Gasket support member

Abstract

To provide a gasket support member that can prevent the gasket from falling out of the groove. [Solution] The gasket support member 20 has a groove 21 into which a gasket 10 with a rib portion 11 is fitted. The groove 21 has a first side surface 22a that faces the first location 13 on the gasket 10 where the rib portion 11 is provided and is pressed by the rib portion 11, and a second side surface 22b that faces the second location 14 on the gasket 10 other than the first location 13. The second side surface 22b is tapered, widening outward from the bottom surface 23 of the groove 21 toward the opening 24 opposite the bottom surface 23, and the inclination of the first side surface 22a toward the bottom surface 23 is smaller than that of the second side surface 22b.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a gasket support member.

Background Art

[0002] A structure is known in which a gasket is provided between an engine head and an intake pipe to seal between the engine head and the intake pipe (for example, Patent Document 1). Structures are also known in which gaskets are provided between a cylinder block and a cylinder head and between a cylinder head cover and a cylinder head to seal between them (for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The gasket is attached to the gasket support member by being fitted into a groove provided in the gasket support member that supports the gasket. The gasket support member may be formed using a mold. When the gasket support member is formed using a mold, a draw taper is formed in the groove into which the gasket is fitted. Therefore, there is a concern that the gasket may fall out of the groove after being fitted into the groove.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to suppress the gasket from falling out of the groove.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a gasket support member having a groove into which a gasket having ribs is fitted, wherein the groove has a first side surface facing a first location on the gasket where the ribs are provided and which is pressed by the ribs, and a second side surface facing a second location on the gasket other than the first location, the second side surface is tapered and widens outward from the bottom surface of the groove toward an opening opposite to the bottom surface, and the first side surface has a smaller inclination with respect to the bottom surface compared to the second side surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the gasket from falling out of the groove. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1(a) is a plan view showing the gasket mounting structure in the embodiment, and Figures 1(b) and 1(c) are cross-sectional views AA and BB of Figure 1(a), respectively. [Figure 2] Figure 2(a) is a plan view showing the gasket mounting structure in the comparative example, and Figures 2(b) and 2(c) are cross-sectional views AA and BB of Figure 2(a), respectively. [Figure 3] Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are cross-sectional views showing other examples of grooves. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [Examples]

[0010] Figure 1(a) is a plan view showing the gasket mounting structure in the embodiment, Figure 1(b) is a cross-sectional view AA of Figure 1(a), and Figure 1(c) is a cross-sectional view BB of Figure 1(a). Directions that are orthogonal to each other are shown as the X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction. In Figure 1(a), the groove 21 and gasket 10 are shown as a transparent view of the gasket support member 20. As shown in Figures 1(a) to 1(c), the gasket 10 is attached to the gasket support member 20 by being fitted into the groove 21 provided in the gasket support member 20. The gasket 10 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The gasket support member 20 is made of a resin material such as plastic or a metal material such as aluminum alloy.

[0011] The gasket 10 has, for example, an annular shape. The gasket 10 is provided with protruding rib portions 11 at predetermined intervals. Between the rib portions 11 are narrower width portions 12 than the rib portions 11. The multiple rib portions 11 may all be arranged at a constant interval, or most may be arranged at a constant interval and the rest at one or more intervals different from the constant interval, or they may all be arranged randomly.

[0012] The gasket support member 20 has a groove 21 into which the gasket 10 is fitted. The groove 21 is, for example, an annular shape. An example of the gasket support member 20 is the cylinder head cover of an engine. In this case, the gasket 10 is provided between the cylinder head cover, which is the gasket support member 20, and the cylinder head.

[0013] The gasket 10 is fitted into the groove 21 of the gasket support member 20. Because the gasket 10 has a protruding rib portion 11, the gasket 10 is fitted into the groove 21 by the rib portion 11 pressing against the side surface 22 of the groove 21. As a result, a frictional force is generated between the rib portion 11 and the side surface 22 of the groove 21, so the gasket 10 is held in the groove 21 and is prevented from falling out of the groove 21.

