Catalytic converter with electrically resistive catalyst support

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a catalyst support which has a substantially high electrical resistance without using the electrically insulating coatings.
According to the present invention, there is provided a catalytic converter including: a housing; and a catalyst support disposed in the housing, the catalyst support including a central electrode, a generally cylindrical honeycomb structure essentially consisting of first, second and third metal sheets which are spirally wound about the central electrode, and a hollow cylindrical electrode disposing therein the honeycomb structure, the first metal sheet being corrugated in shape and having an inner end electrically connected to the central electrode and an outer end electrically connected to the hollow cylindrical electrode, the radial distance between the central electrode and the second metal sheet being different from the radial distance between the central electrode and the third metal sheet, wherein the third metal sheet is spaced away from an imaginary solid having a surface defined by imaginary straight lines extending from an axis of the central electrode in a radial direction and passing through a periphery of the second metal sheet.