Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th July, 1899-Accepted, 16th Sept., 1899
I, JOHN FLEMING WHALLEY, of Bowmanstead, Coniston, in the County of
Lancaster, Grocer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to incubators for hatching chickens and is designed to
provide improved arrangements for heating and adjusting or regulating the
temperature and ventilating the same and for moistening the eggs during the
period of incubation.
It consists essentially in constructing the apparatus to be heated by steam or
other source of heat at a fixed temperature and so that the temperature of the
incubator chamber may be regulated or adjusted by altering the cubical space
thereof either by raising and lowering the egg tray or the heating apparatus or
by cutting off part by pivoted or sliding shutters curtains or the like.
The apparatus I construct in two or three chambers or compartments super-
imposed comprising a lower or incubating chamber to contain the egg tray and
eggs, an intermediate or heating chamber to contain a coil of pipes for steam
or other heating appliance and an upper or drying chamber for the newly
hatched chicks.
The incubating chamber is provided with a movable tray drawer or shelf to
receive and contain the eggs and is in communication with the heating chamber
in which is placed a coil of steam pipes of sufficient area to give the desired
amount of heat. Steam from a suitable generator is passed through these pipes
which are maintained at a uniform temperature of about 212° F. The steam
generator is placed outside the apparatus and may form part thereof, or steam may
be obtained from an independent supply or source.
The outer end of the steam coil is preferably open to the atmosphere or so
arranged as to avoid pressure and is provided with a condenser or steam trap
from which the water of condensation will flow back to the generator to prevent
loss of water or the necessity of a constant water supply. The condenser may
be in the form of a water vessel surrounding the steam pipe which will cool and
condense the steam.
The heating chamber is placed above the incubating chamber and is preferably
separated therefrom by a perforated sheet of zinc or other material to cause
complete diffusion of heat through the air before it is drawn down or comes
into contact with the eggs.
The heat is regulated by increasing or diminishing the area of heating
chamber or the space between the heater and the eggs or by moving the eggs
nearer to or further away from the heater, or by closing off part of the heating
surface.
I at present prefer to make the egg tray capable of being raised or lowered
by a screw or otherwise. For this purpose it is mounted upon two pivoted
arms or stays connected by a right and left hand screw by which they are
drawn together or apart. A direct acting screw sliding wedge rack and pinion

page_text: or other device may be employed for the same purpose. Instead of raising and
lowering the egg tray the heater may be arranged to be raised and lowered if
desired but I at present prefer the raising and lowering of the tray. -
If found desirable to maintain the tray and heater always at the same level
a screen or curtain of asbestos or other suitable material wound upon a roller
may be employed to draw across either the heating or circulating chamber to
cut off some of the heat: Such a screen or curtain may be placed at one or
more sides. Instead of curtains, pivoted screens or shutters, the upper edges of
which may be drawn forward, may be employed.
Instead of a coil of steam pipes a steam chest or water tank may be employed
or other heater that can be maintained at a uniform temperature, but as steam
can be most easily maintained at a uniform temperature I at present prefer a
steam heater.
Fresh air is admitted through an inlet pipe preferably passing through the
centre of the tray and communicating with the free air space below the movable
tray. Inlet pipes may however be placed to enter through the sides of the
apparatus being suitably placed and shielded to avoid being influenced by
external currents or draughts of air. The air inlet pipes are so placed or
'arranged as to throw or direct the inflowing current of fresh air against or
amongst the coil of steam pipes or heater.
The vitiated or exhaust air is drawn out at a level below the eggs. For this
purpose exhaust pipes are inserted through the sides of the case with an open
end and a chamber is formed in one or more of the corners or sides of the egg
tray with a groove or slot which comes opposite the open end of the exhaust
pipe to allow for the raising or lowering of the tray. The chamber is preferably
covered with perforated zinc plates and the tray is surrounded with a beading
or band of rubber or other soft material to prevent air passing between the
-sides and the case. The exhaust pipes may be carried first to the outside of
the case and then turned inwards again to come into contact with the coil or
heater to cause an upward current of air therein or they may pass up direct
through the interior of the chamber coming into contact with the heater as
before. By this arrangement efficient ventilation is promoted and the heated
air from the heating chamber above is drawn down onto the top of the eggs and
drawn off.
