Improvements in Apparatus for Artificial Incubation, also Applicable to the Rearing of Young Birds.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug.,
1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Artificial Incubation, also Applicable
to the Rearing of Young Birds.
1, John Penfold Friend Field of Idmiston, Salisbury, in the County of Wiltshire,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An improved apparatus for artificial incubation consisting of a case, or shell of
wood or other suitable material, and the necessary, heating, regulating, ministering
and ventilating appliances. The heating is effected by means of an improved
circulating boiler and pipes, and either ordinary paraffin oil, or gas.
The apparatus is so constructed that there is no necessity for the employment of
glass, or metal, lamp chimneys, which are continually breaking and getting out of
order. The boiler is made in two parts, the lower and larger part is hollow, i.e. it is
provided with a central flue running throughout the whole length thereof, of conical
shape, smaller above than below. Said flue is arranged to act as a lamp guard or
chimney and at the same time, allows the heat of the lamp to directly impinge upon
the bottom of the upper or smaller part of boiler, causing an increase of circulation
and at the same time saving a great amount of fuel.
The two parts of the boiler are connected by small tubes. The pipes are not limited
in number, and are connected to both parts of the boiler. Starting from the top part of
said boiler these proceed in a horizontal direction to the required distance, thence
downwards perpendicularly for several inches, then again back to the lower part of
the boiler, running parallel with the upper pipes, thus forming a top and bottom row
of pipes, the top being the exit from the boiler, and the lower being the return. What-
ever the number of pipes may be these unite into one branch just before connecting
with either part of the boiler.
This apparatus may be of copper or any other suitable material, and may bo
used in combination with artificial mothers, rearers and other similar appliances.
The upper of the parallel rows of pipes is for the purpose of maintaining heat
around the eggs, and the lower row for heating the air as it enters the apparatus,
and so preventing any cold draught from entering into the egg chamber and also
for the purpose of, keeping the water in the moisture pan at the proper temperature.
On the lower row of pipes is placed a water, or moisture tray, made with
corrugations to fit the pipes, and by placing it thus on the pipes the water is
always kept at a sufficient temperature to evaporate quickly, and always independently
of the external atmospheric temperature. The water tray is made with corrugations.
so as to fit closely upon the pipes, thereby causing a continuous evaporation of the
moisture. Fresh air is always essential to the successful incubation of eggs, so that
said air is warm, and free from draught. Hitherto the difficulty has been how to
obtain sufficient fresh air without letting in a draught, and thereby chilling and
cooling the eggs. I have herein before stated that no cold air can possibly enter
the egg chamber when the latter is closed, and for the prevention of draught, I
arrange the bottom of the apparatus so that it is open with the exception of two
or more sheets of fine perforated zinc, about one inch apart. These sheets serving
to intercept all draught, but do not prevent a free current of air from entering, which
passing over the lower row of pipes, becomes heated at once and rapidly rising, takes
up the moisture with it and passes out through the ventilation tubes or holes above
the eggs.
In this manner the incubator is always supplied with fresh warm air, the
place a damper or ventilator over a
foul gases passing away as soon as generated.
hole in the top of the incubator and the regulator," hereafter to be described, raises or
lowers said ventilator by means of levers, rods, pulleys or otherwise as desired, thus
allowing freedom for the passage of air, and the dissipation of superfluous heat, or I may

page_text: actuate a lever connected with the lamp and thus increase or decrease the flame
thereof, to accomplish said regulation of temperature. Any suitable thermostatic
regulator may be employed, but I prefer to use a metallic chamber filled with liquid.
This chamber is oblong and concavo in shape and upon the application of heat it tends
to become straight. In the employment of this regulator I have three different
arrangements for raising the damper or ventilator as follows, that is to say :-
(1) to each end of the regulator I fix rings, which, when the regulator becomes
straight, slide along a wire or wires, and the regulator in straightening lifts the lever
upon or to which the damper is attached.
(2) or I may attach one end of the regulator to a fixed hinge, the other end carrying
a wire which slides along a pin and actuates the lever in a similar manner to that
above mentioned.
(3) or I rigidly attach one end of said regulator to the frame, and to the other end
I attach a pulley or chain connected witli a lever arranged upon the principle of a
spring balance. The degree of temperature at which said damper is required to be
raised is controlled by means of weights.
Total : 091
1000
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Artificial Incubation, also Applicable
to the Rearing of Young Birds.
I, JOHN PENFOLD FRIEND FIELD, of Idmiston, Salisbury in the county of Wiltshire
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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for artificial incubation, a part
thereof being also applicable. to that class of appliances for rearing young birds,
generally known as "artificial mothers." The objects sought to be attained by the
adoption of my said invention are simplicity in general construction, greater facility
in manipulation, and increased efficiency for the purposes to which such apparatus is
applied.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have appended the
'accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure represents a longitudinal section
of the improved incubator, upon the line A B Figure 2, and Figure 2 is a transverse
section of the same upon the line CD Figure 1. Figures 3, 4, and 5 are dotailed
views of different parts of the apparatus, shewn detached therefrom, to be hereinafter
fully described. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout
the several views.
In carrying my invention into effect, I employ a case or shell of wood or other
suitable material, A, which may, if desirable, be furnished with legs or standards B,
or any equivalent device allowing free admission of air under the base, which is open.
To prevent the neutralising effect of a direct draught of cold air entering the interior
of the case A through the open base, I arrange one or more sheets of perforated zinc e
to act as a baffle plate, or plates, but I may also employ, in lieu thereof, any other
perforated plate or frame. An egg drawer, or chamber, a is fitted within the case A,
in such a manner as to permit a free access to the eggs contained therein.
At one end of the case or shell A, I attach a double boiler I and P, shewn more
particularly by the detached sectional elevation, Figure 5, heat being applied thereto
by means of a suitable lamp N, which may be raised or lowered for purposes of
regulation and the like by the adjustable stand Q. The lower part of the boiler I
is furnished with a conical flue O, which practically acts as a chimney for the
lamp, and enables the ordinary glass chimneys to be dispensed with.
A space for
water or other liquid surrounds the flue O, and is connected by pipes J to the

