Abstract: A catalyst heater assembly for use in a catalytic converter comprising: an electric heater through which a flow of gas passes, wherein the electric heater heats the gas; a plurality of legs around an exterior of the heater, each leg extending in an axial direction toward a flow inlet of the catalytic converter; a flow tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein each of the legs is attached to an exterior peripheral surface of the outlet end and wherein the inlet end is mounted at the flow inlet of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: A smoking system is provided in which a replaceable cigarette containing tobacco flavor material is electrically heated by a set of electrical heater elements contained within a lighter to evolve tobacco flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form for delivery to a smoker. The cigarette and lighter are adapted to provide air flow patterns through the smoking system such that air flows transversely into the cigarette. Such patterns improve aerosol and flavor delivery to the smoker and reduce the condensation of residual heater-region vapor/aerosol in the smoking system.

Abstract: A honeycomb heater comprising a honeycomb structure and a catalyst layer supported on partition walls of the honeycomb structure. The honeycomb heater includes a first portion that is resistance adjusted such that the first portion is adapted to heat more quickly than a second portion of the honeycomb heater. The first portion includes at least an inlet end of the honeycomb that receives gas that flows therethrough. In addition, the first portion has an area along the gas inlet within a range of 5 to 50% of the sectional area of the gas inlet. The first portion may extend through the honeycomb structure and terminate before reaching the gas outlet of the heater. The partition walls of the first portion may have a different hydraulic diameter, different thickness or different cell density than the second portion of the honeycomb heater.

Abstract: A honeycomb heater includes a honeycomb structure having a periphery, a front end, and a back end, including a plurality of passages which are defined by partition walls and extend in an axial direction of the honeycomb structure, the honeycomb structure being electrically conductive, whereby fluid flows through the passages from the front end to the back end; and a device for applying electric current to the honeycomb structure so as to generate heat; wherein at least one gap for obstructing electric current extends through the partition walls from the back end toward the front end but does not reach the front end so that, upon applying electric current to the honeycomb structure, a front region of the honeycomb structure heats more quickly than a back region of the honeycomb structure thereby a catalyst composition loaded onto the front region is activated earlier. Slit may extend between the front end and the back end.

Abstract: A honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb body of electrically conductive material. The honeycomb body has regions of different material with different specific electrical resistance. The honeycomb body is electrically divided by slots and/or electrically insulating layers for causing an electric current to flow along a winding path through the honeycomb body. A method for producing a honeycomb body having regions of different specific electrical resistances includes supplying two different compositions of metal powder or a mixture of metal and ceramic powder to an extruder, while guiding one of the compositions to an inner region and the other of the compositions to an outer region of the extruder surrounding the inner region. The different compositions are co-extruded to make a monolithic honeycomb body. The honeycomb body is fired, sintered or physically-chemically treating differently from one region to another. Offset slots are formed in the extruded honeycomb body.

Abstract: An electrically heatable converter body formed of thin metal core elements and a housing. The thin metal core elements have a distal end and a proximal end. The distal ends are secured to the housing, and at least some, preferably all, of the proximal ends are free of attachment to any rigid member.

Abstract: A honeycomb heater including a honeycomb structure, two electrodes and a plurality of slits extending through the honeycomb structure. The slits are provided to elongate a current flow path through the honeycomb structure and to define a plurality of first regions of partition walls and at least one second region of partition walls. The first regions are locally quickly heated with respect to at least one second region upon electrification of the honeycomb structure, and the first regions are spaced apart from each other. In addition, the first regions in total extend over an area 5 to 50% of a total cross-sectional area of the honeycomb structure. Alternatively, the honeycomb structure may include at least one first region and a plurality of second regions, the second regions being spaced apart by the at least one first region.

Abstract: A honeycomb heater including a honeycomb structure which is made of a conductive material and which has a number of passages substantially parallel to a gas flow direction partitioned by partition walls and which has respective providing a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and at least two electrodes for electrification provided on the honeycomb structure. The honeycomb heater is characterized in that besides the passages, orifices which have a larger hydraulic diameter than the passages and which narrow a current flow path are formed at predetermined positions of the honeycomb structure to adjust resistance, whereby a specific region of the honeycomb heater is locally heated more quickly as compared with other regions at the time of the electrification.

