US20110232273A1

US20110232273A1 - Heating Pipe Mechanism Having Gas Exhausting and Waste-Heat Utilizing Functions

Info

Publication number: US20110232273A1
Application number: US13/070,403
Authority: US
Inventors: Chin-Chih Hsieh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-03-25
Filing date: 2011-03-23
Publication date: 2011-09-29
Also published as: JP2011202660A

Abstract

A heating pipe mechanism includes a heating pipe. The heating pipe has an exhaust passage disposed between and in fluid communication with a catalytic converter and an exhaust pipe, and a heating compartment spaced apart from and disposed around the exhaust passage for receiving water to be heated. Through operation of the heating pipe mechanism, waste heat is dissipated from the catalytic converter to heat and boil raw water to thereby form potable water.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 099108877, filed on Mar. 25, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a heating pipe mechanism, and more particularly to a heating pipe for conveying waste exhaust gases from a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a vehicle engine power system utilizing gasoline and diesel as primary fuels, a catalytic converter is disposed for converting incompletely combusted gases or poison materials into harmless or less harmful ones for environmental protection purposes. However, waste heat generated from the catalytic converter has a relatively high temperature to thereby become a cause of greenhouse effect. To solve the waste heat problem, a portion of the waste heat generated from a catalytic converter is driven by steam to return to the engine power system, or is converted into electric energy, such that the electric energy is transmitted to the electricity system of the vehicle. The energy-converting efficiency of the above-mentioned process (i.e., a process for converting waste heat of exhaust gases into electric energy or mechanical energy) is relatively low. Furthermore, related equipment required for energy-converting process is complicated in structure, and has a relatively high cost. As such, numerous components are mounted to the vehicle for generating only a small amount of electricity or power, which does not meet the requirement for environmental protection.
Although someone has tried to utilize waste heat of vehicle exhaust gases to process water, the water processing equipment is driven by the electricity system of the vehicle, and is controlled by additional electric equipment, thereby resulting in further electrical power consumption of the vehicle and, thus, further fuel consumption for supplementing electricity to thereby also involve a violation of environmental protection. Hence, it is desirable to provide an environmental protective exhaust waste heat utilizing system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a heating pipe mechanism that can be mounted easily to a vehicle for conveying waste gases of the vehicle and heating and boiling water.
According to this invention, there is provided a heating pipe mechanism adapted for fluid connection with an output end of a catalytic converter so as to convey waste exhaust gases produced from a vehicle to thereby utilize waste heat of the catalytic converter to heat water, the heating pipe mechanism comprising:
a hollow outer annular wall extending in a front-to-rear direction;
an inner annular wall extending in the front-to-rear direction and disposed within and spaced apart from the outer annular wall;
a front connecting end wall connected between front ends of the inner and outer annular walls; and
a rear connecting end wall connected between rear ends of the inner and outer annular walls, the inner and outer annular walls cooperating with the front and rear connecting end walls to define an exhaust passage, the exhaust passage being adapted for fluid communication with the catalytic converter so as to convey the waste exhaust gases, and a heating compartment space disposed around and spaced apart from the exhaust passage, the outer annular wall being provided with a rear fitting that is in fluid communication with the heating compartment and that permits water to flow into the heating compartment therethrough, and a front fitting that is in fluid communication with the heating compartment and that permits water to flow out of the heating compartment therethrough.
When the heating pipe mechanism is connected between a catalytic converter and an exhaust pipe of the vehicle, waste heat can be dissipated from the catalytic converter to heat and boil raw water to thereby form potable water for use of the driver and the passengers. Consequently, the usage amount of bottled water can be reduced considerably to save money and meet environmental protection requirement.
Furthermore, the heating pipe mechanism can be mounted removably and conveniently to the catalytic converter and the exhaust pipe, such that it can be removed easily from the catalytic converter and the exhaust pipe for repair and maintenance. It should be noted that, when an exhaust pipe extends around a heating pipe along a spiral path, the heat exchange efficiency is low, and it is difficult to repair and maintain the heating pipe. For this reason, such an arrangement is not adopted by this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of three preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle exhaust waste heat utilizing system incorporating the first preferred embodiment of a heating pipe mechanism according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a vehicle using the vehicle exhaust waste heat utilizing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrated that the heating pipe mechanism is connected between an exhaust pipe and a catalytic converter;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of a heating case of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, partly exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a heating pipe mechanism according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional top view of the second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional side view of the second preferred embodiment, illustrating that a trolley is at a horizontal track portion of a track member;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, but illustrating that the trolley is at an inclined track portion of the track member;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of a heating pipe mechanism according to this invention;

