Appeal No. 1997-2947
Application No. 08/352,079
having noble metal catalysts. (Col. 4, lines 60-64). The three-way converter can be deposited
onto an underlying ceramic substance, such as a high surface area material. (Col. 5, lines 9-46).
The second catalytic converter B is a catalyzed molecular sieve system having a molecular sieve,
a catalyst and at least one porous oxide of high surface area. (Col. 5, lines 47-53). The
molecular sieves are those which are capable of adsorbing and desorbing hydrocarbons. (Col. 5,
lines 63-65). A suitable molecular sieve is a zeolite which is coated onto a honeycomb substrate.
(Col. 6, lines 50-67).
The relative placement of the two catalytic converters is a basic design feature of the Patil
invention. (Col. 10, lines 10-13). The two catalytic converters A & B are connected via two
exhaust pipes. (Col. 9, line 64 to col. 10, line 1, Figure 1, parts 12 and 14). Additionally,
situated between the two catalytic converters is a thermostatically-controlled three-way valve.
(Col. 10, lines 49-56). The valve can be programmed to divert a portion of the exhaust from
converter A to a muffler. (Col. 11, lines 6-16).
The Dunne Reference
Dunne describes a process for minimizing hydrocarbon emissions from the exhaust
streams of engines when the engines are first started. (Col. 3, lines 52-55). In order to achieve
the simultaneous conversion of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide pollutants, it
is known in the art to employ three component control catalysts, i.e., three-way catalysts, in
conjunction with air-to-fuel ratio control means which function in response to a feedback signal
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