Abstract: An electrically heatable honeycomb body, in particular a carrier body for a catalytic converter, includes wound, stacked or otherwise layered sheet-metal layers along which a fluid can flow in a primary flow direction, with at least some of the layers being structured. At least one layer has openings for lengthening and/or narrowing an electrically conductive path therein. The structuring of the layers and the formation and disposition of the openings cause adjacent layers to touch substantially only at locations without the openings in the at least one layer. A sheet-metal layer has raised locations and a periodic and in particular approximately undulating or trapezoidal structure with rising and falling regions and a periodicity defining a period.

Abstract: A metal honeycomb heating element is protectively mounted in an enclosure comprising a one-piece enclosure wall, the heater being supported between a circumferential support member and a circumferential compression ring attached to the enclosure wall. A diametrically balanced compressive force is maintained on the edges of the heating element by the compression ring and support, this force operating to significantly extend the life of the heater element under hot vibration. Heater slot separators and electrode feedthrough structures for extending the life of the heater element are also provided.

Abstract: A process for producing an electric heating element is disclosed whereby metallic heating conductors are embedded between ceramic insulating layers, and, as power supply leads and power outlet leads, contact recesses in the ceramic insulating layers are filled with an electrically conductive composition. The heating conductors, the power supply leads and the power outlet leads are applied to the ceramic layers in the green state as metallizing paste containing from 60 to 95% by weight of metal particles and from 5 to 40% by weight of inorganic powder, based on the total solids content of the paste. The ceramic layers with the applied metallizing pastes are then stacked on top of one another and then sintered.

Abstract: A multi-apertured ceramic disk heat conductor support for use in a heating element for electrically heating industrial furnace installations. The ceramic disk has a center aperture extending between exterior surfaces on an axis of symmetry for receiving a supporting element. Further apertures extend are provided for receiving heat conductors. The further apertures are equidistantly disposed around at least one circle which is coaxial with the center aperture. The further apertures have a respective axial portion, and a respective widening portion at least at one end thereof which increases in diameter from the axial portion toward a respective exterior surface of the ceramic disk. A rounded transition region between the axial portion and the widening portion is provided and the length of the axial portion is less than one-half the thickness of the ceramic disk.

Abstract: A lead construction for a fluid heater such as an electrically heated catalytic converter, is set forth including a mineral insulated cable having a central core connected to the heater element of the fluid heater, an outer metal sheath connected to an enclosing housing for the fluid heater, and electrical insulation between the central core and the outer sheath.

Abstract: A heating element for heating fluid flowing therethrough, including an electrically conductive honeycomb structure, electrodes electrically connected to the honeycomb structure for applying an electric current to the honeycomb structure, wherein the honeycomb structure has a front region which is adapted to heat more quickly than a back region of the honeycomb structure. To this end, the honeycomb structure may include at least one gap for obstructing electric current flow, the gap extending through the partition walls and terminating before reaching the front end of the honeycomb structure. Alternatively, the front region may be heated more quickly than the back region by providing at least one depression formed the back end of the honeycomb structure, such that the front region extends from a terminating end of the depression toward the front end of the honeycomb structure. A catalytic converter incorporating the heating element is also provided.

Abstract: A heater unit comprising (1) a honeycomb heater comprising (a) a metallic honeycomb structure having a large number of passages parallel to the direction of a gas flowing through the heater unit and (b) at least one electrode for electrification of the honeycomb structure, attached to the honeycomb structure, and (2) a metallic casing for holding the honeycomb heater (1) therein via at least one metallic supporting member, in which heater unit an insulation portion is provided at least either at the connection area where the honeycomb heater and the supporting member are connected or at the connection area where the supporting member and the casing are connected, and the supporting member has such a structure as to be able to absorb the displacement of the honeycomb heater which appears in a direction substantially perpendicular to said gas flow direction, and has a function of fixing the honeycomb heater against its displacement which appears in the gas flow direction.

Abstract: Flow-through fluid heaters useful, e.g., for the preheating of exhaust gas streams prior to catalytic treatment thereof, are made by bonding an electrically conductive metallic film or foil to at least one pre-sintered flexible ceramic foil substrate to provide a flexible, electrically conductive ceramic/metallic heating element, that element then being formed into a crimped sheet or base sheet for incorporation into a honeycomb structure which includes a plurality of open channels extending from one surface of the structure to another surface of the structure, formed by one or more contacting combinations of crimped sheet and base sheet. Catalytic coatings may be applied to the preheaters to provide a heater/converter with very rapid light-off characteristics.

