Catalytic converter for an automobile
AssigneeCamet, Inc.
InventorWilliam B. Retallick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The catalytic converter comprises a metal honeycomb catalyst support which is anchored in a canister so that it cannot telescope or blow out. The honeycomb catalyst support is formed by folding a strip of metal back and forth upon itself. There are slots in the strip along the lines of folding. When the strip is folded to form the honeycomb, the slots become notches, the notches being aligned so as to define grooves on the periphery of the honeycomb. The canister has internal ridges that mate with the grooves on the honeycomb and anchor the honeycomb.
Claims10
A catalytic converter for an automobile comprising a single strip of metal folded back and forth upon itself, the strip having at least one slot along each line of folding, the slots being aligned with each other across adjacent layers of the strip, each folded slot defining a notch, the notches together defining at least one groove along the periphery of the folded strip, and at least one canister section, the canister section being shaped to coincide with the shape of the folded strip, the canister section having at least one ridge shaped to mate with the groove, the canister section being wrapped around the folded strip so as to maintain the strip in a fixed position.
A method of making a catalytic converter for an automobile, comprising the steps of:
- (a) punching a metal strip with a plurality of rows of slots,
- (b) forming indentations in the strip in the regions between adjacent rows of slots, the indentations in adjacent regions being formed so as to be staggered relative to each other,
- (c) folding the strip back and forth upon the rows of slots so as to turn the slots into notches that form at least one groove disposed on the periphery of the folded strip, and
- (d) enclosing the folded strip in a canister, the canister having at least one internal ridge that mates with the groove of the folded strip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.