Abstract: A catalytic converter of the type having an inlet plenum between a converter inlet and an axial inlet face of a substrate and an outlet plenum between a converter outlet and an axial outlet face of the substrate, wherein a first axial length of the inlet plenum is in a range of 20-40% of the first axial length of the inlet plenum summed with a second axial length of the outlet plenum to minimize flow resistance in said catalytic converter.

Abstract: A catalytic converter of the type having an inlet plenum between a converter inlet and an axial inlet face of a substrate and an outlet plenum between a converter outlet and an axial outlet face of the substrate, wherein a first axial length of the inlet plenum is in a range of 20-40% of the first axial length of the inlet plenum summed with a second axial length of the outlet plenum to minimize flow resistance in said catalytic converter.

Abstract: A manifold converter apparatus comprising a manifold housing including a plurality of inlets wherein each inlet of the plurality of inlets is mounted immediately adjacent an internal combustion engine exhaust port and a plurality of lead pipes wherein each lead pipe of the plurality of lead pipes provides an exhaust gas flow passage between one of the inlets and a manifold plenum and at least one catalyst coated substrate located within at least one of the inlets between at least one of the exhaust ports and one of the lead pipes. An advantage achieved includes quick light-off of the manifold converter apparatus after cold start of the vehicle engine.

Abstract: An exhaust poison trap for protection of catalytic converters in automotive exhaust systems includes a tubular housing having open ends and a peripheral wall internally defining an exhaust chamber, a helical wall longitudinally dividing the exhaust chamber into at least two longitudinally extending helical passages for exhaust gas flow and porous means substantially covering the interior of the peripheral wall and forming an outer periphery of each of said helical passages, whereby exhaust gas passing through the exhaust chamber is directed in a helical path through the helical passages, causing particulate matter in the gas to be accelerated outwardly by centrifugal force and trapped in the porous means, thus protecting a downstream catalytic converter from trapped catalyst poisoning particles such as zinc and phosphorous. The porous means may be coated to improve trapping or to aid catalytic reactions in the exhaust gases.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold catalytic warm-up converter for an automotive vehicle engine includes tubular runners having inlet and outlet ends and connectable at their inlet ends with exhaust ports of an engine. The runners are joined at their outlet ends with a common exhaust outlet. A generally helical twisted tape extends longitudinally in each of the runners between their inlet and outlet ends and laterally divides the runners into at least two parallel generally helical flow passages. The tape is porous and formed of a material having a predetermined thickness and porosity to encourage a flow of exhaust gases through pores of the tape between adjacent helical passages due to pressure gradients across the tape resulting from gas flow in the helical passages. The porous tape has a low thermal inertia for fast warm-up and is coated with a catalytic material for stimulating reaction of emissions in the engine exhaust gases passing through the exhaust manifold. Additional features and alternatives are disclosed.

Abstract: An exhaust gas management apparatus including: a first substrate coated with an oxidizing catalyst, wherein the first substrate includes an axial opening and a body portion radially exterior of the axial opening, wherein the axial opening comprises at least part of a bypass passage; an air source located downstream in an exhaust flow path of the axial opening; an air pump unit responsive to a control signal forcing air through the air source wherein, during an activation of the pump unit, the bypass passage is valved shut; and a second substrate coated with an oxidizing catalyst located in the path of exhaust downstream of the first substrate.

Abstract: An exhaust gas management apparatus including: an air flow directing body forming a bypass passage including an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a low pressure region between the inlet end and the outlet end having a first diameter less than second and third diameters of the inlet and outlet ends, respectively; a hydrocarbon adsorber mounted radially exterior of the air flow directing body; an air source located downstream in an exhaust flow path of the low pressure region of the air flow body; and an air pump forcing air through the air source wherein, during activation of the pump, the bypass passage is valved shut at the low pressure region, wherein less air is required to valve shut the bypass passage than would be required at another location within the bypass passage.