Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.

Mamoru Yashima

Takato Ishihata

Suekichi Hangeishi

Yoshihiro Kamiya

Takahisa Ueda

Eiichi Hamada

Seiji Ishizu

Yasuhiro Nobata

Akiyoshi Yamamoto

Keiji Okada

Koji Shimoji

Kazushi Wakide

Shoichi Nishiwaki

An exhaust heat recovery apparatus () is installed below a floor supported by both side members () of a vehicle to recover heat from exhaust gas passing through an exhaust pipe () of an internal combustion engine. Assistance members (), which extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, are provided between the both side members () of the vehicle. The exhaust heat recovery apparatus () is installed close to one of the assistance members ().

Vehicle structure in which exhaust heat recovery apparatus is installed

An exhaust heat recovery apparatus is installed below a floor supported by both side members of a vehicle to recover heat from exhaust gas passing through an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. Assistance members, which extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, are provided between the both side members of the vehicle. The exhaust heat recovery apparatus is installed close to one of the assistance members.

Vehicle system including a structure in which exhaust heat recovery apparatus is installed

A catalyst container of a catalytic converter is of a double-pipe structure wherein an outer periphery of an inner pipe and an inner periphery of an outer pipe are fittingly superposed on each other. The catalyst container has a catalyst installing portion, tapered cone portions extending from the catalyst installing portion with a gradually decreasing diameter, and straight connecting portions extending from smallest-diameter regions of the cone portions to the ends to be connected with connecting pipes upstream and downstream of the catalytic converter. Holes maybe formed in the cone portions of one of the inner or outer pipes to permit fluids to be displaced from the space therebetween. Such a catalyst container has sufficient rigidity and radiated noise suppression properties and thus can be reduced in weight by being thinned.

Double-pipe-structure hollow member, method of manufacturing double-pipe-structure hollow member, and fluid treating system employing double-pipe-structure hollow member

A spiral wound gasket having an annular body serving as a centering member which is integrally disposed at the inner periphery side of a gasket body formed by winding, in the form of a spiral. The gasket body comprises a metal hoop material and a filler material overlapping each other. When this gasket is disposed at fit-joint-type pipe connection portions of the exhaust pipe system in a motor vehicle, the annular body serves as a centering member to prevent the gasket body from protruding into the fit joint. This prevents the gasket body from deterioration and damage, thus assuring a high sealing property for a long period of time. Further, merely by inserting and fitting the gasket, the gasket may be automatically aligned and positioned with respect to the fit joint. Further, the inner peripheral surface of the gasket body and the annular body form an annular closed space, thus making the entire gasket into a lightweight design.

Spiral wound gasket

Growing community of inventors

Nagoya, Japan

Mamoru Yashima