Patent ID: 7858050

Claim:
A catalytic converter apparatus having an inlet end and an outlet end, the catalytic converter apparatus comprising: a plurality of catalytic converter elements, and a wall means defining a treatment zone having at least first, second and third successive longitudinal segments in which first, second and third catalytic converter elements are respectively disposed, and gas feed zones arranged about the segments of the treatment zone for conducting gas to the segments of the treatment zone, and wherein the second segment is between the first and third segments, the wall means comprises a first partition wall between the first and second segments and a second partition wall between the second and third segments, first, second and third gas feed zones are plugged at respective locations between the inlet end and the outlet end, the first gas feed zone is connected to the first segment downstream of the first catalytic converter element, the second gas feed zone is connected to the second treatment zone both upstream and downstream of the second catalytic converter element for bypassing the plug in the second gas feed zone, and the third gas feed zone is connected to the third segment both upstream and downstream of the third catalytic converter element for bypassing the plug in the third gas feed zone.