COMPOUND SEALING MECHANISM, CYLINDER LINER, AND ENGINE ASSEMBLY METHOD

A cylinder liner and compound seal assembly (110) for an internal combustion engine (10) includes a cylinder liner (16) having a liner body (80) with an outer surface (84) and an inner surface (86) defining a longitudinal bore (88). The cylinder liner (16) further includes a first axial end (92), and a second axial end (94) which includes a sealing surface (100) and a protective end projection (102) extending in an axial direction from the sealing surface (100). A compound sealing mechanism (20) for establishing seals between an engine head (12) and an engine housing (14) includes a one-piece gasket body (22) having an outer radial region (34) and an inner radial region (38) which includes a combustion seal (40) having an engine head sealing surface (42) and a cylinder liner sealing surface (43), and a recess (44) formed in the lower surface (32) and located radially outward of the cylinder liner sealing surface (43) and configured to receive therein a protective end projection (102) of the cylinder liner (16). The recess (44) may include a continuous annular recess (44) circumferential of a center axis of a cylinder opening (28) formed in the one-piece gasket body (22), and positioned adjacent the cylinder liner sealing surface (43). The protective end projection (102) may include a continuous annular projection (102) arranged coaxially with the longitudinal bore (88) and positioned adjacent an inner surface (86) of the cylinder liner (16).