[0014] Of the side surfaces 22 of the groove 21, the side surface facing the first location 13 where the rib portion 11 of the gasket 10 is provided, and which is pressed by the rib portion 11, is defined as the first side surface 22a. The first side surface 22a is almost perpendicular to the bottom surface 23 of the groove 21. For example, the angle α between the first side surface 22a and the bottom surface 23 is greater than 89° and less than 91°, or 89.5° or more and 90.5° or less. The tip portion 15 of the gasket 10 is in contact with the bottom surface 23 of the groove 21.

[0015] At the second location 14 of the gasket 10, where the rib portion 11 is not provided and the width is narrowed to 12, the gasket 10 does not contact the side surface 22 of the groove portion 21. In the extending direction of the gasket 10, the length of the second location 14 is greater than the length of the first location 13. Of the side surface 22 of the groove portion 21, the side facing the second location 14 where the rib portion 11 of the gasket 10 is not provided is called the second side surface 22b. Since the gasket support member 20 is formed using a mold, it is preferable that a draft taper is formed in the groove portion 21. For this reason, the second side surface 22b is tapered, widening outward from the bottom surface 23 toward the opening 24. For example, the angle β between the second side surface 22b and the bottom surface 23 is 91° or more, or 92° or more. Even at the second location 14 where the rib portion 11 is not provided, the tip portion 15 of the gasket 10 is in contact with the bottom surface 23 of the groove portion 21.

[0016] The corners between the first side surface 22a and the bottom surface 23, and the corners between the second side surface 22b and the bottom surface 23, are, for example, chamfered, but do not have to be chamfered. Also, the corners between the first side surface 22a and the surface of the gasket support member 20, and the corners between the second side surface 22b and the surface of the gasket support member 20, are, for example, chamfered, but do not have to be chamfered.

[0017] Thus, the first side surface 22a of the gasket 10, which faces the first location 13 where the rib portion 11 is provided and is pressed by the rib portion 11, has a smaller inclination with respect to the bottom surface 23 compared to the second side surface 22b, which faces the second location 14 where the rib portion 11 is not provided.

[0018] [Comparative Example] Fig. 2(a) is a plan view showing the gasket mounting structure in the comparative example, Fig. 2(b) is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 2(a), and Fig. 2(c) is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 2(a). As shown in Figs. 2(a) to 2(c), in the comparative example, the tapered portions are formed in all of the groove portions 21a provided in the gasket support member 20. That is, the side surfaces 22 of the groove portions 21a are tapered so as to widen outward from the bottom surface 23 toward the opening portion 24 in all cases. The gasket 10 is fitted into the groove portion 21a by pressing the side surface 22 where the rib portion 11 widens in a tapered shape. Since the other configurations are the same as those in the embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

[0019] In the comparative example, the gasket 10 is held in the groove portion 21a by pressing the side surface 22 where the rib portion 11 widens in a tapered shape. That is, the frictional force generated between the rib portion 11 and the tapered side surface 22 suppresses the gasket 10 from falling out of the groove portion 21a. However, the frictional force between the rib portion 11 and the side surface 22 may decrease due to the surface properties of the side surface 22 and / or the deposited components (for example, oil content) of the gasket 10. When the frictional force between the rib portion 11 and the side surface 22 decreases, the holding force for holding the gasket 10 in the groove portion 21a decreases. In the comparative example, since the side surface 22 pressed by the rib portion 11 is tapered, when the frictional force between the rib portion 11 and the side surface 22 decreases and the holding force for holding the gasket 10 decreases, the gasket 10 is likely to fall out of the groove portion 21a.

[0020] Further, when the side surface 22 is tapered, when fitting the gasket 10 into the groove portion 21a, the gasket 10 has to be pushed into the groove portion 21a with a large force so that a large frictional force is generated between the rib portion 11 and the side surface 22. Therefore, the attachability of the gasket 10 to the gasket support member 20 is not good.