FIG. 11, is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a sectional side view of the third preferred embodiment, illustrating a first valve position of a control valve; and

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 but illustrating a second valve position of the control valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before this invention is described in greater detail in connection with the preferred embodiments, it should be noted that similar elements and structures are designated by like reference numerals throughout the entire disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle exhaust waste heat utilizing system incorporating the first preferred embodiment of a heating pipe mechanism 4 according to this invention is incorporated in a vehicle. The vehicle includes a vehicle body 104, and an exhausting device 10 mounted on a bottom portion of the vehicle body 104. The exhausting device 10 includes a catalytic converter 101 and an exhaust pipe 100. The vehicle body 104 has a front cabin area 103 for sitting of passengers, and a storage compartment area 102 for storing articles. In the case of a car, the storage compartment area 102 is a rear cabin not designed for sitting of passengers. In the case of a tour bus, the storage compartment area 102 is any area not designed for sitting of passengers.
The vehicle exhaust waste heat utilizing system includes a raw-water containing mechanism 3, a heating pipe mechanism 4 connected between and in fluid communication with the catalytic converter 101 and the exhaust pipe 100, a boiled-water conveying mechanism 5 in fluid connection with the heating pipe mechanism 4, a boiled-water processing mechanism 6 disposed on the vehicle body 104 and connected between and in fluid communication with the boiled-water conveying mechanism 5 and the raw-water containing mechanism 3, a removable boiled-water containing box 7 connected removably to and in fluid communication with the boiled-water processing mechanism 6 and disposed in the storage compartment area 102, and a thermoelectric chip module 8 mounted to the boiled-water conveying mechanism 5.
The raw-water containing mechanism 3 includes: a hollow raw water box 30 for containing raw water; a water-supplementing pipe 31 in fluid connection with a top end of the raw water box 30 and having a water-supplementing port 310 formed in an outer surface of the vehicle body 104; a water supply pipe 32 connected between and in fluid communication with a bottom end portion of the raw water box 30 and the heating pipe mechanism 4; a raw-water passable one-way valve 33 mounted to the water supply pipe 32 for limiting flow of water toward the heating pipe mechanism 4; and a water level indicator 34 disposed on an outer surface of the raw water box 30 for indicating the level of the water contained within the raw water box 30. The raw water box 30 is provided with a vent pipe 300 in fluid communication with the surroundings. Alternatively, the water-supplementing port 310 may be formed directly in the raw water box 30.
With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the heating pipe mechanism 4 is connected fixedly between and in fluid communication with the water supply pipe 32 and the boiled-water conveying mechanism 5. The heating pipe mechanism 4 includes a heating pipe 41 disposed between and in fluid connection with the catalytic converter 101 and the exhaust pipe 100, and front and rear fittings 42 in fluid connection with the boiled-water conveying mechanism 5 and the water supply pipe 32, respectively. The heating pipe 41 includes a pair of inner and outer annular walls 413, 414 radially spaced apart from each other, a front connecting end wall 415 connected between front ends of the inner and outer annular walls 413, 414, and a rear connecting end wall 415′ connected between rear ends of the inner and outer annular walls 413, 414. The inner and outer annular walls 413, 414 cooperate with the front and rear connecting end walls 415, 415′ to define an exhaust passage 412 formed through the heating pipe mechanism 4 in a front-to-rear direction for conveying exhaust gases produced from the vehicle, and a heating compartment 411 disposed around and spaced apart from the exhaust passage 412. The front and rear fittings 42 are disposed respectively on a top end portion of a front end portion of the outer annular wall 414 and a bottom end portion of a rear end portion of the outer annular wall 414. The water supply pipe 32 is in fluid connection with the rear fitting 42. The boiled-water conveying mechanism 5 is in fluid connection with the front fitting 92.
