provements in or relating to Incubators.
Year: 1898

page_text: ROYADIONAL DECIFICATION
Improvements in or relating to Incubators.
We, JOHN WILLCOCKS, of No. 1, Evans Street, Belgrave, Engine Fitter, and
JOIN MILLER SMITH, of No. 1, East Bond Street, Coppersmith, both in Leicester,
in the County of Leicester, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention refers to improvements in or relating to incubators.
To carry out our invention we provide a suitable wood or metal box or case
made either square, round or of other convenient shape and affix to the inside
thereof in suitable holders a series of fluted india-rubber rollers all geared
together and operated by a rack or quadrant at the end of the frame, or other
means may be employed for moving the rollers and turning the eggs deposited
upon the rollers.
To create a moist atmosphere about the eggs we fix two mushroom shaped
blowers at equal distances from each other in and going through the bottom of
a water tray centrally disposed at a suitable distance from, and underneath the
rollers, and supported by a wooden base, a delivery pipe and outlet tap being
connected thereto, the former may carry a tundish or be connected up to a water
supply, and the latter for letting out the water when desired. The blowers admit
of air and of its being blown on to the water in the water tray. Transparancies
are placed in all sides of the apparatus so that a person can watch the process
of incubation from without. At a suitable distance above the roliers is mounted
a copper tank fitting all sides of the box or case, into this tank is placed a copper
coil, or may be coils, or similar conductors of heat or heated air, connected to
and communicating from a pipe in a tapered cone covering the chimney of an oil
lamp or gas jet arranged outside the apparatus. The usual means are employed
for supplying and letting off the water in the tank when desired, and a round
electric current is obtained to automatically regulate the supply of heat passing
We fix in
through the bottom of the copper tank in the following manner.
the incubating chamber about level with the layer of eggs an electrical ther-
mometer both ends of which are in contact with an electric cell arranged in a
suitable way outside the apparatus, and operates immediately the mercury rises
and meets the end or touches the end of the platinum wire, which has been
previously set to the heat desired, such wire being so regulated in the neck
of the thermometer by a set screw & the outer end of the wire connected to the
inside chamber of the cell the wire from the outside chamber of the cell passing
through and into the bulb of the thermometer when the predetermined heat has
been attained the wire from the cell to bobbins or regulators fitted above the
heating tank by metal supports communicates with a plate attached to a balance
lever and tips said lever so that its weighted end depresses another lever attached
to a damper or valve and removes it from off a coned outlet-hole in the centre
of the top of the copper tank, at the same time lifting another damper or valve
from off the heating cone on outside of the machine, this damper or valve is

page_text: suspended from the outer end of the horizontal balance lever, which is made
of brass or other metal, when the mercury has fallen each damper is simul-
taneously pressed on to its seat, and so closes up the heating tank and top of
heating cone.
T1101
Lofundamha 1808
Improvements in or relating to Incubators.
We, JOHN WILLCOCKS, of No. 1, Evans Street, Belgrave, Engine Fitter, and
JOHN MILLER SMITH, of No. 1, East Bond Street, Coppersmith, both in Leicester,
in the County of Leicester, 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 refers to improvements in or relating to incubators, so that a
regulated heat can be obtained, also to provide a moist heat under the eggs, and
means for turning them as hereinafter described.
That this invention may be well understood drawings accompany this specifica-
tion, in which;
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine or apparatus for hatching eggs.
Figure 2 an upper view of same, and Figure 3 a top view of the expansion
joint bracket employed for regulating the incubating chamber.
66
In carrying out our invention we provide a suitable wooden or may be metal
box or case A, made either square, round or of other convenient shape according
to the number of eggs it is desired to be placed therein for the hatching process.
Upon the inside thereof is affixed the metal frame B for carrying the fluted india
rubber coated rollers C, upon the outer ends of which are toothed wheels (" gear-
ing with the rack bar C2, said rack bar is operated by the handle D
seen in
dotted line Figure 1" attached to the toothed wheel, and is moved in the
direction of its length to turn the eggs (", advantageously about every twenty
four hours such movement causing the ends of the bar to traverse alternately
to the extreme ends of the holders 2 secured at each side of the machine. It
will be noticed in Figure 1 that the rollers C are fitted in pairs so that the
eggs (3 fit upon the inside portion of each pair, other means such as a chain
wheel or wheels, the links of the chain being like unto those used in cycles, and
made to gear with the toothed wheels C¹, can be used to obtain the same result.
To create a moist heated atmosphere about the eggs two mushroom shaped
blowers E are fitted at suitable distances from each other upon pipes e going
through the bottom of the copper cold water tank F, said tank or tray is placed
upon the wood bottom of the machine" as seen in Figure 1" and at a suitable
distance from and underneath the frame B carrying the india rubber rollers C.
The cold air passing up the pipes e is distributed by the blowers E upon the
surface of the cold water when the moisture thrown up therefrom passes up
through a zine perforated plate, or wire gauze frame G fitted upon the water
tray and through a flannel or the like bag or sheet II, placed upon the plate
or frame G. said bag or sheet being in close proximity to the fluted rollers and
eggs. The cold water is supplied to the tank through the funnel mouthed supply
pipe f, from any suitable supply or to regulate such supply the tank I may be
arranged on the side of the machine "as seen in Figure 1," the tap thereof coming
immidiately over the mouth of the pipe f, if the tap is left to drip the cold water

