초록 ▼

A catalytic converter device for cleansing exhaust gas emitted from an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The catalytic converter device includes an elongated body having a longitudinal axis. An inlet area is located at one end of the elongated body, wherein the exhaust gas enters the elongate

A catalytic converter device for cleansing exhaust gas emitted from an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The catalytic converter device includes an elongated body having a longitudinal axis. An inlet area is located at one end of the elongated body, wherein the exhaust gas enters the elongated body in the inlet area. A sleeve extends from the inlet area. The sleeve has a catalytic material formed thereon. The sleeve has an active surface for reacting with the exhaust gas, wherein the size of the active surface increases as a distance from the inlet area increases. The sleeve includes a plurality of openings formed therein and at least one depression.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A catalytic converter device for cleansing exhaust gas emitted from an internal combustion engine, the catalytic converter device comprising: an elongated body having a longitudinal axis; an inlet portion located at one end of the elongated body for receiving the exhaust gas;

What is claimed is: 1. A catalytic converter device for cleansing exhaust gas emitted from an internal combustion engine, the catalytic converter device comprising: an elongated body having a longitudinal axis; an inlet portion located at one end of the elongated body for receiving the exhaust gas; a sleeve extending generally away from the inlet portion generally along the longitudinal axis; at least one depression formed in the sleeve, the depression having a depth, the depth of the depression increasing with increasing distance from the inlet portion; and a catalytic material disposed on the sleeve to form an active surface for reacting with the exhaust gas, a perimeter defined by the active surface in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the perimeter increasing with increasing distance from the inlet portion, and a cross-sectional area defined by the active surface in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the cross-sectional area decreasing with increasing distance from the inlet portion. 2. The catalytic converter device according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve has a plurality of openings formed therein. 3. The catalytic converter device according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of openings extend across the active surface. 4. The catalytic converter device according to claim 2, wherein the sleeve has an opening formed in an end of the sleeve opposite the inlet portion, the catalytic converter device further comprising a cover plate covering the opening. 5. The catalytic converter device according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one depression extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 6. The catalytic converter device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one depression is a plurality of depressions arranged at regular intervals around the sleeve. 7. The catalytic converter device according to claim 1, wherein at an end of the sleeve opposite the inlet portion: the cross-sectional area of the sleeve is at least about 5% smaller than an area of a circle having an equally long perimeter, and the circle has a diameter that is larger than a width of the sleeve. 8. An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: an exhaust inlet defining an upstream end of the exhaust system; an exhaust outlet defining a downstream end of the exhaust system; the exhaust inlet and the exhaust outlet defining a flow path therebetween; a primary catalytic converter device disposed along the flow path; and a preliminary catalytic converter device disposed along the flow path in an upstream direction from the primary catalytic converter device, the preliminary catalytic converter device comprising: an elongated body having a longitudinal axis; an inlet area located at one end of the elongated body for receiving the exhaust gas; a sleeve extending generally away from the inlet area generally along the longitudinal axis; at least one depression formed in the sleeve, the depression having a depth, the depth of the depression increasing with increasing distance from the inlet area; and a catalytic material disposed on the sleeve to form an active surface for reacting with the exhaust gas, a perimeter defined by the active surface in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the perimeter increasing with increasing distance from the inlet area, and the cross-sectional area of the active surface in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis decreasing with increasing distance from the inlet area. 9. The exhaust system according to claim 8, further comprising a muffler, the preliminary catalytic converter device being arranged at least partially within the muffler. 10. The exhaust system according to claim 8, wherein the sleeve has a plurality of openings formed therein. 11. The exhaust system device according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of openings extend across the active surface. 12. The exhaust system according to claim 8, wherein each of the at least one depression extends in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 13. The exhaust system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one depression is a plurality of depressions arranged at regular intervals around the sleeve. 14. The exhaust system according to claim 8, wherein the sleeve has an opening formed in an end of the sleeve opposite the inlet portion, the catalytic converter device further comprising a cover plate covering the opening. 15. The catalytic converter device according to claim 8, wherein at an end of the sleeve opposite the inlet portion: the cross-sectional area of the sleeve is at least about 5% smaller than an area of a circle having an equally long perimeter, and the circle has a diameter that is larger than a width of the sleeve.