IMPROVEMENTS IN INCUBATORS OR APPARATUS FOR HATCHING EGGS BY ARTIFICIAL MEANS
Year: 1884

page_text: WALTER MUIR of Thornliebank, Merchant and Plumber, in the County of Renfrew
North-Britain, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN INCUBATORS OR APPARATUS FOR HATCHING EGGS BY ARTIFICIAL MEANS " to be
as follows:-
This invention which relates to improvements in incubators or apparatus for
hatching eggs by artificial means, has special reference to an improved arrangement
in the egg drawer or drawers (as the case may be) of the incubator, whereby the
eggs receive a better and more natural supply of air and moisture.. The improve-
ments are also applicable to other forms of incubators.
In ordinary constructed incubators the egg-tray is made of perforated sheet zinc,
and on this is spread flannel or other material, and on the top of this the eggs are
placed in rows or otherwise to suit the shape of the egg-tray.
In incubators constructed according to the present improvements, the egg-tray
is made of common sheet zinc or perforated zinc or other substance and is punched
with large or small oval or round holes to suit the kind of eggs to be hatched.
On the top of the egg-tray is placed flannel, cotton cloth or other material, the
same being fixed at the sides or not, as found best and most suitable, so that when
chicks are hatched or hatching they may not fall through the holes that are in the
tray. On the underside of this improved form of egg-tray gauze wire, sheet zinc
or other contrivance may be placed, the same being hollowed or bagged in the
centre, so that the portion of the egg that passes through to the underside of
the egg-tray may not be interfered with, further than being a support and a
preventitive in case the eggs or chicks should be in danger of falling through the
holes. It is not necessary however that any guard should be put on to the
underside of the egg-trays that are used for small eggs, but for those for large eggs
a guard may be used. Across the bottom of the egg-tray small strips of sheet zinc
bent or half circled, or thick wire may be soldered or fixed to keep the egg-tray
raised, so as to have a sufficient space left between it and the moisture-pan, so that
the air may freely circulate about the underside of the tray. Egg trays may be
used without this arrangement.

page_text: By having the egg-tray in the drawer of an incubator made according to the
present improvements, the underside of the eggs is exposed to a lower temperature
of heat, and receives a better supply of moisture; and the air that passes through
the holes that are on the underside of the box or frame, (and on which the drawer
rests,) comes in direct contact with the underside and sides of the eggs, so that they
receive a better and more efficient supply of air and moisture.
That part of my improvements which consists in the having the egg-tray of an
incubator punched with large or small oval or round holes to suit the kind of eggs
to be hatched, and the egg tray covered over with flannel, cotton cloth or other
material as a preventitive to keep the eggs or chicks from falling through the holes.
A guard may be placed on the underside of the egg-tray at each hole or otherwise.
Egg-trays made according to the present improvements and in the manner
described, are also applicable to other forms of incubators.

page_text: WALTER MUIR of Thornliebank, Merchant and Plumber, in the County of Renfrew
North-Britain, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS,
IN INCUBATORS OR APPARATUS FOR HATCHING EGGS BY ARTIFICIAL MEANS " and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This Invention which relates to Improvements in Incubators or Apparatus for
hatching eggs by artificial means, has special.reference to an improved arrangement
in the egg-drawer or drawers (as the case may be) of the incubator, whereby the
eggs receive a better and more natural supply of air and moisture. The improve-
ments are also applicable to other forms of incubators.
In ordinary constructed incubators the egg-tray is made of perforated sheet zinc,
and on this is spread flannel or other material, and on the top of this the eggs are
placed in rows or otherwise to suit the shape of the egg-tray.
In incubators constructed according to the present improvements, the egg-tray
is made of common sheet zinc, or perforated zinc, or other substance, and is punched
with large or small oval or round holes, to suit the kind of eggs to be hatched.
On the top of the egg-tray is placed flannel, cotton cloth or other material, the
same being fixed at the sides or not, as found best and most suitable, so that when
chicks are hatched or hatching they may not fall through the holes that are in
the tray.
On the underside of this improved form of egg-tray, gauze wire, sheet zinc or
other contrivance may be placed or fixed, the same being hollowed or bagged in
the centre, so that the portion of the egg that passes through to the underside of
the egg-tray may not be interfered with, further than being a support and a
preventitive in case the eggs or chicks should be in danger of falling through the
holes. It is not necessary however that any guard should be put on to the
underside of the egg-trays that are used for small eggs, but for those for large eggs
a guard may be used.
Across the bottom of the egg-tray small strips of sheet zinc bent or half circled,
or thick wire, may be soldered or fixed to keep the egg-tray raised so as to have
a sufficient space left between it and the moisture-pan, so that the air may freely
circulate about the underside of the tray. Egg-trays may be used without this
arrangement,
By having the egg-tray in the drawer of an incubator made according to the
present improvements, the underside of the eggs is exposed to a lower temperature
of heat, and receives a better supply of moisture, and the air that passes through
the holes that are on the underside of the box or frame (and on which the drawer
rests) comes in direct contact with the underside and sides of the eggs, so that they
receive a better and more efficient supply of air and moisture.
Egg-trays made according to the present improvements and in the manner
described are also applicable to other forms of incubators, whether the egg-tray in
it is fixed or not.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:"
1 That part of my improvements which consists in the having the egg tray of an
incubator punched with large or small oval or round holes to suit the kind of eggs

page_text: to be hatched, and the egg-tray covered over with flannel, cotton cloth or other
material, as a preventitive to keep the eggs or chicks from falling through the
holes.
2 Egg-trays punched with large or small oval or round holes to suit the kind of
eggs to be hatched, the same having a guard fixed or placed on the underside of the
egg-tray at each hole or otherwise.
3 And the having the egg-tray of an incubator punched with large or small oval
or round holes to suit the kind of eggs to be hatched, and the egg-tray covered
over with flannel, cotton cloth or other material, or with a guard fixed or placed
onto the underside of the egg-tray whether it be fixed or not in the drawer of an
incubator.