The heating pipe mechanism 4 has two ends connected respectively and fixedly to the catalytic converter 101 and the exhaust pipe 100, so as to allow waste gases discharged from the catalytic converter 101 to flow into the exhaust pipe 100 through the exhaust passage 412. Raw water flowing from the raw water containing mechanism 3 is received within the heating compartment 411. Since the heating pipe mechanism 4 is heated by the waste gases (having a high temperature of more than 200° C.) discharged from the catalytic converter 101, the raw water received within the heating compartment 411 is heated to form boiled water, which is limited by the raw-water passable one-way valve 33 to flow into the boiled-water processing mechanism 6 through the boiled-water conveying mechanism 5.
Since the storage compartment area 102 is above the exhaust pipe 100 and the catalytic converter 101, the water level of the raw water box 30 is above the heating pipe mechanism 4. As such, the boiled water flows from the heating compartment 411 into the boiled-water conveying mechanism 5. Hence, raw water flows from the raw water box 30 into the heating compartment 411 until the heating compartment 411 is filled with water.
The boiled-water conveying mechanism 5 includes a communicating pipe 51 having a lower end in fluid connection with the front fitting 44, a pair of first and second boiled- water pipes 53, 54 connected respectively to and in fluid communication with two opposite sides of an upper end of the communicating pipe 51, a first water faucet 55 in fluid connection with a front end of the first boiled-water pipe 53, a passenger-accessible water barrel 56 in fluid connection with the second boiled-water pipe 54, a second water faucet 57 mounted to and in fluid communication with the passenger-accessible water barrel 56, and a heating valve 58 connected between and in fluid communication with the front end of the first boiled-water pipe 53 and the boiled-water processing mechanism 6.
Rear ends of the first and second boiled- water pipes 53, 54 are connected to the boiled-water processing mechanism 6. A front end portion (i.e., upper end portion) of the first boiled-water pipe 53 is transparent, such that the water level of the first boiled-water pipe 53 is visible. The first water faucet 55 is adjacent to the driver seat of the vehicle, so that the driver can conveniently access to and open the first water faucet 55. The heating valve 58 is disposed between the first boiled-water pipe 53 and the boiled-water processing mechanism 6, and is normally in a closed state. Upon opening the heating valve 58, high-temperature boiled water flows from the first boiled-water pipe 53 into the boiled-water processing mechanism 6.
The passenger-accessible water barrel 56 is disposed in the front cabin area 103, and is adjacent to the rear passenger seat for receiving and storing boiled water flowing from the second boiled-water pipe 54. The second water faucet 57 is operable to allow boiled water to flow from the passenger-accessible water barrel 56.
The thermoelectric chip module 8 is sleeved removably on a rear end portion of the second boiled-water pipe 54, and is heated by the high-temperature boiled water flowing within the second boiled-water pipe 54 to thereby generate and output electricity to an electronic device in the vehicle, such as mobile phone or multimedia player, via a transmission cable 81 for electricity charging. Since the thermoelectric chip module 8 is well known in the art, further description thereof will be omitted herein.
With further reference to FIG. 5, the boiled-water processing mechanism 6 is mounted on the vehicle body 104, and is located in the front cabin area 103 and the storage compartment area 102. The boiled-water processing mechanism 6 includes a hollow heating case 61 mounted in the front cabin area 103 and in fluid communication with the front end portion of the first boiled-water pipe 53, a water conduit 62 in fluid connection with the heating case 61 and extending rearwardly into the storage compartment area 102, a boiled-water storing box 63 in fluid connection with rear ends of the water conduit 62 and the second boiled-water pipe 53 and located in the storage compartment area 102, and a boiled-water passable one-way valve 64 connected between and in fluid communication with the boiled-water storing box 63 and the raw water box 30.
The heating case 61 includes a hollow case body 611 mounted on the vehicle body 104, and a cover body 615 mounted on the case body 611. The case body 611 has a heating space 612 in fluid connection with the first boiled-water pipe 53 and the water conduit 62, and a temperature conservation space 613 spaced apart from and disposed above the heating space 612 and having an upper end opening 614. When the heating valve 58 is opened, boiled water flows from the first boiled-water pipe 53 into the heating space 612. The heating case 61 is made of a heat-insulating material. In this embodiment, the cover body 615 is disposed pivotally on the case body 611.
