Exhaust manifold catalyst and muffler for automotive engine

U.S. Patent Number: 5388407

Abstract: An exhaust manifold catalytic reactor and muffler for an automotive internal combustion engine includes at least one exhaust branch for conducting exhaust gases from the cylinder head exhaust ports of an engine to a hollow, generally cylindrical primary catalyst substrate for treating the exhaust gases flowing from the engine. The substrate has inner and outer surfaces which are generally cylindrical and which define an inner cavity. A housing connected to the exhaust branch places the exhaust gases in contact with the substrate and includes a generally cylindrical container having an outer wall and a transition section conducting the exhaust gases from the branch to the outer surface of the substrate such that the initial flow of the gases from the branch to the outer surface of the substrate such that the initial flow of the gases from the substrate is generally tangential. The outer wall has an inside surface which, together with the outer surface of the substrate, defines an annular gas flow passage which has a area which gradually decreases as the circumferential distance from the transition increases.

Inventors: Capers; Walter E. (Orchard Lake Village, MI), Morris; Christopher J. (Ypsilanti, MI)

Assignee: Ford Motor Company (Dearborn, MI)

Application Number: 08/270,872

Issued: 1995-02-14

Expired: 2007-02-14

Classes: 60/302 ; 60/323; 60/324

Field of search: 60/288,300,302,311,323,324,313 422/176

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