Unitary (i.e., Nonparticulate) Contact Bed, (e.g., Monolithic Catalyst Bed, Etc.) Patents (Class 422/222)
  • Patent number: 5980838
    Abstract: Reactor heads for the feed and withdrawal of a fuel gas/air mixture and of an educt gas mixture into the heating ducts and reaction ducts respectively of a monolithic countercurrent reactor. The reactor heads are provided with guide pipes, which feed the gas mixtures into the ducts assigned to them and withdraw them from these ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Degussa-Huls Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lukas von Hippel, Dietrich Arntz, Jorg Frauhammer, Gerhart Eigenberger, Gerhard Friedrich
  • Patent number: 5902557
    Abstract: In an electrically heated catalyst support, when necessary, reinforcing layers are formed on the inner circumference and the outer circumference of a honeycomb body. On an end surface of the honeycomb body on the downstream side of exhaust gas, there are provided a plurality of insulating ceramic bars on the outer circumferential layer and/or the inner circumferential layer in such a manner that the insulating ceramic bars cross a non-reinforcing layer of the honeycomb body. End portions of the ceramic bars are held on the reinforcing layer by pins or a ring-shaped holding member joined to an external metallic cylinder. Due to the foregoing arrangement, telescoping of the honeycomb body in the direction of gas flow and damage of the metallic foil can be prevented without obstructing the generation of heat when electricity is supplied. Accordingly, durability of the catalyst support can be remarkably enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisa
    Inventors: Kouki Yotsuya, Takuzou Kako, Shogo Konya, Yuuji Nakashima, Kouji Yoshizaki, Kazuhiro Sakurai, Masahiko Ogai
  • Patent number: 5891402
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved apparatus and method for using a catalyst to remove contaminants from a fluid stream. Catalytic particles are enmeshed within a highly porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrate. The use of an expanded PTFE substrate provides added strength to the substrate and provides open and uniform porosity, thus, assuring proper exchange of molecules between the exterior surface of the substrate and the catalytic particles held within it. As such, the present invention is particularly suitable for use as a cross-flow filter for use in ozone generating office equipment (e.g., an electro-static photocopy machine) or similar application requiring minimal pressure drop across the filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Sassa, Alex R. Hobson, Jeffrey C. Towler, James H. Bushong
  • Patent number: 5888457
    Abstract: A catalytic converter including a cylindrical catalyst carrier having a catalyst carried therein, a retaining mat wound around an outer peripheral surface of the catalyst carrier, and a casing including a cylindrical carrier retaining portion for retaining the catalyst carrier with the retaining mat compressed. The cylindrical carrier retaining portion is an assembly which is constructed of diametrically split halves whose axially extending opposite-side edges are fitted over each other with fitted portions bonded to each other. The cylindrical carrier retaining portion has an oval cross-sectional shape with a longer diameter between both the fitted portions. Thus, the density of the retaining mat in the circumferential direction of the catalyst carrier after being compressed can be varied in an increased manner to compensate for the decreasing variation in urging force provided by the cylindrical carrier retaining portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Tosa, Kouichi Fujimori
  • Patent number: 5882608
    Abstract: A pollution control device has a metal housing, a solid pollution control device disposed within the metal housing, and a mounting mat disposed between the pollution control element and the housing for positioning the pollution control element and for absorbing mechanical and thermal shock. The mounting mat includes a layer of intumescent material having at least one insert formed of a resilient, flexible, fibrous non-intumescent material. The insert is positioned along at least a portion of at least one lateral edge of the mounting mat to prevent erosion of the intumescent material and to provide a seal between the pollution control element and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Stephen M. Sanocki, Loyd R. Hornback, III, Richard P. Merry, Joel H. Sabean, Paul D. Stroom
  • Patent number: 5866078
    Abstract: This invention which combines an oxygen storage system with a catalytic converter to enhance the conversion of common pollutants found in the exhaust gas stream of an internal combustion engine. The oxygen storage element is placed upstream of the catalytic converter and is designed to extract excess oxygen from the exhaust gas stream and release the extracted oxygen when the exhaust gas stream is oxygen deficient. Controlling the oxygen level in this manner allows for effectiveness of the converter to be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Pfefferle, Subir Roychoudbury
  • Patent number: 5866079
    Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb catalytic converter having a novel canning structure capable of stably retaining a thin-walled ceramic honeycomb catalyst within a metal casing for a long period. A retainer member in the form of a ceramic fiber mat is disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the casing and an outer peripheral surface of the honeycomb catalyst, in a compressed state to generate a surface pressure for retaining the honeycomb catalyst in place. The ceramic fiber mat is composed of heat resistant and non-intumescent ceramic fibers, and has a compression characteristic which is substantially free from a significant increase or decrease over an operative temperature range of the catalytic converter. The casing may be provided with at least one locking member for locking the ceramic fiber mat in a flow direction of exhaust gas passed through the honeycomb catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Machida, Toshio Yamada, Toshihiko Hijikata, Yukihito Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 5866077
    Abstract: A honeycomb support structure of an electrically-heated catalyst apparatus is disclosed, in which a support member of retainers for preventing an electrically-heated catalyst moving backward is coupled to an outer cylinder while causing the support member to follow the thermal deformation of the outer cylinder thereby to suppress the deformation of the support member due to the thermal stress. A metal foil laminate having a corrugated foil and a tabular foil superposed one on the other is spirally wound to form a cylindrical honeycomb unit, which is accommodated in a metal outer cylinder and is heated by being supplied with power. The honeycomb unit support structure includes a plurality of ceramic bars and at least a support member having a plurality of recesses for holding the ceramic bars at such a position as to traverse the end surface of the honeycomb unit downstream of the exhaust gas flow and in such a manner as to follow the deformation of the outer cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippon Steel Corp.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sakurai, Takuzou Kako
  • Patent number: 5857140
    Abstract: A catalytic converter in which a catalyst coated substrate is positioned within a housing and is constructed with end portions thereof extending into close proximity to the end members attached to the housing so as to improve the durability of a mat of intumescent material that is wrapped around and serving to support the substrate within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Ralph Foster
  • Patent number: 5855854
    Abstract: An oxidizing catalytic converter is provided in an exhaust passage of a diesel engine. A catalyst is formed by coating a wash coat comprising platinum onto a substrate The converter is divided into a high temperature part through which high temperature exhaust is circulated and a low temperature part through which low temperature exhaust is circulated, and the platinum particle diameter of the catalyst in the low temperature part is arranged to be less than that in the high temperature part. It is preferable that the wash coat amount of the low temperature part is less than that of the high temperature part. It is moreover preferable that the platinum amount in the low temperature part is greater than that in the high temperature part. In this way, the soluble organic fraction, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are effectively and continuously purged from the exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohiro Shinzawa, Yasuyuki Murofushi
  • Patent number: 5852274
    Abstract: An electrically heatable catalytic converter for internal combustion engines is provided. This catalytic converter includes a honeycomb multi-layered core member wound around an electrode. The multi-layered core member consists of a plurality of flat metal foil sheets and a plurality of corrugated metal foil sheets arranged alternately and bonded to each other for preventing the core member from telescoping in the direction of exhaust gas flow, especially, during high-load engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyohiko Watanabe, Tohru Yoshinaga, Akihiro Izawa, Osamu Fujishiro
  • Patent number: 5851495
    Abstract: The electrically heated catalytic converter of the present invention has a substrate, for a catalyst, which is formed as a laminated assembly of corrugated metal sheets and plain metal sheets. The corrugated metal sheet has an insulating coating made of an alumina Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and the plain metal sheet has no insulating coating. Local conductive connections are formed between the layers of the metal sheets by soldering the metal sheets using strips of zirconium solder foils interposed between the layers of the metal sheets. The strips of solder foils are arranged in such a manner that the strips of solder foil disposed on both sides of the corrugated metal sheet defines a single electric path in the corrugated metal sheet which connects the solder foils on both sides of the corrugated metal sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouji Yoshizaki, Shogo Konya
  • Patent number: 5851496