The boiled-water storing box 63 includes a main box body 631, a pressure relief valve 632 mounted on a top end of the main box body 631, a condensing pipe 634 having a front end in fluid connection with the pressure relief valve 632, a water-collecting box body 635 in fluid connection with a rear end of the condensing pipe 634, a switch 636 mounted on the main box body 631, and a water-level indicator 637 mounted on a side surface of the main box body 631 for indicating the water level of the main box body 631. The pressure relief valve 632 has a pressure-releasing end 633 directing outwardly.
Since the temperature of boiled water flowing from the water conduit 62 and the second boiled-water pipe 54 into the main box body 631 are higher than room temperature, and is not less than 50° C., flow of boiled water from the water conduit 62 and the second boiled-water pipe 54 into the main box body 631 results in an increase in the air pressure in the main box body 631. When the air pressure in the main box body 631 is increased to a predetermined pressure value, the pressure relief valve 632 is opened for pressure relief, so as to avoid excessive pressure in the main box body 631. Steam flowing from the pressure relief valve 632 is condensed to form water within the condensing pipe 634. The water drops from the condensing pipe 634 into the water collecting box body 635 for reuse.
The switch 636 is configured as a quick coupler, and permits the removable boiled-water containing box 7 to be connected removably thereto. Upon opening of the switch 636, boiled water flows from the main box body 631 into the removable boiled-water containing box 7. When the removable boiled-water containing box 7 is removed from the switch 636, it can be moved to other place.
Due to the presence of the boiled-water passable one-way valve 64, water is limited to flow from the main box body 631 into the raw water box 30. As such, when the water level of the main box body 631 is above the raw water box 30, or when the water pressure in the main box body 631 is higher than that in the raw water box 30, water flows from the main box body 631 into the raw water box 30 until the main box body 631 and the raw water box 30 have the same water level or the same water pressure, so as to achieve recycle use of water.
With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, during use of the vehicle exhaust waste heat utilizing system, the raw water box 30 is filled with raw water to be processed, such as tap water or mountain spring water. During starting or moving of the vehicle, the raw water flows into the heating compartment 411 of the heating pipe mechanism 4 for boiling. Subsequently, the boiled water flows into the communicating pipe 51, and then is conveyed by the boiled-water conveying mechanism 5 into the boiled-water processing mechanism 6.
At this time, when the driver needs to utilize the heating case 61 for heating or temperature conservation of food, the food is placed into the heating space 613 in the heating case 61, and the heating valve 58 is opened. Hence, high-temperature boiled water flows from the first boiled-water pipe 53 into the heating space 612 and then the water conduit 62. Flow of the boiled water through the heating space 612 results in an increase in the temperature of the heating space 612 to thereby achieve the heating or temperature conservation function. After the boiled water passes through the heating case 61, it is guided into the main box body 631 by the water conduit 62 for storage. As soon as the heating case 61 is no longer used, the heating valve 58 is closed.
Whether the heating valve 58 is opened or not, when the driver or the passenger sitting on the front seat desires to drink the high-temperature boiled water, it is only necessary to open the first faucet 55, thereby resulting in convenience during use. Furthermore, the front end portion of the first boiled-water pipe 53 is transparent, as described above, so as to allow the user to easily realize whether or not there is water within the first boiled-water pipe 53, thereby further resulting in convenience during use.
When the boiled water flows into the communicating pipe 51 from the heating pipe mechanism 4, a portion thereof flows into the passenger-accessible water barrel 56 and the main box body 631 via the second boiled-water pipe 54. At this time, the passenger sitting on the rear seat can access to the boiled water in the passenger-accessible water barrel 56 by operating the second faucet 57.
The second boiled-water pipe 54 is in a normally opened state. The first boiled-water pipe 53 and the water conduit 62 are in a normally closed state.
