Catalytic Device Making Patents (Class 29/890)
  • Publication number: 20040237303
    Abstract: A catalytic reactor consists of a plurality of thin tray-like metal sheets (12, 13) each with a peripheral rim (14) and arranged as a stack to define first gas flow channels between adjacent sheets, alternating with second gas flow channels between adjacent sheets, so as to ensure good thermal contact between gases in the first and the second gas flow channels. Each sheet (12) and (13) also defines at least four apertures (16, 17, 18, 19) for flow of gases, and tubes (20) and (21) seal apertures in one sheet to corresponding apertures in the adjacent sheet. The gas flows through the channels may be guided by corrugations (15), and are preferably in countercurrent in adjacent channels. Appropriate catalysts are coated onto the sheets (12) and (13) in the two gas flow channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Jason Andrew Maude
  • Patent number: 6824744
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalytic converter, especially for motor vehicles, and to a method for the production thereof. The inventive method is characterized in that a monolithic packet (17) consisting of at least one monolith (1) with wrap-around supporting matting (7) is pressed into a tube section (2) acting as a housing. The tube section (2) has two longitudinal sections (9, 10) with different inner cross-sectional surfaces. The monolithic packet (17) is pressed inwards from the end (21) of the tube section with the bigger or biggest inner cross-sectional surface. The inventive catalytic converter is characterized in that it has at least one contracted longitudinal section (9) with a reduced diameter (12) or reduced inner cross-sectional surface, whereby the inner surface (5a) of the tube section (2) runs parallel to the central longitudinal axis (32) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Faurecia Abgastechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Stoepler, Thomas Buckel
  • Patent number: 6821639
    Abstract: A wide sheet formed of a metal foil is wound a plurality of times around outer peripheral surfaces of four honeycomb matrices arranged in series to form an intermediate tube. As a result, a subassembly is formed. A brazing filler material is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the subassembly at an end portion thereof. The subassembly is inserted into an outer tube. The outer tube is caulked to reduce an outer diameter thereof. Then, heat processing is performed in vacuum to diffusion bond a corrugated sheet and a flat sheet, which form the honeycomb matrices, and the wide sheet of the intermediate tube to each other. The intermediate tube and the outer tube are brazed to each other. Thus, a metal substrate for carrying a catalyst is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Fumihiko Kato
  • Patent number: 6807723
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a honeycomb body, which comprises a roll part for supplying a thin metal flat sheet via several rolls; a part for measuring the length of feed of the flat sheet which is fed through said roll part for supplying a flat sheet; a roll part for supplying a corrugated sheet to overlap the same onto said flat sheet via several rolls; a winding roll of a honeycomb body which is made by folding the overlapping flat and corrugated sheets in feed into a roll; a part for measuring the rotation angle of said winding roll; and a control part, which is connected respectively to said part for measuring the length and said part for measuring the rotation angle, wherein said control part controls the amount of winding of a honeycomb body by receiving and computing the measurement values therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Korean Institute of Machinery and Materials
    Inventors: Won-Wook Park, Byoung-Gi Moon, Ha-Sik Kim
  • Publication number: 20040197242
    Abstract: The present invention involves reduction of exhaust emissions through the use of a catalytic converter which has at least one sensor disposed between two or more beds of solid catalysts, or mid-bed, and which does not include an external heat shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Ian Holden, Jim Bowman, Freddie Baldwin, Dan Poling
  • Publication number: 20040191132
    Abstract: An end cone assembly for an exhaust emission control device includes an inner cone spacedly disposed within an outer cone. The outer cone comprises a small outer cone end a large outer cone end and an outer wall that diverges from the small outer cone end to the large outer cone end. The inner cone comprises a small inner cone end and a large inner cone end with an inner wall having a first diameter proximal the first inner cone end, wherein the inner wall diverges to a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is disposed proximal a recessed portion having a third diameter at the second inner cone end, and wherein the first diameter is smaller than the third diameter and the third diameter is smaller than the second diameter. The outer wall is disposed in a spaced relation to at least a portion of the inner wall, and, with the exception of the recessed portion, the space between the inner and outer walls is free of insulating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Egas DeSousa, John Boenhke, David Lucky, Alan G. Turek
  • Patent number: 6793895
