Cummins Engine Company, Inc.

J Dan Baugh

Larry D Wells

Kent V Shields

Yoke L Yam

Nigel Gale

A head gasket, for sealing a junction between a top face of a cylinder block of an engine and a bottom face of a cylinder head thereof, of the type having a row of relatively large circular cut-outs, that, in use, correspond in size, number and position to that of cylinder spaces formed in the cylinder block and a plurality of apertures that are relatively small in comparison to the circular cut-outs that, in use, correspond in number and position to coolant passages formed in the faces of the cylinder block and cylinder head, as well as holes sized and positioned, in use, in accordance with holes in the cylinder block and head for connecting bolts and holes for lubricant circulation. In addition to a first row of apertures extending along a first lateral side of the circular cylinder cut-outs, the gasket is provided with a second row of apertures that are used to orifice outlet coolant passages from the cylinder head to the cylinder block. The second row of apertures comprises pairs of apertures flanking longitudinally opposite sides of each of the circular cylinder cut-outs, an aperture of each pair being larger in area than the other aperture of each pair. Furthermore, from a point between an intermediate pair of the circular cylinder cut-outs, the larger apertures and the smaller apertures, respectively, on each of opposite sides of the intermediate point, progressively increase and decrease in area toward opposite ends of the second row of apertures. The gasket is also provided with a third row of smaller orificing apertures, as well.

Coolant flow orificing head gasket

An internal combustion engine, of the type having a block with a line of cylinders and a cylinder head attached to the block and coolant distribution and discharge manifolds provided adjacent each other on one side of the block is provided with an improved coolant arrangement. Coolant from a pump enters the distribution manifold at a point intermediate the ends of the line of cylinders and from there flows freely up into the cylinder head through cast openings corresponding in number to the number of cylinders. The majority of coolant flows across the cylinder head and down to coolant chambers surrounding the engine cylinders via a pair of orificed holes for each cylinder. The orificed holes control the flow of coolant around the cylinders and are provided in a gasket between the cylinder block and cylinder head. After the coolant flows around the cylinder liners, it is discharged from the coolant chambers in the cylinder block to the discharge manifold via a cast opening for each cylinder. In order to prevent creation of an air pocket at the top of the discharge side of the coolant chambers, a portion of the coolant entering into the head is routed directly, via a small opening, to the coolant chambers surrounding each cylinder cavity. To ensure that this coolant flow is distributed around the top of each cylinder liner, a deflector ledge is situated directly below this coolant opening.

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Greensburg, IN, United States of America

J Dan Baugh