The user can realize water consumption amount from the water- level indicator 34, 637 of the raw-water containing mechanism 3 and the boiled-water storing box 63, so as to supplement raw water into the raw water box 30 via the water-supplementing pipe 31 in time. The boiled-water passable one-way valve 64 is disposed to prevent flow of water from the raw water box 30 into the boiled-water storing box 63 even when the water level of the raw water box 30 is above that of the boiled-water storing box 63. As a result, the boiled water in the boiled-water storing box 63 is prevented from being contaminated by any raw water.
When the water level of the main box body 631 is above the switch 636, and when it is desired to take boiled water out of the vehicle for use, the switch 636 is first opened to allow for flow of the boiled water from the main box body 631 into the removable boiled-water containing box 7. Next, the removable boiled-water containing box 7 is removed from the switch 636.
Since the heating pipe mechanism 4 is directly connected to the catalytic converter 101 and the exhaust pipe 100, it is convenient to install, and has a good heat exchange efficiency. Furthermore, either the catalytic converter 101 or the exhaust pipe 100 can be removed with relative ease for repair or replacement.
The boiled-water conveying mechanism 5 includes only one passenger-accessible water barrel 56. However, in an application to an ordinary bus or a tour bus having a plurality of independent passenger seats, each of the seats can be mounted with a passenger-accessible water barrel 56, such that each passenger can conveniently and rapidly take boiled water from the corresponding passenger-accessible water barrel 56.
FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show the second preferred embodiment of a heating pipe mechanism 4 of according to this invention. In this embodiment, the heating pipe mechanism 4 further includes a bypass pipe 43, a control valve 44, a track member 45 disposed in proximity to the control valve 44, and a sail-driven trolley 46 mounted between the control valve 44 and the track member 45. The bypass pipe 43 has two ends in fluid connection with two ends of the heating pipe 41, respectively, and bypasses the heating compartment 411. The control valve 44 is disposed among the catalytic converter 101, the heating pipe 41, and the bypass pipe 43, and has a pair of plate-shaped first and second valve portions 441, 442 perpendicular to each other, an upright pivot shaft 443 connected fixedly to the first and second valve portions 441, 442 and rotatable relative to the heating pipe 41 and the bypass pipe 43, and an elongated horizontal swing member 444 connected fixedly to and extending radially from a top end of the pivot shaft 443. The swing member 444 is formed with a slide slot 445 extending along a longitudinal direction thereof and having two closed ends.
The swing member 444 can be driven to swing so that the control valve 44 is pivoted between a first valve position, where a proximate end of the bypass pipe 43 proximate to the catalytic converter 101 is closed by the control valve 44 and where a proximate end of the heating pipe 41 proximate to the catalytic converter 101 is open, and a second valve position, where the proximate end of the heating pipe 41 is closed by the control valve 44 and where the proximate end of the bypass pipe 43 is open.
The track member 45 has a top surface 451 formed with two parallel track holes 452. The top surface 451 has a front horizontal track portion 453 and a rear inclined track portion 454. The track holes 452 extend in the front horizontal track portion 453 and a rear inclined track portion 454.
The sail-driven trolley 46 includes a trolley body 461, two upright guide plates 462 disposed fixedly on and under the trolley body 461 and extending respectively and movably into the track holes 452 in the track member 45, a hook 463 connected pivotally to a front end of the trolley body 461 and engaging movably within the slide slot 445 in the swing member 444 of the control valve 44, a post 464 extending upwardly from a rear end portion of the trolley body 461, a plurality of counterweights 465 sleeved on the post 464, and an upright sail plate 466 fixed on the trolley body 461 and having two opposite side surfaces, one of which faces forwardly.
The sail-driven trolley 46 is positioned relative to the vehicle such that, when the vehicle is accelerated, airflow on the sail plate 466 can be increased to push the sail-driven trolley 46 to move rearwardly from the horizontal track portion 453 onto the inclined track portion 454, as shown in FIG. 9. Hence, the hook 463 pulls and pivot rearwardly the swing member 444 of the control valve 44, in such a manner that the hook 463 moves within the slide slot 445 in the swing member 444, so as to pivot the control valve 44 toward the second valve position, thereby increasing gradually the amount of the waste gases flowing from the catalytic converter 101 into the exhaust pipe 100 through the bypass pipe 43. In this manner, overheating of the heating pipe 41 can be prevented.