    Abstract: Device for cleaning exhaust gases by a metallic catalyst carrier that is installed in an exhaust gas passage and is contained in a metallic outer cylinder, wherein a structure for absorbing a difference in the thermal expansion between the metallic catalyst carrier and the outer cylinder is realized without causing stress to the metallic catalyst carrier and without requiring strict tolerance in production. A cushioning material made of a heat-resistant wire gauze is arranged between the metallic catalyst carrier and the metallic outer cylinder, and the cushioning material, metallic carrier and metallic outer cylinder are conductively joined. The cushioning material is compressed between the metallic catalyst carrier and the outer cylinder, and the cushioning material is joined to the metallic catalyst carrier and to the outer cylinder. Here, the junction is accomplished locally without overlapping one upon the other in the axial direction of the outer cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Sakurai
  • Patent number: 5849250
    Abstract: The present invention provides an auxiliary catalytic converter having a back pressure relief device being disposed after the main catalytic converter or after the muffler system which further reduces vehicle exhaust emissions from exhaust emission systems and that will meet the more stringent emission requirements of state and federal government regulations. The auxiliary catalytic converter includes a ceramic or steel housing of relatively small size, having a diameter in the range of 1 inch to 8 inches and a length of 4 inches to 11 inches. The housing includes a matrix core of catalytic layered materials which react with the gaseous exhaust emission pollutants, such as NO.sub.x, NHMC, HC, and CO. These pollutants are further reduced and oxidized by the auxiliary catalytic converter using typical catalytic materials of platinum, palladium, rhodium, or the like contained within the honeycombed or meshed layers of the matrix core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Inventor: Mark Timko
  • Patent number: 5849251
    Abstract: A catalytic converter for a tailpipe which further reduces vehicle exhaust emissions from exhaust emission systems and that will meet the more stringent emission requirements of state and federal government regulations. The tailpipe catalytic converter includes a ceramic or steel housing which includes a matrix core of catalytic layered materials which react with the exhaust emission pollutants, such as NO.sub.x, NMHC, HC, and CO. These pollutants are further reduced and oxidized by the catalytic converter in the tailpipe by the typical catalytic materials of platinum, palladium, rhodium, or the like contained within the honeycombed or meshed layers of the matrix core. The catalytic converter is lodged within the interior of the tailpipe adjacent the open end or as an extension to the end of the tailpipe. The tailpipe catalytic converter is held in place by any suitable device, such as a clamp, mounting screws, or mounting brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Inventor: Mark Timko
  • Patent number: 5846495
    Abstract: There is provided an improved 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. This structure results in improved durability in severe automotive tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Whittenberger, David Thomas Sheller
  • Patent number: 5846494
    Abstract: A reactor for catalytically processing gaseous fluids including fluid-path forming elements spaced from each other and forming a plurality of adjacent first and second channels through which fluid flows in opposite directions, with each of the first and second channels having an inlet region and an outlet region where at least the inlet region of the first channel and the outlet region of the second channel are without a catalyst and where each of the first and second channels have one region other than its inlet and outlet regions provided with a catalyst, with the inlet region of the first channel and the outlet region of the second channel providing for heat exchange between the first and second channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Gerd Gaiser
  • Patent number: 5833932
    Abstract: A catalytic converter assembly for nitrogen oxide reduction in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, in particular a Diesel engine, includes a catalytic converter through which exhaust gas can flow in a given flow direction. The catalytic converter has a catalyst carrier and a catalytically active layer. The catalytic converter has a reducing agent storage capacity per unit of length being increased in the given flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Helmut Schmelz
  • Patent number: 5830415
    Abstract: The present invention provides a car exhaust purifying filter member which is high in the capacity to collect solid and liquid contents in exhausts and which has such high heat resistance as to be capable of withstanding heat when burned for cleaning and a method of manufacturing the same. A three-dimensional mesh-like metallic porous member made from Ni--Cr--Al and having a three-dimensional framework is heated at 800-1000 .degree. C. in the atmosphere to form on its surface a densely grown fibrous alumina crystal. This member is used as a filter member. Such a filter member shows excellent collecting capacity and corrosion resistance and can withstand high temperatures. Also, it is possible to firmly carry a catalyst on the fibrous alumina crystal formed on the surface. Because of its increased surface area, it has an increased catalyst carrying capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Maeda, Masayuki Ishii, Hiroshi Yoshino, Shunsuke Ban
