Improvements in and appertaining to Incubators.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1891-Accepted, 2nd July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and appertaining to Incubators.
A communication from abroad by ALEXANDRE LION, Fils, of 16, Rue de Bausset,
Marseilles, in the Republic of France, Builder.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street, Manchester,
both in the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The automatic incubator, forming the object of this invention, consists of a
chamber in the form of a parallelopipedon, situated inside a carefully closed room,
so as to isolate it from all external atmospheric influences.
After numerous experiments preference has been given to a parallelopipedon
form for this incubator, because that shape insures a perfect aeration, a uniform
heat and a constant moisture. The incubator proper is preferably enclosed in an
outer casing of non-conducting material.
The aëration is effected by little air holes situated at the bottom of the incubator
The heat is kept
at the level of the eggs and beneath the top plate or cover.
regular and uniform by means of a gas stove, the two ranges of pipes of which are
situated at about 60 centimetres from the bottom against the vertical walls and
below the eggs.
The amount of moisture is measured by a hygrometer, and the proper degree of
moisture is insured by water brought by a suitable tube.
The eggs are placed in drawers on wheels and are preferably laid on swan's down
pierced with little holes, or any other like substance allowing the fresh air, entering
below, to pass over the eggs.
The drawers are situated, and run without difficulty, on rails, arranged at the
height of about a metre above the ground.
Thermometers show the temperature. A certain number are placed, at a distance
apart, on the drawers, in order to be able to ascertain if the heat be equal every-
where in the interior of the incubator.
A maximum and minimum indicating thermometer shows the extreme variations
of temperature by means of arms which close the circuit of a battery of Léclanché
elements in one direction or the other. The result is that with each considerable
variation of temperature in the incubating chamber, a current is formed which
actuates a bell and the automatic regulator as hereinafter described.
This regulator comprises a double set of powerful electro-magnets (hereinafter
called the main electro-magnets) drawing either to right or left, a strong armature
placed between them and prolonged by a long shank, suspended pendulum fashion.
The lower extremity of this shank can move between the points of a sort of copper
crescent, which oscillates on its centre. From each point of the crescent depends
an arm ending in a metal disc or weight which swings on a slight anti-friction
pivot. The axle, which follows the motion of the crescent, is itself the prolongation
of the shank of a tap, which obstructs more or less the aperture for admitting the
gas, brought by a tube passing behind the table of the regulator into the heating
apparatus. At the foot of the regulator four pairs of springs are placed. The
first are simple steel strips provided at one of their ends with an inclined plane for
a purpose described hereinafter; the second are circuit breakers, attached metallically
to relays, similar to Neef's tremblers. A battery of twenty Léclanché elements
arranged in four series of five, supplies energy for the whole apparatus.

page_text: In case the temperature drops, the needle of the metallic thermometer touches
the stopping arm and sends the current of a battery of five elements into the right
hand relay. The disc of this latter is drawn up, and closes the circuit from the
battery of twenty elements through one of the main electro-magnets. This latter
draws in its turn the armature which oscillates sharply towards one side of the
regulator. A triple effect is thereby produced, namely:-
:-
1st. The shank attached to the armature violently pushes one branch of the
crescent. This shock throws the metallic dises, suspended from the two arms, from
left to right, for instance, and consequently one side of the crescent is diminished
by an amount of length and weight exactly equal to that by which the other side is
increased; which entirely insures the tilting movement. The tap of the gas pipe
thus acts without difficulty, opening a large aperture for the admission of gas.
2nd. The shank strikes the inclined plane and rises almost to the summit, but
thrown back by means of the spring which acts by reducing the shock, it returns
rapidly to its former position and its oscillations are very quickly arrested.
3rd. The arms of the crescent, when moved, rub and press the two super-
incumbent blades of the contact breaking springs, one of which is fitted with a
projecting catch. The passage of the current from the main battery, the circuit
of which was closed, through the translating device, the main electro-magnet and
the contact breaker is thus interrupted.
The action of the battery can then only make itself felt, if, in consequence of a
contrary movement of the shank due to a change of temperature, the contact
breaker be returned to its normal position.
.
The result of these various movements simultaneously executed with perfect
accuracy, is, that the heat supplied to the incubator by the gas stove is constantly
regulated, reduced and increased in consequence of the variations themselves of the
temperature of the incubating chamber, converted and conveyed faithfully by the
electric apparatus. The simplicity of the system and the solidity of its parts yield
a really useful, very solid and practical type of machine.
The heating of this incubator can also be done by solid or liquid combustible.
Solid combustibles. When solid combustible, coal, for instance, is used for
heating this incubator, it is difficult to immediately reduce the fire, when the
temperature is too high, a much simpler and always automatic regulation of the
temperature is therefore employed.