When the vehicle is decelerated, the sail-driven trolley 46 moves forwardly along the track holes 452 by virtue of gravity, so as to pivot the control valve 44 in an opposite direction toward the first valve position.
The total weight of the counterweights 465 can be changed to adjust the wind force required for driving the sail-driven trolley 46 and, thus, the relationship between the vehicle speed and the distance traveled rearwardly by the sail-driven trolley 46.
As such, in this embodiment, whether or not the raw water is boiled by the heating pipe mechanism 4 is determined based on the vehicle speed, thus resulting in convenience during use of the heating mechanism 4.
Alternatively, a driving switch (not shown) for driving the control valve 44 may be disposed in proximity to a driver seat, e.g., on a gage panel or a side of the driver seat, so as to result in convenience during use. The driving switch may be a manual switch or an electric switch.
When it is desired to utilize the heating pipe 41 to boil water, the control valve 44 is pivoted to the first valve position to limit exhaust gases to flow from the catalytic converter 101 into the exhaust pipe 100 through the heating pipe 41. When boiling of water is not required, the control valve 44 is pivoted to the second valve position to limit exhaust gases to flow from the catalytic converter 101 into the exhaust pipe 100 through the bypass pipe 43. In this manner, overheating of the heating pipe 41 can also be prevented.
FIGS. 10 to 13 show the third preferred embodiment of a heating pipe mechanism 4 according to this invention, which is similar in construction to the first preferred embodiment. The differences are described in the following.
The heating pipe mechanism 4 includes a connecting pipe 47 extending in a front-to-rear direction and connected fixedly to and in fluid communication with a rear end of the catalytic converter 101, a control valve 44 disposed pivotally within a front end of the connecting pipe 47, a heating pipe 41 extending in the front-to-rear direction and connected fixedly to and in fluid communication with a rear end of the connecting pipe 47, two bypass pipes 43 extending in the front-to-rear direction, spaced apart from each other in a left-to-right direction, and connected fixedly to the connecting pipe 47 and the heating pipe 41, and a junction pipe 48 connected fixedly to and in fluid communication with the heating pipe 41, the bypass pipes 43, and the exhaust pipe 100.
The connecting pipe 47 includes a cylindrical surrounding wall 471 extending in the front-to-rear direction, a horizontal partition 472 connected fixedly to an annular inner surface of the surrounding wall 471 and extending in the front-to-rear direction to a rear end of the surrounding wall 471, a rear end wall 473 connected fixedly to the rear end of the surrounding wall 471 and a rear end of the partition 472 and covering the rear end of the surrounding wall 471, and a plurality of spaced-apart position-limiting stop blocks 475 projecting from the inner surface of the surrounding wall 471 at the front end of the surrounding wall 471. The partition 472 is disposed below a central axis of the surrounding wall 471. The surrounding wall 471 cooperates with the partition 472 and the rear end wall 473 to define an upper passage space 476 disposed above the partition 472, and a lower passage space 477 disposed under the partition 472. The rear end wall 473 has a through hole 474 formed therethrough in the front-to-rear direction and in fluid communication with the upper passage space 476.
The control valve 44 includes a horizontal pivot shaft 443 disposed pivotally within the front end of the surrounding wall 471 and in front of the partition 472 and extending in the left-to-right direction, a pair of first and second valve plates 441, 442 connected fixedly to the pivot shaft 443 and perpendicular to each other, and two aligned counterweight sail plates 446 extending respectively two ends of the pivot shaft 443 in the same direction and disposed outwardly of the surrounding wall 471. The control valve 44 is pivotable between a first valve position shown in FIG. 13 whereat the upper passage space 476 is open and whereat the lower passage space 477 is closed, and a second valve position shown in FIG. 14 whereat the upper passage space 476 is almost closed and whereat the lower passage space 477 is open.
When no wind force is applied to the counterweight sail plates 446, due to the gravity of the counterweight sail plates 446, the first valve portion 441 extends rearwardly from the pivot shaft 443 toward the partition 472, and the second valve portion 442 and the counterweight sail plates 446 extend downwardly from the pivot shaft 443, so that the control valve 44 is disposed at the first valve position. When the vehicle speed is increased to a predetermined speed, airflow pushes the counterweight sail plates 446 to pivot rearwardly and upwardly to thereby change the control valve 44 to the second valve position.
