A Mechanical Egg-turning Incubator. BODY AND SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1892-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Mechanical Egg-turning Incubator.
JAMES HAROLD ROBERTS, Ashurst Lodge, Lyndhurst Hants., Surveyor, JOHN
FREDERICK ALBERT ROBERTS son of, and assistant to the above, and of the
same address, 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 :-
BODY AND SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK.
The body and the framework supporting it are made of deal wood, grooved,
tongued, and fastened together with screws. The lid consists of a deal frame with
glass panel, the latter having a circular hole in its centre for the escape of superfluous
heat, in the manner hereafter described. There is a stay for setting up the lid
when open.
MECHANISM FOR TURNING THE EGGS; AND BOTTOM OF HATCHING
CHAMBER.
The bottom, which forms also the egg turning apparatus, is constructed as a grid
with framework of deal and bars of cane, the latter being placed at intervals of
about 2 inches. Upon these bars are laid strips of wood matting, each strip fitting
in width one of the divisions of the grid, and meeting underneath, where their ends
are respectively joined, thus forming three endless bands enclosing the grid. An
opening, however, being necessary for the ascent to the hatching chamber of heat
from the lamp below, the middle band is divided transversely, and would properly
be described as two bands, but the two being connected by rods, practically form
one band.
To the underside of each of the two outer bands is attached a small wooden rod,
and to the middle band, or bands, two such rods, having a space between them
corresponding with the width of the opening for the admission of heat, and connected
by a cross-bar of wood.
The ends of these rods which are presented at the front of the incubator are
made to be drawn out or pushed in as in working the dampers of a cooking stove, or
the stops of an organ, and by these means the bands of matting are made to slide
over the cane bars, and a revolving motion is imparted to the eggs as they lie in
rows in the slight sagging of the matting between the cane bars.
operation of turning the eggs peformed, and in a few seconds. There is a guard
of perforated zinc around the hot air opening to prevent the chicks from falling
through.
The whole of the bottom is made to take out for cleansing & c.
Thus is the
The bottom of the hatching chamber is divided into eight compartments, so that
eggs of different sorts or dates of insertion may if desired be kept separate.
THE REGULATor.
The regulator consists of a metal vessel in shape somewhat similar to a common
funnel, but hermetically closed top & bottom, the top being slightly flexible. This
vessel which is designated the expansion box, contains about 40 drops of bisulphide
of carbon, or dilute ether. It is fixed to the upper side of the cover of the incubator
through which its tubular part descends into the hatching chamber, dipping into
the stratum of heated air in contact with the eggs. By the action of heat the
chemical is more or less, converted into vapour gas, and the flexible cover becoming
distended the valve for controlling the heat is acted upon in the manner hereafter
described, but in order to anticipate and prevent internal changes consequent upon

page_text: Water ascends by the felt cloth ; by capillary attraction from the lower to the
upper tray, where it evaporates and moistens the heated air. Any fumes from the
lamp, and superfluous heat, escape through the valve f in the glass lid of the hatching
chamber.
The temperature is controlled by the regulator e which consists of a funnel shaped
box having a flexible cover and containing an expanding fluid held in its tubular
part which dips into the chamber. At a certain temperature the fluid becomes
vapour and distends the cover of the box, which acting upon a lever and overcoming
the pressure of a spring, raises the valve proportionately to the degree of heat in
the chamber and according to the adjustment of the milled head screw fitted to the
lever and in contact with the cover of the box.
There is also a plate with screws for governing the power of the spring.
The regulator being sensitive to the external as well as the internal atmosphere,.
anticipates and prevents changes from outer influence.
All the eggs are mechanically turned, in about three seconds, by drawing out or
pushing in the rods c, which act upon endless bands of wood matting working
over a grid and forming a bed for the eggs, the latter by contact with the bands are
made to revolve steadily as they lie in the slight corrugations of the matting.
formed by the grid underneath.
Fig. 3. section of regulator.
1. expansion box with flexible cover and containing bisulphide of carbon, or dilute
ether. m. lever.
n spring acting as a weight. o plate with screws for governing
the spring. p milled head screw for adjusting the temperature.
Fig. 4. view of regulator.
f valve for escape of superfluous heat and with permanent opening for extracting
fumes from the lamp.
Fig. 5. bed of hatching chamber, removed.
c, egg turning rods as drawn out. rcane bars forming grid with compartments..
s endless bands of wood matting forming bed for eggs.
Fig. 6. section of one compartment of the bed of the hatching chamber showing
mode of turning the eggs.
c egg turning rod about to be drawn out. r cane bars of grid. s endless bands
of wood matting attached to and set in motion by the rod c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven--
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is the invention of the following features of novelty in an apparatus for the
artificial incubation of eggs, viz. :—
1. The general construction of the body & the supporting framework of the
apparatus.
2. The mechanism for turning the eggs including the whole construction of the
bottom of the hatching chamber.
3. The description of regulator comprising the funnel shaped expansion box,
form of lever, spring attachment with governing plate, form of valve plate having
an opening for extracting fumes, and the valve hole as situated in the glass lid.
4. The bent wire gauge for regulating the height of the flame of the lamp.
5. The complete apparatus for damping the heated air, consisting of two trays.
one above the other with arrangement for raising water to the upper tray by
capillary attraction.
6. And that we claim the right to substitute materials, substances or ingredients
other than those named in this Specification in the manufacture of the whole or any
part of the said incubator.
Deted this Nineteenth day of November 1800
JAMES HAROLD ROBERTS.
JOHN FREDERICK ALBERT ROBERTS.