  • Patent number: 5820835
    Abstract: A catalytic converter is constructed by assembling a plurality of non-nestable foil leaves, each having opposite proximal and distal ends defining a leaf length. The proximal ends of the foil leaves are interconnected to provide a continuous flexible strip of overlapping foil leaves in which the distal ends of the leaves extend freely. The strip of foil leaves is subsequently formed to arrange the leaves to lie in curved paths radiating inwardly from the interconnected proximal ends toward a central area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: David Thomas Sheller, William A. Whittenberger
  • Patent number: 5811063
    Abstract: A device for the treatment of exhaust gases such as a catalytic converter, a diesel particulate trap and the like, includes a housing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at its opposite end through which exhaust gases flow; a structure resiliently mounted within the housing, the structure having an outer surface and an inlet end surface at one end in communication with the inlet of the housing and an outlet end surface at an opposite end in communication with the outlet of the housing; and mounting element, disposed between the structure and the housing, for selectively exerting substantially stable mounting pressure against the housing and the structure over a temperature range of from about 20.degree. C. to at least about 1200.degree. C., wherein the mounting element is a flexible mounting mat including an integral, substantially non-expanding sheet comprising ceramic fibers, wherein the fibers are substantially shot free. The mat has flexible, structural integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Unifrax Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Robinson, Alan R. Lebold, Mark Travers
  • Patent number: 5811064
    Abstract: A poisoning-resistant catalyst for a catalytic converter, includes a support, a noble metal catalytic component deposited on the support, and a poisoning-preventive layer formed on the side of the catalytic component exposed to an exhaust gas, said poisoning-preventive layer having a compound containing at least one element selected from the Group IIa elements of the periodic table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Kojima, Ken Minoha, Masaru Yamano
  • Patent number: 5804148
    Abstract: An HC adsorbent which adsorbs hydrocarbons in a predetermined low temperature region and discharges hydrocarbons in a temperature region higher than the lower temperature region is provided in an engine exhaust passage. A catalyst which oxidizes hydrocarbons in a predetermined high temperature region is provided downstream of the HC adsorbent. A heater for heating exhaust is provided upstream of the HC adsorbent. A control unit activates the heater when the exhaust temperature has risen to near the upper limit of the lower temperature region. Activation of the catalyst is thereby promoted, and the time until the catalyst starts oxidizing hydrocarbons discharged by the HC adsorbent is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kanesaka, Yasuyuki Murofushi
  • Patent number: 5800789
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalyst installed in an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine, featuring simple construction, without causing the flow resistance of the exhaust gases to increase, and consuming small amounts of electric power. The electrically heated catalyst has two electrodes of different polarities in a casing through which the exhaust gases flow and has at least one catalyst support that is folded plural times in a zig-zag manner in a direction intersecting the direction of flow of the exhaust gases without coming into contact with itself, the two ends of the catalyst support being connected to these two electrodes. The catalyst support is constituted by a flat foil and a corrugated foil that are joined together, and electric insulators are provided at the folding portions of the catalyst support to stretch and support the catalyst support inside the casing. Owing to the insulators, the catalyst support is held in the casing in a state of receiving tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kouji Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 5785931
    Abstract: A metal honeycomb body is disposed within a jacket member. At least partly structured sheet-metal layers are wrapped around one another and extend alternatingly back and forth in a curved, preferably involute, fashion between an outer annular region and an inner annular region of the honeycomb body. The sheet-metal layers form loops. At least three reversal lines are defined in the outer annular region, and the sheet-metal layers are intertwined about these reversal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissions-technologie mbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Maus, Helmut Swars, Rolf Bruck, Bohumil Hum-Polik
  • Patent number: 5772972