The heating pipe 41 is welded to the rear end wall 473 of the connecting pipe 47 at a front end thereof. The exhaust passage 412 is in fluid communication with the through hole 474. Each of the bypass pipes 43 has a front section 435 connected fixedly to the surrounding wall 471 of the connecting pipe 47 and in fluid communication with the lower passage space 477, and a rear section 436 extending rearwardly from the front section 435, connected fixedly to an annular outer surface of the heating pipe 41, and connected fixedly to and in fluid communication with the junction pipe 48.
The junction pipe 48 is connected fixedly to the rear end of the heating pipe 41, and is in fluid communication with the exhaust passage 412 for guiding flow of the waste gases from the exhaust passage 412 and the bypass pipes 42 into the exhaust pipe 100 therethrough.
With particular reference to FIGS. 10, 13, and 14, during use of the vehicle exhaust waste heat utilizing system, before the vehicle is started, the control valve 44 is disposed at the first valve position so that the catalytic converter 101 is in fluid communication with the exhaust pipe 100 through the upper passage space 476. When the vehicle advances, the control valve 44 is driven by the exhaust gases flowing from the catalytic converter 101 and air flowing from the surrounding environment into the vehicle, so as to pivot the control valve 44 toward the second valve position, thereby controlling the amount of high-temperature waste gases flowing from the catalytic converter 101 into the heating pipe 41.
When the control valve 44 is at the first valve position, the high-temperature waste gases flows from the catalytic converter 101 into the exhaust pipe 100 through the upper passage 976, the heating pipe 41, and the junction pipe 48.
When the control valve 44 is at the second valve position, a majority of the high-temperature waste gases flows from the catalytic converter 101 into the exhaust pipe 100 through the lower passage space 477, the bypass pipes 43, and the junction pipe 48.
When each of the upper and lower passage spaces 476, 477 is open partially, a portion of the high-temperature waste gases flows from the catalytic converter 101 into the exhaust pipe 100 through the upper passage 476, the heating pipe 41, and the junction pipe 48, and the remaining portion of the high-temperature waste gases flows from the catalytic converter 101 into the exhaust pipe 100 through the lower passage space 477, the bypass pipes 43, and the junction pipe 48.
The first valve portion 441 and the counterweight sail plates 446 may be omitted from the control valve 44, such that only the second valve portion 442 is attached to the pivot shaft 443. If this occurs, in a situation where the control valve 44 is disposed at the first valve position so that the second valve portion 442 is in a vertical position and under the pivot shaft 443, the second valve portion 442 can be pushed by waste gases flowing from the catalytic converter 101 to pivot upwardly to a horizontal position to thereby align with the partition 472, so as to dispose the control valve 44 at the second valve position. Or, the first valve portion 441 may be designed to be lighter than that second valve portion 442. In such a manner, the second valve portion 442 is also pivotable between the vertical position and the horizontal position. When the control valve 44 is disposed at the first or second valve position, a corresponding one of the first and second valve portions 441, 442 abuts against a corresponding one of the position-limiting stop blocks 475.
Alternatively, the heating pipe mechanism 4 may include only one bypass pipe 43, which is connected fixed to the rear end wall 473 and which is in fluid communication with the lower passage space 477.
In view of the above, due to the presence of the heating pipe mechanism 4, the boiled-water conveying mechanism 5, and the boiled-water processing mechanism 6, a portion of waste heat produced from the catalytic converter 101 can be utilized to boil raw water to thereby form potable water. Hence, during movement of the vehicle, by opening the first and second water faucets 55, 57, the driver or the passengers can conveniently get boiled water, which can save money and exclude a need to prepare bottles for containing potable water. Thus, the system incorporating this invention is suitable for continental countries.
With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A heating pipe mechanism adapted to be connected between a catalytic converter and an exhaust pipe of a vehicle so as to convey waste exhaust gases produced from a vehicle to thereby utilize waste heat of the catalytic converter to heat water, said heating pipe mechanism comprising:

