Method and apparatus for temperature control

Claim 1

Apparatus for maintaining an analytical instrument at a constant temperature comprising: a housing having a heating element in a wall thereof to maintain the interior of the housing at an elevated temperature; an analytical instrument positioned within said housing; a heat pipe disposed in a wall of said housing, said heat pipe comprising a hollow cylindrical metal element of substantially greater diameter than height, said cylindrical element being positioned so that the first end thereof is in thermal contact with the interior of said housing and the second end thereof is in thermal contact with a region exterior of said housing, heat-insulating means disposed between the sidewall of said cylindrical element and the wall of said housing, a wick disposed within said cylindrical element and extending between the first and second ends thereof, and a fluid disposed within said cylindrical element, said fluid being vaporized by contact with said first end of said element and condensed by contact with said second end; and a fan disposed within said housing to circulate air in said housing past said first end of said cylindrical element.