Abstract: There is provided a start-up catalyzer for catalyzing exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine in which flat and corrugated sheets are disposed in alternating relation. Some of the flat sheets have an electrically conductive resistance-heating layer which may be catalytically active and in form of a plurality of rosette-shaped conductive loops connected in series.

Abstract: A metal honeycomb heater is protectively mounted in an axially assembled enclosure comprising opposing tubular enclosure sections incorporating internal bore stops and a resilient mounting material to support the heater. An axial force of predetermined magnitude is applied to the sections during assembly, preloading the resilient mounting material and generating a selected spring tension and preloading force on the honeycomb. The sections are fastened together under this force so that the preloading force and spring tension are retained during subsequent use of the assembly.

Abstract: An electrically heated catalytic converter having a substrate for a catalyst which is formed as a scroll-like cylindrical laminated assembly, a rod like metal center electrode connected to the laminated assembly, and a casing accommodating the laminated assembly which also acts as an outer electrode. The center electrode extends from the laminated assembly along the central axis, bends towards the wall of the casing and penetrates the casing. The center electrode is fixed to the casing via an insulating material at the point where it penetrates the casing. Four buffer members are interposed between the laminated assembly and the casing, each of buffer members being made of a metal plate, one end of the respective buffer members being fixed to the casing at the portion near the penetration point of the center electrode, the other end of the respective buffer members being fixed to the outside of the laminated assembly.

Abstract: A radiant tube heating assembly for a furnace, which assembly combines the features of a heating element utilizing the latest powder metallurgical technology, improved ceramic spacers and staggered weld joints to thereby enable higher efficiency and heating temperatures. Further, the assembly enables a higher temperature element system, ease of manufacture and reduced failures due to shorts or arc over at the weld joints.

Abstract: An electrically heated metal spray apparatus is provided with a supersonic nozzle. Molten metal is injected into a gas stream flowing through the nozzle under pressure. By varying the pressure of the injected metal, the droplet can be made in various selected sizes with each selected size having a high degree of size uniformity. A unique one piece graphite heater provides easily controlled uniformity of temperature in the nozzle and an attached tundish which holds the pressurized molten metal. A unique U-shaped gas heater provides extremely hot inlet gas temperatures to the nozzle. A particularly useful application of the spray apparatus is coating of threads of a fastener with a shape memory alloy. This permits a fastener to be easily inserted and removed but provides for a secure locking of the fastener in high temperature environments.

Abstract: A tubular heating element (10) having a metal tube (12) filled with a ceramic material (14). The metal tube has a near zero or slightly positive temperature coefficient of resistance. In an alternative embodiment, a wire (16) is coaxially supported within the metal tube (12) by the ceramic material (14). This wire may be used to stiffen the tubular heating element (10) or may be used as an electrical conductor.

Abstract: Electrically conductive honeycomb structures are provided for use as catalytic converters, pre-heaters for catalytic converters, or particulate filters. The honeycomb structures are composed of subunits which are arranged to produce a serpentine conductive path through the honeycomb. The serpentine path gives the honeycomb an increased electrical resistance so that elevated temperatures can be achieved with less current. The subunits allow the serpentine current path to be produced without any slitting or cutting of the honeycomb.

Abstract: A honeycomb heater has an integrated honeycomb structure obtained by connecting in series, via conductive plates, a plurality of honeycomb structure elements each having a large number of passages and each generating heat when electrified. At least two electrodes are provided on the integrated honeycomb structure for enabling the electrical heating thereof.

Abstract: An improved converter having electrically heatable strips connected in an electrical circuit, and intertwined with non-electricvally heated thin metal strips, having an electrical connection, or anchor, from the electrically heatable thin metal strips to the non-electrically heated thin metal strips, whereby the potential difference between the electrically heatable strips non-electrically heatable thin metal strips is reduced.

Abstract: A heating element for heating fluid flowing therethrough includes: a honeycomb structure having a periphery and two ends, including a plurality of passages which are defined by partition walls and extend in an axial direction between the ends, the honeycomb structure being composed of an electrically conductive material; and a pair of electrodes for applying electric current to the honeycomb structure so as to generate heat; wherein a maximum length of linear portions of the partition walls is up to 10 mm as viewed in a cross-section of the honeycomb structure taken perpendicular to the axial direction, and a number of the passages in one square inch ranges from 50 to 800 as viewed in the cross-section of the honeycomb structure, thereby insuring improved thermal shock resistance and purification efficiency. The partition walls are less prone to deformation and crack formation due to thermal stress.