A tap, easily turned, is placed on any part of the heat circulating tubes, preferably
at the highest part, which tap communicates with the pipe of a reservoir of cold
water. This tap is kept closed by means of a spring fixed to its key.
On the opposite side to the spring an electro-magnet is placed, connected by
means of wires with a switch situated on the dial of the thermometer. As soon as
the temperature rises, the pointer of the thermometer approaches the commutator
and transmits thereto the current which it receives from the electric batteries with
which it is in communication.
The current passes into the electro-magnet which immediately draws the key of
the tap and allows the cold water to enter the tubes of the heating apparatus so
long as the electric current continues to run, that is to say so long as the temperature
exceeds the maximum fixed.
The hot water escapes by a tube fixed in the lower part of the heating pipes,
the orifice of which communicates with the feed reservoir.
The tap can also be replaced by a valve opening in the manner above described,
and the cold water can run into small tubes placed inside the heat circulating tubes,
instead of communicating directly with the hot water in the said tubes.
Liquid fuel. In order to enable the mode of heating by means of combustible
liquids (petroleum, spirit, ether, alcohol, etcetera, etcetera) to be easily understood,
an electro automatic incubator on a small scale will now be described."
This little model arranged to hold 100 eggs is intended especially for small users.
Instead of the flame from a coal or gas fire, that from a lamp burning spirits etc.
is employed.

page_text: In the electric regulator the lower part of the crescent is prolonged and communi-
cates its motion to a crank. This crank is connected to one or more strips mounted
on rollers.
These strips, in consequence of the motion of the crescent of the apparatus,
obstruct more or less the flame of the lamp heating the hot water apparatus. They
cannot extinguish it entirely, because of a small section being cut out of the said
strips allowing a corner of the wick to burn freely. In consequence, the regulation
of the lamp is automatic. The regulation can also be brought about by making the
crank engage with a toothed knob serving to raise or lower the wick.
In order to preserve a certain amount of humidity in this incubator, it suffices
to place inside a sponge saturated with warm water from the hot water apparatus.
This pattern of incubator can also be utilised for preserving the mother's warmth
in infants prematurely born. It has been used with complete success in the case of
a child born at the end of only six months and it enabled it to be saved from
inevitable death. From the preceding, it may be seen that the working of this
machine is perfectly sure, that the variations of temperature are electrically
signalled, and that the heat is maintained constant and uniform by means of an
antomatic regulator. The number of eggs that can be incubated is unlimited, it
being only limited by the size of the incubator.
Thus it is that 5000 eggs can be incubated in the large sized incubator, which
number can be increased or diminished at will, but to which no one had attained
hitherto: It must not be omitted to be stated that the average hatching is over
90 per cent., which result no machine previous to this has obtained.
Further, all the operations, and especially the movements, when hatching, can be
watched through the sliding and counterpoised glass doors.
A single attendant is sufficient to attend to an incubator.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and appertaining to Incubators.
A communication from abroad by ALEXANDRE LION, Fils, of 16, Rue de Bausset,
Marseilles, in the Republic of France, Builder.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, 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:-
The automatic incubator, forming the object of this invention, consists of a
chamber in the form of a parallelopipedon, situated inside a carefully closed room,
so as to isolate it from all external atmospheric influences.
This automatic electric incubator is described, as follows, in the drawings
annexed hereto.
Figure 1 shows the incubator in elevation.
Figure 2 a horizontal section of the incubator at a height of 1 metre 20 centi-
metres from the ground.
Figure 3 a vertical section of the incubator.
Figure 4 longitudinal section of a drawer.
Figure 5 a plan view of a drawer.
Figure 6 transverse section of a drawer.
Figure 7 a plan view of a frame.
Figure 8 an elevation of a frame.

page_text: Figure 9 a plan view of a method of opening the tap Q.
Figure 10 an elevation of the automatic regulator.
The automatic electric incubator is composed of the following parts :-
A heating apparatus. B reservoir serving to feed the heating apparatus. C gas
pipe. D electric regulator. E electric batteries. F electric warning apparatus.
F electric controlling device. G pipe bringing water to the bottom of the
incubator for keeping it moist. H hygrometer. I thermometer. J J tubes of
the heating apparatus. K K drawers on rollers containing the eggs. L L swans-
down on which the eggs rest. M frame in perforated metal which is placed on
the drawer at the time of hatching for preventing the chickens from jumping out.
N N sliding glass doors with counterweights. O air holes. PP incubator.
Q cold water tap opening automatically by means of an electromagnet.
