Acs Industries, Inc.

Steven A Zettel

Zlatomir Kircanski

Raymond Scoboria

Michael J McCarthy

Annular wire mesh filters for airbag assemblies for passenger vehicles are provided with a series of ribs extending parallel with the axis of the annulus and along the outer wall. The ribs provide added strength to the filter. Also provided is a method of manufacturing the compressed mesh filter with a uniform density, and a molding tool (mold, mandrel, and plunger) for making the compressed mesh articles of this invention.

Filter with stiffening ribs

A wire mesh filter is made from a knitted wire sock, folded along its length, and then wound into a spiral, and is useful for diesel traps and other particulate filters that are regenerable by heating the filter.

Folded mesh filter for particulates

A wire mesh element having soft wire on the outside and precipitation-hardened wire on the inside is used a bushing, seal, seat, or support, and is useful as an end seal for a catalytic converter. The soft wire on the outside can be flat to aid it shielding the internal wire from corrosion due to impingement hot exhaust gasses.

Wire mesh seal element with soft flat and hard round wires

Present day wire knitting machines are used to make wire mesh used in the manufacture of filters for airbag assemblies, catalytic converter seals, mechanical dampers, and the like, but are unable to knit large diameter wire, especially wire having a diameter greater than 0.025 inches. Provided herein is a looped wire made by wrapping the wire around a mandrel in multiplie layers and then pressed to flatten the loops. Thereafter, the flattened loop is formed using the same processes suitable for forming wire mesh into such articles.

Large wire loop filters and mechanical dampers

A high temperature, composite structure includes a blank of wire mesh material fabricated from drawn wire from a stainless steel rod. The drawn wire is annealed and mixed to create raw material. The mixed raw material is knitted to create the blank of wire mesh material, the blank of wire mesh material having voids formed therein. A dispersion comprising vermiculite as a binder is impregnated within the blank of wire mesh material. The dispersion substantially fills the voids of the blank of wire mesh material. A method of manufacturing the structure is further disclosed. Specifically, the method includes the steps of providing a blank of wire mesh material having voids formed therein, impregnating the blank of wire mesh material with a dispersion consisting of vermiculite, the dispersion substantially filling the voids, eliminating a water fraction of the dispersion, and pressing the impregnated blank of wire mesh material to a desired shape and density.

High temperature composite structure and method of manufacturing same

An knitted wire mesh seal, such as for use in catalytic converters, is provided with a plurality of protrusions to prevent complete nesting of adjacent seals. When packaged and shipped, seals that do not completely nest prevent accidental assembly of two seals.

Modified V seal with protrusions

A catalytic converter apparatus includes a housing having a chamber, an inlet for receiving gas, and an outlet for exhausting gas. The apparatus further includes a catalytic brick positioned within the chamber for purifying the gas and a support mat disposed between the housing and the brick for supporting the brick with respect to the housing. The support mat has a leading edge located adjacent the inlet of the housing. The improvement includes a barrier strip attached to the leading edge of the support mat for protecting the leading edge from excessive wear resulting from the flow of gas over the leading edge of the mat.

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Cranston, RI, United States of America

Steven A Zettel