Abstract: Electrically conductive honeycomb structures are provided which include an inlet face, an outlet face, a set of short insulating slots extending from the inlet face towards the outlet face, and a set of long insulating slots extending from the outlet face towards the inlet face. The short and long slots are interdigitated so that electrical current flowing parallel to the inlet face must follow a serpentine path around the ends of the slots. The serpentine path is located closer to the inlet face than to the outlet face so that the heating effect of the current is localized near the inlet face.

Abstract: Graphite carbon surfaces are protected from elevated temperature oxidation and mechanical wear by electric arc thermal spray coating exposed surfaces with a titanium nitride or multi-element (e.g., aluminum-silicon-titanium) coating.

Abstract: A pyrolytic boron nitride heating unit composed of a dielectric base of boron nitride and a pyrolytic graphite heating element having contact ends for connection to an external power supply through a contact assembly comprising graphite posts connected to the contact ends with each post having a pyrolytic boron nitride coating and exposed attachment ends spaced a predetermined minimum distance from the contact ends for connection to the power supply. The contact assembly preferably also includes flexible graphite washers for connection between the contact ends and the graphite posts.

Abstract: A far-infrared emitter of high corrosion resistance is prepared by an oxidizing heat treatment of a body made from a stainless steel of 20-35% by weight of chromium, 0.5-5.0% by weight of molybdenum, up to 3.0% by weight of manganese and up to 3.0% by weight of silicon at 900.degree.-1200.degree. C. to form an oxidized surface film having a thickness of at least 0.2 mg/cm.sup.2. Further, a far-infrared emitter of a high emissivity approximating a black body is prepared by subjecting a body made from a stainless steel of 10-35% by weight of chromium, 1.0-4.0% by weight of silicon and up to 3.0% by weight of manganese to a blasting treatment to roughen the surface followed by an oxidizing heat treatment at 900.degree.-1200.degree. C. to form an oxide film on the surface in the form of protrusions having a length of at least 5 .mu.m.

Abstract: An improved ceramic heater to be incorporated in a glow plug is described. The heater is made up of a ceramic core enclosed by two layers sintered together to form a unitary ceramic heater. All three component elements of the heater are composed of silicon nitride containing different concentrations of an electrically conductive ceramic substance, such as titanium nitride, titanium carbonitride or molybdenum disilicide. Each component additionally contains low amounts of sintering additives. The core of the heater has the highest concentration (46-75 vol. %) of the electrically conductive substance. The core enclosed in a ceramic layer which is an electrical insulator and is composed of silicon nitride, less than 28 vol. % of the electrically conductive ceramic substance and sintering additives. An outer layer over the core contains the electrically conductive ceramic substance in a concentration (33-50 vol. %) which is in between that in the core and that in the insulator layer.

Abstract: A resistance-adjusting-type heater including a honeycomb structure having a large number of passages and at least two electrodes provided on the honeycomb structure for energizing the honeycomb structure. The honeycomb structure has a slit or slits which form a predetermined angle to the partition walls of the honeycomb structure so as to enable adjustment of resistance between the electrodes, so that gas flowing through the passages of the honeycomb structure is heated.

Abstract: The catalytic converter includes a first flow passage for an automotive exhaust gas and a second flow passage disposed parallel to the first flow passage to bypass the exhaust gas therethrough. The first flow passage contains a honeycomb heater or a heater catalyst which comprises a honeycomb heater with a catalyst carried thereon. At the beginning of an operation of any engine, the exhaust gas whose temperature is low is caused to flow through the first flow passage. When the temperature of the exhaust gas exceeds a predetermined value, the flow passage is switched from the first passage to the second flow passage.

Abstract: An igniter for electric ignition systems is made up of intergrally formed terminals and heating elements of metal thin film. Therefore, it maintains its stable ignition performance, high safety, and high reliability over a long period of time even in a severe environment. The heating element is covered with a protective coating film made of an inorganic material to ensure good heat conduction and to maintain the initial performance over a long period of time.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for use in heating a substrate comprises an electric heater and a power supply part. The electric heater is made up of an approximately columnar body which is made of graphite, and this columnar body has a top with a flat surface part on which the substrate is placed and a pair of legs which extend downwardly from the flat surface part. The legs are defined by an opening in the columnar body. The power supplying part is coupled to the electric heater and supplies a voltage across the legs of the columnar body so that a current flows from one leg to the other, thereby generating heat at the flat surface part to heat the substrate.