a hollow outer annular wall extending in a front-to-rear direction;

an inner annular wall extending in the front-to-rear direction and disposed within and spaced apart from said outer annular wall;

a front connecting end wall connected between front ends of said inner and outer annular walls; and

a rear connecting end wall connected between rear ends of said inner and outer annular walls, said inner and outer annular walls cooperating with said front and rear connecting end walls to define an exhaust passage, said exhaust passage being adapted for fluid communication with the catalytic converter so as to convey the waste exhaust gases, and a heating compartment disposed around and spaced apart from said exhaust passage, said outer annular wall being provided with a rear fitting that is in fluid communication with said heating compartment and that permits water to flow into said heating compartment therethrough, and a front fitting that is in fluid communication with said heating compartment and that permits water to flow out of said heating compartment therethrough.

2. The heating pipe mechanism as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one bypass pipe adapted to be disposed between and in fluid communication with the catalytic converter and the exhaust pipe in such a manner to bypass said heating compartment, and a control valve adapted to be disposed among the catalytic converter, the heating pipe, and the bypass pipe, said control valve being pivotable relative to said heating pipe and said bypass pipe between a first valve position whereat flow of the waste exhaust gases from the catalytic converter into the exhaust pipe through said heating pipe is allowed and whereat flow of the waste exhaust gases from the catalytic converter into the exhaust pipe through said bypass pipe is prevented, and a second valve position whereat flow of the waste exhaust gases from the catalytic converter into the exhaust pipe through said bypass pipe is allowed.

3. The heating pipe mechanism as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a track member disposed in proximity to said control valve and having a horizontal track portion and an inclined track portion connected to and disposed behind said horizontal track portion, and a sail-driven trolley connected between said control valve and said track member, said sail-driven trolley being adapted to be driven by air flowing from the surrounding environment into the vehicle, so as to move from said horizontal track portion onto said inclined track portion, thereby pivoting said control valve from the first valve position toward the second valve position.

4. The heating pipe mechanism as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a connecting pipe adapted to be connected between and in fluid communication with the catalytic converter and the heating pipe, a control valve disposed pivotally within said connecting pipe, and a junction pipe adapted to be connected between and in fluid communication with the exhaust pipe and said heating pipe, said bypass pipe being connected between and in fluid communication with said connecting pipe and said junction pipe, said connecting pipe having an upper passage space adapted to be in fluid communication with the catalytic converter and said heating pipe, and a lower passage space disposed under and insulated fluidly from said upper passage space and adapted to be in fluid communication with the catalytic converter and said bypass pipe, wherein, when said control valve is disposed at the first valve position, said lower passage space being closed by said control valve so as to allow for flow of waste exhaust gases from the catalytic converter into the exhaust pipe through said upper passage space, said heating pipe, and said junction pipe, and when the control valve is disposed at the second valve position, said upper passage space being almost closed by said control valve so as to allow for flow of a majority of waste exhaust gases from the catalytic converter into the exhaust pipe through said lower passage space, said bypass pipe, and said junction pipe.

5. The heating pipe mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein said connecting pipe includes a surrounding wall extending along the front-to-rear direction and adapted to be in fluid connection with the catalytic converter, a horizontal partition connected fixedly to an inner surface of said surrounding wall and extending in the front-to-rear direction to a rear end of said surrounding wall, a rear end wall connected fixedly to said rear end of said surrounding wall and a rear end of said partition and covering said rear end of the surrounding wall, said surrounding wall cooperating with said partition and said rear end wall to define said upper passage space above said partition, and said lower passage space under the partition, said rear end wall having a through hole formed therethrough in the front-to-rear direction and in fluid communication with said upper passage space, said control valve being disposed pivotally within said surrounding wall and being located in front of said partition, said control valve having a pair of plate-shaped first and second valve portions interconnected to form a predetermined angle therebetween and disposed pivotally within said connecting pipe such that, when said control valve is disposed at the first valve position, said second valve portion is disposed between said lower passage space and the catalytic converter for interrupting fluid communication between the catalytic converter and said lower passage space, and when said control valve is disposed at the second valve position, said first valve portion is disposed between said upper passage space and the catalytic converter.

6. The heating pipe mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said control valve further includes a horizontal pivot shaft disposed pivotally within said surrounding wall of said connecting pipe and connected fixedly between said first and second valve portions, and two aligned counterweight sail plates connected respectively and fixedly to two opposite ends of said pivot shaft and disposed outwardly of said surrounding wall, said counterweight sail plates extending downwardly from said pivot shaft when said control valve is disposed at the first valve position, said counterweight sail plates being positioned such that, when air flows from surrounding environment into the vehicle and onto said counterweight sail plates, said counterweight sail plates can be pivoted rearwardly and upwardly to change said control valve to the second valve position.

7. The heating pipe mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting pipe further includes a plurality of position-limiting blocks projecting from an inner surface of said surrounding wall and positioned such that, when said control valve is disposed at either said first or second valve position, a corresponding one of said first and second valve portions abuts against a corresponding one of said position-limiting blocks.