Dana Corporation

Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC

Jeffery A Foster

Frank Walter Popielas

Howard M Robins

James S Pietraski

Lawrence E Peck

Thomas P Plunkett

James T Mikos

Michael J Kestly

Colin C Chen

Rohit Ramkumar

Dennis F Person

A gasket having a first upper layer, a second lower layer and a spacer layer is provided. The first upper layer has a bead located between two lands. The second lower layer also has a bead located between two lands. The spacer layer has an embossment located between two lands. A coating may be located within the embossment. The beads are located in an axial relationship with respect to the embossment.

Multi-layered gasket

A gasket is provided having a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer. Both layers have combustion openings where each opening is surrounded by an edge of the layer. The first layer defines several beads and lands unitary with one another. A coating is located within one of the beads of the first layer and below the associated lands. The second layer has several lands and a bead in a particular orientation with respect to the beads and lands of the first layer.

Metal gasket with coating topography

An embodiment provides a MLS gasket that includes a metal body portion having an external periphery, an upper body surface generally defining a first plane. At least one cylinder aperture formed in the metal body portion and defined by an inner aperture surface. The gasket also includes a combustion seal insert including a first insert layer having an outer first periphery, a top first insert surface and a bottom first insert surface. The outer first periphery is circumscribed by the inner aperture surface. The first insert layer includes a first insert bead portion. The gasket further includes a first sealing layer having a top first sealing surface and a bottom first sealing surface. Portions of the bottom first sealing surface are selectively in contact with each of the upper body surface and the top first insert surface. Compression of the first insert bead portion is selectively limited by the body portion.

Stopped-active type cylinder head gasket

Sensor apparatus for a multiple layer steel (MLS) cylinder head gasket measures combustion pressures for detecting engine conditions. A membrane is positioned at one end of an elongated metal tube, and the membrane end of the tube engages a cylinder bore boundary. A fiber optical sensor apparatus is fixed within the tube, and communicates with cyclic combustion events via the membrane. In one disclosed embodiment, optical wires from sensor apparatus situated at each engine bore are bundled into a common groove machined into an extended spacer layer radially outwardly of the conventional boundary of the gasket. The tube protects the sensor apparatus from damage of sealing stress on the gasket, and particularly at the bore perimeter. Each tube lies in a separate groove in the spacer layer that terminates at the bore boundary. A converter changes optical signals received from the apparatus into electrical signals for transmittal to a controller.

Pressure sensor apparatus for measuring pressures including knock conditions in engine cylinders

A gasket having a layer including at least one combustion opening and a wave area located on the layer is disclosed. The wave area includes a first wave and a second wave. The first wave is proximate the combustion opening. A flat portion near the second wave includes a first end and a second end. A full bead is located next to the second end of the flat portion whereby a lower surface of the flat portion is above the lower projecting surfaces of the wave area.

Optimized wave bead with full bead design

A multi-layer steel (MLS) cylinder head gasket containing fully integrated pressure sensors includes first and second metal layers with inner facing surfaces, and a spacer layer interposed between the facing surfaces. Outer (non-facing) surfaces of the first and second metal layers each include an elastomeric seal coating; the inner surfaces of the layers each include a friction reducing coating. Combustion apertures extend fully between the outer surfaces of the gasket, and are adapted to circumscribe cylinder bores of an engine. The spacer layer includes protective slots positioned adjacent each of the combustion apertures. Each slot wall contains a pressure sensor in form of a strain gauge to measure deflection of the wall resulting from pressure changes within engine combustion chambers. The measured deflections are correlated to actual pressures within the chambers. In the protective slots, the strain gauges are not exposed to combustion gases that could otherwise foul the sensors.

Multi-layer steel cylinder head gasket with integrated pressure sensor

A multi-layered cylinder head gasket for positioning between a cylinder head and a cylinder block of an engine includes upper and lower compression layers and a stopper layer. The compression layers and stopper layer all include apertures that mate together to define a peripheral edge. The stopper layer further includes a folded portion and a main body portion. The folded portion has a plurality of waves that contact the main body portion of the stopper layer to form a stopper when folded over. The stopper is positioned at the peripheral edge of the mated aperture. The waves deform under high compression loads generated by the joining of the cylinder head and the cylinder block. The deformation balances the stresses generated by the compression loads around the mated aperture.

Cylinder head gasket with fold-over stopper

An improved fluid flow sensor for measuring changes in temperatures of fluids flowing through apertures of a multiple-layered gasket is embedded between layers of the gasket. A thermal resistor type of sensor based upon hotwire anemometer technology in a preferred embodiment is responsive to changes in fluid temperature and flow velocity. A primary resistance with external current leads and separate auxiliary leads for voltage sensing are employed, wherein changes in resistance are virtually linearly proportional to changes in temperature. A four-point probe measurement method provides a most accurate reading of the temperature data to the extent that resistance associated with lead and contact resistances are minimized. The thermal resistor sensor is constructed of relatively thin layers of dielectric and electrically conducting materials having a low thermal mass, wherein the dielectric layers serve as support and electrical insulation to protect the sensor from environmental deterioration.

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North Aurora, IL, United States of America

Jeffery A Foster