Abstract: A ceramic heater comprising a ceramic sintered body of silicon nitride matrix and a heating resistor of an inorganic conductor embedded in the sintered body, characterized in that the ceramic sintered body of silicon nitride matrix comprises 8 to 19 weight % of a rare earth element when calculated by conversion in terms of the amount of oxide, 2 to 7 weight % of silicon oxide (SiO.sub.2) and 7 to 20 weight % of molybdenum silicide or titanium nitride, and that electrode clamps holding lead wires are brazed to the side surfaces of the ceramic heater respectively via metalized layers so that the heating resistor is electrically connected to the lead wires via the electrode clamps.

Abstract: A self temperature control type glow plug has a metallic shell in which ceramic heater having a glow resistor of a tungsten-based alloy embedded in a silicon nitride ceramic is placed in a manner to extend beyond the front end of the shell. A temperature-regulating resistor of nickel, iron or nickel-iron alloy is embedded within the metallic shell in series with the glow resistor. Each resistor has a positive temperature coefficient (PTC), with the positive temperature coefficient of the glow resistor being smaller than that of the temperature-regulating resistor. The electrical resistance ratio of the temperature regulating resistor to the glow resistor falls within a range of 0.35 to 0.60 at room temperature.

Abstract: A resistance adjusting type heater including a honeycomb structure, electrodes provided on the honeycomb structure, and slits as a resistance adjusting device provided between the electrodes, a sealing device for sealing a heat-non-generating portion of the honeycomb structure, wherein a gas is introduced into the passages of the heat-generating portion of the honeycomb structure and is heated. With this heater, the entirety of the exhaust gas introduced into the heater can be heated rapidly thereby ensuring excellent purification efficiency.

Abstract: A resistance adjusting type heater has a honeycomb structure having a large number of passages, at least two electrodes to enable electrical heating of the honeycomb structure provided on the honeycomb structure, and a resistance adjusting means, a slit, provided between the electrodes. The thicknesses of passage walls at the portions of the honeycomb structure at which electricity flows at a very high density are increased with a conductive material to prevent the abnormal heat generation at the portions of the honeycomb structure.

Abstract: Novel method and structure is disclosed for strengthening and mounting sloted metallic honeycomb structures by positioning rod members within the slots to prevent the slots from closing or deforming, and by utilizing the rod members to precisely engage positionable restraining inserts of an enclosing housing, so as to accurately mount the honeycomb structure within the housing.

Abstract: The toaster comprises a housing for receiving the pieces of bread to be toasted or to be reheated and on both sides of this housing an electric heating element having an electric resistor (R.sub.1, R.sub.2) wound on an elongated support made of insulating material (10, 11).On both sides of the housing there is provided at least one second electric resistor (R.sub.3, R.sub.4), commutation being provided to connect to the mains, as desired, one or both of the abovementioned resistors.Use: to permit a plurality of heating modes in toasters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connection component equipped with an electrical resistor for the welding of elements made of heat-fusing plastic. According to the invention, the resistor takes the form of a single wire coated with an electrically insulating layer and having points of intersection, the coating layer fusing at a temperature between the fusion temperature of the components to be joined together and their temperature of thermal damage, so that short-circuits are generated on the wire and so that the stopping of the supply of current to the latter is commanded. The invention is used particularly for the thermal welding of polyethylene pipes used in the gas industry.

Abstract: An improved heaterboard, and method and apparatus for producing same is disclosed herein. A foil layer is bonded to a paperboard substrate and a circuit path is cut in the foil layer to define a heating circuit. In a preferred method, the circuit is defined by cut scores and short-circuiting across the cut scores is prevented by a reverse scoring operation in which the circuit pattern is scored in the surface of the heaterboard opposite the surface having the foil heating layer thereon. Various heaterboard circuit patterns and an apparatus for forming heaterboards are also disclosed.