After numerous experiments, preference has been given to a parallelopipedon
form for this incubator because that shape insures a perfect aeration, a uniform
heat and a constant moisture. The incubator proper is preferably enclosed in an
outer casing of non-conducting material.
The aëration is effected by little air holes O O situated at the bottom of the
incubator at the level of the eggs and beneath the top plate or cover. The heat
is kept regular and uniform by means of a gas stove A, the two ranges of pipes of
which are situated at about 60 centimetres from the bottom against the vertical
walls and below the eggs.
The amount of moisture is measured by a hygrometer H, and the proper degree
of moisture is insured by water brought by a suitable tube G.
The eggs are placed in drawers on wheels K K and are preferably laid on
swansdown L L pierced with little holes, or any other like substance allowing the
fresh air entering below to pass over the eggs.
The drawers are situated and run without difficulty on rails, arranged at the
height of about a metre above the ground.
Thermometers show the temperature. A certain number are placed, at a distance
apart, on the drawers, in order to be able to ascertain if the heat be equal every-
where in the interior of the incubator.
A maximum and minimum indicating thermometer F shows the extreme
variations of temperature by means of arms which close the circuit of a battery of
Leclanché elements in one direction or the other. The result is that with each
considerable variation of temperature in the incubating chamber, a current is
formed which actuates a bell and the automatic regulator D as hereinafter
described.
The automatic regulator is shown in Figures 10 and 15 and in Figure 17, the
latter figure being an end view of Figure 10, which figure shows the regulator
having a relay apparatus applied to it, Figure 15 is a more simplified form.
This regulating apparatus consists of the following parts-Two sets of powerful
electro magnets e e', a suspended armature a provided with a long rod l, a crescent-
shaped piece e provided at mm" with weights t t', two flat strips R R one end
of each having an inclined plane & act as springs to return the rod c to its normal
position when contact is broken; two other Hap strips S S¹, act as circuit breakers;
besides these parts, and when relays are used, there are the relays ii', Figure 10.
All the foregoing parts are suitably arranged on the base board of a box, as
will be seen from Figures 10 and 15, and, as will also be seen from the same
figures, there are suitable small brackets or angular pieces fixed to the base board
and side of the box by which the strips R S and R' S¹ are controlled and
supported.
The action of the foregoing arrangement of parts forming the regulating
apparatus is as follows:-
Supposing the temperature in the incubator to have dropped, the needle of the
metallic thermometer I', Figure 11, will turn and come in contact with a stop-arm
thereby causing the current from the battery E' to traverse the right-hand set e
of the electro-magnets which, in turn, attract the armature a. The rod 1, attached

page_text: to this armature, will swing to the right, causing the crescent c to tilt up. The
movement of the crescent on its centre is employed for opening the tap of a gas
pipe C, Figure 10, or for operating a rod S" to increase the flame of an oil burner,
Figure 11. As the crescent c continues to tilt
back the strip S', this movement of the strip it will rub up against and press
is made use of to break or switch
off the current going to the set e of electro-magnets, whilst the spring in the strip R
is so regulated that the latter will act and cause the rod to be returned at the
proper moment to its vertical position, as shown in Figure 15. The action of the
electric current will then no longer be felt unless there is a contrary motion of
the rod owing to a rise of temperature when the circuit-breaker will be again
brought into an acting position.
When a relay is used, as in Figure 10, and supposing the battery employed
consists of twenty Leclanché elements arranged in four series of five, the current
of a battery of five elements would be first caused to pass into the right hand one i¹
of the two relays, whereby its pallet is drawn forward and closes the circuit of the
battery of twenty elements by means of the electro magnet e¹.
The object of employing the weights t t', suspended from the points of the
crescent c by m' m" is to facilitate the movement of the crescent c.
It may be observed that the relays i, the electro-magnets e, the batteries E',
etcetera, forming the automatic regulator are of no special construction, they may
be of any ordinary kind, so that it is needless to describe them in detail, it is the
way these parts are combined as a whole, and not each part separately, that forms
the novelty of this part of the invention.
The result of these various movements simultaneously executed with perfect
accuracy, is, that the heat supplied to the incubator by the gas stove is constantly
regulated, reduced and increased in consequence of the variations themselves of
the temperature of the incubating chamber, converted and conveyed faithfully by
the electric apparatus. The simplicity of the system and the solidity of its parts
yield a really useful, very solid and practical type of machine.
The heating of this incubator can also be done by solid or liquid combustible.
Solid combustibles.-When solid combustible, coal for instance, is used for
heating this incubator, it is difficult to immediately reduce the fire, when the
temperature is too high, a much simpler and always automatic regulation of the
temperature is therefore employed.