page_text: and aiso
ank F is easily regulated by aid of such supply and the overflow pipe
by the outlet pipe and tap f Figure 1, the latter being also left to drip.
At about level with the frame B are hinged on the front and sides, or may
be on all sides transparancies in the form of double glazed let down doors K
dotted line Figure 1" a space being left between so that such transparancies
will withstand the necessary heat required in the incubating chamber, and that a
person may easily watch the process of incubation from without without opening
the door, or doors.
At a suitable distance from the rollers C is the heating copper tank J forming
the top of the incubating chamber, said tank fitting all sides of the box or
case A, unlike the cold water tank F which is smaller at its sides in order that
To conduct the
spaces are left between it and the sides of the box or case.
heated air from the tube or hood m covering the oil lamp or gas jet whichever
may be employed the solid drawn tube copper coil or may be coils M are fitted
in the tank J. Said tube or hood m is surrounded by a jacketted circulating
cylinder N also of copper and provided with a cover O. A feeding pipe j is let
through the top into the tank J and the coil or coils M conducted into the open-
mouthed ventilating flue P. For drawing off the water in the tank J an ordinary
tap can be placed through the case near the bottom thereof.
Holes or perforations a¹ are made through the lid of the case A to regulate
the circulation of air. To keep, regulate or maintain the temperature of the
incubating chamber at about 104 degrees which the thermometer registers at q³,
we employ a thermometer Q which is of the ordinary kind and in which contact
is made so as to close the electrical circuit by the heat in the chamber causing
the mercury to come in contact with the platinum connection which leads from
the terminal 3 to the outer chamber of a cell battery (not shown). The wire
passes from one of the electro magnets R and is secured at the bottom of the
thermometer Q to the terminal q', the remaining wires and being connected
to each of the electro magnets R and their outer ends passing through the
terminals, to the inner chamber of a cell (not shown) placed in any suitable
receptacle outside the machine. When the necessary heat has been attained
the current passing through the bobbins R mounted in metal supports S, com-
municates with the plate S¹ carrving the balance lever S2 so that its weighted
end depresses the outer free end of the lever or rod, or may be levers or rods T, T¹
the outer ends of said rods carrying chains connected to the dampers or valves U.
and U2 which are raised from off the mouths of the conical tubes V, Vi
passing through the copper tank J and top of case into the incubating chamber,
and also the heating tube m over the oil lamp or heating chamber so stopping
the hot air from going into the coil M. Said levers or rods S2, T and T¹ are
fitted in brackets S³ and are adjustable by the screw nuts and t¹, the said rods,
frames and electro magnet are as usual made of brass, their plates screwed down
to the top of the box or case A, and covered in by a case W Figure 1. If the
heat in the incubating chamber happens to drop below that which it is desired
to keep up, from insufficient light or other cause the dampers or valves will
immiediately fall on to the mouths of the tubes V, V₁ and m, to closing up the
incubating chamber and heating tube.
We have found in practice although we do not claim the contrivance that we
can use in place of the thermometer Q, what is known in some electrical machines
has
an expansion joint" an upper view of which is given in Figure 3, and
in Figure it is shown fitted within the incubating chamber, along with the
thermometer Q, of course it will readily be understood that such is not the case
in actual operation, but a like result is obtained by each. The expansion joint Q'
requires to be set by another thermometer by a screw as hereinafter described.
Said expansion joint Q¹ is provided with the usual terminals Q2, platinum
point Q3 which is passed through the outer end of the sensitive blade spring Q
The said spring
said blade spring being made of steel and covered with brass.
is regulated to any temperature by having near the contact end thereof the

page_text: spiral or coiled spring Q attached to the square screw threaded pin turned by
the milled headed nut fitted thereon.
Said screwed pin fits a square hole in the head of the carrying bracket Q
when the magnet wire X and the battery wire X' the outer ends of both being secured
in the terminals at both ends, and the moment the incubating chamber becomes
too hot, or over the required heat contact is made with the electro magnetic
appliances at top and the valves open and the cold air is admitted, said expan-
sion joint bracket Q is screwed down at the back of the incubating chamber,
and the oblong hole in the base thereof Q8 covers the air space cut out behind
the cold water tank F and a through the bottom of the box or case, cold air in
rushing up the said air space from the direction of the arrows causes the spring Q
to lift and break contact.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1
1. In an incubating machine or apparatus designed for hatching eggs the
arrangement in a box or case of double glazed doors, an upper copper tank in
which is a solid drawn tube copper coil, one end proceeding from the heating
tube and terminating in the ventilating flue, a metal frame forming the bottom
of the incubating chamber in which are fitted india rubber covered fluted rollers
in pairs, toothed wheels at the outer extremity of each gearing with rack bar
or chain, a handle and toothed wheel for moving the same to turn the eggs, a cold
water copper tank surmounted by a zinc perforated plate or wire gauze upon
which is placed a flannel sheet or bag for conducting the moisture from the cold
air blown through mushroom shaped blowers to the eggs; inlet, outlet and over-
flow pipe, heating tube within a jacketted circulating chamber, the machine
automatically governed by an electro magnet in contact with balanced weighted
levers or rods carrying dampers or valves fitting coned inlets and heating tube,
and in combination with wires arranged and connected up to the terminals of a
thermometer such as Q, and to the inner and outer chambers of a cell or cells of
an electric battery, all substantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of June 1899
W. BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
34, Belvoir Street, Leicester, Registered Patent Agent,
Applicants' Agent.