Alternating flow catalytic converter

Claim 1

IN COMBINATION, A CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAVING AN ELONGATED CASING, A GAS INLET OPENING AND GAS OUTLET OPENING FORMED IN OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF SAID CASING, A CATALYST PARTICLE BED LOCATED IN SAID CASING SO AS TO DEFINE SPACED FIRST AND SECOND GAS FLOW CHAMBERS COMMUNICATING WITH THE GAS INLET AND GAS OUTLET OPENINGS, FIRST VALVE MEANS LOCATED IN SAID CASING BETWEEN THE GAS INLET OPENING AND SAID GAS FLOW CHAMBERS, SECOND VALVE MEANS LOCATED IN SAID CASING BETWEEN THE FLOW CHAMBERS AND THE GAS OUTLET OPENING, A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MOVING SAID FIRST AND SECOND VALVE MEANS TO POSTIONS WHEREBY GAS FLOW IS ALTERNATELY DIRECTED THROUGH THE CATALYST PARTICLE BED FROM THE FIRST GAS FLOW CHAMBER AND EXITS THROUGH THE SECOND GAS FLOW CHAMBER AND VICE VERSA, SAID CONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING TEMPERATURE-RESPONSIVE MEANS FOR SENSING EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURE OF SAID BED, AND MEANS IN SAID SYSTEM AND OPERTIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID TEMPERATURE-RESPONSIVE MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID VALVE MEANS TO ASSUME POSITIONS WHENEVER SAID EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURE IS REACHED SO THAT GAS FLOW IS DIRECTED FROM THE GAS INLET OPENING TO THE GAS OUTLET OPENING THROUGH ONE OF SAID GAS FLOW CHAMBERS AND PASSES OVER BUT NOT THROUGH THE CATALYST PARTICLE BED.