    Abstract: A method for producing a metallic honeycomb body, according to which at least partly structured metal sheet is coiled, laminated or looped to form a matrix. The matrix is oscillated by an external excitation and during or after the external excitation is introduced into a casing tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Ludwig Wieres, Hans-Peter Caspar, Christof Müller
  • Patent number: 6790808
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas purifying catalyst, an acid material with a high affinity with respect to an absorbing agent is dispersed and mixed in a catalyst layer, to which the absorbing agent is added, or a layer of the acid material is formed inside the catalyst layer in order to prevent the absorbing agent from moving from the catalyst layer into the carrier. This reduces the permeation of the absorbing agent added to the catalyst layer into a carrier, the evaporation and splash of the absorbing agent from the catalyst, and the deterioration in the durability and the exhaust gas purifying performance of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanada, Osamu Nakayama, Keisuke Tashiro, Kinichi Iwachido, Tetsuya Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20040159358
    Abstract: A honeycomb body is produced with a number of sheet layers, of which at least a part are at least partly structured sheet layers, which lend the honeycomb the property of permitting fluid to flow through the same as a result of the structure thereof. The honeycomb body has a given, continuous, free volume in the interior thereof, for receiving a measuring probe. The method includes selecting a section of a sheet strip from a feed roll, identifying the sheet layer and reading a corresponding hole position and a corresponding hole boundary from a memory, generating a hole with the hole boundary in the sheet layer at the given hole position before the further preparation of the honeycomb body, and winding, stacking and/or entwining of several such pre-prepared sections to give a honeycomb structure, such that a free volume for a measuring probe is formed from the individual holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventor: Rolf Bruck
  • Publication number: 20040156759
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an emission control device and system including the emission control device. The emission control device comprises a housing having exhaust gas inlet and outlet portions. The exhaust gas inlet portion is received within a flared end of an exhaust gas inlet tube, and the exhaust gas outlet portion is received within a flared end of the exhaust gas outlet tube. Cross-sectional flow areas of the inlet and outlet tubes are less than cross-sectional flow areas of unflared portions of the exhaust gas inlet portion and the exhaust gas outlet portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Michael R. Foster
  • Patent number: 6773681
    Abstract: A weldless flanged catalytic converter includes a body having an exhaust inlet end and an outlet end, and a snorkel tube disposed at one or both the exhaust inlet and outlet ends. The snorkel tube has a first end extending from the converter body and a second, distal end having a weldless flange that is integrally formed from the snorkel tube. A movable flange is disposed about the snorkel tube prior to the formation of the weldless flange. A method for preparing the weldless flanged catalytic converter includes disposing a movable flange (configured with the required tapped holes or other connecting means) over the snorkel tube of the converter. A second, weldless flange is prepared by flanging out a portion of the catalytic converter snorkel tube using appropriate metal forming techniques. In use, the weldless flange is held between the movable flange on the snorkel tube and a connecting flange from, for example, the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John Hrinevich, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6769281
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing a container for holding a columnar member in a cylindrical housing with a shock absorbent member wrapped around the columnar member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Sango Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Irie, Masashi Ota
  • Publication number: 20040139607
    Abstract: A method for producing metallic honeycomb bodies contains the step of stacking and/or winding of at least partially structured metallic foils to form a honeycomb structure with channels. The metallic foils are heated using at least one radiant heater from the open front face of the channels, whereby at least one subsection of the honeycomb structure is heated to such a degree that the subsection reaches a temperature of between 800° C. and 1200° C. after 5 to 30 seconds. The metallic foils are interconnected in a subsection using a commercial jointing process. A device for producing metallic honeycomb bodies using at least one radiant heater is used in the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Rolf Bruck, Peter Hirth, Katrin Konieczny
  • Patent number: 6761980
    Abstract: A metallic catalyst carrier 2 has good productivity and improves the exhaust performance by causing the flow of exhaust gas therein to become turbulent, without causing tearing, cutting, and warping of its honeycomb-structure The metallic catalyst carrier 2 has a base metal sheet 5 and a corrugated metal sheet 6 laminated together with a plurality of cell passages 7 formed between the base sheet 5 and the corrugated sheet 6 such that exhaust gases passes through the cell passages 7. The base sheet 5 or the corrugated sheet 6 is equipped with a plurality of hole lines 5a or 6a arranged along hole lines 8 or 9 in a direction perpendicular to the cell passage 7. Between adjacent hole lines 8 or 9, the holes 5a or 6a that form the hole lines 8 or 9 are separated by a prescribed distance in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of the cell passages 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Sato, Ken Oouchi, Kimiyoshi Nishizawa
