Abstract: A metal gasket for use in sealing between a cylinder head and a block of an engine includes at least one layer formed with at least one opening therethrough and a deformation feature in the form of a sealing bead, stopper, or both surrounding the opening. The gasket layer is fabricated of austemper-hardenable steel formed when in an annealed state and thereafter austempered to harden the layer and relieve residual forming stresses. During austempering, the layer is supported in a porous fixture that retains the layer against movement out of its plane while permitting it to move within its plane. The fixture has coarse expanded metal exoskeleton liner with wire mesh panels. The mesh liners maintain molten salt against the layers which acts as a thermal cushion to discourage warpage.

Abstract: A heat treat fixture is provided for supporting thin sheet-like work pieces, such as metal gasket layers, during heat treatment to achieve uniform hardness and properties of the work piece while preventing warpage. The fixture has porous, planar support walls that engage the opposite sides of the work piece. The walls include a coarse porous exoskeleton of expanded metal and an inner liner of wire mesh panels that are considerably finer than the coarse exoskeleton. The porous walls permit liquid heating and cooling media during heat treatment to flow freely through the walls for intimate contact with the work piece to achieve rapid uniform heating and cooling. The work piece is supported by the porous walls against movement out of its plane while being permitted to expand and contract within its plane to minimize warpage.

Abstract: A heat treat fixture is provided for supporting thin sheet-like work pieces, such as metal gasket layers, during heat treatment to achieve uniform hardness and properties of the work piece while preventing warpage. The fixture has porous, planar support walls that engage the opposite sides of the work piece. The walls include a coarse porous exoskeleton of expanded metal and an inner liner of wire mesh panels that are considerably finer than the coarse exoskeleton. The porous walls permit liquid heating and cooling media during heat treatment to flow freely through the walls for intimate contact with the work piece to achieve rapid uniform heating and cooling. The work piece is supported by the porous walls against movement out of its plane while being permitted to expand and contract within its plane to minimize warpage.

Abstract: A laminated gasket assembly and method of making same is disclosed. The laminated gasket assembly comprises first and second sheets, each having a thin metallic layer having a thin elastomeric coating on at least one major surface, and an elastomeric layer interposed between, and joining, the sheets, with first and second thin elastomeric coatings facing outwardly in opposite directions. The gasket assembly defines at least one elevated pressure service opening therethrough. The sheets and layers are laminated and define an embossment around a service opening, with the elastomeric layer being conformed to the embossment.

Abstract: A vacuum furnace is provided with subatmospheric pressure control of a diffusable media and with a fan at an end of a heated load chamber to circulate uniformly the diffusable media around the workpieces which are contained within the load chamber.