Patent ID: 6386549
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: F02F,F16J

Abstract:
A metallic laminate 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 metallic active layers, a first active layer and a second active layer, each having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough and a thickness defined by opposing top and bottom faces; at least one metallic spacer layer having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough and a thickness defined by opposing top and bottom faces, said apertures of said at least one spacer layer corresponding to said apertures of said active layers; each active layer being selectively arranged in face-to-face engagement with at least one of said at least one spacer layer with two of said active layers serving as outmost mounting surfaces of said gasket assembly such that said bottom face of a first active layer is removably engaged with said top face of its adjacent spacer layer and a top face of a second active layer is removably engaged with said bottom face of its adjacent spacer layer, wherein said apertures of said respective active layers and said at least one spacer layer are aligned; and wherein said one or more spacer layers may be selectively added or removed in a non-destructive manner from said gasket assembly to selectively vary the compression ratio of the engine.