Shigeharu Hashimoto

58522859, Dec 22, 1998

Oct 4, 1996

8/726220

Yasushi Kato - Handa, JP
Shigeharu Hashimoto - Farmington Hills MI

NGK Insulators, Ltd.

H05B 302

219553

A honeycomb heater includes a honeycomb structure made of an electroconductive material having slits for resistance adjustment and electrodes fitted thereto for electrification thereof. The slits are formed in the honeycomb structure in such a manner that parallel electric circuits are formed in the honeycomb structure upon electrification of the structure. This honeycomb heater with slits has a low resistance and excellent durability to repeated electrification, and is suitable for use with a battery.

58884564, Mar 30, 1999

Dec 20, 1996

8/770777

Shigeharu Hashimoto - Farmington Hills MI
Takahisa Kaneko - Farmington Hills MI
Tomoharu Kondo - Toki, JP
Yasushi Kato - Handa, JP

NGK Insulators, Ltd.

F01N 310

422174

A catalytic converter includes a housing, a honeycomb heater fixed to inside the housing, and a catalytic element disposed downstream of the honeycomb heater. The honeycomb heater has a first honeycomb structure made of metal having a first partition wall having a plurality of first throughholes, and at least one electrode for electrifying the first honeycomb structure. The catalytic element fixed to inside the housing and disposed downstream of the honeycomb heater has a second honeycomb structure having a second partition wall having a plurality of second throughholes, and a catalytic compound loaded on the second honeycomb structure. A horizontal cross-section of the honeycomb structure is made smaller than that of the honeycomb structure. Further, a gap between an outflow end surface of the honeycomb structure and an inflow end surface of the honeycomb structure is made large. According to the catalytic converter, a durability of a honeycomb structure, particularly resistance against vibrations extending over a long period of time can be improved while maintaining an exhaust gas purification ability under severe driving conditions.

58616110, Jan 19, 1999

Jul 11, 1996

8/678190

Yasushi Kato - Handa, JP
Shigeharu Hashimoto - Farmington Hills MI
Takahisa Kaneko - Farmington Hills MI
Yuji Deguchi - Farmington Hills MI

NGK Insulators, Ltd.

H05B 306
B60L 102
F01N 310

219552

An electrically heatable honeycomb body includes a large number of passages which are defined by partition walls made of an electroconductive material and which are substantially parallel to the direction of a gas flowing through the honeycomb body, and two ends which are the gas inlet and outlet sides of honeycomb body. At least one slit is formed to control, upon electrification of honeycomb body, the flow of electricity therein and consequently the heat generation therein. In order to make lower the temperature of the end of each outer slit close to each of the electrodes attached to the honeycomb body, than the temperature of the center of honeycomb body or the temperature of the end of each inner slit, the thickness of partition walls is made larger at the intersection points of partition walls, in the passages surrounding said end of each outer slit, or the cell number between two adjacent slits is made larger in outer slits close to each of the electrodes attached to the honeycomb body, than in inner slits. This honeycomb body can prevent cell rupture from occurring during repeated electrification and has excellent durability.