Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
In an article for catalytically reducing oxides of nitrogen found in exhaust gases emanating from an internal combustion engine comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted in the exhasut system of an internal combustion engine; and a catalytic structure means effective to reduce NO X placed in said housing and sized such that a major portion of the gases passing through said housing must pass through said catalytic structure means, the improvement comprising said catalytic structure means including a plurality of sheets of expanded thin metal foil having an NO X reducing catalyst on the surface thereof wherein at least one sheet of said expanded metal foil has at least some openings therein which are of a different size than at least some openings in another sheet of expanded metal foil in face-to-face juxtaposition therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
In an article for catalytically reducing oxides of nitrogen found in exhaust gases emanating from an internal combustion engine comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted in the exhasut system of an internal combustion engine; and a catalytic structure means effective to reduce NO X placed in said housing and sized such that a major portion of the gases passing through said housing must pass through said catalytic structure means, the improvement comprising said catalytic structure means including a plurality of sheets of expanded thin metal foil having an NO X reducing catalyst on the surface thereof wherein at least one sheet of said expanded metal foil has at least some openings therein which are of a different size than at least some openings in another sheet of expanded metal foil in face-to-face juxtaposition therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said catalytic structure means is in the form of a helical coil formed by winding at least two sheets of expanded metal foil juxtaposed one on top of the other, one of said sheets having smaller openings than those openings found in the other sheet whereby the strands of one sheet do not stack or nest with the strands of the juxtapositioned sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The article of claim 1 wherein portions of material between the openings of said sheets of expanded metal foil are twisted and/or inclined relative to the mean plane of the foil sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said sheets of expanded metal foil comprise a corrosion resistant nickel-chromium substrate having a surface layer comprising an alloy of copper and nickel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said foils have a surface area to mass ratio in the range of about 2 to 16 inches per gram as determined by linear dimension only.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
In an article for catalytically reducing oxides of nitrogen found in exhaust gases emanating from an internal combustion engine comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine; and a catalytic structure means effective to reduce NO X placed in said housing and sized such that a major portion of the gases passing through said housing must pass through said catalytic structure means, the improvement comprising said catalytic structure means comprising a plural layer structure including an expanded thin metal foill sheet having an NO X reducing catalyst on the surface thereof with said sheet having opening therein at least some of which are of different size the layers of said plural layer structure being in face-to-face juxtaposition with each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
In an article for catalytically reducing oxides of nitrogen found in exhaust gases emanating from an internal combustion engine comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine; and a catalytic structure means effective to reduce NO X placed in said housing and sized such that a major portion of the gases passing through said housing must pass through said catalytic structure means, the improvement comprising said catalytic structure means comprising a plural layer structure including an expanded thin metal foill sheet having an NO X reducing catalyst on the surface thereof with said sheet having opening therein at least some of which are of different size the layers of said plural layer structure being in face-to-face juxtaposition with each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of claim 6 wherein said expanded metal structure comprises said sheet of expanded metal foil wound in the form of a helical coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of claim 6 wherein said expanded metal structure comprises a plurality of stacked sheets of expanded metal foil positioned one on top of the other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of claim 6 wherein said expanded metal foil comprises a corrosion resistant nickel-chromium substrate having a surface layer comprising an alloy of copper and nickel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The article of claim 6 wherein said foil has a surface area to mass ratio in the range of about 2 to 16 inches per gram as determined by linear dimension only.