Abstract: A muffler and an associated assembly for cleaning exhaust gas, especially from small engines, include a metal catalyst carrier body and a retaining element which is preferably built into a muffler casing. The catalyst carrier body has a plurality of inner flow paths and is mounted in an exhaust pipe. The retaining element has an opening which surrounds at least a part of a jacket surface of the catalyst carrier body and is directly secured thereto, so that the catalyst carrier body remains dimensionally stable and can be transported. The retaining element can be joined to the exhaust pipe casing which forms an inflow chamber and an outflow chamber in such a way that the retaining element seals and separates the two chambers from each other. Due to the use of the retaining element, no jacket tube is required for the catalyst carrier body which enables the carrier body to be built into a muffler casing both directly and easily. A method for producing the assembly is also provided.

Abstract: An electrically heatable catalytic converter has first and second, electrically conductive and electrically separated components and an electrically insulating, stabilizing supporting structure being mechanically loadable in all directions for metallic bonding to the components. The supporting structure includes a first metallic structure, a second metallic structure, and an electrically insulating, ceramic material being disposed between the first and second metallic structures and being three-dimensionally pressed-in from substantially all sides. The first and second metallic structures are shaped to exert pressure from substantially all sides onto said ceramic material, without touching one another, and they are respectively secured to the first and second components for fixing the components relative to one another.

Abstract: To manufacture a honeycomb body, it is proposed that at least one stack is layered up from a plurality of at least partly structured sheet metal layers. Each stack is folded over about a bending line such that a sheet metal pack is formed having a curved first end area and a second end area. The second end area has a first end section and a second end section. A first end face of the first end section forms a first angle with a central plane, and a second end face of the second end section forms a second angle with the central plane, wherein the first angle is smaller than the second angle. The sheet metal packs are held by looping devices disposed in a mold, and the sheet metal pack is looped into a honeycomb body by rotation of the looping devices.

Abstract: A method for producing the supporting structure includes pressing-in an electrically insulating ceramic material, preferably in powdered form, on substantially all sides between the structures, and shaping the structures to be both accessible, at least in partial regions, and to exert pressure from substantially all sides onto the ceramic material, without touching one another, for metallic bonding to further structures. Another method for producing the supporting structure includes joining together the structures with three-dimensional form-locking connections by joint deformation, forming a surface or a surface layer being convertible chemically into an electric insulating layer on at least one of and between the structures, and subsequently converting the convertible surface or surface layer into an electrically insulating ceramic layer, in particular by oxidation, for creating an insulating layer being pressed-in on substantially all sides between the connections.

Abstract: An electrically insulating supporting structure, such as of an electrically heatable catalytic converter or honeycomb body being mechanically loadable in all directions for metallic bonding to electrically conductive components being electrically separated from one another, includes a first metallic structure, a second metallic structure and an electrically insulating, ceramic material disposed between the structures and three-dimensionally pressed-in from substantially all sides. The structures are shaped to exert pressure from substantially all sides onto the ceramic material, without touching one another.

Abstract: A blank for the production of a catalyst carrier body includes spirally-wound alternating layers of smooth and corrugated metal sheets. At least one of said corrugated sheets forms an innermost layer defining a coil-free central zone surrounded by said innermost layer. A jacket is added around the blank to form a catalyst carrier body. The sheets are wound on a toothed roller.