An Electro-thermic Incubator.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 25th June, 1898-Accepted, 3rd Sept.,
1898
An Electro-thermic Incubator.
I, ARTHUR EDWIN GREVILLE, of 2, Staple Inn, Holborn, in the County of
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to incubators and its object is to provide a new and better
method of heating. It is designed with a view of ensuring the more perfect
regularity of the supply of hot air and heated moisture.
Part of the invention consists in supplying heat to incubators and foster mothers
by means of electricity, and part consists in the special construction and arrange-
ments of incubators to provide a more uniform supply of hot and moist air.
In carrying this invention into effect according to one modification I manu-
facture a wooden or metal box or brooder of such capacity as may be found
desirable for the incubation of the number of eggs to be contained therein.
This box may be by preference in form of a square or cube and consists of a lid
or cover, of four walls or sides in one of which is a door and of a base. The lid
may be removable or it may be fixed to one of the four sides by hinges. Directly
below the lid is a removable metal tray constructed to hold water which tray may
be from one to two inches in depth and rests upon ledges attached to the four
sides of the box in which ledges are ventilation holes to allow of the descent of
warm moisture required to lead to incubation. In the walls or sides of the box
are other ventilators for regulation of temperature.
Attached to the edges of the underside or bottom of the metal tray are fixed a
number of porcelain or other insulators between which platinoid, nickel or other
wire suitable for electric high resistance is stretched the ends of which wire are
carried through vulcanite discs or other insulating material to the outside of the
box and are there attached to terminals. Below the wire is an egg drawer, below
which is a tray filled with fine sand, which tray rests upon the base of the box.
The water tray and heating apparatus may be removed by handles attached
thereto when the lid is raised.
The door in the side before referred to may be double or single and when open
will expose an inner glass door or slide which when removed will enable the
operator to draw out the trays.
By this electro-thermic incubator the essential features for perfect and healthy
brooding are obtained.
To use the incubator an electric current is needed which may be alternating or
continuous and may be produced from a dynamo or storage batteries. The current
so produced is passed through the platinoid, nickel or other wire to such a degree
of quantity and intensity that heat is thereby generated and the interior of the
receptacle reaches a temperature most suitable for incubation. A further result
is the warming of the water in the tray directly above the heated wire producing a
sufficient degree of humidity for this purpose, the moisture descending through
the perforated ledges upon which the metal tray is resting.

page_text: The hot air radiated by the electrically heated wire is pure and healthy and the
regulation may be perfectly adjusted by a suitable form of resistance so that the
temperature of the atmosphere within the incubator is uniform both night and day.
No attention whatever is needed other than the periodical turning of the eggs
which by a simple mechanical contrivance may be automatically done without
removing the glass door or slide.
The moisture thrown off from the water in the tray descends evenly through
the perforated ledges on all sides.
I, ARTHUR EDWIN GREVILLE, of 2, Staple Inn, Holborn, in the County of
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to incubators and has for its object to provide improved
means for supplying heat, and for ensuring more perfect regularity in the supply
of warm and moist air.
The invention consists in supplying heat to incubators by means of electricity,
and in the special construction and arrangement of incubators as hereafter
described:
.
The invention is illustrated in the 'accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings
in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective plan view of an incubator made in accordance with the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section in the plane indicated by the
line, Figure 1, while Figure 3 is a plan with the lid or cover removed.
In carrying the invention into effect as illustrated in the accompanying draw-
ings a wooden or metallic box A of determined capacity is provided having a top
lid or cover B hinged or otherwise conveniently secured thereto, and, having its
front C (or may be one of its sides) provided as a slide or as a door or doors E, E,
for the introduction or withdrawal of the trays; and so as to permit of the interior
being viewed through a glass slide D which may be capable of removal through
the side slot E¹. Within the box or incubator a ledge F is provided which is
supported on all four sides by the walls of the box; such ledge being perforated
or provided with holes through which the heated and moist air may pass; such
ledge F serves to carry the water tray P of metal or other material, upon whose
underside is fixed a number of porcelain or other insulators H, around and between
which is stretched, platinoid, nickel, or other wire or coil Q suitable for high
resistance, the wire being preferably passed around and between the opposing
insulators H in succession, its respective extremities q being carried through
vulcanite or other insulating plates or collars to terminals K for connection to an
external circuit of storage batteries or other source of electric current.
Beneath the water tray P and at a suitable distance therefrom an egg drawer L
is placed, which is carried upon lateral ledges 1 1, and is capable of introduction
or removal upon the glass slide 1) being withdrawn and the doors E, E, opened.
While yet beneath the egg drawer Ļ and in proximity thereto a tray M is provided

page_text: which preferably rests upon the base of the box: and may be likewise capable
of removal. The object of the tray is to contain sand or the like for the purpose
of keeping the incubator at a uniform temperature.
In the use of the incubator the electric current passes in series through the
platinoid nickel or other resistance wire or coil to such a degree of quantity and
intensity that heat is thereby continuously generated, and the air within the
incubator becomes heated by radiation and convection to a determined temperature
most suitable for incubation and the water in the tray P becomes warmed and
evaporation is effected to such an extent as to saturate the air with moisture, the
moisture being continually disseminated through the perforated ledges F upon
which the water tray P is carried.
The temperature may be regulated by such means as circular ventilators 0 0
or by arranging the resistance wires so as to be capable of being put in or cut out
of circuit by means of a switch provided upon the exterior of the box for the pur-
pose or other means may he provided for regulating the resistance of the wires.
It is obvious that such a method of heating an incubator is pure and healthy:
and permits of regulation to maintain a constant temperature day and night. No
attention whatever is needed beyond the necessary periodic turning of the eggs
which may be effected automatically by any known means without removing the
glass or cover of the incubator.
No limitation is placed to the use of but one egg tray or one water tray as it
is obvious that a number of such trays may be employed if adequate provision is
made for circulation of air between them; and if adequate area is reserved for the
purpose.
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. An electrically heated incubator substantially as herein before described.
2. In an incubator means for supplying heat and warm moist air substantially
as described.
3. In an incubator means for supplying heated moist air consisting of a super-
posed water tray upon the underside of which an electrical resistance wire or coil
is provided, whereby heat is radiated and water evaporated, while circulation of air
is permitted, substantially as described.
4. An incubator substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
T OF 1 T1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
.13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
.13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.