  • Publication number: 20040131512
    Abstract: There is disclosed a honeycomb structural body (1) comprising: a plurality of through channels (3) formed by a plurality of partition walls (2) in an axial direction. The honeycomb structural body (1) is constituted of a plurality of honeycomb sections (10, 11) formed of materials having different characteristics, and the plurality of honeycomb sections (10, 11) are directly bonded to and integrated with one another. According to the structure of this honeycomb structural body, different high performances can be fulfilled in accordance with requests for each honeycomb section. Additionally, there is not any local stress concentration by shape mismatch of each honeycomb section or presence of a bond material, and reliability at the time of use, and the like can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Fumio Abe, Toshio Yamada
  • Patent number: 6751864
    Abstract: A process for producing a metallic honeycomb body includes winding, laminating or intertwining at least one at least partly structured layer of sheet metal to form a matrix placed in a tubular jacket. At least the tubular jacket is elastically deformed by successively exerting a substantially linearly and radially inwardly directed force on the peripheral surface of the tubular jacket, as seen in circumferential direction of the tubular jacket. An apparatus for producing a metallic honeycomb body includes at least two mutually movable and variably spaced apart pressure elements for receiving the honeycomb body therebetween and bringing the two pressure elements to bear against the peripheral surface of the tubular jacket, to successively exert a substantially radially inwardly directed force on at least part of the periphery of the tubular jacket for elastically deforming at least the tubular jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Ludwig Wieres
  • Publication number: 20040101452
    Abstract: A gas treatment device, comprises a substrate disposed within a shell. The substrate comprises a catalyst composition comprising a support, a catalyst, and a sufficient amount of SMSI material such that, upon exposure to a gas stream (at a gas treatment device operating temperature), less than or equal to about 35 wt % of hydrocarbons in the gas stream are burned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: William J. LaBarge, Richard F. Beckmeyer, Joachim Kupe
  • Publication number: 20040096689
    Abstract: A honeycomb body has sheet-metal layers and sheet-metal foils to be joined with brazing powder. Each of the foils has at least one sliding structure enabling the adjacent layers to slide over one another. A honeycomb body, particularly a catalyst carrier body for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, includes at least partially structured sheet-metal layers wound and/or stacked to form passages for fluid flow. The sheet-metal layers are at least partially joined to one another by the brazing powder. The honeycomb body also has at least one sheet-metal foil with at least one sliding structure. A process for producing the honeycomb body guarantees sharply delineated brazed joints, even for brazing powder, which results in a greatly increased lifespan, particularly with regard to thermal and dynamic loads placed on the honeycomb body when used as a catalyst carrier body in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Kait Althofer, Jan Hodgson, Michael Voit, Ferdi Kurth
  • Patent number: 6732432
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for manufacturing an exhaust emission control device, and the exhaust emission control device formed thereby. The method of manufacturing an exhaust emission control device, comprises: disposing a viscous-elastic material around at least a portion of a substrate to form a wrapped element. The wrapped element is compressed at a first compression rate and at a second compression rate that is slower than the first compression rate, and the wrapped element is introduced into a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Foster, Stephen J. Myers
  • Patent number: 6732429
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed towards a catalytic converter installed in the motor vehicles. More specifically to a method of measuring the pressure on the substrate as the catalytic converter is subject to the spin forming process. A pressure-measuring device such as a sensor is contact with the substrate. In order to transfer data from the rotating catalytic converter to a stationary object, a slip ring device is connected to the pressure-measuring sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Li Houliang, Vincent Carrara, Earl Nelson, Doug Seifert, Joseph Lanzesira, Paul Plenzler
  • Publication number: 20040074094
