Improvements in Incubators or Apparatus for Hatching and Rearing Domestic Poultry or other Birds.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1889-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Incubators or Apparatus for Hatching and Rearing
Domestic Poultry or other Birds.
I, JOHN GABB, of Bewdley in the County of Worcester, Surgeon do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
A combination of Hatching Drawer, Drying Box, Rearing Mother and Chicken
Run in one and the same Apparatus, saving cost, and space.
A simple plan of Ventilation, ensuring efficiency without the possibility of currents
or draughts of air over-drying or chilling the eggs.
A construction and employment of a small Boiler and circulating Tank; with a
contrivance for regulating the temperature of the apparatus by controlling the flow
of water from the boiler to the Tank, to be worked by hand, or automatically, or
partly by hand and partly automatically, by electro-magnetic superintendence.
An employment of a variety of wood in the manufacture of the apparatus,
practically a non-conductor of heat, which requires no packing to keep it warm.
This apparatus may be made of any required proportionate size.
A box twenty four inches square, by eighteen inches deep, outside measurement,
and twenty two inches square inside, will contain a circulating tank twenty one and
three quarter inches square, by one inch deep, thus allowing a quarter of an inch
space around it to prevent binding. A Frame screwed to the inside of the box, an
inch wide by an inch and a half deep, supports the tank, it also supports, an inch
below the tank, a thermometer which by the expansion of its mercurial element
occasionally completes a galvanic current, and calls into action an Electro-Magnet
which lifts up a regulating plug. Under the tank below the thermometer, the
Hatching drawer is placed, which is moveable in and out of the box upon rollers,
and has around its three sides, when in its place, a free air space half an inch
wide. Into this free half inch space air is admitted from without through ventila-
tors in the sides of the box, below the level of the top of the hatching drawer, which
is guided into its position by strips of wood fixed to the bottom of the box-the
drawer may be five or six inches deep, or of any required depth. The ventilators in
the sides of the box can be opened fully, or partially, or can be completely closed,
by a cover in a frame, with holes in it to correspond with the holes in the sides of
the box, which can be slided backwards or forwards as required. A falling shutter
is fixed with hinges in the front of the box, over the drawer entrance, to let down
when the drawer is removed to air the eggs, or when the apparatus is used as a
rearing mother, to keep the chickens warm, and safe by night.
The Tank, an inch deep, has upon its upper surface an expansion box with an
opening into its interior, to allow an overflow of water when increased in bulk by an
increasing temperature; it has also two ventilators, one in each of the two farthest
corners from the boiler, for the escape of air which would otherwise accumulate and
interfere with the circulation of the water within it. The tank has two pipes entering
it from the boiler, a flow pipe and a return pipe; the flow pipe passes to its farthest
side, the return pipe only just enters it-it has also two or three barriers within it
fixed transversely, at equal distances from each other, with a number of holes in
each, to distribute the water, and prevent its direct return to the boiler, so as to
equalise the temperature over its whole internal surface. The Boiler may be
described as pyramido-cylindrical in shape, with a capacity of about eight ounces, to
supply a tank of the dimensions stated above, or any smaller tank. It may be larger
for larger tanks, about a sixtieth of the capacity of the tank is the best propor-
ionate size for the boiler. It may be made five inches in height, and four and a
half inches across its base; the pyramidal portion being in this size, two and a half

page_text: inches high, and the cylindrical part two and a half above this, an inch in diameter,
with a small flue up through it to promote smokeless combustion and aid the
circulation of water within it from below upwards towards the flow pipe. The
water space of the boiler at its base and up to the cylinder may be three quarters of
an inch, and in its cylindrical part three eighths of an inch. The base having a
pyramidal hollow up to the beginning of the Hue, to receive the flame of a lamp or a
gas-jet. Two pipes are fixed in the Boiler, one at the top of the pyramidal portion,
this being the flow pipe, the other into its base, about an inch behind the first, rising
perpendicularly to its level, and then proceeding horizontally to the tank alongside
it this is the return pipe. A feeding pipe is also fixed in its base on the side
farthest from the flow and return pipes, rising to about half an inch from the top
of the boiler, with a slightly expanded mouth for the convenience of adding water
to the apparatus as required. The flow and return pipes are joined by union joints
to the pipes of the tank, the exit from the boiler to the entrance to the tank being
about six inches. In the flow pipe from the boiler is fixed a Regulator, which is
formed by a perpendicular tube of the same diameter as the flow pipe, rising an inch
and a half above its upper surface and descending half an inch below its under
surface, fixed in the flow pipe by reduced lateral branches, but allowing a free flow
of water through it. Into the perpendicular tube a moveable rotating plug is
placed, with two openings through it, a larger opening, and a smaller opening ;
the larger opening to allow a free flow of water from the boiler to the tank, the
smaller one, a much reduced flow-a handle is fixed near the top of the plug which
when in a parallel position with the tube indicates a full flow, and when turned
transversely a diminished flow of water to the tank. Above the handle a swivel ring
is fixed in the top of the plug, which allows it to be turned in any direction, without
interfering with the electro-magnetic arrangement, by which it is lifted, so as, if
necessary, to cut off the entire flow of water from the boiler to the tank, through
either opening, and prevent the possibility of the eggs in the drawer becoming
over-heated, which is almost the only danger to their vitality in artificial incubation.
