Improvements in incubators
Year: 1889

page_text: Improvements in incubators,
THOMAS HOCKRIDGE DELVE, Torridge Villa, Great Torrington, Devonshire
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, and accompanying drawings:-
This invention consists in a box containing a tank of water and an egg drawer
below to hold the eggs to be hatched-through this tank passes a pipe which is a flue
pipe from a Lamp or gas jet or such like heating medium for warming the water in
the tank, this pipe passes out at the top of the box before mentioned.
In connection with this tank or generator as I prefer to call it, is a small cistern
containing water in connection with that in the generator-A float rests on the top of
the water in this small cistern connected to a lever which works a rod which in its
turn raises or lowers the flame by which the water in generator is warmed.
By these means the temperature of the water is maintained at a fairly even
registration.
A water supply tube to generator is fixed at the highest point of same and this also
admits of any escape of steam.
Within the egg drawer is a cylinder connected by a flexible tube to a beam yalve
liquid balance which as it works one way or the other on a tubular pivot opens or
closes a ventilating pipe from the egg drawer, and by these means the temperature
in the egg drawer is maintained at an even rate.
Below the perforated bottom of the egg drawer I place a water tray provided
with a number of inlets for cold air for the purpose of airing the eggs and keeping
them in a fertile condition whilst maintaining the required heat for their incubation-
On the top of the box containing the whole of my apparatus I provide two lids
for the better inspection of the interior.
I also place a small glass front of the flame forming the heating part of my improve-
ments, so that the same may be viewed without letting in the outside air.-I pack
my various parts forming the complete incubator if required in saw dust to the
better protect them from the influence of the outside temperature.
In order that my improvements may be the more fully understood I will now proceed
to describe the several figures on the sheet of drawings hereunto annexed all of
which figures are marked with the like letters of reference throughout.
Figure 1. is a front elevation of the box or exterior casing of my Improved
incubator.
Figure 2-is a longitudinal section shewing the generator, liquid balance valve, &c.

page_text: Figure 3. is a transverse section shewing the glass cistern with float and levers.
Figure 4 is another transverse section shewing a drying box.
In Figure 1. T is the front of egg drawer, provided with flush drop handles.
In Figure 2-A is the generator filled with water, B is a moveable Lamp whose
flame is the heating medium-I is a fire-box or cavity provided with glass front C,
which prevents draft, and admits of inspection of fire. H is the horizontal flue
traversing the generator and passing into vertical flue H¹, K is the pipe by means
of which the generator is filled with water-G is a ventilating pipe from egg
drawer D, and F is an air cylinder in egg drawer, and from this cylinder rises a
flexible pipe to liquid beam balance E. As this beam balance sways to and fro, it
opens or closes the ventilating pipe G.
This Balance E has two chambers partly filled with liquid connected by ebb and
flow pipes there is an air tight cap on compartment E' which is taken off until the
egg chamber has attained the required heat, and is then replaced on the top of this
compartment. E has a small open tube for vent. A Balance weight is hung along
the lower connecting tube to adjust the balance. The rising air from the cylinder F
is admitted to actuate balance valve at the tubular pivot and from thence rises by a
short upright pipe and passes along towards the compartment E-When the air in
the egg drawer becomes too hot, the rarified atmosphere passes through the
cylinder F up the flexible tube, and through the tubular pivot and forwards to the
water contained in compartment E, and being rarified it exerts a pressure upon
the water in this chamber and thus forces it into chamber E" by which means pipe G
becomes uncovered and this ventilate the egg drawer thereby reducing the tem-
perature when the liquid balance resumes its equable position with the valve closed.
D is the egg drawer before referred to having a perforated bottom and with metal
water tray R R under same with cold air inlets as before referred to. J is a rod
hereafter referred to.
In Figure 3 C is the cistern having float C₁ which is connected by levers to a
rod J As the water in cistern becomes warm it expands raising the float. C which
in its ascent moves the rod J. so as to lower the heating flame, by which means less
heat is passed through flue H to warm the water in the generator-As the water cools
the float C falls and thus turns on the heat again.
In Fig. 4 N is a drying box which is placed above the top of the generator the
space between being lined with sawdust to prevent escape of heat.
As my improvements are capable of some modifications without departing from
the principal thereof, I do not restrict myself to materials, dimensions or to the precise
form or placement of the several parts thereof.
Having now fully 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
(1) An Improved incubator substantially as hereinbefore described in the specifi-
cation and illustrated by accompanying drawings.
(2) A liquid Balance Valve as described and illustrated by which the even
temperature of the egg drawer is maintained.
(3) A combination of float and lever by means of which the heat to be applied
is regulated all as before described. in this specification and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of March 1889.
RAYNER & CASSELL
37, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.