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

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.

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.