A tap Q, easily turned, is placed on any part of the heat circulating tubes JJ,
preferably at the highest part, which tap communicates with the pipe of a reservoir
of cold water. This tap is kept closed by means of a spring fixed to its key, see
Figure 9 on the drawing.
As
On the opposite side to the spring an electro-magnet is placed, connected by
means of wires with a switch situated on the dial of the thermometer.
soon as the temperature rises, the pointer of the thermometer approaches the
commutator and transmits thereto the current which it receives from the electric
batteries with which it is in communication.
The current passes into the electro-magnet which immediately draws the key of
the tap and allows the cold water to enter the tubes of the heating apparatus so
long as the electric current continues to run, that is to say so long as the
temperature exceeds the maximum fixed.
The hot water escapes by a tube fixed in the lower part of the heatin pipes, the
orifice of which communicates with the feed reservoir B.
The tap Q cau also be replaced by a valve opening in the manner above
described, and the cold water can run into small tubes placed inside the heat
circulating tubes J J, instead of communicating directly with the hot water in the
said tubes.
Liquid Fuel. In order to enable the mode of heating by means of combustible
liquids (petroleum, spirit, ether, alcohol, etcetera, etcetera) to be easily understood,
an electro automatic incubator on a small scale will now be described as shown in
the drawings annexed herewith Figures 11, 12, 14, 15,

page_text: users.
This little model arranged to hold 100 eggs is intended especially for small
Instead of the flame from a coal or gas fire, that from a lamp burning spirits etc.
is employed.
It is composed of the following parts :-
A heating apparatus, B¹ reservoir for feeding same, C. lamp for heating the
water, D electrical device actuating à metal strip T₁ which diminishes or increases
the flame of the lamp in accordance with the indications of the thermometers.
EE electric batteries, F alarm bell, G¹ bell showing minimum temperature,
H bell showing maximum temperature, I I¹ metallic maximum and minimum
thermometers, I regulating thermometer of spirit of wine, J' J¹ tubes of the hot
water apparatus. K drawer on rollers containing eggs, L¹ swansdown on which
the eggs rest, M¹ thermometer of the heating apparatus, N¹ glass sliding door with
counterpoise, O'O' air holes. P1 walls of the 100 egg incubator. Q' cold water
tap. R cold water reservoir, S¹ rod worked by the apparatus D' and giving a
motion to the strip, T' T' strip supported on rollers serving to augment or diminish
the flame of the lamp C'.
The perusal of this description and reference to the annexed drawing will suffice
to enable the working of the divers parts of this 100 egg incubator to be easily
understood. The elements have been described hereinbefore, and are exactly the
same with some slight modifications which will now be described.
As regards the regulator D', the lower part of the crescente is prolonged and
communicates the movement to a rod S", which is connected to one or more strips T'
placed on rollers S111
C
These strips T'in consequence of the motion of the crescent c of the apparatus D',
obstruct more or less the flame of the lamp heating the hot water apparatus. They
cannot extinguish it entirely, because of a small section being cut out of the said
strips allowing a corner of the wick to burn freely. In consequence, the regulation
of the lamp is automatic.
This regulating can also be done by means of the toothed rod S₁ which serves
to raise or lower the wick, Figure 16. This mode of regulating applies specially
to this lamp or to any other sort of lamp in which a current of air passes through
the flame.
In order to preserve a certain amount of humidity in this incubator it suffices
to place inside a sponge saturated with warm water from the hot water apparatus.
This pattern of incubator can also be utilised for preserving the mother's warmth
in infants prematurely born, Figure 14. It has been used with complete success
in the case of a child born at the end of only six months and it enabled it to be
saved from inevitable death.
From the preceding, it may be seen that the working of this machine is perfectly
sure, that the variations of temperature are electrically signalled, and that the heat
is maintained constant and uniform by means of an automatic regulator. The
number of eggs that can be incubated is unlimited, it being only limited by the size
of the incubator.
Thus it is that 5000 eggs can be incubated in the large sized incubator, which
number can be increased or diminished at will, but to which no one had attained
hitherto. It must not be omitted to be stated that the average hatching is over
90 per cent., which result no machine previous to this has obtained.
Further, all the operations, and especially the movements, when hatching, can
be watched through the sliding and counterpoised glass doors.
A single attendant is sufficient to attend to an incubator.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an incubating apparatus, the employment or use of electricity for auto-
matically working the same.

page_text: 2. The improvements in incubators which render such capable of being heated
indiscriminately by means of any suitable solid liquid or gaseous fuel, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown.
3. In an incubating apparatus the improved construction of heat regulating
devices substantially as herein described and shown.
4. The application of the improved incubator for use in rearing prematurely
born infants or delicate ones who require a constant regular and uniform heat in
order to live, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated this 1st day of April 1891
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.