Above the heating chamber or compartment may be placed one or two drying
chambers for the newly hatched chicks.
The steam generator is in the form of a double chimney with water space
between and is fitted with inlet for water and connection for the steam pipes.
Any ordinary lamp or gas burner may be used therewith.
Asbestos or other packing is employed where required to prevent radiation
of heat.
The moistening of the eggs is effected by filling the tray with damp soil, sand
or the like upon which a mat of any suitable material is spread. This mat may
also be damped at intervals if found necessary.
Dated this 13th day of October 1898.

page_text: 66
The apparatus is constructed with two or three chambers or compartments
superimposed comprising a lower or incubating chamber A to contain the egg
tray B and the eggs thereon, an intermediate or heating chamber C to contain
a coil of pipes D for steam or other heating appliance and an upper or drying
chamber E for the newly hatched chicks.
The incubating chamber A is fitted with a movable tray drawer or shelf B to
receive and contain the eggs and is in direct communication with the heating
chamber C which is above it.
The egg tray or drawer is mounted upon supports in such a way as to be
capable of being raised and lowered and thus decrease or increase the area of
the space above it or bring the eggs nearer or further away from the source
of heat.
In the arrangement shown the tray is mounted on the supports or stays F
hinged or pivoted to the bottom of the tray B at their upper ends and engaging
with a screw G at their lower ends. The screw is preferably right hand at
one end and left hand at the other end. Thus by turning the screw G the
stays F are moved into a more upright or more inclined position raising or lower-
ing the egg tray accordingly.
The heating chamber C is constructed above the incubating chamber A with a
coil of steam pipes D of sufficient area to give the desired amount of heat.
Steam from a suitable generator H is passed through these pipes which are
maintained at a constant or uniform temperature of about 2120 F. The steam
generator His placed outside the apparatus and may form part thereof, or
steam may be obtained from an independent supply or source.
The outer end of the steam coil is preferably open to the atmosphere or so
arranged as to avoid pressure and is provided with a condenser K surrounding
the end of the coil or steam trap from which the water of condensation will
flow back to the generator H to prevent loss of water or the necessity of a con-
stant. water supply. The condenser is preferably in the form of a water vessel
surrounding the steam pipe which will cool and condense the steam.
The heating chamber is preferably separated from the incubating chamber A
by a perforated sheet of zinc c or other material to cause complete diffusion of
the heated air before it is drawn down or comes into contact with the eggs.
The heat of the incubating chamber A is regulated by increasing or diminish-
ing the area of heating chamber or the space between the coil I) and the eggs,
by moving the eggs nearer to or further away from the heater, or by closing
off part of the heating surface.
Instead of raising and lowering the egg tray B by the pivoted stays F and
the right and left hand screw G it may be raised by an acting screw sliding

page_text: wedge rack and pinion or other device may be employed for the same purpose.
Instead of raising and lowering the egg tray the heater may be arranged to be
raised and lowered if desired but I at present prefer the raising and lowering
of the tray.
If found desirable to maintain the tray and heater always at the same level
a screen or curtain of asbestos or other suitable material wound upon a roller
may be employed to draw across either the heating or incubating chamber
to cut off some of the heat. Such a screen or curtain may be placed at one or
more sides. Instead of curtains pivoted screens or shutters, the upper edges of
which may be drawn forward may be employed.
Instead of a coil 1) of steam pipes a steam chest or water tank may be em-
ployed or other heater that can be maintained at a constant uniform temperature,
but as steam can be most easily maintained at a uniform temperature I at pre-
sent prefer a steam heater.
