Reduced cost substrate retaining mat
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorMichael Ralph Foster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A catalytic converter mat having a high density in areas which coincide with the ends of a substrate to be wrapped thereby and low density between the ends is disclosed which reduces cost of the mat component of a catalytic converter while retaining the benefits of proper mat pressure at the inlet and outlet ends of the substrate to retain and support the substrate without mat erosion and insulation of the substrate from the canister.
Claims17
A method of producing a variable density intumescent mat installable into a catalytic converter canister such that areas of said variable density intumescent mat have an increased density disposed proximate an inlet port and an outlet port of said catalytic converter canister, comprising:
- cutting an intumescent mat material to a selected shape;
- slitting said intumescent mat material in selected locations;
- folding said intumescent mat material at said selected locations to create areas of said intumescent mat material having increased thicknesses;
- and
- installing said intumescent mat material into said catalytic converter canister such that said areas of said intumescent mat material having said increased thicknesses are compressed to form areas of said intumescent mat material having increased densities.
A method of making a catalytic converter, comprising:
- forming an intumescent mat;
- wrapping a substrate in said intumescent mat, said substrate having a catalyst disposed thereon;
- and
- installing said substrate and said intumescent mat into a canister such that said intumescent mat is retained in said canister and has areas of increased density at inlet ports and outlet ports of said canister.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.