Abstract: A spark ignition combustion engine has a cylinder, an air inlet duct, a fuel injector, and a cylinder head having an inlet valve and a passage arranged to form and furnish an air-fuel mixture to the cylinder through the passage and has a heating element including a heat sink in the form of a hollow flat metal box having an integral connecting piece arranged with the connecting piece sealed in an opening in a wall of the duct or passage by a circumferential O-ring so that the flat metal box of the heat sink protrudes into the duct or passage to heat the air-fuel mixture. Two tablets of PTC resistance material are disposed within the flat metal box and are pressed resiliently against respective flat opposite inner sides of the box by a conductive spring disposed between the tablets, and an electrical wire leads from the spring through the connecting piece to connect the tablets to an electrical power source.

Abstract: A low-voltage electric heating device for application in a carburizing furnace is provided with an outer housing or sleeve for replaceable disposition within the furance, the outer housing radiating heat directly into said furnace; at least one current path conductor is positioned within the outer housing, the current path conductor being electrically connectable to a source of power and electrically insulated from a substantialy part of the outer housing. The heat radiated from the heating device is concentrated in the lower part because a current path has in series at least the current path conductor and at least a corresponding part of the outer housing, the resistance of the lower part of the outer housing being relatively large with respect to the remainder of the current path.

Abstract: Conductive polymer compositions based on polyvinylidene fluoride have improved properties when the polyvinylidene fluoride has a very regular structure which can be characterized by a low head-to-head content in the repeating units. The improved properties include electrical stability when contacted by organic fluids and/or when maintained at elevated temperatures in air. Such compositions which exhibit PTC behavior are particularly useful in the form of self-limiting heaters which are immersed in organic fluds, especially flexible strip heaters for heating diesel fuel before it passes through a fuel filter.

Abstract: A glow plug for an air compressing internal combustion engine of the type having a tube which is closed at one end and connected to a plug housing on an opposite end with a wire filemant-like resistance element disposed in an insulating material within the tube and formed two series-connected resistance filaments, of which the rear resistance filament, serves as a regulating filament, having a higher positive temperature resistance coefficient than the front resistance filament, which serves as a heating filament, is improved so as to enable the heating up time to be reduced without adversely impacting upon the effective life of the glow plug. In accordance with various embodiments, this result is achieved through the use of, for example, special alloys for the material of the regulating filament which have a resitance at 1000.degree. C. that is greater than their resistance at 20.degree. C. by a resistance ratio over about 7.5:1, and preferably greater than 12:1, and in particular, about 14:1.

Abstract: The service life of conventional glow plugs is extremely short when they are continuously energized at an elevated temperature during engine operation in order to assist ignition of non-autoignitable fuels. Such glow plugs typically fail due to thermal stresses and/or oxidation and corrosion.Herein is disclosed an improved heating element assembly adapted for incorporation in a glow plug. The heating element assembly includes a monolithic sheath having a relatively-thin and generally annular wall defining a blind bore. The heating element assembly further includes a heating device positioned in the blind bore and adapted to emit heat, and a heat transfer device adapted to transfer heat from the heating means to the sheath. The heating device includes a heating filament and a ceramic insulator. THe heating filament is protected against oxidation by being encapsulated in the insulator. The insulator is protected against corrosion by being encapsulated in the sheath.

Abstract: An improved single heating element for a furnace, and method of designing the circuit is provided.In the method of design and constructing the heating element, the voltage level of the furnace is determined, the operating temperature of the furnace is determined and then the watt level output is selected. A resistance wire is selected and the watt-density of the wire is calculated as if it were to be connected in a single strand in series. If the calculation yields a value greater than the maximum safe watt density, the watt-density is recalculated as if the wire were connected as two wires in parallel, and this calculation is repeated with an additional wire in parallel as many times as necessary to provide a watt-density less than the maximum safe watt density and constructing a furnace heating element with said finally determined number of wires in parallel.

Abstract: A resistance adjusting type heater including a honeycomb structure having a large number of passages, at last two electrodes for energizing the honeycomb structure, and a resistance adjusting mechanism such as a slit provided between the electrodes to heat the gas flowing through the passages formed in the honeycomb structure. A catalytic converter includes a main monolith catalyst and the above-described heater placed adjacent to and upstream of the main monolith catalyst. A catalytic converter includes a honeycomb structure having a large number of passages, a catalyst carried on the honeycomb structure, at least two electrodes for energizing the honeycomb structure, and a resistance adjusting mechanism provided between the electrodes. A catalytic converter includes a main monolith catalyst, and a heater placed adjacent to and upstream of the main monolith catalyst.