Improvements in the Regulation, Generation, and maintenance . of Heat for the Artificial Incubation of Eggs and the Subsequent Rearing of the Young.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in the Regulation, Generation, and maintenance .
of Heat for the Artificial Incubation of Eggs and the
Subsequent Rearing of the Young.
We, RICHARD ROPER KELLY 26 Suffolk Street London S.W. Chemical Agent,
and WILLIAM HOPKIN AKESTER 41 Reporton Road Walham Green London S.W.
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE REGULATION GENERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF HEAT FOR THE ARTIFICIAL
INCUBATION OF EGGS AND THE SUBSEQUENT REARING OF THE YOUNG, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
We take a box of wood or other suitable material of any size or dimensions
according to the number and size of eggs to be operated on. We divide this box
into two compartments upper and lower by fastening around the inside of box
equidistant from top and bottom a narrow ledge of any suitable material, and upon
this ledge we fasten a peice of felt completely dividing the upper and lower portions
of said box.
In the upper portion of the box and resting upon this ledge and felt we place a
box of iron, tin, or any other suitable material and of such depth as to leave a
space of about one inch between its top and the top of the aforesaid box. In this
box we place a flue which enters at one end and turns, preferably at right angles,
coming out of the top at the opposite end, the remainder of the space in said
box being packed loosely with pumice slagwool asbestos or any other silicious
suitable material, corresponding holes to this flue are made in the side and top of
the aforesaid wood box through which the ends of the said due project. The flue
projecting through the end of the box is provided with an elbow extension, the
orifice of which projects downwards, in this orifice is inserted a Hame of gas,
parafin or other suitable oil, steam or heating material or any other avaible source
of heat. The intervening space between the top of the said box and the wood box
is filled with cork dust or wood or paper pulp tightly pressed in. We fit in the
lower portion of the aforesaid wood box a drawer containing in its bottom a metal
'

page_text: or other tray capable of containing water of any suitable depth, in the centre of
said tray we provide a tubulare corresponding in height to the tray and in
diameter to holes in the bottom of drawer and aforesaid box, such holes being over
each other when the drawer is closed. Above the metal or other tray we arrange
a wooden tray at any suitable height composed of an outside frame with strips of
wood nailed across, upon the under side of this tray we nail a strip of cotton,
canvass or other suitable absorbent material of such width as to completely cover
the bottom of said tray excepting a small space at the end corresponding to end of
aforesaid box through which the flue projects and of such length as to allow the
two ends of said canvass or other suitable material to dip into water contained in
the aforesaid metal or other tray. Upon the upper part and resting on the strips
of wood of this said wooden tray we place the eggs to be hatched or operated
upon.
In the end of the aforesaid wooden box and opposite to the end through which
the flue projects is cut an opening of any suitable size, the top edge of said opening
being level with the under side of the aforesaid felt, and the bottom level with the tops
of the eggs in drawer this said opening is fitted upon the outside of the box with
a shutter or door hinged at its lowest extremity and so balanced by means of a
spring or otherwise as to be always closed when in its normal position. Upon the
door or shutter is fastened a peice of iron forming the armature to an electro
magnetic device, said device being placed in such a position as when a current
from any suitable source passes around said magnet the door or shutter will be
opened and remain opened so long as the current lasts. We cause this current to
pass in the following manner viz-in the Interior of the Incubator underneath the
aforesaid felt and upon a level with the tops of the eggs we place a thermostat
consisting of two strips of metal or other suitable metalic or non-metalic materials
such metals or materials when subjected to heat having different ratios of expansion,
when any predetermined degree of heat is reached the expansion of said thermostat
makes contact between a battery and the aforesaid electro-magnate thus causing a
current to flow around said magnet and attracting its armature thereby opening
the aforesaid door or shutter causing a current of cold air to be drawn through the
tubulare through the bottom of the said drawer at the same time expelling the
overheated air surrounding the eggs, which accomplished the door or shutter closes
and the heat is thus thereby constantly maintained at the predetermined
temperature, but at the same time drawing up moisture from water contained in
the aforesaid vessel in drawer thereby throughly moistening the eggs and
replenishing the supply of moisture in the aforesaid felt requisite in the proper
action of natural incubation.
In connection with the aforesaid shutter or door, or otherwise we may also
provide a device acting in conjunction with the said shutter or door, or otherwise
consisting of a lever hinged off its centre the greater length of said lever controlling
a cover or damper adjusted over a peice the said peice being in place of the
aforesaid elbow, the shorter arm of the. said lever actuating a cover or damper over
the outlet of said flue. The aforesaid electro magnetic device in this case is placed
so as that when the circuit is completed by reason of the action of the aforesaid
thermostat the said lever is moved in such a direction as to close the outlet and
open the inlet orifices of the said flue thus shunting or diverting the source of heat.
For the subsequent rearing of the young we apply the same process with the
exception of the drawer and hang a cloth down in the original orifice of the drawer
and enclose an outside space to any desired extent with wire netting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
First. The method of regulation, generation and maintenance of heat as berein-
before described.

page_text: Second. The constant moistening of the eggs and circulation of air by the means
herein before described.
Third. The application of cork dust or any other non-conductive material in
combination with the silica contained in the box through which the flue or source
of heat passes.
Fourth. The combination of thermostat and electrical device as hereinbefore
mentioned.
Fifth. The arrangement of an artificial mother or subsequent rearer of the young,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
111
100k
R. R. KELLY.
W. H. AKESTER,