Patent ID: 7374177

Claim:
A multilayer metal gasket, comprising: an upper metal layer having at least one upper opening formed therein and a downwardly extending upper sealing feature surrounding the upper opening formed in said upper metal layer, the upper sealing feature having an upper sealing surface thereon; a lower metal layer having a lower opening which corresponds to the upper opening and an upwardly extending lower sealing feature formed in said lower metal layer, the lower sealing feature having a lower sealing surface thereon; at least one intermediate metal layer located between said upper metal layer and said lower metal layer, said intermediate layer having an annular portion with a constant thickness surrounding said upper and lower openings; wherein at least one of the upper metal layer or lower metal layer have a compression control feature having a length which completely surrounds the opening proximate to the upper sealing surface and the lower sealing surface opposite and radially aligned with said constant thickness annular portion of said intermediate metal layer, the compression control feature being formed as a groove extending circumferentially into said at least one upper metal layer or lower metal layer, said groove having a predetermined depth greater than zero which varies continuously about the entire circumference of the opening as a function of position along its length.