Catalytic converter anti-theft systems and methods

Abstract

A catalytic converter anti-theft system for an exhaust system of a vehicle includes a thermally insulating first layer configured to be disposed about at least a portion of the exhaust system. A cable is configured to be disposed about the thermally insulating first layer. A cut and abrasion resistant second layer is configured to be disposed about the cable. An abrasion resistant third layer is configured to be disposed about the cut and abrasion resistant second layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catalytic converter anti-theft system for an exhaust system of a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a thermally insulating first layer configured to be disposed about at least a portion of the exhaust system;   a cable configured to be disposed about the thermally insulating first layer;   a cut and abrasion resistant second layer configured to be disposed about the cable; and   an abrasion resistant third layer configured to be disposed about the cut and abrasion resistant second layer.   
     
     
         2 . The anti-theft system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally insulating first layer is a ceramic fiber blanket. 
     
     
         3 . The anti-theft system of  claim 1 , wherein the cable is a galvanized cable. 
     
     
         4 . The anti-theft system of  claim 1 , wherein the cut and abrasion resistant second layer is an aramid fiber layer. 
     
     
         5 . The anti-theft system of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasion resistant third layer is a carbon fiber layer. 
     
     
         6 . The anti-theft system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners configured to couple the anti-theft system to the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The anti-theft system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise worm drive clamps disposed about the abrasion resistant third layer. 
     
     
         8 . The anti-theft system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fasteners is a first plurality of fasteners, the first plurality of fasteners being disposed about the abrasion resistant third layer, and further comprising a second plurality of fasteners, the second plurality of fasteners being disposed about the thermally insulating first layer. 
     
     
         9 . The anti-theft system of  claim 8 , wherein the second plurality of fasteners comprise cable ties. 
     
     
         10 . The anti-theft system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally insulating first layer is a first thermally insulating first layer, the cut and abrasion resistant second layer is a first cut and abrasion resistant second layer, and the abrasion resistant third layer is a first abrasion resistant third layer, and wherein the anti-theft system comprises:
 a first section comprising the first thermally insulating first layer, the first cut and abrasion resistant second layer, the cable, and the first abrasion resistant third layer;   a second section comprising the cable, the cable extending continuously from the first section and configured to be disposed about at least a portion of the exhaust system;   a third section comprising:
 a second thermally insulating first layer configured to be disposed about at least a portion of the exhaust system; 
 the cable, the cable extending continuously from the second section and configured to be disposed about the second thermally insulating first layer; 
 a second cut and abrasion resistant second layer configured to be disposed about the cable; and 
 a second abrasion resistant third layer configured to be disposed about the second cut and abrasion resistant second layer. 
   
     
     
         11 . The anti-theft system of  claim 10 , wherein the cable is a first cable, and further comprising a second cable configured to be disposed about the first thermally insulating first layer in the first section, the second cable extending continuously from the first section to the second section and configured to be disposed about at least a portion of the exhaust system in the second section, the second cable extending continuously from the second section to the third section and configured to be disposed about the second thermally insulating first layer in the third section. 
     
     
         12 . A catalytic converter anti-theft system for an exhaust system of a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a thermally insulating first layer configured to be disposed about at least a portion of the exhaust system;   a cut and abrasion resistant second layer configured to be disposed about the thermally insulating first layer;   an abrasion resistant third layer configured to be disposed about the cut and abrasion resistant second layer; and   a plurality of fasteners configured to couple the anti-theft system to the vehicle.   
     
     
         13 . The anti-theft system of  claim 12 , wherein the thermally insulating first layer is a ceramic fiber blanket. 
     
     
         14 . The anti-theft system of  claim 12 , wherein the cut and abrasion resistant second layer is an aramid fiber layer. 
     
     
         15 . The anti-theft system of  claim 12 , wherein the abrasion resistant third layer is a carbon fiber layer. 
     
     
         16 . The anti-theft system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise worm drive clamps disposed about the abrasion resistant third layer. 
     
     
         17 . The anti-theft system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of fasteners is a first plurality of fasteners, the first plurality of fasteners being disposed about the abrasion resistant third layer, and further comprising a second plurality of fasteners, the second plurality of fasteners being disposed about the thermally insulating first layer. 
     
     
         18 . The anti-theft system of  claim 17 , wherein the second plurality of fasteners comprise cable ties. 
     
     
         19 . A method for coupling a catalytic converter anti-theft system to an exhaust system of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 positioning a thermally insulating first layer about at least a portion of the exhaust system;   positioning a cable about the thermally insulating first layer;   coupling the cable to the vehicle;   positioning a cut and abrasion resistant second layer about the cable;   positioning an abrasion resistant third layer about the cut and abrasion resistant second layer; and   coupling the abrasion resistant third layer to the vehicle using a plurality of fasteners.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the exhaust system comprises an exhaust conduit and a catalytic converter coupled to the exhaust conduit, and the thermally insulating first layer, the cut and abrasion resistant second layer, and the abrasion resistant third layer are positioned about the exhaust conduit and disposed apart from the catalytic converter. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein coupling the cable to the vehicle comprises welding the cable to the catalytic converter. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein coupling the cable to the vehicle comprises welding the cable to a frame of the vehicle. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the cable is a first cable, and positioning the first cable about the thermally insulating first layer comprises positioning the first cable and a second cable about the thermally insulating first layer and a catalytic converter of the exhaust system. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein positioning the first cable and the second cable about the thermally insulating first layer and the catalytic converter comprises positioning the first cable and the second cable in a figure-eight configuration about the thermally insulating first layer and the catalytic converter. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of fasteners comprise worm drive clamps, and coupling the abrasion resistant third layer to the vehicle comprises positioning the worm drive clamps about the abrasion resistant third layer.