Catalyst device for a marine engine which is generally tubular with a rim portion

Abstract

A catalyst system for a marine engine incorporates a catalyst device within a housing structure. The catalyst device has a rim portion that is disposed within first and second flange surfaces of first and second housing structures. A gasket is provided which is configured to have an opening that allows the rim portion of the catalyst device to be constrained between the first and second flange portions but not between the gasket and either of the first and second flange surfaces.

1 - 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . An exhaust system for a marine engine, comprising:
 a first catalyst device comprising a first catalyst material disposed within a first catalyst structure, said first catalyst structure having a first generally tubular portion, said first generally tubular portion having a first central axis;   a first rim portion extending from an end of said first generally tubular portion, said first rim portion being disposed in a first plane which is generally perpendicular to said first central axis;   a first housing structure configured to direct an exhaust gas away from said marine engine, said first housing structure having a first flange surface;   a second housing structure configured to direct said exhaust gas away from said first housing structure, said second housing structure having a second flange surface;   a gasket, said first and second housing structures being configured to be attached together with said gasket being disposed between said first and second flange surfaces, said gasket having a first opening formed through its thickness, said first opening being configured to receive said first rim portion therein;   wherein said gasket is engaged by said first and second flange surfaces on axially distally opposite sides of said gasket without said first rim portion therebetween;   said first rim portion is disposed within said first opening and in direct contact with said first and second flange surfaces when said first and second flange surfaces are attached together;   said first rim portion is engaged by said first and second flange surfaces at a first engagement location spaced radially outwardly of said first central axis by a first radial distance;   said gasket is engaged by said first and second flange surfaces at a second engagement location spaced radially outwardly of said first central axis by a second radial distance; and   said second radial distance is greater than said first radial distance.   
     
     
         4 . The exhaust system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second catalyst device comprising a second catalyst material disposed within a second-catalyst structure, said second catalyst structure having a second generally tubular portion, said second generally tubular portion having a second central axis; and   a second rim portion extending from an end of said second generally tubular portion, said second rim portion being disposed in a second plane which is generally perpendicular to said second central axis.   
     
     
         5 . The exhaust system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 said gasket has a second opening formed through its thickness, said second opening being configured to receive said second rim portion therein.   
     
     
         6 . The exhaust system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said second rim portion is disposed within said second opening and in direct contact with said first and second flange surfaces when said first and second flange surfaces are attached together.   
     
     
         7 . The exhaust system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a third catalyst device comprising a third catalyst material disposed within a third-catalyst structure, said third catalyst structure having a third generally tubular portion, said third generally tubular portion having a third central axis; and   a third rim portion extending from an end of said third generally tubular portion, said third rim portion being disposed in a third plane which is generally perpendicular to said third central axis.   
     
     
         8 . The exhaust system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 said gasket has a third opening formed through its thickness, said third opening being configured to receive said third rim portion therein.   
     
     
         9 . The exhaust system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 said third rim portion is disposed within said third opening and in direct contact with said first and second flange surfaces when said first and second flange surfaces are attached together.   
     
     
         10 . The exhaust system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said first, second and third planes are coplanar with each other and said first, second and third central axes are parallel with each other.   
     
     
         11 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An exhaust system for a marine engine, comprising:
 a plurality of catalysts, each of said plurality of catalysts comprising a catalyst material disposed within a catalyst structure, each of said catalyst structures having a generally tubular portion, each of said generally tubular portions having a central axis, each of said plurality of catalysts further comprising a rim portion extending from an end of said generally tubular portion, said rim portion being disposed in a rim plane which is generally perpendicular to said central axis;   a first housing structure configured to direct an exhaust gas away from said marine engine, said first housing structure having a first flange surface;   a second housing structure configured to direct said exhaust gas away from said first housing structure, said second housing structure haying a second flange surface;   a gasket, said first and second housing structures being configured to be attached together with said gasket being disposed between said first and second flange surfaces, said gasket having a plurality of openings formed through its thickness, each of said plurality of openings being configured to receive one of said rim portions of said plurality of catalysts therein;   wherein said gasket is engaged by said first and second flange surfaces on axially distally opposite sides of said gasket without said rim portions therebetween;   each of said rim portions of said plurality of catalysts is disposed within a preselected one of said plurality of openings;   each of said rim portions is engaged by said first and second flange surfaces at a respective first engagement location spaced radially outwardly of a respective central axis by a first radial distance;   said gasket is engaged by said first and second flange surfaces at a respective second engagement location spaced radially outwardly of the respective central axis by a second radial distance; and   said second radial distance is greater than said first radial distance.   
     
     
         14 . The exhaust system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 each of said central axes of each of said generally tubular portions being disposed in a common alignment plane which is generally perpendicular to said rim plane.   
     
     
         15 . The exhaust system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said plurality of catalysts is disposed in serial fluid communication with said first and second housing structures.   
     
     
         16 . An exhaust system for a marine engine, comprising:
 a plurality of catalysts, each of said plurality of catalysts comprising a catalyst material disposed within a catalyst structure, each of said catalyst structures having a generally tubular portion, each of said generally tubular portions having a central axis, each of said plurality of catalysts further comprising a rim portion extending from an end of said generally tubular portion, said rim portion being disposed in a rim plane which is generally perpendicular to said central axis;   a first housing structure configured to direct an exhaust gas away from said marine engine, said first housing structure having a first flange surface;   a second housing structure configured to direct said exhaust gas away from said first housing structure, said second housing structure having a second flange surface;   a gasket, said first and second housing structures being configured to be attached together with said gasket being disposed between said first and second flange surfaces, said gasket having a plurality of openings formed through its thickness, each of said plurality of openings being configured to receive one of said rim portions of said plurality of catalysts therein, each of said rim portions of said plurality of catalysts being disposed within a preselected one of said plurality of openings;   wherein:   said gasket is engaged by said first and second flange surfaces on axially distally opposite sides of said gasket without said rim portions therebetween;   each of said rim portions is engaged by said first and second flange surfaces at a respective first engagement location spaced radially outwardly of the respective central axis by a first radial distance;   said gasket is engaged by said first and second flange surfaces at a respective second engagement location spaced radially outwardly of the respective central axis by a second radial distance; and   said second radial distance is greater than said first radial distance.   
     
     
         17 . The exhaust system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 each of said central axes of each of said generally tubular portions being disposed in a common alignment plane which is generally perpendicular to said rim plane.   
     
     
         18 . The exhaust system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 said plurality of catalysts is disposed in serial fluid communication with said first and second housing structures.   
     
     
         19 . The exhaust system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said first rim portion extends to said first radial distance to reach said first engagement location; and   said first rim portion does not extend to said second radial distance and does not reach said second engagement location.   
     
     
         20 . The exhaust system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 each of said rim portions extends to the respective said first radial distance to reach the respective said first engagement location; and   each said rim portion does not extend to the respective said second radial distance and does not reach the respective said second engagement location.   
     
     
         21 . The exhaust system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 each of said rim portions extends to the respective said first radial distance to reach the respective said first engagement location; and   each of said rim portions does not extend to the respective said second radial distance and does not reach the respective said second engagement location.