Patent ID: 7441334
Filing Date: 2008-10-28
Classification: B01D,F01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for making an exhaust system, comprising providing a housing extending axially along an axis, inserting an exhaust aftertreatment element and a mat and a stabilizer into said housing, said exhaust aftertreatment element having first and second distally opposite axial ends for passing exhaust axially therethrough, said mat being disposed around said element and having first and second distally opposite axial ends, at least one of said ends of said mat being axially spaced from a respective one of said ends of said element by an axial gap, said stabilizer being disposed around said element and located in said gap, said housing extending axially beyond said one end of said element, providing said housing with a stabilizing section around said stabilizer, a main section of a first diameter around said mat and extending axially in a first axial direction from said stabilizing section, and a duct section of a second diameter extending axially in a second axial direction from said stabilizing section, said second axial direction being opposite to said first axial direction, said second diameter being smaller than said first diameter, providing said main, stabilizing and duct sections as a single unitary member, said stabilizing section having a first axial end merging with said main section, and a second axial end merging with said duct section, forming said stabilizing section by spin-reducing the diameter of a portion thereof to provide a spun-reduction diameter portion spanning between said first and second axial ends of said stabilizing section and both: a) radially bias said stabilizer inwardly toward said element at said one end of said element; and b) axially bias said stabilizer in said first axial direction toward said mat at said one end of said mat, forming said stabilizing section by spin-reducing the diameter thereof such that said housing and said element and said mat define a triangular shaped cavity in cross-section at said axial gap, and defining said triangular shaped cavity by a first side provided by said stabilizing section of said housing, a second side provided by said element extending axially in said first axial direction from said one end of said element to said one end of said mat, and a third side provided by said one end of said mat extending radially outwardly from said element to said housing at said first axial end of said stabilizing section of said housing.