Patent ID: 7774936

Claim:
A method of assembling a catalytic converter comprising first and second catalyzed substrates, a tubular heat shield, and an outer tube comprising tubular first and second side portions and a tubular intermediate portion located between the first and second side portions, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the heat shield into the intermediate portion, the first catalyzed substrate into the first side portion, and the second catalyzed substrate into the second side portion, after inserting the first catalyzed substrate into the first side portion, reducing a diameter of the first side portion relative to a diameter of the intermediate portion so as to secure the first catalyzed substrate in the first side portion, after inserting the heat shield into the intermediate portion and the second catalyzed substrate into the second side portion, reducing a diameter of the second side portion relative to the diameter of the intermediate portion so as to secure the second catalyzed substrate in the second side portion, wherein the first side portion extends substantially along an axial length of the first catalyzed substrate and the second side portion extends substantially along an axial length of the second catalyzed substrate, and wherein first and second diameters of the first and second side portions, respectively, remain generally constant along the axial lengths of the first and second catalyzed substrates.