What is claimed is:
1. A sorption heating apparatus for use a down hole tool housing deployed on a wire line tool or a drill stem comprising:
a container of liquid forming a first region within a down hole tool;
a desiccant located in a second region of the tool; and
a vapor passage between first region containing the liquid and the second region containing the desiccant, thereby enabling vapor generated during evaporation of the liquid to pass from the first region through the vapor passage to the desiccant in the second region.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a filter located between the first region containing the liquid and the second region containing the desiccant for controlling the evaporation rate of the liquid.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the filter comprises a water wet porous medium for retarding the rate of evaporation from the liquid.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the desiccant comprises a thermal-sensitive device which enables evaporation when a selected temperature is exceeded.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electronics or sensor and adjacent to liquid supply are surrounded by a phase change material.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the filter comprises a device which enables evaporation based on the temperature history of the first region.
7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the electronics or sensor and adjacent to liquid supply are contained in a Dewar flask.
8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the desiccant further comprises fins of thermally conductive material extending from the desiccant to the tool housing to transfer heat from the desiccant to the tool housing.
9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the desiccant comprises a molecular sieve.
10. A method for heating a region in a down hole tool deployed on a wire line tool or a drill stem comprising the steps for:
evaporating liquid from a container of positioned in a first region within a down hole tool;
providing a desiccant located in a second region of the tool;
providing a check valve to prevent spillage of the liquid; and
providing a vapor passage between first region containing the liquid and the second region containing the desiccant, thereby enabling vapor generated during evaporation of the liquid to pass from the first region through the vapor passage to the desiccant in the second region, thereby transferring heat from the first region to the second region.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step for:
providing a filter located between the first region containing the liquid and the second region containing the desiccant for controlling the evaporation rate of the liquid.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the filter comprises water wet porous medium for retarding the rate of evaporation from the liquid.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the desiccant comprises a thermal-sensitive device which enables evaporation when a selected temperature is exceeded.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the electronics or sensor and adjacent to liquid supply are surrounded by a phase change material.
15. The method of claim 11 wherein the electronics or sensor and adjacent to liquid supply are contained in a Dewar flask.
16. The method of claim of claim 11 wherein the filter comprises a device which enables evaporation based on the temperature history of the first region.
17. The method of claim 11 wherein the desiccant comprises a molecular sieve.
18. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step for:
providing fins of thermally conductive material extending from the desiccant to the tool housing to transfer heat from the desiccant to the tool housing.
19. The method of claim 10 wherein a sample chamber is located adjacent the dessicant for heating the sample chamber.
20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a sample chamber in thermal communication with the second region of the tool.
21. The method of claim 10 wherein a clock crystal is located adjacent the dessicant for heating the clock crystal.
22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a clock crystal in thermal communication with the second region of the tool.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A removable insert adapted to fit within an illuminated sign comprising a sign housing and a sign legend to be displayed by the illuminated sign, the insert comprising:
(a) at least one inner wall and at least one outer wall, wherein the at least one outer wall is shaped to be inserted into and generally correspond to a shape of a sign housing and wherein the at least one inner wall is shaped so as not to encroach on a sign legend;
(b) a plurality of cavities defined between the at least one inner wall and the at least one outer wall, wherein the plurality of cavities define discrete compartments adapted to house, store, or mount various sign components; and
(c) at least one structure for supporting a circuit board.
2. The removable insert of claim 1, wherein the at least one inner wall substantially conforms to an exterior of the sign legend.
3. The removable insert of claim 1, further comprising a light source positioned at either a top or a bottom area of the sign insert and a reflector positioned opposite the light source at the other of the top or bottom of the sign insert.
4. The removable insert of claim 3, wherein the reflector comprises two angled side walls oriented relative to each other and forming a cavity.
5. The removable insert of claim 4, where the angled side walls are oriented between about 40 degrees to about 120 degrees relative to each other.
6. The removable insert of claim 3, wherein the reflector comprises an inverted tip.
7. The removable insert of claim 3, wherein the reflector is integrally formed with the insert, removable from the insert, or hingedly attached to the insert, such that it forms an additional cavity for sign components.
8. The removable insert of claim 1, wherein the insert snap fits into the sign housing.
9. The removable insert of claim 1, wherein the insert snap fits into the sign housing via at least one cooperating protrusion and recess system located on portions of the removable insert and the sign housing.
10. The removable insert of claim 1, wherein the at least one structure that supports the circuit board comprises grooves into which the circuit board can slide.
11. The removable insert of claim 1, wherein the compartments are adapted to store, house, or mount one or more of a battery, a voltage conversion device, an additional power supply, a directional indicator assembly, or a speaker.
12. The removable insert of claim 1, further comprising at least one biasing structure adapted to bear against and exert pressure on a canopy of a mounting device in order to bias the mounting device against a mounting surface.
13. The removable insert of claim 12, wherein the at least one biasing structure is a spring.
14. An illuminated sign system comprising a sign housing and the removable insert of claim 1 positioned within the sign housing.
15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a mounting device comprising:
(a) a mounting plate comprising a mounting base having at least one positioning element and at least one lip element formed thereon;
(b) a canopy element adapted to be positioned over the mounting plate, the canopy element comprising (i) at least one positioning element aperture adapted to receive the at least one positioning element; (ii) at least one lip element aperture adapted to receive the at least one lip element; and (iii) at least one upstanding stabilizing element extending from an upper surface of the canopy; and
(c) a locking clip adapted to cooperate with at least a portion of the mounting plate and the canopy element.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the insert has at least one side wall with at least one guide track defined therein, and wherein the locking clip has at least one leg with at least one tab that is adapted to be received in the at least one guide tack.
17. The removable insert of claim 1, comprising at least one mounting aperture adapted to receive one of a mounting device or a plug that covers any unused mounting apertures.
18. The removable insert of claim 17, wherein the plug comprises a base from which at least one leg extends and wherein the at least one leg comprises a protrusion distal the base and adapted to engage a biasing structure on the sign insert.
19. A method of assembling an illuminated sign comprising:
(a) providing a first sign housing;
(b) providing a first removable sign insert according to claim 1; and
(c) positioning the first removable insert in the first sign housing.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:
(d) providing a second sign housing;
(e) removing the first removable insert from the first sign housing and positioning the first removable insert in the second sign housing.
21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:
(d) providing a second removable insert;
(e) removing the first removable insert from the first sign housing and positioning the second removable insert into the first sign housing.
22. The method of claim 19, wherein the first removable insert is adapted to be snap fit with respect to the first sign housing.
23. The removable insert of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a polymeric material and wherein the sign housing comprises a metal housing.