CATALYTIC CONVERTER

摘要

A catalytic converter for use in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, said catalytic converter including an oval-shaped housing (12), said housing terminating at each end with an oval-shaped peripheral edge (14) located in a plane extending transversely to the longitudinal center axis (16) of said housing and defining an oval cavity of uniform cross section along its length, a catalyst coated substrate (28) made of a frangible material adapted to be located within said cavity and having a cross sectional configuration similar to the oval-shaped configuration of said cavity, said substrate being of a smaller size than said oval cavity in said housing and being dimensioned so when said substrate alone is centrally located within said oval cavity of said housing, the gap between the inside surface of said housing and the outside surface of said substrate along the minor axis of said oval opening is less than the gap between the inside surface of said housing and the outside surface of said substrate along the major axis of said oval opening, a mat (24) made of a resilient intumescent material adapted to be wrapped around said substrate and together therewith located within the cavity of said housing and serving as the sole means for maintaining said substrate in a fixed position within said housing, and a pair of end members (28, 30) each of which is formed with an opening (60, 66) through which exhaust gases can flow, said pair of end members adapted to be secured to the opposed ends of said housing so as to cause said inside surfaces along said minor axis of said oval opening to be maintained in set positions and apply increased pressure to said mat along said minor axis of said oval opening.