    Abstract: A metal honeycomb body that is particularly suited for use in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine is prepped for receiving a sensor that reaches into the interior of the honeycomb body. First, voids such as recesses and/or elongated holes are formed in at least one sheet metal foil. Then some of the foils are at least partially structured, as for example corrugated. Then the foils are stacked, coiled, wound, or otherwise made into a honeycomb structure, with the at least one sheet metal foil disposed to form a receiver that extends into the interior. The honeycomb structure is then inserting into a sheathing tube that is formed with an opening that is aligned at least partly with the receiver. Then the various pieces are joined by way of a suitable joining technique. The novel method prevents the channels from being damaged during manufacture when receivers for sensors are subsequently produced and allows, for example, an especially effective conversion of exhaust gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Rolf Bruck
  • Publication number: 20040071611
    Abstract: There is provided a honeycomb structure usable in a filter for trapping/collecting particulates included in exhaust gas and in which ashes deposited inside can be removed without requiring any special mechanism or apparatus or without detaching the filter from an exhaust system. The honeycomb structure includes: a plurality of through channels 9 separated by porous partition walls 7 and extending in the axial direction of the honeycomb structure; and plugging portions 11 for plugging one end of each of predetermined through channels 9a and an opposite end of each of the rest of through channels 9b in a checkered flag pattern, alternately. In the honeycomb structure, at least one slit 15 per through channel is formed in the vicinity of the plugging portions 11 of the partition walls 7 surrounding the respective through channels 9b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Hirose, Toshio Yamada
  • Publication number: 20040071610
    Abstract: A customized flow path substrate is provided that comprises fins of varying material and geometry within a catalyst bed of fuel processing reactors. The fins are preferably secured to a core and are assembled by winding the fins around the core and placing the wound fins and the core into a tube to form a tube assembly, which is positioned within the fuel processing reactor. Either one or a plurality of fins may be secured to an individual core, wherein either or both the material and the geometry are varied to customize the flow path and to provide for efficient mixing of gases and to break boundary layer between bulk gas stream and substrate for enhancing mass transfer rate. In addition, the fins are coated with a catalyst material either prior to assembly in one form or after assembly within the tube in another form of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Annette M. Brenner, Tai-Chiang Yu, Mark A. Brundage, Gerald E. Voecks
  • Patent number: 6710014
    Abstract: A honeycomb body made from a ceramic material with improved radial pressure resistance that is of cylindrical shape and features a first and a second end face and a cylindrical shell and that is traversed from one end face to the other by axially parallel channels formed by channel walls and distributed across the cross section of the honeycomb body in a regular grid pattern, in which design an outer marginal zone of the honeycomb body, the thickness of which amounts to several channel diameters, encloses a central area. The increase in radial pressure resistance of the honeycomb body is achieved by reinforcing the ceramic material of the cylindrical shell and of the channel walls in the outer marginal zone of the honeycomb body by depositing on or in it one or several inorganic substances for the purpose of increasing its mechanical stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: DMC2 Degussa Metals Catalysts Cerdec AG
    Inventors: Rainer Domesle, Thomas Kreuzer, Egbert Lox
  • Publication number: 20040052697
    Abstract: The catalytic converter comprises a shell having a curled edge. When assembling the catalytic converter, the curled edge is inserted into the mat support material of the mat support material/catalyst substrate subassembly disposed in the shell. Once inserted, the curled edge and mat support material form an airgap that can thermally insulate and mechanically isolate the mat support material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Loel E. McIntosh, John C. Boehnke, James T. Harris, Harry G. Hofbauer, William A. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6705012
    Abstract: A method and a device for making catalyst containers preparing, on a single semi-automatic production line, a station (1), at least a monolith enclosing the monolith with an insulating mat and bonding the insulating mat on the monolith; then slipping and automatically positioning the assembly obtained, in a precut tube, into a mounting and positioning assembly (2); etching the tube in an etching station (3); then transferring it into specific elements (5) for retaining, clamping and driving it in rotation; inserting an insulating cone at stations (5) dispensing and installing insulation cones; heating simultaneously the ends of the precut tube at a heating installation (6) maintaining the temperature at the ends to be deformed; deforming the ends, after a predetermined temperature is reached using a device with deforming rollers (7), while maintaining the forming temperature; extracting and evacuating the resulting container after the floturning and spinning process, towards a continuous cooling device (8), t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Wimetal S.A.
