Internal combustion engine with means for relieving thermal stress

Claim 1

IN A LIQUID COOLED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, THE COMBINATION OF: AN ENGINE BLOCK INCLUDING WALLS DEFINING A LIQUID COOLANT CHAMBER, AN INDIVIDUAL CYLINDER SLEEVE INSIDE SAID CHAMBER, SAID SLEEVE HAVING AN UPPER END PORTION FORMING A COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND PROVIDED THEREAROUND WITH AN UPWARDLY PRESENTED COMPRESSION SEALING END FACE, AN INDIVIDUAL CYLINDER HEAD IN SAID COOLANT CHAMBER FOR SAID SLEEVE INCLUDING A COMBUSTION CHAMBER HEAD WALL HAVING A PERIPHERAL, DOWNWARDLY PRESENTED COMPRESSION SEALING FACE AXIALLY OPPOSED TO AND MATING SAID SEALING END FACE ON SAID UPPER END PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE, SAID UPPER COMBUSTION CHAMBER END OF SAID SLEEVE AND SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER HEAD WALL OF SAID CYLINDER HEAD BEING MECHANICALLY ISOLATED FROM SAID BLOCK, WHEREBY TO FREELY ACCOMMODATE THERMAL EXPANSION THEREOF IN DIRECTIONS TRANSVERSE TO THE CYLINDER SLEEVE, SAID ENGINE BLOCK WALLS DEFINING AN OPENING INTO SAID COOLANT CHAMBER IN END ALIGNMENT WITH AND CIRCUMSCRIBING SAID CYLINDER HEAD AND SLEEVE, A CLOSURE PLATE FOR SAID OPENING POSITIONED ABOVE SAID CYLINDER HEAD, SECURING MEANS FOR FORCING SAID CLOSURE PLATE TOWARD SAID BLOCK WALLS IN A DIRECTION AXIAL