Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Nobuo Tobi

Masahiko Takeuchi

Kiyoshi Isogai

Itsuo Koga

Naka Takita

Nobuo Ohmori

Makoto Okamoto

A catalytic converter includes a tubular casing within which is held a monolithic catalyst body which is generally of a columnar shape. The ends of the monolithic catalyst body are each engaged with a cushion ring, and each cushion ring is engaged with a retainer ring therefor, which is substantially axially fixed within the casing near to an end thereof. The monolithic catalyst body is supported within the casing by axial compressive force present between the retainer rings on the outside, the cushion rings between the retainer rings, and the monolithic catalyst body between the cushion rings. At least one of the retainer rings is formed with a break in a part of its circumference, the two free ends of the retainer ring on the two sides of the break being movable with distortion of the retainer ring through a certain distance, according to changes of temperature of the retainer ring, with respect to one another in the mutual relative direction which causes the overall circumference of the retainer ring to be diminished, so that expansion of the retainer ring when it heats up is absorbed, and the retainer ring is not subject to kinking or folding when the catalytic converter operates in the hot condition.

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Toyota, Japan

Nobuo Tobi