The top of the tank should be covered with cotton wool, and if the drying box,
the rearing mother, and the chicken run are preferred to be had separately, a
hinged lid will complete an Improved Incubator-but the whole combined in one
apparatus requires the following additional arrangements. The upper third of the
apparatus which contains the drying box &c. is hinged upon the lower two thirds.
Below the drying box over the cotton wool, on the top of the tank, is a warm space,
into which air is admitted by a few small openings in the side of the apparatus
farthest from the boiler, which being gradually heated passes upwards through a
perforated zinc bottom, with a covering of flannel upon it, into the drying box,
which is ventilated upon each side by small round holes, and by a square of
perforated zinc let into the top of the hinged lid which closes the apparatus.
Within the drying box is kept a small artificial mother consisting of a wooden
frame with a flannel top, and a little cotton wool on the top of the flannel, under
which the chickens can rub themselves dry as under the wings of a hen.
The chicken run is formed by a square fence placed in front of the space from
which the hatching drawer has been removed; three of its sides being of wire
work, or perforated zinc, and one of flannel, which placed in front of the space, or
warm chamber beneath the tank, acts as a curtain, underneath which the chickens
may pass in and out at their pleasure-this fence is kept within the drying box,
around which it fits conveniently, until required for use.
Poplar is found to be the best wood to use in the manufacture of the apparatus,
it neither warps, nor cracks, and is almost a non-conductor of heat.
The tank may be made of any suitable metal, as copper, zinc, Tinned, or Galvanised
Iron; while the Boiler may be made of copper, or tin, but copper is best for the
purpose.
Dated this 5th day of November 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Incubators or Apparatus for Hatching and Rearing
Domestic Poultry or other Birds.
I, JOHN GABB, of Bewdley in the County of Worcester, Surgeon do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN INCUBATORS and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
In this my invention are combined the various contrivances necessary for hatching
and rearing chickens and other birds artificially, into one apparatus, comprising a
box, containing a batching drawer, a drying compartment, a chicken brooder, a
warm chamber and a fence to form a run in front of it, also a circulating Tank, of
special construction to attach to a specially constructed small boiler by union joints-
the quantity of hot water passing from the latter as the source of warmth in the
apparatus, being controlled or regulated, either by hand, or automatically, or by hand
and automatically, as here-in-after described.
The apparatus may be made of any proportionate size-the best kind of wood to
use being Poplar, which is very tough, and a bad conductor of heat. A box twenty
four inches square, by eighteen inches deep outside measurement and twenty two
inches square inside, Fig. 1 is large enough for a circulating tank twenty one and
three quarters, by one inch deep, while allowing an eighth of an inch space round it
to prevent binding the tank Fig. 2. A being moveable in and out of the apparatus, as
required, within which it rests upon a wooden frame B screwed to the inside of the
box, at a proper distance over the hatching drawer the latter C being drawn out and
returned upon rollers to prevent jarring.
