| 摘要 |
<p>A low profile catalytic converter made of sheet metal wherein catalyst material is contained in a space between top and bottom catalyst retaining plates which in turn are located between top and bottom shells to define a structure wherein engine exhaust gases entering at one end of the converter pass through the catalyst material and exit at the opposite end. Sagging of the bottom catalyst retaining plate is avoided by one or more elongated support channels each having a web in face-to-face supporting relation to the bottom shell and upstanding longitudinal sides which fit against and support the bottom catalyst retaining plate at a series of spaced points along their lengths. Each support channel includes a web that is struck upwardly to define a pair of flat portions that fit against and are welded to the bottom catalyst retaining plate, one of these flat portions has fore and aft rigidity while the other has fore and aft flexibility, so that the welds do not break under the temperature gradients and varying thermal expansion conditions of the converter, when used.</p> |