    Inventors: Guillaume Harle, Georges Ionescu, Adrien Lehmann, Daniel Frey, Georges Roegler
  • Patent number: 6701617
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a catalytic converter that includes a catalyst substrate having a noncircular circumference and surrounded by a metal housing. The catalyst substrate is initially measured to determine the radial dimension of the substrate circumference relative to a central axis. The substrate is wrapped in a compressible mat and arranged within a metal tube. The arrangement is subjected to a spin-forming process that forms the metal tube about the catalyst substrate. The spin-forming process includes rotating the metal tube about the substrate axis, while concurrently urging a metal-forming tool against the metal tube. The metal-forming tool is programmed to follow a metal-forming path corresponding to the substrate circumference plus a predetermined radial distance. In this manner, a metal housing is formed having a noncircular circumference corresponding in shape to the catalyst substrate and spaced apart by a uniform insulative layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Houliang Li, Joseph Michael Lanzesira, Earl T. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20040043899
    Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention relates to a metal foil with an embossed structure for use in the purification of exhaust gas as well as to a tool and a method for its production. In the direction of the main flow, the metal foil has alternating peaks with ascending flanks and descending flanks and valleys, with the peaks and valleys being divided into rows parallel to the direction of the main flow and with the peaks and valleys of adjacent rows being staggered in the direction of the main flow in such a way that the ascending flanks and the descending flanks of the staggered peaks form a trough which connects the staggered valleys. The troughs located in the region of the ascending flanks and descending flanks form irregular zones of disturbance and warps which render the exhaust gas turbulent and make it come into contact with the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Christian Mangold, Anton Mangold
  • Publication number: 20040031149
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing a container such as a catalytic converter for holding a fragile substrate in a cylindrical housing with a shock absorbent member wrapped around the substrate, with an appropriate holding force determined on the basis of frictional force between the shock absorbent member and the one with the smaller coefficient of friction out of the substrate and the cylindrical housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: Sango Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Irie, Akinobu Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20040031556
    Abstract: An application apparatus 10 is provided with an object supporting section 16 including a support surface 14 for supporting an object 12 while allowing a free rolling of the object; a tape carrying section 22 for rotatably carrying, in a roll form, a double-coated pressure sensitive adhesive tape 20 with a release paper 18 attached to one side of the tape; a tape laying section 24 for holding the double-coated pressure sensitive adhesive tape 20 with the release paper, fed in a strip form from the tape carrying section 22, in a condition where the tape is laid on the support surface 14 of the object supporting section 16 with an adhesive surface 20a of the tape to which the release paper 18 is not attached facing outward; and a tape cutting section 26 provided between the object supporting section 16 and the tape carrying section 22 for acting on the double-coated pressure sensitive adhesive tape 20 with the release paper, held on the support surface 14 by the tape laying section 24, so as to cut only the doub
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: Shinichi Kaneko, Taishi Tokunaga, Hideo Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20040025341
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a catalytic converter comprising a catalyst substrate having a noncircular circumference and a metal housing disposed about the substrate. The catalyst substrate is initially measured to determine the radial dimension of the substrate circumference relative to a central axis. The substrate is wrapped in a compressible mat and arranged within a metal tube. The arrangement is subjected to a spin-forming process that forms the metal tube about the catalyst substrate. The spin-forming process includes rotating the metal tube about the substrate axis, while concurrently urging a metal-forming tool against the metal tube. The metal-forming tool is programmed to follow a metal-forming path corresponding to the substrate circumference plus a predetermined radial distance. In this manner, a metal housing is formed having a noncircular circumference corresponding in shape to the catalyst substrate and spaced apart by a uniform insulative layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Houliang Li, Joseph Michael Lanzesira, Earl T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6689328