The hatching drawer has a free space, half an inch wide between its two sides and
back, and the outer enclosing case, and over its top beneath the frame upon which
the tank rests. Into this half inch ventilating space air is admitted from without,
below the level of the top of the drawer through ventilating holes D. in the sides and
back of the box, which can be quite open, partially open or entirely closed as
required. These ventilating holes may be three inches apart, and three quarters of
an inch in diameter, to be closed when necessary, by a sliding cover Fig. 5. E. which
has corresponding openings in it, and is retained in a light frame attached to the
box above and below the openings.
This arrangement for ventilation ensures efficiency, without affording a possibility
for currents or draughts of air, to over-dry or chill the eggs-over-dryness from the
heat of the tank being counteracted by a sponge saturated with water kept in a
small F. tripod vessel, standing in the drawer over the eggs, in any position quite
free from contact with the regulator or heat indicator G.
Over the drawer entrance into the warm chamber a falling shutter is fixed H
with hinges, to let down when the drawer is taken out to air the eggs, so as to
keep the chamber warm until the drawer is returned,,and prevent loss of heat by the
tank or when the chamber is used as a brooder, or rearing mother, to shut up the
chickens for safety by night, or at any other tinie-this shutter is kept in position,
when raised up against the front of the apparatus and not in use, or when let down
to close the chamber by conveniently adjusted buttons.
The Tank which must correspond in shape to the box in which it will be placed,
may be square or oblong, an inch deep, with an expansion box 1. upon its upper
surface with a half-inch opening into its interior to allow for any increased bulk of
water, by heating, or an accidental overfilling. The expansion box may be an inch
deep, and four or five inches in diameter, soldered, not on the centre but near the
front of the tank, to be covered by a loose lid, with a pin-hole of about one sixteenth
of an inch in its top. Two ventilators J. are also necessary to prevent an accumula-
tion of air in the tank, one placed in each of the two farthest corners from the boiler
an inch in diameter, or so, and rising an inch above its surface, each covered with a
loose lid with a pinhole through it. These ventilators will materially aid the

page_text: circulation of hot water within the tank, and promote a uniform temperature over
its whole internal surface.
A half inch tube K passes up through the tank, from over the egg drawer below it
which serves two purposes, one to aid ventilation and one to allow the passage of a
small rod which is attached by its lower end to a heat indicator G. fixed above the
egg drawer, and by its upper end to a lever L. which resting upon a fulcrum acts
by raising or depressing a regulating plug M proportionately to the heat of the
drawer, and hereafter to be described. Two pipes enter the tank to be united to two
pipes of the Boiler by union joints. One, a flow pipe, N. extends to within a short
distance of its farthest side from the boiler before discharging its water which in
returning to the boiler has to pass through several transverse barriers P, fixed at
equal distances from each other, from side to side pierced with small holes to ensure
distribution and mixture of water before it reaches the other pipe O, which extends
into the interior of the tank to meet the returning water, about an inch, or just far
enough to be firmly fixed into it. These two pipes project from the tank upon the
same horizontal level about two and a half inches, at this distance from the tank to
be united to the pipes of the boiler N and O.
The boiler may be described as conico-cylindrical in shape, having a water R
capacity of about eight fluid ounces, or as near as may be fourteen cubic inches to
heat a tank of the dimensions above given or any smaller tank, but proportionately
larger for tanks of greater capacity or increased area.
About a fortieth of the
capacity of the tank being a fair proportionate size for the boiler although it is not
necessary to adhere strictly to this proportionate size. A boiler of eight fluid ounces
capacity, is five inches in height, and four and a half inches wide across its base, its
conical portion being two and a half inches high, from the top of which rises the
cylindrical portion another two and a half inches. A flue S a quarter of an inch in
diameter passes up through this portion of the boiler from the top of the hollow
within the conical portion which receives the flame of the lamp, to act as a chimney,
and aid combustion, while promoting circulation of water from the return pipe at
the bottom of the boiler upwards to the flow pipe which passes to the tank from the
base of the cylindrical portion, the exit of the circulating water from the boiler,
being about two and a half inches above its entrance from the tank. The two boiler
pipes join the tank pipes upon the same horizontal level, the flow pipe N passing
straight from the boiler to the tank, while the return pipe rises, from the base of
the boiler behind its cylindrical portion, to a level with the flow pipe, at a distance
away from it to facilitate the union of the pipes by screwing them together. The
water way R at the base of a boiler of the above dimensions, is about three quarters
of an inch, then in the upright portion around the flue three eighths of an inch, a
small ventilating hole T is necessary in the top of the boiler which rises about an
inch above its water level, to prevent an accumulation of steam in the boiler.