    Abstract: The invention is an automotive catalyst system for treating internal combustion engine exhaust gases. The system comprises a hybrid system of hydrocarbon trapping material and palladium based three-way catalyst material, the hydrocarbon trapping material being capable of adsorbing hydrocarbons present in said internal combustion exhaust gases and substantially maintaining adsorbance of the adsorbed hydrocarbons until after the palladium based three-way catalyst material reaches a temperature at which it is capable of oxidizing the hydrocarbons. The palladium based three-way catalyst is carried on a substrate, which may be the trapping material, in an amount of between about 100-500 g palladium/ft.sup.3 of substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Hepburn, Hung-Wen Jen, Harendra Sakarlal Gandhi, Klaus Otto
  • Patent number: 5753339
    Abstract: A catalytic converter substrate comprising: a plurality of cell groups, each cell group comprising a plurality of air-flow cells extending axially through the substrate, each cell group comprising a first set of walls defining a radially outer periphery thereof and a second set of walls suspended by the first set of walls partitioning the individual air-flow cells from each other, wherein the first set of walls has a first effective thermal mass and the second set of walls has a second effective thermal mass, wherein the first effective thermal mass is greater than the second effective thermal mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Slater William Hawes
  • Patent number: 5746986
    Abstract: A catalytic converter for stand-alone application or for use with a novel silencer. The silencer includes a catalytic converter formed from a central housing of a size to house at least one catalytic converter element, an inlet portion connected to the inlet side of the central housing and an outlet portion connected to the outlet side of the central housing. The silencer is formed from a cylindrical housing which is secured on one end to the catalytic converter and on the opposite end to an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. The cylindrical housing has at least one baffle plate transversely mounted therein. The baffle plate has a plurality of perforated conical members positioned opposite each other on each side of the baffle plate. The perforated conical members redirect the flow of exhaust gas through the silencer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Waukesha-Pearce Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Bobby G. Pollock, Terry A. Segal, John E. Dusek, Jr., Alvin L. Bodin, Cyde D. Maas, Edward C. Coen, Randall A. Pinter
  • Patent number: 5744104
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalytic converter having a substrate for a catalyst, a rod-like metal electrode connected to the substrate, and a casing accommodating the substrate. The substrate for the catalyst is formed as a scroll-like cylindrical laminated assembly of thin metal sheets wound around the electrode. The electrode extends from the laminated assembly along the central axis, bends towards the wall of the casing and penetrates the casing. The electrode is fixed to the casing via an insulating material at the point where it penetrates the casing. When the electricity is fed to the electrode, electric current flows through the electrode to the laminated assembly, and to the casing, and heat is generated in the substrate by the electric current and the temperature of the catalyst carried by the substrate quickly reaches the activating temperature. The rod-like electrode of the present invention is formed as a hollow pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sakurai, Koji Shimoji, Tohru Yoshinaga, Kiyohiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5738833
    Abstract: A support is composed of a plurality of units which each consist of a hollow essentially cylindrical member in which a sets of parallel non-intersecting wires are strung. The units are arranged one after the other with the wires extending either parallel to each other or at different angles to one another. The cylindrical members are in some embodiments formed with crenelations over which wire wound during the stringing process. Alternatively, through-holes are used to receive portions of the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Usui
  • Patent number: 5737839
    Abstract: A catalytic converter body having a jacket tube, a plurality of non-nestable foil leaves having inner and outer ends defining a leaf length, the outer ends being connected to the jacket tube and radiating inward to provide flow passages generally transverse to the leaf length, and a pliant central core joined to the inner ends of the radiating foil leaves. The catalytic converter body has a natural frequency of between 10 and 100 hertz. The catalytic converter is formed by assembling a plurality of non-nestable foil leaves by interconnecting proximal ends of the foil leaves to provide a continuous flexible strip of overlapping foil leaves in which opposite the distal ends of the leaves extend freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Whittenberger, John J. Chelbus, Joseph E. Kubsh, Boris Y. Brodsky
  • Patent number: 5729902