    Abstract: In order to improve solid phase diffusion bondability at contact portions between a metal flat foil and a metal corrugated foil together constituting a metal honeycomb body for a catalyst converter used for purifying an exhaust gas and to improve engine durability, the present invention comprises one or combination of the following structures; a structure wherein at least one of the metal foils has a foil thickness of less than 40 &mgr;m; a structure wherein an Al content after bonding is at least 3%; a structure wherein the surface condition of both metal foils in a width-wise direction has a predetermined surface coarseness or a predetermined surface shape and condition; and a structure wherein the width of contact portions between both metal foils is at least five times the thickness of the metal foils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Tadayuki Otani, Atuhiko Imai, Masayuki Kasuya, Kazutoshi Iwami, Toru Utsumi, Mikio Yamanaka, Hitoshi Ohta, Yoshikuni Tokunaga, Fujio Shimizu, Toshihiro Egami, Tamio Noda
  • Patent number: 6687996
    Abstract: In a method of making an exhaust gas collector, a collector housing is made from a tubular blank, and subsequently, an inlet duct is formed through a widening process to provide a substantially rectangular cross section with rounded narrow sides. The inlet duct is provided with a head flange. At the outlet side, the collector housing is necked by a press-forming process so as to shape an outlet duct having a substantially circular cross section which is reduced in size compared to the cross section of the collector housing. Attached to the outlet duct is an end flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Smatloch, Artur Lesch, Ingo Toparkus, Gerhard Steinbach, Jürgen Kleinschmidt
  • Publication number: 20040022699
    Abstract: A catalytic converter (1) includes a catalyst carrier (2), a metal shell (3) covering the outer periphery of the catalyst carrier, and a holding and sealing material (4) disposed between the catalyst carrier and the metal shell. The holding and sealing material is a beltlike holding and sealing material having a width (W1) equal to or smaller than one-half the length (L1) of the catalyst carrier. The holding and sealing material is wound around the outer periphery (2a) of the catalyst carrier (2) by one turn or more. By using the holding and sealing material, the catalytic converter can be produced inexpensively and easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Koji Fukushima
  • Patent number: 6682700
    Abstract: The present invention includes free-standing, shaped ceramic-bearing bodies useful in fluid sensors, filters, and catalyst devices. The invention also includes methods and processes for using such devices. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shaped metallic foils are converted into free-standing, porous rutile foils having an open pore structure by oxidation at an elevated temperature. The exposure of such foils to increasing concentrations of reducing gases such as carbon monoxide results in an increase in the steady-state electrical resistance. The resultant ceramic-bearing bodies may be used as effective sensors of reducing gas species in such applications as automobile and industrial emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: The Ohio State University
    Inventors: Michael John Mills, Kenneth Henry Sandhage, Pelagia-Irene Gouma
  • Publication number: 20040013581
    Abstract: A system and method for the manufacture of a laser-welded cone-shell catalytic converter (100) is provided. An unformed shell blank (111) is formed into a cylindroid shell (110) having overlapping edges (112), which are then resistance welded to produce a shell seam (116). The shell seam (116) is planished to a thickness (120) less than 125 percent of a thickness (119) of the unformed shell blank (111). A ceramic catalytic substrate (130) is wrapped in a ceramic-fiber mounting mat (131) and inserted into the shell (110). Ends (125) of the shell (110) are crimped to form a 1 mm turndown (134). A pair of endcones (140) is assembled, where for each endcone (140) an outer cone (141) is loaded with an endcone insulation (142), and an inner cone (143) is pressed into and spot-welded to the outer cone (141). The endcones (140) are fitted to the shell (110) so as to form an overlap zone (151). The endcones (140) and shell (110) are then laser welded by an Nd:YAG laser (253) in the overlap zone (151).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Stephen L. Burnette, Larry E. Strunk
  • Publication number: 20040009105
