Improved Artificial Incubator.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1897-Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
Improved Artificial Incubator.
I, PIERRE GEORGE CHARLES ALIOTI, of Bry-sur-Marne, (Seine) in the French
Republic, Manufacturer, 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 relates to an improved artificial hot-air incubator for hatching
eggs; and its object is to simplify the construction of such apparatus in such a
manner as to render its operation certain and more efficient than that of existing
apparatus, while ensuring also a large working profit.
In order to more clearly explain my invention reference is had to the accompany-
ing drawings, upon which,
Figure 1 is a vertical section, through the centre, of an incubator constructed
according to my invention;
Figure 2 is an elevation of the same;
Figure 3 is a horizontal section through line 3-3 of Fig. 1.
As will be seen on the drawings, the improved apparatus consists of a cylindrical
case A of metal or other suitable material raised on feet and having a double
bottom a, a, whilst the top is provided with a glazed lid or cover a². The entire
areas of the bottom plates a, a, are perforated, and the metal rim of the cover a³
is similarly perforated, but is covered by another perforated rim a³ serving the
purpose of an air regulator.
The vertical side of the case A is provided with openings o, and is enclosed within
an outer casing or envelope A¹ likewise provided with openings o' which may be
covered with sheets of mica. The envelope A¹ can be turned so as to cause its
openings to correspond with those of the case A: it therefore allows access to the
interior of the apparatus and acts at the same time as a register, without necessitat-
ing the removal of the lid a². The bottom plate a is provided, in addition to its
perforations, with sockets or recesses o³ for receiving the eggs which rest on a
holder formed of concentric rings c, c¹ capable of movement in a circular direction
for the purpose of imparting to the eggs at required moments movement around a
part of the circle or track in which the rings travel. This movement of the rings
or circular holders is effected by means of handles or rods C, C³ respectively belong-
ing to them and projecting a sufficient distance through the openings in the casing
to allow of their manipulation from outside. The rings c, c¹ are supported on the.
bottom plate a by hooks or equivalent devices.
Directly underneath the double bottom a, a¹ is arranged a hot-air chamber D
from which extend upwardly tubes d, d¹, d³, d³, and d. The central tube d pro-
jects a short way within the chamber D, where it terminates in a bell-mouth :
it passes through the case A and projects above the cover thereof, being provided at
its extremity with a cap attached to the end of a lever hereafter referred to.
The other tubes d', de d³, d', are arranged at uniform distances around the central
tube, and each terminates in a chimney or ventilator 3 within the case A.
On the underside of the hot-air chamber D is provided an opening 6 through

page_text: which enter the consumed gases from a stove B of any suitable kind. On the
drawing by way of example this is shewn to consist of a lamp having a ring
burner b¹. The opening 6 is situate in the axial line of the central tube d which
serves the purpose of a chimney.
Immediately above the chamber D is provided a small receptacle E filled with
water and communicating by means of a vertical pipe e with the interior of the
casing A. A plug el fits closely into this pipe, and is connected by a catgut cord e²
to the cover a² of the casing. Finally the lever before mentioned is counter-
balanced by a weight u tending to keep the cap above the tube d, and is combined
with a small grooved pulley over which is passed a string f carrying on its lower
end a small float f¹ inserted in the open arm of a bent tube g containing mercury:
the other arm g¹ of this tube is closed, and is supplied on top of the mercury with
a small quantity of ether or similar liquid.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
By means of the heat given off from the stove or lamp, the air in the chamber D
is heated and flows through the tubes d, d', d², d³, d, into the casing A and impinges
on the upper side (cover a²) thereof, whence it is deflected down on to the eggs
where it meets a current of air from the outside entering through the perforations
in the bottom plates a, a¹. In the course of a few minutes the temperature is
equalised and a continuous current of air is set up at the level of the eggs. The
temperature is kept constant by means of the double-armed tube g, g¹, constituting
a regulator in effect, as soon as the temperature is raised from any cause, the ether
or other liquid commences to boil and its vapour forces the mercury to rise in the
open arm of the bent tube and to lift the float f¹. This lifting movement allows
the counterweight u of the lever 7 to raise the cap el which uncovers the top of the
tube or chimney d. By suitably adjusting the regulator device, a practically
invariable temperature of 40° Cent. may be ensured.
The receptacle E is warmed by contact with the chamber D, and the slight vapour
from the water escapes through the tube e into the casing A thus moistening the
air therein. When the amount of moisture becomes excessive, the catgut cord e
being extended applies the plug or cap el on to the tube e thereby closing its outlet.
The contraction of the catgut cord effects the lifting of the plug or cap e¹ and admits
a new supply of moisture. The foregoing phenomena are repeated until an
equilibrium is established and a normal and regular temperature is ensured within
the apparatus.
In order to absorb the carbonic acid gas given off by the eggs and which may not
have been withdrawn by the ventilation of the casing, any suitable absorbent may
be placed on the tubes d, d' d², d³, d, in the form of annular bands, or in any other
convenient manner.
The apparatus above described though of a normal capacity for receiving 12 eggs,
may be of any desired size and the various parts may be made of any suitable
materials.
I reserve the right of modifying the method of transmitting motion from the
regulator to the cap , and of regulating the air current, discharging the hot air
and gases, operating the egg-holding rings, and of heating the apparatus, by other
devices than those described without departing from the principle of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. An artificial incubator comprising the combination of a cylindrical incubating
case traversed by a current of air capable of regulation; a hot-air chamber deliver-
ing heated air into said incubating case by means of vertical tubes arranged around
a central tube serving the purpose of a chimney for the products of combustion
of a stove or lamp employed for heating the air: a heat regulator closing or opening
the chimney tube so as to retain in the hot-air chamber or to withdraw therefrom
the products of combustion and the air heated by them; a water receptacle heated

page_text: by the hot-air chamber and combined with a stopper suspended on a catgut or other
hygrometric cord for saturating with moisture the hot air delivered into the
chamber of incubation and for regulating the degree of moisture therein: and a
bottom provided with recesses or sockets for the reception of the eggs to be hatched,
said bottom acting in combination with one or more movable rings for the purpose
of causing the rotation of the eggs,. substantially as described.
2. In an artificial incubator, the regulation of the air current by means for varying
the orifices in the cover a2 of the case A, as described.
3. The combination of the case A provided with openings o, with an envelope A¹
having openings o' said envelope being arranged to act as a register and to admit
the placing of the eggs in position and the removal of the chickens when the
openings o, o are brought opposite each other.
4. The combination of a hot-air regulator g, g₁ with a movable cap on the
chimney d situated in the centre of the apparatus and in axial line with the heating
stove or lamp, as described.
5. In an artificial incubator, the combination of a water receptacle E provided
with a vapour-tube e, with a lid or disc-valve el suspended on a cord e² susceptible
to the action of moisture and effecting by its extension or contraction the closing or
opening of the vapour-tube, as and for the purposes described.
6. In an artificial incubator, the arrangement underneath a perforated and
recessed bottom-plate a, of one or more perforated circular trays c, c¹, provided with
means for turning them to an angle in such a manner as, by mere friction and
contact with the recesses, to effect the partial rotation of the eggs during the process
of incubation, substantially as described.
T: 1 1
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