Cartridge type catalytic exhaust cleaner

Claim 1

CATALYTIC APPARATUS SUITABLE FOR ATTACHMENT TO THEE EXHAUST OUTLET OF A INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE FOROR OXIDIZING TOXIC AND OBNOXIOUS COMPONENTS OF THE EXHAUST GASES THEREFROM COMPRISING A HOUSING INCLUDING A SHELL HAVING AT LEAST ONE REMOVABLE END PLATE, GUIDEWAYS LOCATED ON THE INTERNAL LATERAL WALLS OF SAID SHELL FOR RECEIVING A PLURALITY OF PERFORATED CARTRIDGES CONTAINING CATALYTIC MATERIAL, SAID CARTRIDGES BEING INSERTABLE INTO AND REMOVABLE FROM SAID SHELL UPON REMVAL OF SAIDID END PLATE, SAID GUIDEWAYS COMPRISING U-SHAPED CHANNELS DISPOSED OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER, SAID CHANNELS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SLIDABLY THE LATERAL EDGES OF SAID CARTRIDGES, SAID LATERAL EDGES EXTENDING INTO SAID CHANNELS BUT SUFFICIENT SPACE BEING PROVIDED BETWEEN THE BASE OF SAIDD CHANNELS AND SAID LATERAL EDGES THAT SAID CARTRIDGES ARE FREE TO EXPAND AND CONTRACT INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID CHANNELS, SAID CARTRIDGES BEING SUPPORTED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONSHIP IN SAID CHANNELS TO PROVIDE A CATALYST BED EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE LENGTH AND WIDTH OF SAID SHELL, AND SEALING MEANS PROVIDED BETWEEN THE ADJACENT EDGES OF SAID SIDE-BY-SIDE CARTRIDGES.