    Abstract: A converter case with prominent reliance/endurance in spite of a smaller number of parts and inexpensiveness. Contents 3 and 4 of a catalyst carrier etc. are received in a multistage state within a converter case 2, which has openings 7 and 8 at both ends of a metallic pipe 6. The converter case 2 is formed of accommodating pipe portions 11 and 12 and a connecting pipe portion 13. The accommodating pipe portions 11 and 12 allow for accommodating the contents 3 and 4. The connecting pipe portion 13 connects the accommodating pipe portions 11 and 12 to one another. A radially reduced part 14 is integrally formed on the connecting pipe portion 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Watanabe, Hitoshi Horikawa, Motoya Ito
  • Publication number: 20040009106
    Abstract: Electric arc spraying a metal onto a substrate produces an anchor layer on the substrate that serves as a surprisingly superior intermediate layer for a catalytic material deposited thereon. Spalling of catalytic material is resisted even when subjected to the harsh conditions imposed by small engines or in a close-coupled position for a larger engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Michael P. Galligan, Albert K. Bond, Joseph C. Dettling
  • Patent number: 6671956
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for mass production of metal substrates used in catalytic purification of exhaust gas, which includes: (a) an uncoiler part for continuously feeding a strip in the lengthwise direction, wherein said strip is coiled along a rotation axis; (b) a tubing processing part for changing the strip into the shape of a pipe by means of gradually putting pressure through multi-stage rolls onto both side edges of the strip in feed from said uncoiler part; (c) a feeder part, which is installed at one side of said tubing processing part, for feeding a pre-made honeycomb body at an equal interval to the strip being changed into the shape of a pipe; (d) a welding part, which is installed at the rear end of said tubing processing part, for welding into a unit both side edges of the strip in feed after being changed into the shape of a pipe; (e) a sizing part, which is installed at the rear end of said welding part, for evening the girth of the pipe in feed; and (f) a cutting part f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials
    Inventors: Won-Wook Park, Byoung-Gi Moon, Ha-Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 6673466
    Abstract: A housing for a honeycomb body includes a jacket tube with an inner wall surface. The jacket tube has a passivation layer in at least one section of the inner wall surface in order to deliberately modify a connection to the honeycomb body by joining. A method for the production of a catalyst carrier body with a honeycomb body and a housing according to the invention are also indicated. A catalyst carrier body produced in this way reduces thermal stresses between the honeycomb body and the jacket tube and, in particular, ensures a reliable brazing process during production, even in a vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologies mbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Ludwig Wieres, Ferdi Kurth, Karl-Josef Schmitz, Hans-Günter Faust, Jan Hodgson
  • Patent number: 6667013
    Abstract: Catalytic converter for treatment of exhaust gas from combustion engines, comprising a metal monolith (13) held together by interlocking ridges (15) between spirally wound layers without brazes or welds, with a mantle (14) held to the monolith by the same type of interlocking ridges (16), and where the mantle has an integral clamping flange (17) which is clamped between the exhaust manifold (12) and an exhaust port (11) of the engine block (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Kemira Metalkat Oy
    Inventor: Sven Melker Nilsson
  • Publication number: 20030223920
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for repairing and refurbishing catalytic heaters and to a replacement catalyst cartridge used therein. The method broadly comprises the steps of removing a face frame and a face screen from a heater frame of a catalytic heater to be refurbished, removing catalyst material from an interior portion of the heater, providing a replacement catalyst cartridge having a layer of catalyst material, and securing the cartridge to the heater frame. The replacement catalytic cartridge comprises a frame, an upper screen joined to the frame, a lower screen joined to the frame, and a layer of catalyst material positioned between the upper screen and the lower screen. The replacement catalytic cartridge also has a layer of insulation material secured to the cartridge frame, which layer of insulation material forms a gas tight seal with a peripheral lip of the catalytic heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: John N. Critchley, William C. Sterling
  • Publication number: 20030223922
