Patent ID: 6682079
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: F16J,Y10T

Abstract:
A metal gasket assembly, comprising:a gasket plate formed with a circumferentially continuous annular wall defining an annular opening and including opposite surfaces adjacent said opening defining a predetermined fixed thickness of said plate; and an annular grommet formed separately from said plate and having an axis, said grommet being received in said opening of said plate in radially inwardly spaced relation to said opening and having a generally U-shaped cross section defining a pair of axially spaced legs of said grommet, said legs having outer sealing surfaces spaced a predetermined distance apart when in an undeformed state corresponding to an initial thickness of said grommet, said initial thickness of said grommet being relatively greater than said fixed thickness of said plate, and said grommet being fabricated of an elastically deformable metal material imparting sufficient strength and resiliency to said grommet to enable said legs of said grommet to be elastically deformed in response to application of a compressive load to a reduced thickness corresponding substantially to said thickness of said plate and returning substantially to said initial thickness of said grommet in response to removal of said compressive load.