1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to improved automotive gasket assemblies for internal combustion engines, particularly to improved sealing inserts for combustion cylinder head gaskets applied between engine block and cylinder head structures of said engines, and more particularly to their methods of manufacture.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The manufacture of combustion cylinder head gaskets generally involves forming of (i.e., shaping) metallic cores to which are applied various facing materials such as graphite, as well as various sealing materials including elastomer materials, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The forming of the metallic cores has traditionally required a function separate and distinct from the later application of graphite and elastomer materials to various selectively targeted areas of the core.
One particular area of such application of elastomer involves a gasket insert adapted for providing effective sealing of oil and/or coolant flows along peripheral areas of the gasket spaced from the combustion openings. One manufacturing technique calls for the manufacture of separate insert structures having elastomer sealing portions bonded to apertures of the inserts, generally on both sides of the insert structures.
Normally, the inserts are manufactured separately from the gasket bodies, and are formed in at least two stages; the forming of the metallic insert structure, followed by the bonding to the structure of an elastomeric seal material. It would be a significant accomplishment to be able to form the metallic insert structure in a single process that included the bonding of the elastomeric seal material to the insert.
The present invention is a method of manufacturing a gasket insert for a combustion gasket designed for sealing between rigid mating engine surfaces, such as between an engine block and a cylinder head. In one described form, the insert is adapted for sealing a plurality of spaced apart apertures situated peripherally or apart from the combustion apertures. The insert is particularly suited for oil or water apertures of a cylinder head gasket, and can be manufactured via a single molding process that involves both of forming of the insert metal structure and the bonding of a sealing elastomer to the structure.
In one described method, the insert is manufactured for a combustion head gasket for sealing the combustion apertures of an engine, wherein the insert is specifically designed to seal a coolant or oil aperture portion of the combustion head gasket. The insert is preferably manufactured separately from the main gasket structure, and is formed of two materials, a metallic body and an elastomeric sealing bead bonded thereto.
A disclosed method for manufacturing the insert includes shaping the insert body and molding the bead in a single process. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a mold having an upper section and a lower section, the lower section defining a cavity adapted to receive a blank metal substrate; (b) placing the metal substrate into the mold cavity; (c) closing the upper section against the substrate to hold said insert in place under a first applied force; (d) applying a second force greater than the first to shape the insert; (e) supplying elastomeric material to predetermined selected portions of the blank metal substrate; and (f) curing the elastomeric material.
Referring initially to
Of particular importance with respect to the instant invention is the plurality of engine oil flow apertures 20 disposed along an edge 17 of the gasket 10. Referring now also to
Radially outwardly oriented fingers 24 are attached to the arms 26 through V-shaped connecting segments 32. The fingers 24 are adapted to be inserted into and through apertures 22, arranged in pairs on either side of each oil flow aperture 20 in the gasket 10 (
Referring now to
Referring now specifically to
Referring now to
The cavity 51 is adapted for the forming or shaping of the annular insert 30 in the lower mold section 46. The insert is placed into the cavity 51 as a flat metal blank (not shown), having the final planar shape of the insert 30.
A method of manufacturing the insert 30 includes the steps of: (a) providing a mold having an upper section 44 and a lower section 46, the lower section defining the cavity 51 adapted to receive the blank metal substrate; (b) placing the substrate into the mold cavity; (c) closing the upper mold section 44 against the substrate to hold the insert in place under a first applied force; (d) applying a second force, for example by means of the top mounted plunger 42, greater than the first force to plastically deform the insert into a predetermined shape; (e) supplying elastomeric material to predetermined selected portions (34) of the blank metal substrate; and (f) curing the elastomeric material.
In the described mold apparatus, the plunger 42 is adapted to supply the first and second forces as necessary to achieve the final product of a completed, i.e. manufactured, insert 30. Moreover, a plunger boss 52 of the plunger 42 is used to force elastomer from the top 45 of the mold section 44, downwardly through the sprues 48 and gates 50, to form an elastomer bead 34 within an annular bead cavity 54 formed at the interface of the upper and lower mold sections 44 and 46, as shown.
Continuing reference to
Referring now particularly to
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Many embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but instead with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
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2431393 | Franklin | Nov 1947 | A |
3090996 | Reichenbach et al. | May 1963 | A |
3490139 | McKinven | Jan 1970 | A |
3619458 | Engelhardt | Nov 1971 | A |
3851037 | Day et al. | Nov 1974 | A |
3875654 | Ushijima | Apr 1975 | A |
4096228 | Decker | Jun 1978 | A |
4957680 | Saxod et al. | Sep 1990 | A |
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6062573 | Budovec et al. | May 2000 | A |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20030127772 A1 | Jul 2003 | US |