    Abstract: The present invention provides a structure and a method for improving metal honeycomb core body of catalyst converters, which is composed of an elongate matrix having a flat sheet and a corrugated sheet. Said flat sheet and said corrugated sheet are superimposed and rolled up to form a central heat-resistant structure and a honeycomb structure for improving metal honeycomb core body of catalyst converters. Wherein said central heat-resistant structure having a specific diameter substantially larger than 10 mm for forming at least a diffusion channel to increase the exhausting gas flowing through and decrease the temperature therein; and said honeycomb structure surrounding said central heat-resistant structure for catalytic reaction. Due to the catalytic reaction area of said diffusion channel is very small, it reduces the efficiency of reaction in the center portion of the metal honeycomb core body of catalyst converter, and it further reduces temperature increasing by its exothermic reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: CHARLES HSU
    Inventor: Charles Hsu
  • Publication number: 20030219362
    Abstract: A monolith for imparting swirl to a gas stream includes a stack of alternating flat and corrugated strips defining channels for gas flow. The strips are attached, at an angle, to a carrier. Also, the corrugations of the corrugated strips may be skewed. The carrier defines a cylindrical shell for the strips, and the strips extend from the carrier to a central region. The strips are curved, typically having substantially the shape of involutes, and substantially fill the space between the central region and the shell. Due to the angle of attachment between the strips and the carrier, the gas flow channels are oriented in different directions, at different locations on the outlet face of the monolith. This structure therefore imparts swirl to gas flowing through the monolith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventor: William A. Whittenberger
  • Patent number: 6643928
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a device comprises disposing a first end around a second end, disposing an induction coil around the first end, discharging a current through the induction coil, forming eddy currents on the surface of the first end, and magnetic impulse sizing the first end and the second end together. The first end disposed around the second end comprises a tube end disposed around an end of the device or the first end disposed around the second end comprises the device end disposed around the tube end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Hardesty, John C. Boehnke
  • Patent number: 6637248
    Abstract: A revolution center line (C) of a roll (R) is made eccentric with respect to an axis (L) of an elliptic tube (1). The eccentric amount &egr; is set such that when the revolution radius of the roll (R) is gradually reduced from a state in which the roll (R) is not in contact with any part of the elliptic tube (1), the roll (R) contacts one (4) of the two protuberances (4, 4) which is located on the opposite side to the eccentric direction generally earlier than any other part of the eccentric tube (1). The roll (R) is revolved and reciprocally moved in a direction of the revolution center line (C). At least at one end portion of the reciprocal movement, the roll (R) is moved towards the revolution center line (C) side. By repeating this procedure, the roll (R) is press contacted with the first-mentioned protuberance (4) so as to crush it for elimination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sakamoto Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Ishii, Akihiro Endo
  • Publication number: 20030198579
    Abstract: A catalyst composition is disclosed comprising a support, a substantially sulfur-free stabilizer and a catalytic metal. Also disclosed is the catalytic converter comprising this new catalyst. Methods of making the catalyst composition and the catalytic converter are also described. The lack of added sulfur combined with basic pH application provide a catalyst with excellent stability for high temperature applications such as close coupled catalysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: William J. LaBarge
  • Publication number: 20030194357
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Paul B. Lancaster, John M. Tursky
  • Patent number: 6622382
    Abstract: A catalytically active component is deposited exclusively on a carrier component by utilizing a container-integrated carrier. Prior to the deposition of the active component on the carrier, the carrier is sealed and then the deposition of the active component is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, ICT Co., Ltd., International Catalyst Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nakaba Tamura, Shigeyoshi Taniguchi, Katsuji Tanihira, Makoto Horiuchi, Ryugo Kakimi
  • Patent number: 6623704
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a catalytic converter. A plurality of catalyst substrates having a periphery, an intake area and an outlet area, and comprising a catalyst, is longitudinally aligned. A mat support material is wrapped about the periphery of the catalyst substrates to form a subassembly. The subassembly is concentrically disposed within a shell. The shell is formed to have a non-linear geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Thomas Roth