A constant supply of fresh air is admitted to the incubating chamber A
through an inlet pipe L passing through the centre of the egg tray B. This
air inlet pipe connects with the outer atmosphere or with the air space below
the tray and is provided with a shield to spread out the current of fresh air
as it enters and prevent it falling too suddenly upon the eggs before it is heated.
The screw G is preferably made tubular and open at one or both ends and the
inlet pipe L is connected therewith with a T coupling this serves also as a
central support for the screw.
Inlet pipes may however be placed to enter through the sides of the apparatus
being suitably placed and shielded to avoid being influenced by external
currents or draughts of air and so placed or arranged as to throw or direct the
inflowing current of fresh air against or amongst the coil of steam pipes or
heater.
The vitiated or exhaust air is drawn out at a level below the eggs. For this
purpose exhaust pipes M are inserted through the sides of the case with an open
end and a chamber N is formed in one or more of the corners or sides of the
egg tray B with a groove or slot which comes opposite the open end of the
exhaust pipe M to allow for the raising or lowering of the tray. The chamber
is preferably covered with perforated zinc plates n¹ and the tray is surrounded
with a packing or band b¹ of rubber or other soft material to prevent air passing
between the sides and the case. The exhaust pipes M may be carried first to
the outside of the case and then turned inwards again to come into contact with
the coil or heater to cause an upward current of air therein or they may pass
ap direct through the interior of the chamber coming into contact with the
heater as before. By this arrangement efficient ventilation is promoted and
the heated air from the heating chamber above is let down onto the top of the
eggs and drawn off.
Above the heating chamber or compartment may be placed one or two drying
chambers for the newly hatched chicks. These chambers however may be
dispensed with.
The steam generator H is in the form of a double chimney with water space
between and is fitted with inlet P for water and connection for the steam
pipes. Any ordinary lamp R or gas burner may be used therewith or steam
may be supplied for any generator or source of steam and where a number of
incubators are in use a steam pipe would be connected with this.
Asbestos sheets c¹ or other packing is employed where required to prevent
radiation of heat.
The moistening of the eggs is effected by filling the tray with damp soil.
sand or the like upon which a mat of any suitable material is spread. This
mat may also be damped at intervals if found necessary.
A coil of perforated pipes may also be placed on the bottom of the tray
through which water can be supplied to maintain the soil at the desired degree
of moisture.

page_text: The front door T of the incubating chamber is made to open outwards on
hinges and is fitted with a double glass window t¹ inside which a thermometer
may be placed.
In operation the heating coil B is maintained at a constant temperature
of 2120 F by steam from the generator H or other steam supply and the tray
is placed in such a position in relation to the heater D. as to give the desired
temperature in the incubating chamber. As the temperature increases during
the period of incubation consequent upon the quickening of the eggs as is
required to be decreased the tray B is from time to time lowered by a slight
turn of the screw G but no variation of heat can occur through variation of
the heating coil D so long as the generator is maintained boiling or the coil is
kept supplied with steam.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. An incubator constructed with a heater maintained at a constant tem-
perature and means for varying the area of the incubating chamber to adjust
or regulate the temperature thereof substantially as described.
2. An incubator constructed with an incubating chamber and a heating
chamber heated by a steam pipe (or heater) and an egg tray capable of being
moved to and from the steam pipe to alter the area of the chamber and thereby
adjust or regulate the temperature thereof substantially as described.
3. An incubator constructed with an incubating chamber, an egg tray cap-
able of being raised or lowered therein, a superimposed heating chamber with
a steam heating coil therein and air inlet and outlet pipes substantially as
described.
4. In an incubator the combination with an incubating chamber and a heating
chamber of a steam coil or heater maintained at a constant temperature, an egg
tray mounted upon stays operated by a screw to raise and lower the tray to
regulate the temperature, an inlet air pipe passing through the tray, and outlet
air pipes carried from below the level of the egg tray communicating with the
outlet air chamber in the corner of the egg tray substantially as described.
5. An incubator constructed and arranged substantially as described and
shown.