[0021] On the one hand, in the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1(a) to 1(c), the groove portion 21 faces the first location 13 where the rib portion 11 is provided in the gasket 10, and has a first side surface 22a pressed by the rib portion 11 and a second side surface 22b facing a second location 14 other than the first location 13 in the gasket 10. The second side surface 22b has a tapered shape that widens outward from the bottom surface 23 of the groove portion 21 toward the opening 24. The first side surface 22a has a smaller inclination with respect to the bottom surface 23 than the second side surface 22b. Since the inclination of the first side surface 22a pressed by the rib portion 11 is small, even when the frictional force between the rib portion 11 and the first side surface 22a decreases and the holding force for holding the gasket 10 decreases, it becomes difficult for a force in the direction of the gasket 10 falling out of the groove portion 21 to act on the gasket 10. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the gasket 10 from falling out of the groove portion 21. Also, since the inclination of the first side surface 22a is small, it becomes easier to control the holding force for holding the gasket 10 in the groove portion 21, which is determined by the width of the rib portion 11 and the width of the groove portion 21.

[0022] Moreover, since the inclination of the first side surface 22a is small, the force when fitting the gasket 10 into the groove portion 21 while pressing the rib portion 11 against the first side surface 22a becomes substantially constant. Therefore, it becomes easier to attach the gasket 10 to the gasket support member 20. Also, the groove portion 21 alternately has a first side surface 22a with a small inclination and a second side surface 22b with a large inclination in the extending direction. The gasket 10 is fitted into the groove portion 21 with the rib portion 11 pressing the first side surface 22a. For this reason, when fitting the gasket 10 into the groove portion 21, it becomes possible to easily position the gasket 10 in the extending direction of the groove portion 21. Also, since the inclination of the first side surface 22a is small, the gasket 10 can be fitted into the groove portion 21 with a substantially constant force, so the gasket 10 can be easily pushed into the bottom surface 23 of the groove portion 21. Therefore, it also becomes possible to easily position the gasket 10 in the depth direction of the groove portion 21.

[0023] Furthermore, since the second side surface 22b is tapered, widening outward from the bottom surface 23 towards the opening 24, the second side surface 22b can function as a draft taper when forming the gasket support member 20 using a mold. For example, if all the side surfaces 22 of the groove 21 have a small incline like the first side surface 22a, it is difficult to produce the gasket support member 20 using a mold. However, because the second side surface 22b is tapered, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of productivity when producing the gasket support member 20 using a mold.

[0024] In the embodiment, as shown in Figures 1(b) and 1(c), the width of the groove 21 at the location where the first side surface 22a is provided is approximately the same size as the width of the groove 21 at the location where the second side surface 22b is provided, while the width on the opening 24 side is larger on the bottom 23 side. However, the embodiment is not limited to this case. Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are cross-sectional views showing other examples of the groove 21. As shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b), the width of the groove 21 at the location where the first side surface 22a is provided may be approximately the same size as the width of the groove 21 at the location where the second side surface 22b is provided, while the width on the opening 24 side is smaller.

[0025] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0026] 10...Gasket, 11...Rib section, 12...Width detail, 13...First location, 14...Second location, 15...Tip section, 20...Gasket support member, 21, 21a...Groove section, 22...Side section, 22a...First side section, 22b...Second side section, 23...Bottom surface, 24...Opening

Claims

[Claim 1] In a gasket support member having a groove into which a gasket having a rib portion is fitted, The groove portion has a first side surface that faces the first location on the gasket where the rib portion is provided and is pressed by the rib portion, and a second side surface that faces the second location on the gasket other than the first location. The gasket support member wherein the second side surface is tapered, widening outward from the bottom surface of the groove toward the opening opposite the bottom surface, and the first side surface has a smaller inclination with respect to the bottom surface compared to the second side surface.

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