The conical hollow which receives the flame of the lamp is three inches in diameter
below, and an inch above, from the centre of which the quarter inch flue ascends.
In addition to the pipes mentioned a feeding pipe U. is fixed into the base of the
boiler, on the far side from the flow pipe, with an expanded or funnel shaped mouth,
for the convenience of adding water to the tank as required to replace the small daily
loss by evaporation.
The length of the flow pipe between the boiler and the union joint is about four
inches and a half. Into the middle of this a perpendicular tube V, with lateral
branches is fixed, rising an inch and a half above its upper surface, and descending
at least half an inch below its under surface, with a water way of three eighths of
an inch through it. Into the upright portion of this tube a moveable rotating plug W.
is easily fitted with two holes through it, a larger one X. and a smaller Y, one or
other of which will be open to a flow of water through it as it is opposite the water
way above mentioned, as long as the plug is resting upon the hottom Fig. 8. of the
upright tube, but when raised in the tube by any means the holes through it being
about half an inch from its bottom, as it rises the flow of water will be diminished,
till it is almost entirely stopped. On being pulled up or depressed (Fig. 4) about

page_text: three cighths of an inch, both openings are raised above the water way, and the
impervious portion of the plug takes their place. Thus the plug becomes a perfect
regulator by controlling the flow of hot water to the tank from the boiler, allowing
its reflow in increasing quantity as it is let down again, as it diminished its flow by
being raised. It is however not always necessary to raise the plug in the tube, for
when used as a regulator by hand alone it has only to be turned half round. For
this purpose it has a small handle (Fig. 4.) Z. fixed upon its top parallel with and
over the flow pipe, when the larger opening in the plug allows the water to pass
through it, by turning this handle transversely to the pipe, the plug in the tube
will be turned half round; and without raising it, when the temperature of the
drawer has attained the required degree, the flow of hot water may be so diminished
by the smaller opening being brought opposite the flow, which will only allow
sufficient water to pass through it, to maintain the temperature as it is, without
allowing it to increase, as to become a most efficient hand regulator. But with a
swivel ring a. fixed upon its top above the handle, this plug can be used as an
Automatic Regulator in aid of, or independently of hand regulation. To aid regula-
tion by hand, an electric thermometer or an electric heat indicator or metallic fire
detector b may be fixed inside the egg drawer, in proper connection with a double
coil electro-magnet c, through a galvanic battery d of sufficient permanence and
strength, which can be regulated to act at any degree of temporature. Thus when
by the heat of the drawer, the required degree of temperature is reached and the
galvanic circle is completed by contact of points, the armature of the magnet
which is attached to a lever connected with the plug, will, by being drawn down lift
the plug in the tube, and so cut off the supply of hot water, till the drawer has cooled
sufficiently to disconnect the current through the magnet, and let the plug fall
again.
This action would be repeated again and again, as the temperature may rise or fall
in the drawer. It is however best to use electro-magnetism as an aid to hand
regulation, or as an automatic superintendent-the plug being used as a regulator,
and turned on and off full flow as required, by hand; the electro-magnet may be
set to act at a temperature a degree above that which is aimed at, and so prevent
over-heating by accident, and the battery will not be likely to become exhausted by
over-work. Or it may be held up by a permanent magnet (c) till released by hand.
The plug is a very efficient regulator when worked by hand alone, the water
being turned on and partially off, as required-by which means a very uniform
temperature may be maintained so as but seldom to call into action the automatic
superintendent. This combined regulation may be preferred by some poultry culti-
vators, but as a less complicated automatic regulator than an electric one is found to
be desirable for general use, a more simple one is provided, as follows. A compound
metallic heat indicator or fire detector, G. of sufficient strength is fixed beneath the
tank over the egg drawer, having a free end beneath the opening in the centre of the
The free end of
tank, with a hole through it for the passage of a small rod.
the indicator, a compound metallic bar, bent upon itself, is bent upwards or down-
wards when acted upon by heat, and the rod which passes through the hole in it, to
be attached to a lever L. after passing up through the tube in the centre of the
tank, as a screw bur upon its lower end which pressed down by the spring of the
indicator draws down the lever and raises the plug in the tube of the flow pipe.
