Abstract: The catalyst means for the catalytic treatment of exhaust gas have at least one catalyst support with a packet of alternating first and second sheet metal members. Each first sheet metal member has a main section with a number of protuberances, for example waves. The second sheet metal members have a main section resting against the wave summits of at least one adjacent, first sheet metal member. Coatings comprising an alumina layer and catalytically active material are applied to the main sections which together bound passages for the exhaust gas. Each sheet metal member is connected in at least one retaining section rigidly to a member of retaining means and/or is held by said member a distance away from a retaining section of another sheet metal member. This makes it possible to connect the sheet metal members to one another in a stable and permanent manner without them being damaged by excessive compressive forces and/or movements.

Abstract: The catalytic converter for the catalytic treatment of exhaust gas has a housing, an inlet and an outlet. The housing contains catalyst means having at least two packets of sheet metal members. The inlet leads into an inner cavity located between the packets and has, at its orifice, the same cross-sectional shape and the same cross-sectional dimensions as the inner cavity. The latter has at least one free region whose cross-sectional area decreases in a direction away from the inlet. The outlet is connected to an outer cavity located between inner surface sections of the housing and the catalyst means. Each packet of sheet metal members bounds passages which in cross-section run from the inner cavity to the outer cavity on different sides. This makes it possible to adapt the shape of the housing well to the available space. In addition, the catalytic converter has advantageous flow and cold-start characteristics and can be economically produced.

Abstract: The catalytic converter has an axis and a housing having an inlet and an outlet. The housing contains hollow cylindrical catalyst means having an inner surface, an outer surface and passages for the exhaust gas which run from the inner surface to the outer surface. In a cross-section at right angles to the axis, the catalyst means surround an inner space of the catalyst means, with which space the inlet communicates and which space contains a limiting and/or guide member. This has a limiting and/or guide surface which approaches the inner surface of the catalyst means in a direction away from the inlet and distributes the exhaust gas, flowing into the inner space of the catalyst means during operation, uniformly over the passages of the catalyst means.

Abstract: The catalytic converter has a casing with an inlet and an outlet and a gas-permeable catalyst element which is arranged in the casing and has an exhaust gas entry surface. A guide surface which faces the orifice of the inlet, is a distance away from its edge and makes an angle of preferably at least 60.degree. and, for example, 90.degree. with the stated axis is present in the casing. The inlet has an inner surface with a cylindrical or slightly conical inner surface section which, in the orifice region of the inlet, is continuously connected to a counter-surface opposite the guide surface by a transition surface section which extends in an arc-like manner towards the inner space of the housing in a section through the axis of the inlet. The exhaust gas flowing through the inlet can be deflected by the guide surface with little pressure loss and can then flow into the element, uniformly distributed over the exhaust gas entry surface of the element.