page_text: upper part of the boiler P, also containing water or liquid: The heat from the
flame of the lamp N therefore impinges directly upon the base of the upper chamber P
of said double boiler, and also heats the water contained in the lower part I by
radiation through the conical flue O. A series of pipes D are arranged so as to
pass longitudinally through the upper part of the case A, above the egg drawer
or chamber, being connected together by a transverse pipe F, with an inlet M,
attached to the upper part of the boiler P. Said pipes passing downward outside
the case A, return through it, under the egg drawer or chamber a, in the manner
indicated by D, and are connected by a second transverse pipe H, with an out-
let M', attached to the lower portion I of the double boiler. The general arrangement
of the series of pipes above described, may be better understood by reference to
Figure 3, where these are shewn detached. The action of the heating apparatus
comprised in the pipes and double boiler is as follows, that is to say-
The water contained in the upper part P of said boiler, being heated by the
flame of the lamp N traverses the upper row of pipes D, and imparts heat to the
interior of the case A, and returns to the lower part I of the boiler by the return
pipes D¹, and this circulation is maintained so long as the lamp is burning, by
reason of the lower temperature of the water returning through M¹ to I, relatively
to that of the water flowing from P through M. In order to impart the requisite
degree of humidity to the heated air within the case A, I provide a moisture tray c,
shewn detached by Figure 4, said tray resting upon the lower row of pipes D',
and being provided with corrugations to fit the circular outline of said pipes.
It has hitherto, in incubators of this kind, been difficult to allow of the admission
of a sufficient supply of fresh air to the eggs, without causing a draught, which would
be extremely prejudicial to the incubation thereof. For this reason I have provided
the baffle plates
e hereinbefore described, which effectually prevent a draught while
allowing of the free admission of air. The current of air, therefore, entering through
the open base, and passing through said baffle plates e, becomes heated in passing
the lower row of pipes D¹, and, rapidly rising, by reason of rarefaction, takes up
moisture from the pan c, and passes out through suitable ventilating holes in the cover
of the case A, the interior thereof being thus constantly supplied with fresh warm
air, while the foul gases pass away as soon as generated. I also place a damper lover
a suitable hole in the cover of the case A, preferably supported by a lever k, pivotted
at n and furnished with a weight w¹, which may be moved along the lever at will. A
rod i attached to the lever k at j passes vertically downwards to the regulator f. This
is preferably a metallic chamber, oval in cross-section, and shaped so as to be concave
upon the upper surface in the direction of its length. Said chamber is rigidly
attached at one end m to a bracket, shelf, or other support g, and the opposite end h
is furnished with a wire loop, resting upon a pin, so that it may freely slide or move
thereupon. Said chamber being filled with liquid, the expansion thereof resulting
from an increased temperature causes the damper 1 to be opened, and a reduction of
the internal temperature also closes said damper in a similar manner. The regulation
of this device, so that it may operate automatically within a given range of temperature
is effected by moving the weight w¹ nearer to, or farther from, the fulcrum of the
lever k. I may connect the regulator f, to the damper 7 by means of a chain or chains,
and a suitably balanced lever, or I may instead, support the chamber f by rings,
moving freely upon a rod or wire, so that the varying expansion of the liquid,
and the metallic chamber holding it, may operate the damper / by means of a rod,
or equivalent. I do not confine myself to the employment of the form of regulator f
herein described, in connection with the other parts of the improved incubator
according to my invention, but may use any suitable thermostatic device for the
purpose of maintaining a uniform and equable temperature in the interior of the
case A. I may, however, in certain cases, so far modify the above mentioned
arrangements, as to dispense with the automatic movement of the damper I, over the
hole-C, and cause the movement of the regulator f due to variation of temperature to
act upon, and automatically regulate the flame of the lamp N; thus obtaining a
uniform temperature in the case A independently of the damper l as above mentioned.

page_text: "I prefer to provide an elliptical orifice through the lower part of the boiler [,
suitably bushed or cased, to retain the liquid, and fitted with a plate of mica or talc,
so that the full light from the flame of the lamp N may be utilised for the purpose of
'testing eggs.
I may also employ the whole of the heating appliances comprised in the lamp N,
double boiler I and P, pipes D, DI, with or without the moisture tray C, for the
purpose of rearing young birds, being suitably mounted and arranged as an "artificial
mother."
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,
5,
First. In an apparatus for artificial incubation, or for rearing young birds, the
employment of a double boiler I and P, a series of pipes D, D, a moisture tray c
substantially as herein described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Second. In an apparatus for artificial incubation the employment of a regulator f,
either in connection with a damper 1 or caused to vary the flame of the lamp, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Third. In an apparatus for artificial incubation the employment of baffle plates e
substantially as and for the purposes herein described, with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 19th day of July 1889.
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.