Patent ID: 9657840
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: F16J

Claim:
1. A gasket assembly, comprising: a core layer; a first facing layer disposed on one side of said core layer, and a second facing layer disposed on an opposite side of said core layer; and a first outer layer of metal disposed on an outer facing surface of said first facing layer facing away from said core layer, and a second outer layer of metal disposed on an outer facing surface of said second facing layer facing away from said core layer; said core layer, said facing layers, and said first and second outer layers presenting a set of axially aligned openings aligned about a central axis extending in an axial direction; said first outer layer comprising a substantially flat portion substantially parallel to said outer facing surface of said first facing layer transitioning directly to a completely curved portion being curved into said set of axially aligned openings in a convex manner when viewed form said central axis, being curved towards said second outer layer, and being curved by no greater than ninety degrees, said completely curved portion of said first outer layer completely defining a first outer layer flange, said first outer layer flange extending axially along said set of axially aligned openings from said substantially flat portion of said first outer lam to a distal end of said first outer layer which is located inside of said set of axially aligned openings and approximately at a middle of an overall axial thickness of said gasket near said core layer, and said second outer layer comprising a substantially flat portion substantially parallel to said outer facing surface of said second facing layer transitioning directly to a completely curved portion being curved into said set of axially aligned openings in a convex manner when viewed form said central axis, being curved towards said first outer layer, and being curved by no greater than ninety degrees, said completely curved portion of said second outer layer completely defining a second outer layer flange, said second outer layer flange extending axially along said set of axially aligned openings from said substantially flat portion of said second outer layer to a distal end of said second outer layer which is located inside of said set of axially aligned openings and approximately at said middle of said overall axial thickness of said gasket near said core layer; and wherein said first and second outer layer flanges are in direct contact with one another only in a limited region at or near their respective distal ends with said limited region being substantially smaller than said overall axial thickness of said gasket and located more axially proximate said middle of said overall axial thickness of said gasket than axially proximate to either of said substantially flat portions of said first and second outer layers, wherein said direct contact at said limited region provides a gas tight seal around said set of axially aligned openings for protecting said facing layers from gasses flowing through said set of axially aligned openings.