    Abstract: A catalytic converter includes a casing tube having a given internal diameter. At least two individual honeycomb bodies through which a fluid can flow in a given flow direction, are disposed in the casing tube. The honeycomb bodies are formed of structured metal layers forming flow channels. The layers are joined to the casing tube by joining techniques, such as hard brazing. The honeycomb bodies have a given theoretical strain-free diameter and have an internal layout making the honeycomb bodies elastic and permitting the honeycomb bodies to be inserted into the casing tube with an elastic compression of from 2 to 10% of the given theoretical strain-free diameter and with prestress. A method for producing a catalytic converter includes forming at least two honeycomb bodies with a given theoretical strain-free diameter from structured metal layers defining channels through which a fluid can flow in a given direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Ludwig Wieres, Alfred Reck
  • Patent number: 5728576
    Abstract: A cover slip holder for suspension of cover slips or slides in a biochemi reactor which includes a perimeter support constructed so that the outer surface of the support will engage the interior wall of the reactor, a plurality of coiled springs secured to the perimeter support and constructed so that cover slips can be held vertically between the coils of the springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignees: The Board of Governors for Higher Education, State of Rhode Island, Providence Plantations
    Inventors: Michael N. Dudley, Sean F. Donnelly, Andrew Strayer
  • Patent number: 5700434
    Abstract: A reactor for catalytically processing gaseous fluids. The invention relates to a reactor for catalytically processing gaseous fluids wherein the catalytic reaction is accompanied by a heat exchange, stationary catalysts are used, with the fluid flowing through the reactor in one direction. To this end, the fluid path-forming structures (10) are provided in the reactor housing, the structures (10) form channels (19), and the structures (10) have at least one region (11) provided with a catalyst (12), preferably coated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: Gerd Gaiser
  • Patent number: 5693295
    Abstract: A vehicular catalytic converter (10) is disclosed having a plurality of catalytic monoliths (24,26). The first (24) and second (26) catalytic monoliths are connected to each other at an angle. Any number of catalytic monoliths may be serially connected at angles to increase the gas-to-catalyst contact within the catalytic converter (10) thus creating a more efficient catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Ralph Foster
  • Patent number: 5674461
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying device includes a cylindrical carrier carrying a catalyst, the carrier having a number of holes in the cylindrical wall thereof, an exhaust pipe into which the cylindrical carrier is inserted, an elastic member set radially compressed between a part of the outer cylindrical surface of at least one end portion of the carrier and a recess formed in the inner cylindrical surface of the exhaust pipe which is confronted with the part of the outer cylindrical surface, pressing pieces protruded from the outer cylindrical surface of the carrier so as to engage with the inner end face of the elastic member as viewed in the direction of axis thereof, the pressing pieces cooperating with the end of the recess to compress the elastic member axially, and a valve chamber formed in the exhaust pipe, the valve chamber having a valve body which includes a valve shaft penetrating the valve chamber in a direction of diameter, and a valve body fixedly mounted on the valve shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kato, Mitsuo Kusa, Kensuke Suzuki, Takahito Sekita
  • Patent number: 5672324
    Abstract: An electric heater comprises a central electrode and a ring electrode with a honeycomb heat generator disposed therebetween. The honeycomb heat generator is formed by winding a conductive foil strip around the central electrode until the size of the rolled honeycomb body just fits to the ring electrode. The surface of the conductive foil strip is coated by an insulating material, thereby preventing a short circuit between two layers of the conductive foil strip wound around the central electrode. A plurality of bonding parts are provided to electrically connect adjacent layers of the conductive foil strip wound around the central electrode. The bonding parts are disposed along a plurality of bonding lines extending across the layers of the conductive foil strip. The bonding parts are disposed on every other bonding line along each layer of the conductive foil strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuya Okamoto, Akikazu Kojima, Niro Takaki, Kiyohiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5665316
    Abstract: A portable oxygen generating system using the principle of exothermic catalytic decomposition of an aqueous hydrogen peroxide comprising a feed tank having a mouth to receive liquid hydrogen peroxide, a cap to seal the mouth during operation and an outlet pipe, an on/off valve to control discharge from the feed tank, a regular valve to stop discharge from the feed tank when pressure in the system is equal to a predetermined pressure, a reactor containing a catalyst of lead strips in which hydrogen peroxide is decomposed, a cooling coil to cool and condense the reaction products, a separator tank to hold liquid water and gaseous oxygen, a return pipe to the feed tank to balance pressure in the system, a drain with a drain valve to discharge water, and a product line to supply oxygen for use by an operator of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Geno.sub.2 X Corporation
