Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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60680-1164 (4635 VIC) Patent Application
GASKET ATTACHMENT CLIP
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gasket attachment clip. More particularly,
the present invention relates to a ring gasket including at least one integral
clip
secured to the outer perimeter of a primary sealing element of the gasket to
locate the
gasket on a mating flange.
to BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Gaskets are often used as seal between mating metal surfaces. One common
application involves the placement of a gasket between a head and an exhaust
manifold of an internal combustion engine. Another application involves gasket
placement between the exhaust manifold and an exhaust pipe flange. Gaskets for
either application can be considered high temperature gaskets and more
particularly
exhaust manifold gaskets since they provide an exhaust seal which prevents the
byproducts of combustion exiting the engine from escaping into the engine
compartment of a vehicle.
Exhaust manifold gaskets are typically installed during assembly by placing
the gasket between an exhaust manifold and its mating component and aligning
bolt
holes or apertures formed in the gasket with corresponding holes formed in the
manifold and mating component. Typically, a threaded fastener passes through
the
manifold and gasket and engages a corresponding threaded aperture formed in
the
mating component. Some maneuvering of the manifold and gasket relative to the
mating component may be required to align the holes therein with the
corresponding
threaded apertures of the mating component before the fasteners can be
inserted. But
during the assembly process, the gasket may slip from its desired position or
drop off
CA 02277735 1999-07-21
60680-1164 (4635 VIC) Patent Application
the end of the inserted fastener before it can be fixed in place between the
exhaust
manifold and its mating component.
Another approach for retaining a gasket against a mating component includes
using separate clips to attach the gasket to a particular mating component of
an engine
part. Using such an approach, a gasket is placed adjacent the mating
component, and
a clip is attached to the mating component such that the gasket is secured in
place
between the clip and the mating component. Known clips typically include one
end
for contacting the gasket about an outer perimeter thereof while a second end
is
attached to an outer perimeter of a mating component, or even to a connecting
portion
between mating components. Because such clips are designed to interact with an
outer perimeter of a gasket, the gasket itself must cover the full radial
extent of a
mating surface. Use of such removable clips does not fully eliminate the
problems
involved in the assembly process whereby a gasket may slip from its desired
position.
Separate clips may become dislodged during sub-assembly handling and shipping
of
mating components, allowing the gasket to slip or drop.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a gasket assembly is provided
including at least one clip integrally attached to the outer perimeter of a
primary
sealing element of a gasket for attaching the gasket to a mating flange.
Slipping of
the gasket relative to the mating flange is thereby prevented.
The gasket of the present invention includes at least one integral fastening
clip
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having a first end, a second end, and an elongated body defined there-between.
The
first end of the clip includes a formed end which directly engages and is
secured to the
outer perimeter of a primary sealing element of the gasket, typically by a low
current
welding operation. The elongated body of the clip projects downwardly toward a
mating flange and terminates at the second end, which includes an integral
locking tab
angularly extending outwardly therefrom. The locking tab engages a slot
feature
formed in the mating flange. The slot feature is offset from a sealing
perimeter of the
mating flange so that the clip does not interfere with the gasket function by
interfering
with dynamic events during the operating life of the gasket. Thus, the radial
extent of
the gasket is less then the radial extent of the mating flange. In one
embodiment, the
elongated body of the clip extends at an acute angle from the plane of the
primary
sealing element to allow for stacking of multiple parts for shipping. In a
further
embodiment, the elongated body of the clip is sufficiently long to extend
entirely
through the slot feature, such that the locking tab extends out past the slot
feature to a
non-mating side of the first mating flange, thereby creating retention of the
gasket
against the first mating flange. In this embodiment, manual radial compression
of the
locking tab is necessary for gasket removal.
The integral clip of the present invention therefore allows a gasket to be
properly aligned with and secured to a mating flange prior to assembly. The
clip is
2o left in place after assembly, providing visual verification of gasket
installation upon
completion of a vehicle. At the same time, the radial extent of the gasket
need not
correspond to the full extent of the first mating flange.
The combination of integral clips with specifically located slot features also
simplifies gasket installation, and allows the gasket to be optimally located
very easily
on a mating component.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become more
apparent upon reading the following detailed description, claims, and
drawings, of
which the following is a brief description:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the gasket and clip assembly of the present
assembly of the present invention as assembled to a first mating flange.
FIG.2 is an exploded view of the gasket assembly and mating flange of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the gasket
attachment
1o clip of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the gasket
attachment clip of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the gasket
attachment clip of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the gasket
attachment clip of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein like numbers represent like features,
the present invention is directed to a gasket assembly 20 having a primary
sealing
element 22 installed adjacent a mating flange 24. In FIGS. 1 and 2, mating
flange 24
is represented as a flange of an exhaust down-pipe. Primary sealing element 22
is
represented as a spiral wound ring gasket in the figures, but it should be
understood
that other gasket forms may be substituted for the ring gasket. Gasket
assembly 20
further includes at least one clip 26 projecting projecting downwardly toward
flange
24. Clip 26 includes a first end 28, a second end 30, and an elongated body 32
defined therebetween. Preferably, the first end 28 of clip 26 includes a
formed end
which directly engages and is secured to outer perimeter 40 of primary sealing
element 22, typically by a low-current welding operation. Elongated body 32 of
clip
26 terminates at second end 30. Second end 30 includes an integral locking tab
34
angularly extending outwardly therefrom. As seen in the figures, when gasket
assembly 20 is mounted against mating flange 24, integral locking tab 34
engages a
slot feature 36 formed in mating flange 24. It is important to note that slot
feature 36
is offset from a sealing perimeter 38 of mating flange 24 so that clip 26 does
not
interfere with the function of primary sealing element 22 by interfering with
dynamic
events during the operating life of gasket assembly 20. As shown in FIG. 2,
the radial
extent of gasket assembly 20, defined by outer perimeter 40 of primary sealing
element 22, is less than the radial extent of mating flange 24. Further,
sealing
perimeter 38 is defined by the outer perimeter of a recessed portion 42 of
mating
flange 24. Sealing perimeter 38 therefore closely corresponds with outer
perimeter 40
of gasket assembly 20.
