Abstract: An elastic supporting and sealing member, for mutually supporting a first body and a second body, and for sealing the gap between the first body and the second body, includes a first portion and a second portion of wire net and a piece of thermal foaming material, between the first and the second wire net portion, which expands and foams when it is heated up. A method of making such a member includes the steps of flattening a tubular shaped piece of wire net, and of introducing a strip shaped piece of such thermal foaming material between the two sides of the flattened tube of wire net, so that the longitudinal directions of the strip shaped piece of thermal foaming material and of the flattened wire net tube substantially coincide.

Abstract: A helically-shaped intake port comprising a helical portion formed around an intake valve and a substantially straight inlet passage portion tangentially connected to the helical portion. A bypass passage is branched off from the inlet passage portion and connected to the helical portion. A rotary valve is arranged in the bypass passage and actuated by a vacuum operated diaphragm apparatus. The rotary valve is opened when the amount of air fed into the cylinder of an engine is increased beyond a predetermined value. The rotary valve comprises a valve holder, a valve shaft rotatably supported by the valve holder, and a valve body formed in one piece on the valve body and extending across the bypass passage. The valve shaft and the valve body are made of a polymer such as a rubber or synthetic resin.

Abstract: A catalytic converter includes a tubular casing within which is held a monolithic catalyst body which is generally of a columnar shape. The ends of the monolithic catalyst body are each engaged with a cushion ring, and each cushion ring is engaged with a retainer ring therefor, which is substantially axially fixed within the casing near to an end thereof. The monolithic catalyst body is supported within the casing by axial compressive force present between the retainer rings on the outside, the cushion rings between the retainer rings, and the monolithic catalyst body between the cushion rings.