| 20090113709 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING EXHAUST AFTERTREATMENT DEVICES - The present invention provides improved methods of manufacturing modular exhaust aftertreatment devices. One method in accordance with the present invention includes forming subassemblies each defined by a support mat wrapped around a monolith substrate; determining fracture characteristics of each subassembly, which includes maximum and minimum compressive forces; determining a push-in depth for each subassembly based, in part, on the substrate's dimensions and predetermined gap tolerances of the exhaust aftertreatment devices; soft-stuffing each subassembly into the outer housing according to its respective push-in depth; compressing the outer housing inward to thereby retain the subassemblies within and at least in part by the outer housing, wherein the applied compressive force is between the maximum and minimum compressive forces of the various subassemblies; and sizing the outer housing to eliminate lateral housing growth resulting from compressing the outer housing such that the housing length is substantially equal to a predetermined overall housing length. | 05-07-2009 |
