# US 8,540,940 B2 · Catalytic converter device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,940 B2 - Document ID: US8540940B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/201,394 - Filed: 2010-03-29 - Published: 2013-01-10 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-03-29 - Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Toshio Murata; Hideyuki Kohmitsu - Inventors: Toshio Murata; Hideyuki Kohmitsu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540940B2 ## CPC - F01N 3/2842: {specially adapted for monolithic supports, e.g. of honeycomb type (F01N3/2853 - F01N3/2871 take precedence)} - B01D 53/88: Handling or mounting catalysts - F01N 3/2026: {directly electrifying the catalyst substrate, i.e. heating the electrically conductive catalyst substrate by joule effect} - F01N 3/2853: {using mats or gaskets between catalyst body and housing} - F01N 3/2864: {the mats or gaskets comprising two or more insulation layers} - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract To obtain a catalytic converter device that can suppress a drop in the effect of heating a catalyst carrier caused by water droplets produced in an exhaust pipe. A holding mat that holds a catalyst carrier in a case cylinder is given a three-layer structure comprising an inside fiber layer, a solid layer, and an outside fiber layer. The solid layer projects toward an upstream side from an upstream-side end face of the catalyst carrier, and an interstice portion is configured between the projecting portion and the case cylinder. Water droplets adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the case cylinder do not reach the catalyst carrier because the projecting portion serves as a barrier. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catalytic converter device comprising: a catalyst carrier that carries a catalyst for purifying exhaust gas exhausted from an internal combustion engine and is heated by passing an electric current therethrough; a cylinder that is formed in a cylindrical shape, contains the catalyst carrier inside, and is attached to an exhaust pipe; a holding member that is equipped with an inside elastic member placed on an outer peripheral surface side of the catalyst carrier, an outside elastic member placed on an inner peripheral surface side of the cylinder, and a middle member placed between the inside elastic member and the outside elastic member, with the holding member holding the catalyst carrier in the cylinder by the elasticity of the inside elastic member and the outside elastic member and electrically insulating the catalyst carrier and the cylinder; a projecting portion that is disposed on at least part of an upstream-side end portion of the middle member in a flow direction of the exhaust gas and is positioned on the upstream side of an upstream-side end portion of the outside elastic member, and an insulating coating layer that is placed between the catalyst carrier and the inside elastic member and electrically insulates the catalyst carrier and the inside elastic member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catalytic converter device according to claim 1, wherein the middle member has an electrical insulating property. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The catalytic converter device according to claim 1, wherein the projecting portion is disposed on a portion including a lowermost end portion of the upstream-side end portion of the middle member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The catalytic converter device according to claim 3, wherein the projecting portion is formed on the entire circumference along the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catalytic converter device according to claim 1, wherein the middle member is divided into a plurality in a circumferential direction of the catalyst carrier, and an outside load acting on the middle member from the outside elastic member is made greater than an inside load acting on the catalyst carrier from the inside elastic member.