    Inventors: Tino Salonia, Davor Grunwald
  • Patent number: 5662869
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system includes an adsorbent containing an adsorbent element for adsorbing harmful compounds such as hydrocarbon in an exhaust gas and a catalyst containing a catalyst element for lowering the harmful compounds in the exhaust gas, each disposed in the exhaust gas pipe of an internal combustion engine. When an oxidizing gas is added to the exhaust gas or amounts of combustion gas and fuel are regulated, for a given period, in the process in which the hydrocarbon in the exhaust gas produced at the cold start-up of the internal combustion engine are adsorbed by the adsorbent and desorbed from the adsorbent as a temperature of the adsorbent is increased by the exhaust gas, an exhaust gas composition containing excessive oxygen is provided and the desorbed hydrocarbon are oxidized on the catalyst. With this arrangement, the harmful compounds in the exhaust gas, in particular, the hydrocarbon produced in a large amount at the cold start-up of the engine can be effectively purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Abe, Junichi Suzuki, Masato Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5660800
    Abstract: An exhaust gas emissions control system lowers cold-start hydrocarbon emissions by using heat exchange structure to lower the temperature of exhaust gas prior to the exhaust gas passing through a hydrocarbon adsorbent and using the extracted heat to heat a catalytic converter to its light-off temperature. In some embodiments, multi-component hydrocarbon adsorbers effective under different operating conditions further reduce cold-start hydrocarbon emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney L. Mieville, Ronald A. Dictor, Eugene H. Hirschberg, Lawrence C. Robinson, Don Miles Washecheck, Terrence A. Renner
  • Patent number: 5658538
    Abstract: Apparatus, in particular reactor for carrying out endothermic catalytically promoted gas-phase reactions, which has, arranged one on top of the other or one inside the other in a common jacket, a tube-bundle heat exchanger 1 consisting of a plurality of parallel tubes provided with baffles 1a securing a flow of the heat exchanging medium in a direction transverse to the axis of said tubes, a reaction space 6 which preferably widens conically upward, has a base and is intended for holding a catalyst bed, a tube-bundle heat exchanger 2 to which material flows laterally and which is provided with baffles 2a, a reaction space 4 which has a base, is closed at the top by a gas dome and is intended for holding a catalyst bed, a central tube 3 for connecting the outer space of the heat exchanger 1 to the gas space above the reaction space 4, and inlet and outlet means for a heating or cooling gas (c) and inlet and outlet means (a or b) for the fresh gas or reaction mixture, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Axel Deimling, Uwe Behling
  • Patent number: 5658536
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus includes a carrier of a honeycomb structure which is made of at least one flat metal plate and at least one corrugated metal plate which is superimposed on the flat metal plate. A catalytic layer is formed on the surface of the carrier. The carrier suited for being coated with the catalytic layer is disposed in an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. The carrier is provided, on an axially intermediate portion thereof, with a large number of louvers which causes a haphazard secondary motion in the exhaust gas. A predetermined portion of the carrier including the turbulence producing portion and an additional region located adjacent to said predetermined region is coated with a larger amount of catalyst than that with which the remaining portion of the carrier is coated, whereby good purifying efficiency can be obtained for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinichi Okabe, Tokio Kohama, Tohru Yoshinaga, Kiyohiko Watanabe, Yasuyuki Kawabe
  • Patent number: 5656244
    Abstract: A process and system for reducing cold start NO.sub.x, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbon emissions from mobile source engine exhaust utilizes adsorption and desorption of NO.sub.x compounds on a regenerable sorbent material. Molecules of NO.sub.x are adsorbed onto the sorbent material during the ineffective warm up period of a three-way catalytic converter. When the catalytic converter reaches operating temperatures, the NO.sub.x molecules are thermally desorbed from the sorbent material and delivered to the catalytic converter for effective reduction to molecular nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Energy and Environmental Research Corporation
    Inventor: Jerald A. Cole
  • Patent number: 5651946
