Abstract: A method for the catalytic oxychlorination of ethane to VCM comprising the steps of combining ethane and a chlorine source in an oxychlorination reactor with a suitable catalyst to promote the oxychlorination of the ethane, collecting the resultant VCM and by-productsand recycling the by-products to the oxychlorination reactor to participate in the reaction therein.

Abstract: A method of increasing the range of controlled movement of a door opened by a treadle operated door opening assembly is described, along with a treadle operated door opening assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of the method. The method includes the step of mounting a contact member which projects from the first face of the door adjacent to the hinge edge and the bottom edge. With this modification when a person treads upon a radially extending pedal a shaft rotates causing a point of contact between the arm and the door to move sequentially from a first position substantially parallel to the first face of the door to a second position engaging the contact member substantially perpendicular to the first face of the door.

Abstract: A combined catalytic converter and muffler is provided. A catalyst is securely mounted in a canister which in turn is mounted intermediate a pair of formed internal plates. The plates are further formed to define an array of tubes therebetween. The tubes comprise an inlet to the muffler and an outlet from the muffler and communicate with the inlet and outlet of the catalytic converter. Selected tubes may have perforations or other apertures through which exhaust gases may communicate. At least one external shell is mounted to the assembled internal plates. The external shell is formed to define a plurality of chambers which communicate with apertures in the internal plates.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a heat shield for an exhaust system component. The exhaust system component preferably is of tubular nonlinear configuration. The heat shield is formed from a larger pipe having an internal diameter greater than the outer diameter of the exhaust system component. Appropriately dimensioned inwardly directed supports are formed in the larger pipe. The larger pipe then is bent into a nonlinear configuration substantially identical to the configuration of the exhaust system component. The outer pipe then is cut longitudinally in half along its entire length to define a unitary nonlinear heat shield which can be mounted to the exhaust system component. A portion of the remaining half of the larger pipe can be reattached to the heat shield to provide an air gap pipe along a portion of the length of the exhaust system component.