Patent ID: 6409178
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: F02F,F16J

Abstract:
A metallic gasket assembly for use in sealing mating components in an internal combustion engine and permitting selective variation of the compression ratio of the engine, said gasket assembly comprising:at least two active layers, a first active layer and a second active layer, each having a plurality of active layer apertures formed therethrough and an active layer thickness defined by opposing top and bottom faces; a central layer having a plurality of central layer apertures formed therethrough and a central layer thickness defined by opposing top and bottom faces; said central layer apertures corresponding to said active layer apertures; at least one spacer layer having a plurality of spacer layer apertures formed therethrough and a spacer layer thickness defined by opposing top and bottom faces, said spacer layer apertures corresponding to said active and central apertures; said active, central and spacer layers being arranged in face-to-face engagement with said central layer being positioned between said active layers with two of said active layers serving as outermost mounting surfaces of said gasket assembly such that said respective central and active layer apertures are aligned, wherein said at least one spacer layer is positioned between said central layer and one of said active layers such that said spacer layer apertures are aligned with said active and central layers; wherein said active, central and spacer layers are removably engaged in face-to-face engagement such that one or more spacer layers may be selectively added or removed from said gasket assembly in a non-destructive manner to selectively vary the compression ratio of the engine when said gasket assembly is operatively connected to the vehicle engine; and wherein at least one of said central layer, active layers or said spacer layer is provided with a visual indicator to allow for distinguishing between said central layer, active layers and said spacer layer during selective assembly or re-assembly said gasket assembly to achieve varied compression ratios for the vehicle engine when said gasket assembly is operatively connected to the vehicle engine.