An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust gas-carrying component (16) with an outer wall (14), a heat conductor element (12) with a jacket (40) and with a heat conductor device (50) enclosed by the jacket (40). A pass-through device (22) provides a gastight passing of the heat conductor element (12) through the outer wall (14) of the exhaust gas-carrying component (16). The pass-through device (22) includes a pass-through opening (26) in the outer wall (14), which pass-through opening (26) is traversed by the heat conductor element (12), and a connection element (24), which is connected in a gastight manner to the heat conductor element (12), on the one hand, and to the outer wall (14), on the other hand.

A muffler for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes a muffler housing with a peripheral wall which extends longitudinally in the direction of a housing longitudinal axis. At least one base wall is surrounded by the peripheral wall or/and retained on the peripheral wall and delimits a chamber in the muffler housing. At least one base wall opening is surrounded by an opening edge region which is bent at an essentially plane base wall region of the base wall essentially in the direction of the housing longitudinal axis. The at least one base wall opening receives an exhaust pipe with a press fit in at least one base wall.

A connecting arrangement electrically connects a heating conductor to an electrical connection line. The heating conductor includes a heating conduction element having an exposed end segment defining a first connecting region and the electrical connection line includes a connection line conductor having an exposed end segment defining a second connecting region. A connector mutually electrically connects the exposed end segments. A shielding sleeve surrounds the first connecting region, the second connecting region and the connector. The shielding sleeve has first and second sleeve end portions and the shielding sleeve is connected to the heating conductor in the first connecting region and is connected to the electrical connection line in the second connecting region and so shields the exposed end segment of the heating conduction element and the exposed end segment of the connection line conductor and the connector against external influences.

An exhaust gas treatment assembly unit for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes a tubular outer housing (12) elongated in a direction of an outer housing longitudinal axis (L.sub.A), a tubular inner housing (14) elongated in the direction of an inner housing longitudinal axis (L.sub.I), an exhaust gas treatment unit (16) being carried in the inner housing (14), and a locking fixing device (24) detachably fixing the inner housing in the outer housing. The locking fixing device (24) includes a locking fixing element (26) held at the inner housing (14) in both axial directions with a radially outwards prestressed locking meshing area (28). In association with the locking meshing area (28), a locking receiving area (42) at the outer housing (12), interacts with the locking meshing area (28) for holding the inner housing (14) in the outer housing (12) in at least one axial direction.

A muffler for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes a muffler housing having a peripheral wall elongated along a longitudinal housing axis. The muffler has an end wall on each axial end region of the peripheral wall and a muffler insert, surrounded by the peripheral wall and supported on the peripheral wall. A retaining wall extends substantially in the direction of the longitudinal housing axis and a first exhaust-gas routing pipe is positioned with a first end region engaging in an opening in the peripheral wall and is secured to the peripheral wall and retained with a second end region on the retaining wall. The first exhaust-gas routing pipe is retained in its second end region on the retaining wall by force closure or interlocking.

Catalytic converter anti-theft devices and systems are described.

An exhaust gas heating element comprises a wafer that is substantially cylindrical with an axis and is made of metallic foam. A flexible, electrical insulating sheet covers an edge of the wafer with an overlap on each face of the wafer. A rigid assembly ring, a housing, and two electrodes are also provided. The rigid assembly ring is made from a cylinder trunk, at least a first edge of which is serrated in such a way as to be able to immobilize the wafer and the flexible, electrical insulating sheet in the rigid assembly ring by folding teeth, substantially at 90°.

The hyperboloid (or concave) exhaust bellows includes a plurality of convolutions of varying heights arranged in a hyperboloid (or concave) configuration. The hyperboloid bellows has increased strength and resiliency in high stress environments due to the hyperboloid configuration of the convolutions. The hyperboloid bellows allows for increased lateral movement in the same axial space or envelope compared to the prior art. The hyperboloid bellows having the hyperboloid shaped expansion joint produces an excessive amount of lateral motion using a single ply to multi-plies metal expansion joint bellows.

A shielding element, which comprises at least two sections that are embodied to be linearly connected to each other in abutting fashion on at least one contact surface so as to enclose a three-dimensionally shaped profile or pipe segment of an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine over a certain length when in use. In order to modify a shielding element of the above-mentioned type while amplifying its effect with other positive properties, it is proposed for the sections of the shielding element to each comprise at least one electrical heating system, which, in an installed position, is thermally directed at the pipe segment that is to be enclosed.

There is described a component of an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, which includes a wall in which at least one opening is provided. A perforated cover (16) at least partly closes the opening, wherein the cover (16) is mounted on the wall by means of a holder (18), and a portion (32, 34) of the cover (16) engages into an opening (28, 30) provided on the holder (18). There is also presented an exhaust system comprising such a component, and a method for manufacturing such a component, in which the cover (16) is mounted on the holder (18) by introducing at least one portion (32, 34) of the cover (16) into an opening (28, 30) provided on the holder (18).