Abstract: A catalytic converter for an internal combustion engine exhaust system comprises a single-piece, seamless metal housing having tubulated gas inlet and outlet ports and a tubulated intermediate section with a catalytic element therein. The intermediate section is connected to the inlet port by an inlet transition section and to the outlet port by an outlet transition section. The inlet and outlet ports and the inlet and outlet transition sections are formed by swaging the ends of a seamless tube used to form the housing. Exhaust gas produced by operation of the engine passes into the converter and through the catalytic element. A swaging process is used to form tubulated ends on the converter.

Abstract: The present metal spin forming head includes two sets of rollers, with each set having a series of individual metal working rollers therein. The rollers of each set are circumferentially spaced evenly about the head, with each of the rollers of the second set being evenly positioned between corresponding rollers of the first set. The second roller set may be in a non-coplanar relationship with the first roller set. The first roller set comprises rollers having relatively broad widths, for forming the general contours of the workpiece. The second roller set comprises rollers having relatively narrow rims for forming circumferential grooves in the workpiece, resulting in corresponding beads within the workpiece for securing an article therein. The rollers are controlled independently of one another by a programmable logic control capable of driving the rollers cyclically as the workpiece (or spin forming head) rotates to form non-cylindrical shapes.

Abstract: A catalytic converter for an internal combustion engine exhaust system comprises a single-piece, seamless metal housing having tubulated gas inlet and outlet ports and a tubulated intermediate section with a catalytic element therein. The intermediate section is connected to the inlet port by an inlet transition section and to the outlet port by an outlet transition section. The inlet and outlet ports and the inlet and outlet transition sections are formed by swaging the ends of a seamless tube used to form the housing. Exhaust gas produced by operation of the engine passes into the converter and through the catalytic element. Noxious substances in the exhaust, including CO, NOx, and incompletely combusted hydrocarbons are converted to more benign substances through the action of the catalytic element, which is preferably a frangible ceramic honeycomb structure having a plurality of internal passages coated with a catalytically active substance.

Abstract: A catalytic converter for an internal combustion engine exhaust system comprises a single-piece, seamless metal housing having tubulated gas inlet and outlet ports and a tubulated intermediate section with a catalytic element therein. The intermediate section is connected to the inlet port by an inlet transition section and to the outlet port by an outlet transition section. The inlet and outlet ports and the inlet and outlet transition sections are formed by swaging the ends of a seamless tube used to form the housing. Exhaust gas produced by operation of the engine passes into the converter and through the catalytic element. Noxious substances in the exhaust, including CO, NOx, and incompletely combusted hydrocarbons are converted to more benign substances through the action of the catalytic element, which is preferably a frangible ceramic honeycomb structure having a plurality of internal passages coated with a catalytically active substance.

Abstract: An automatic vacuum packaging apparatus which is defined by a closable frame having upper and lower sections, the lower section including a heatable platen configured with one of several patterns of transversing channels through which air can be evacuated through two separate conduits drawn into one vacuum chamber located beneath the lower platen. The upper section is closable over the lower section and has a separate variable heating element and separate peripheral attachment to the vacuum. Plastic sheets may be placed on the upper and lower frames, and an object placed between them. Then, through the electronically controlled interaction of the vacuum, heating elements, channels and closure of the frames the object may be vacuum sealed between the plastic sheets. The patterns of channels allow for the improved removal of air as the channels vary in length thus increasing the ability of the vacuum to efficiently remove over 97% of the air by concentrating the pull of the vacuum in smaller areas.

Abstract: This invention relates to ladder racks, i.e. ladder supports, which are designed to be mounted on a substrate or support for the purpose of carrying or storing a ladder or the like.