Exhaust gas conduit of an internal combustion engine with a starting catalyser arranged near the engine

Exhaust gas conduit for an internal combustion engine comprising:

• a starting catalyser arranged near the engine and having a casing with a central passage therein;
• a catalyser body arranged in said casing, surrounding said central passage in an area between said central passage and an outer wall of said casing, said central passage being open and unobstructed by catalyst, whereby exhaust gas may flow through said central passage without penetrating said catalyst body;
• a pipe section of the exhaust gas conduit extending into said central passage from an inlet flow end thereof and forming an annular passage between an outer periphery of said pipe section and an outer wall of said central passage, said annular passage providing an exhaust gas flow path between said central passage and said catalyser body;
• an exhaust valve arranged at an outlet flow end of said central passage, said exhaust valve having an open position which permits exhaust gas to flow freely through said central passage without passing through said annular passage and said catalyser body, whereby said annular passage provides an insulating gap between exhaust gas flow and said catalyser body, and a closed position which diverts said exhaust gas flow through said annular passage and said catalyser body.