The rod is lengthened or shortened between the spring of the Indicator in the
drawer, and the lever above the tank by turning the screw bur one way or the
other, by which means the heat of the drawer is made to act more or less upon
the spring of the indicator to raise the plug more or less as required by means of a
lever resting upon a fulcrum which stands upon the tank at such a distance between
the upright rod and the plug as to regulate the elevation of the latter proportionately
to the depression of the spring of the indicator, and is moveable either way,
according to the elevation required-the short end of the lever being balanced
relatively to the position of the fulcrum. The heat in the drawer by this means is
made to control its own supply, by controlling the supply of hot water to the tank

page_text: from the boiler, by raising or depressing the plug, and is truly an automatic regulator,
simple in construction and most efficient in action. A solid suspended plug, let down
by reversed leverage, answers equally well as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In cold
weather the top of the tank may be covered with a layer of cotton wool, or sawdust
to the level of the top of the tubo K. which passes up through the tank, about three
quarters of an inch above its surface, to allow for such a layer without its interfering
with the action of the regulator.
The tank may be made of any suitable metal, as copper, tin, zinc, or galvanized
iron and the Boiler may be made of copper or tin.
If the drying box is not required and the brooding mother, e. warm chamber f&c.,
are preferred separate, all that is required to complete an improved Incubator, will
be a hinged lid upon the top of the box above the tank and its regulator, with a six
inch square of perforated zinc y let into it to allow an escape of the small amount of
vapour which rises from the expansion box and ventilators upon the top of the
tank.
The following additional arrangements are necessary in order to combine all the
requirements of artificial incubation into one apparatus.
The upper part which contains the drying box h, artificial brooder e and fence i
for chicken run, till taken out for use; is hinged upon the lower part k (Fig. 5).
There is a space above the tank into which air may be admitted through a few
small openings in the side of the box farthest from the boiler, regulated by a sliding
cover as used in ventilating the egg drawer. The air admitted when warned passes
up into the drying box through its perforated zinc bottom 7. which has a covering of
flannel upon it. The drying box has ventilating holes m. in each side, about half an
inch in diameter always open, and a square of perforated zinc in its lid, as in the lid
of the more simple apparatus.
The brooding mother e which is kept in the drying box consists of a wooden
frame with a loose flannel top, upon which a little cotton wool may be placed,
under which the chickens can rub themselves dry, as under the feathers of a hen.
The Fence for the chicken run has three sides of fine wire work, and one side of
flannel, and after all the chickens are hatched, and are strong enough to be taken out
of the drying box and removed to the warm chamber, the hatching drawer c. is
removed from beneath the tank, the apparatus is placed upon the ground and the
chickens are pat into the chamber the bottom of which is covered with a layer of dry
earth, ashes or sand. The flannel side of the fence is now placed against the entrance
to the chamber to keep it sufficiently warm, while the chickens are able to pass in
and out under the flannel at their pleasure during the day, till they are so grown as
to require more space and greater freedom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is―
1. For a combination of every necessary contrivance employed for hatching and
rearing chickens or other birds into one complete apparatus.
2. For a special construction of Boiler and circulating Tank of the smallest
dimensions compatible with efficiency, calculated to promote a rapid circulation of
water, and uniform radiation of heat with the least expenditure of fuel.
3. For the construction and adaptation of a special regulating plug, easily worked
by hand or automatically, so as to control the quantity of hot water which enters the
tank, and regulate the temperature of the apparatus at the source of heat.
4. For an improved plan of ventilation which prevents draughts or currents of air
through the egg drawer, while providing for a gradual diffusion of air over the eggs,
and its absorption of sufficient moisture from a suitable vessel to prevent the eggs
becoming too dry.
DL: L C
1000