Converter with catalyst pellets

#The present invention relates in general to a catalytic converter for catalytically treating the exhaust gases emitted from an internal combustion engine and more particularly, to a catalytic converter having therein a pellet holding casing in which a plurality of catalyst pellets is contained or packed.

#It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved catalytic converter with catalyst pellets which provides minimum flow resistance to the exhaust gases passing therethrough.

#It is another object of the present invention to provide a catalytic converter having therein an improved catalyst pellet casing which can maintain its pellet holding capacity even under considerable heat expansion.

#FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a prior art catalytic converter with catalyst pellets, this view showing in a container a catalyst pellet-holding casing provided at its walls with a plurality of conventional louvers;

#FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a conventional louvered sheet used as a wall member of the pellet casing shown in FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a louvered sheet, embodying the present invention, used as a wall member of an improved catalytic converter of the invention;

#Prior to the explanation of the construction of the catalytic converter including therein the improved louvered sheet according to the present invention, description of the conventional converter shown in FIG. 1 will be made in order to clarify the inventive steps of this invention.

#In FIG. 1, the conventional catalytic converter designated by the numeral 10 is illustrated. The converter 10 is disposed in an exhaust conduit system of an internal combustion system engine (not shown) and generally comprises a container 12 having an exhaust gas inlet opening 14 at its upstream portion and an exhaust gas outlet opening 16 at its downstream portion. Within the container 12 is supported a catalyst pellet holding casing 18 which contains therein packed catalyst pellets 20. As shown, the casing 18 comprises upper and lower louvered sheets 22 and 24 each of which is formed with a plurality of louvers 26 that extend outwardly away from the casing 18. The detailed constructions of the louvers 26 in the upper louvered sheet 22 are more clearly seen in FIG. 2. As is clearly shown in the drawing, each of the louvers 26 consists of a curved plate portion integrally raised from a base portion of the sheet 22. The curved plate portion is formed at each side as a through hole 28 so as to provide a fluid communication between the interior of the casing 18 and the exterior of the casing 18. Thus, the exhaust gases coming from the engine through the inlet opening 14 are caused to pass through the interior of the casing 18 before reaching the outlet opening 16.

#In reality, the above-mentioned conventional converter 10 can be produced in a relatively inexpensive manner, due to the reasonable productivity of such a casing 18.