Abstract Improved automotive catalytic converter capable of operating for long periods at inlet-outlet gas temperature differentials of 1,000*F or more contains a ''''floating'''' bed of particulate catalyst. An ''''anti-backfire'''' pin maintains the spacing between the bed and the inlet housing cover and prevents any deformation caused by a sudden increase in inlet gas pressure due to the presence of excess oxygen and unburned hydrocarbons downstream of the exhaust valves. The catalyst bed or chamber is defined by a pair of facing, dish-shaped members drawn from a perforated metal screen and welded to each other along circumferential radial flange portions. The welded radial flanges on the bed are free to slidably move in their common plane of contact relative to a pair of surrounding, spaced apart flanges on the housing which are welded together at points beyond the range of movement of the bed. The anti-backfire pin is centrally mounted for rocking movement relative to the housing under thermal exercising. The pin has spherically dished washers joined to its ends which are held in sliding engagement with embossed areas in the cover members which have a corresponding shape.
A CATALYTIC CONVERTER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A METAL HOUSING INCLUDING A INLET HOUSING COVER PORTION AND A METAL OUTLET HOUSING COVER PORTION A PARTICULATE CATALYST RETAINING BED PORTION INCLUDING A CHAMBER DEFINED BY A PAIR OF FACING, DISHED, PERFORATED METAL INLET AND OUTLET MEMBERS, SAID PAIR OF DISHED MEMBERS HAVING PERIPHERAL, JOINED TOGETHER, RADIALLY EXTENDING FLANGE PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID COVER PORTIONS HAVING PERIPHERAL FLANGES WHICH EXTEND RADIALLY BEYOND, AND SLIDABLY ENGAGE, THE FLANGE PORTIONS ON SAID DISHED MEMBERS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID COVER PORTIONS HAVING AN AZIALLY EXTENDING FLANGE PORTION WHICH IS WELDED TO THE OTHER COVER PORTION AT A LOCATION SPACED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF THE FLANGE PORTIONS OF SAID DISHED MEMBERS, SAID BED PORTION BEING FREE TO SLIDE IN THE PLANE OF SAID FLANGE PORTIONS IN RESPONSE TO TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE METAL HOUSING AND THE BED PORTION, AT LEAST ONE SPACER PIN PASSING THROUGH SAID HOUSING COVER PORTIONS AND SAID PERFORATED MEMBERS, SAID SPACER PIN HAVING SHOULDER
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A CATALYTIC CONVERTER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A METAL HOUSING INCLUDING A INLET HOUSING COVER PORTION AND A METAL OUTLET HOUSING COVER PORTION A PARTICULATE CATALYST RETAINING BED PORTION INCLUDING A CHAMBER DEFINED BY A PAIR OF FACING, DISHED, PERFORATED METAL INLET AND OUTLET MEMBERS, SAID PAIR OF DISHED MEMBERS HAVING PERIPHERAL, JOINED TOGETHER, RADIALLY EXTENDING FLANGE PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID COVER PORTIONS HAVING PERIPHERAL FLANGES WHICH EXTEND RADIALLY BEYOND, AND SLIDABLY ENGAGE, THE FLANGE PORTIONS ON SAID DISHED MEMBERS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID COVER PORTIONS HAVING AN AZIALLY EXTENDING FLANGE PORTION WHICH IS WELDED TO THE OTHER COVER PORTION AT A LOCATION SPACED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF THE FLANGE PORTIONS OF SAID DISHED MEMBERS, SAID BED PORTION BEING FREE TO SLIDE IN THE PLANE OF SAID FLANGE PORTIONS IN RESPONSE TO TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE METAL HOUSING AND THE BED PORTION, AT LEAST ONE SPACER PIN PASSING THROUGH SAID HOUSING COVER PORTIONS AND SAID PERFORATED MEMBERS, SAID SPACER PIN HAVING SHOULDER
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A catalytic converter assembly in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that a fitting for adding or removing catalyst particles passes through and is joined to said metal housing and bed portion.