Apparatus for mounting a plurality of catalytic elements for treating large volumes of exhaust gases

Claim 1

An exhaust treatment assembly for catalytically converting large volumes of gases comprising a large chamber having an inlet plenum, an outlet plenum and a bulkhead member separating the plenums, said bulkhead member containing a plurality of apertures and walled portions surrounding each aperture, each of said walled portions being concentric with its associated aperture and spaced radially therefrom so as to form an annular recess around each aperture, gasket means in said recesses and an axially channeled ceramic monolithic catalyst element having a first end positioned in each recess, a metallic end support member in retaining contact with the opposite end of each catalyst element, an axially transverse metallic force applying member arranged and constructed to apply an axial compression force to a plurality of end support members at one time, said end support member being of generally open construction to allow the free flow of gases therethrough, but having at least one contact portion for receiving a compression force from a portion of said axially transverse metallic force applying member and an assembly comprising a metallic nut and bolt which passes through the bulkhead member for transmitting axial compression forces applied by said force applying member to said end support members.