gasket on said block relative to said 50 substantially less in vertical dimension than said first head, so that when said head is torqued down, each vertical dimension, thereby to prevent movement of said groove receives said fire ring and compresses said combustion seal therethrough.

said fire ring to provide a primary seal therewith at 9. An automotive engine and head gasket assembly in said land area, the wall engages said armor to form accordance with claim 8 and wherein said entryway is a secondary seal, and said head and block main 55 defined in part by a locking lip formed with at least one clamping surfaces engage said armor to clamp said of said head and block.

armor against said main body. s E