    Abstract: The exhaust gas catalytic converter (1) with an ordered substrate structure (10) for catalysing material comprises layers (13) with parallel channels. The layers are substantially parallel to the direction (15) of main flow of the exhaust gas. The cross-sectional surfaces of the substrate structure along the direction of main flow has, according to the invention, at least partly variable area and/or variable shape; the channels make with the direction of main flow and angle between about 10.degree. and 70.degree. and the channels in adjacent layers are open towards each other and cross each other. The exhaust gas catalytic converter according to the invention enables its shape to be adapted to the conditions of small space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Sulzer Chemtech AG
    Inventors: Roger Dekumbis, Jean Paul Stringaro
  • Patent number: 5632961
    Abstract: There has been provided an improved reinforcing web for multicellular honeycomb converter core bodies. The reinforcing web contains at least one flat thin metal strip to which is secured at least one corrugated thin metal strip as by brazing or welding. The reinforcing web is located centrally of the core body and gives the converter bodies hereof sufficient axial strength to survive the severe durability tests imposed by the automotive manufacturers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: David T. Sheller
  • Patent number: 5618498
    Abstract: The present invention aims to produce a metallic carrier which enables a catalyst to be activated in a short time. In mutually joining an insulated heat resisting alloy and a heat resisting alloy having an insulating film, particularly composed mainly of alumina, a joining material of a laminate, formed by laminating a strongly reducing metal, which can thermodynamically reduce alumina, and a brazing material to each other, is disposed so that the strongly reducing metal comes into contact with the insulated heat resisting alloy, and the resultant laminate is heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to carry out a brazing treatment. This enables only portions in the honeycomb structure, where electrically conductive paths are to be formed, can be joined, and, at the same time, heat resisting alloys having a surface covered with an insulating oxide film can be firmly joined with the resultant joint having an electrical conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shogo Konya, Akira Okamoto, Kouji Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 5618501
    Abstract: A catalytic converter includes a casing tube having a given internal diameter. At least two individual honeycomb bodies through which a fluid can flow in a given flow direction, are disposed in the casing tube. The honeycomb bodies are formed of structured metal layers forming flow channels. The layers are joined to the casing tube by joining techniques, such as hard brazing. The honeycomb bodies have a given theoretical strain-free diameter and have an internal layout making the honeycomb bodies elastic and permitting the honeycomb bodies to be inserted into the casing tube with an elastic compression of from 2 to 10% of the given theoretical strain-free diameter and with prestress. A method for producing a catalytic converter includes forming at least two honeycomb bodies with a given theoretical strain-free diameter from structured metal layers defining channels through which a fluid can flow in a given direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Emitec, Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Ludwig Wieres, Alfred Reck
  • Patent number: 5618462
    Abstract: An exhaust gas system for an internal combustion engine, in particular an electrically heatable catalytic converter, includes a metallic sheath having tabs and at least one electrical conductor extending through the tabs. An electrically insulating, gas-tight leadthrough for the at least one electrical conductor in the vicinity of the tabs includes first and second successively disposed sections. The first section is closer to the exhaust gas system for electrical insulation and is resistant to temperatures up to 1300.degree. C., but need not be completely gas-tight. The second section is farther from the exhaust gas system and is gas-tight and electrically insulating for temperatures up to 500.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie
    Inventor: Helmut Swars
  • Patent number: 5614155
    Abstract: A heater unit including a honeycomb heater, a metallic casing for holding the honeycomb heater, and a gas flow-controlling means for controlling flow of exhaust gas through the heater unit, such that about 2 to 20% of the total amount of exhaust gas flows outside the honeycomb heater, between the honeycomb heater and the metallic casing. The honeycomb heater may be attached inside the metallic casing via several appropriate devices including supporting, buffer and connecting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Abe, Shigeharu Hashimoto, Tomoharu Kondo
  • Patent number: 5609832
    Abstract: An exhaust gas emissions control system lowers cold-start hydrocarbon emissions by using heat exchange structure to lower the temperature of exhaust gas prior to the exhaust gas passing through a hydrocarbon adsorbent and using the extracted heat to heat a catalytic converter to its light-off temperature. In some embodiments, multi-component hydrocarbon adsorbers effective under different operating conditions further reduce cold-start hydrocarbon emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney L. Mieville, Ronald A. Dictor, Eugene H. Hirschberg, Lawrence C. Robinson, Don M. Washecheck, Terrence A. Renner