Metallic honeycomb structure

Abstract

A honeycomb structure includes a plurality of substantially parallel channels, a layer of at least partially structured metal foils and a housing. The layer includes a number N of at least partially structured metal foils and a number N+1 of smooth metal foils. The number N=1, 2 or 3 and two of the smooth metal foils are exterior foils. A method for producing such a honeycomb structure is also provided. The honeycomb structure is used, in particular in exhaust gas systems of mobile internal combustion engines.

1 . A honeycomb structure, comprising: 
 a housing;    a multiplicity of passages disposed substantially parallel to one another within said housing; and    a layer of at least partially structured sheet-metal foils defining said passages, said layer having a length of less than 500 mm, a number N of at least partially structured sheet-metal foils, and a number N+1 of smooth sheet-metal foils, said number N being 1, 2 or 3, and two of said smooth sheet-metal foils being outer sheet-metal foils;    said passages defining a flow direction, the honeycomb structure having a mean extent of less than 50 mm perpendicular to said flow direction of said passages.    
   
   
       2 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said layer is at least one of wound or twisted, causing outer smooth sheet-metal foils to be directly adjacent one another at least in a subsection of said layer.  
   
   
       3 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , wherein a further smooth sheet-metal foil and a structured sheet-metal foil are disposed alternately between said outer smooth sheet-metal foils in said layer.  
   
   
       4 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 3 , wherein a structured sheet-metal foil is disposed adjacent said outer smooth sheet-metal foils in each case.  
   
   
       5 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said sheet-metal foils of said layer each have two ends, and at least 90% of said ends are connected to said housing, at least in a sector of said housing.  
   
   
       6 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said sheet-metal foils of said layer each have two ends, and all of said ends are connected to said housing, at least in a sector of said housing.  
   
   
       7 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , which further comprises at least one sleeve disposed between said housing and said sheet-metal foils, said sheet-metal foils of said layer each having two ends, and at least 90% of said ends being connected to said at least one sleeve at least in one zone of said at least one sleeve.  
   
   
       8 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , which further comprises at least one sleeve disposed between said housing and said sheet-metal foils, said sheet-metal foils of said layer each having two ends, and all of said ends being connected to said at least one sleeve at least in one zone of said at least one sleeve.  
   
   
       9 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said passages define a flow direction, and the honeycomb structure has a mean extent of from 20 mm to 30 mm perpendicular to said flow direction of said passages.  
   
   
       10 . The honeycomb structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said layer has a length of from 100 mm to 300 mm.