CA 02277735 1999-07-21
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A first embodiment of the present invention is shown with reference to FIG. 3.
In this embodiment, the elongated body 32 of clip 26 extends at an acute angle
A
from the plane of primary sealing element 22 to allow for stacking of multiple
parts
for shipping. Preferably, angle A is about 80°, and more preferably is
about 83°. As
noted above, clip second end 30 includes an integral locking tab 34 extending
outwardly therefrom. When gasket assembly 20 is placed adjacent mating flange
24,
locking tab 34 engages slot feature 36 formed in mating flange 24. Again, slot
feature
36 is offset from sealing perimeter 38 of mating flange 24 so as not to
interfere with
the function of the gasket. In this embodiment, because locking tab 34 engages
slot
to feature 36, gasket assembly 20 is frictionally secured against mating
flange 24. Slot
feature 36 may also be formed with a ledge 37 placed to receive locking tab
34. As
gasket 22 is installed, locking tab 34 is compressed within slot feature 36.
When
locking tab 34 is inserted sufficiently to clear ledge 37, locking tab 34
springs audibly
outward to frictionally engage ledge 37. In this way, locking tab 34 is
positively
restrained within slot feature 36, so that a tool must be used to compress
locking tab
34 in order to remove gasket 22 from mating flange 24.
In a further embodiment, shown with reference to FIG. 4, clip 26 includes a
slightly longer elongated body 32 such that elongated body 32 of clip 26
extends
entirely through slot feature 36 allowing locking tab 34 to engage a non-
mating side
44 of mating flange 24. In this way, the gasket is retained tightly against
mating
flange 24. In this embodiment, manual radial compression of locking tab 34 is
necessary for gasket removal.
A further embodiment of the present invention is shown with reference to FIG.
5. Clip 50 includes a first end 52 attached to the outer perimeter of primary
sealing
element 22. Elongated body 54 extends radially away from outer perimeter 40 of
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primary sealing element 22 and includes a 90° bend 56 in a direction
towards mating
flange 24. Elongated body 54 terminates in second end 58 that includes a
formed
locking tab 60. Locking tab 60 is formed by bending a portion of second end 58
to
form a resilient open diamond shape. It should be noted that locking tab 60
need not
be formed into a resilient open diamond shape clip, but any suitable geometric
configuration may suffice. As seen in FIG. 5, clip 50 is forced through slot
feature 36
of mating flange 24, compressing open diamond shape locking tab 60. When fully
inserted through slot feature 36, locking tab 60 uncompresses such that two
sides 62,
64 of locking tab 60 resiliently engage the perimeter 66 of slot feature 36 on
non-
1o mating side 68 of mating flange 24. Thus, compression of locking tab 60 is
necessary
to remove gasket 22 from mating flange 24.
FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. As in FIG. 5,
gasket 22 includes a clip 70 having a first end 72 integral with the outer
perimeter 40
of gasket 22. Clip 70 includes an elongated body 74 having a 90° bend
76 in a
direction toward mating flange 24. Elongated body 74 terminates in second end
78.
As shown in FIG. 7, second end 78 is initially formed with a slot 80 stamped
into it
such that two parallel sides 82 and 84 are formed in second end 78 with a gap
86
between them. Parallel sides 82 and 84 are bent in opposite directions to form
locking
tab 88 having a generally diamond shaped profile. Locking tab 88 provides
excellent
2o resiliency and is also able to frictionally secure gasket 22 against mating
flange 24.
Upon installation from an unlocked position, locking tab 88 compresses as it
passes
through slot feature 36. When inserted through slot feature 36, locking tab 88
uncompresses audibly so that sides 82 and 84 engage the perimeter 90 of slot
feature
36 on non-mating side 92 of mating flange 24. Manual compression of diamond
shape locking tab 88 is necessary to remove gasket 22 from mating flange 24.
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60680-1164 (4635 VIC) Patent Application
According to the present invention, a gasket assembly including a clip is
provided that prevents the gasket assembly from becoming dislodged from a
mating
flange during handling and shipping of mating components. The gasket clip of
the
present invention also allows a gasket to be used on a mating flange which is
less than
the full radial extent of the mating flange because the clip itself is secured
to the outer
perimeter of a primary sealing element of the gasket. The clip engages a slot
feature
that is offset from a sealing perimeter of the mating flange such that the
clip does not
interfere with the function of the gasket during the operating life of the
gasket. Thus,
while the gasket is not permanently secured to the flange, it is secured such
that it will
l0 not move or slip during shipping and handling of the part. Once assembled,
the
combined clip and slot feature provides both audible and visual verification
of gasket
installation, and also ensures easy proper alignment of the gasket on the
mating
flange.
The disclosed embodiments and examples are given to illustrate the present
invention. Various modifications may be employed without departing from the
scope
of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims should be studied to learn
the true
scope of the present invention.
