Abstract: A gasket includes first and second metal layers having at least one opening formed therein. A half sealing bead surrounds the periphery of said opening. A support bead is formed adjacent to said half sealing bead to prevent crushing of the half sealing bead during engine operation.

Abstract: A cylinder head gasket has a multi-layered steel body that includes a unitary metallic stopper layer interposed between beaded outer layers. The interposed stopper layer has an asymmetrically formed bead defining at least one raised structure that circumferentially and closely surrounds a combustion aperture. Specifically, the bead defines a trough having a series of variations of thickness or widths about its circumferential dimension. An epoxy resin material substantially fills the volume of the trough about its circumferential extent, irrespective of the variable trough depth or width. In the disclosed embodiment, a metal/epoxy hard coating material is placed in and cured in the trough.

Abstract: A multi-layered gasket for a combustion engine having a central gasket layer and a plurality of active and spacer gasket layers that are removably secured together is disclosed. The active layers are arranged in face-to-face engagement with the spacer layers in an alternating manner with the central layer being positioned in the center of the gasket. The spacer layers may be selectively removed or added to vary the compression ratio of the engine. Alternatively, spacer layers may be selectively substituted With additional spacer layers having differing thicknesses to selectively vary the compression ratio of the engine. Each of the gasket layers are provided with a visual indicator to distinguish the respective layers from one another. Retaining mechanisms for removably securing the gasket layers together are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gasket for sealing between a mating surface of a first mating component and a second mating component includes a sealing body defined by an inner and outer peripheral edges from which a plurality of integral formable inner and outer tabs extend therefrom. The inner tabs are deformed into an engagement position to assist in properly locating the gasket on the mating surface and to engage the first mating component to retain the gasket on the mating surface in proper alignment. Similarly, the outer tabs are deformed into an engagement position over an outer peripheral edge of the mating surface to retain the gasket on the mating surface in proper alignment.