IMPROVEMENTS IN INCUBATORS AND ARTIFICIAL MOTHERS, AND IN THE REGULATION OF HEAT FOR THESE AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Grey Penman, of 5, South Crescent Chambers,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN INCUBATORS AND ARTIFICIAL MOTHERS, AND IN THE REGULATION OF HEAT
FOR THESE AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 28th August 1877, and dated the 24th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Groy. Penman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th March 1877.
JOSEPH GREY PENMAN, of 6, South Crescent Chambers; Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INCUBATORS AND ARTIFICIAL MOTHERS, AND
IN THE REGULATION OF HEAT FOR THESE AND OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention consists of an entire apparatus for incubating eggs of any size
from a goose egg to a sparrow's. The eggs are placed on zinc or other suitable per-
forated plates over a layer of damp earth in shallow trays. The object of the damp
earth is to prevent the dessication of the eggs. Over the egg trays is placed a
flexible (india-rubber cloth) tray filled with warm water to the depth of about one
inch, the rubber lying freely on the eggs. Immersed in the water of this rubber
tray are three or more pipes forming an air chamber (any other shape of air
chamber would do) the main point being that a conducting chamber containing
considerable quantity of air, gas, or other expansible body shall be emersed in the
warm water. The use of this air chamber will be hereafter described. Over these
trays and air chamber I place covers on which can be placed earth for striking
cuttings, raising seeds, or for other purpose, or a glass shade could be placed over
them and ferns and flowers planted. In one part of one of the covers however is
sunk an india-rubber tray with wooden frame, having its lower surface dipping
down into the water below. This tray acts as a place to put birds in just after they
have chipped the shell, the water from the aforesaid rubber trays is brought down
by one or more pipes at each end, and to a thin iron tank forming the sloping

page_text: portion of the roof of the artificial mother placed below. The sides of this artificial
mother are of wire netting and glass, and the top, except on the side where the
sloping tank diaphragm roof is placed, is also of netting. Two to four pipes come
down from the ends of the rubber tray to this tank to keep up the circulation, and
another pipe proceeds from it to a boiler to be hereafter described; the roof tank is
placed sloping, say four inches from the floor of the "mother" chamber at one side,
and 7 or 8 inches at the other, so that birds of different sizes can creep under it for
warmth. A tap at its lowest point called the discharge cock is used for emptying
it in whole or in part when required. The whole usually stands on four legs made
moveable so that they can be taken off for shipment. The boiler is placed to one
side, and a pipe from it leads into a transverse pipe (with several openings along its
course) in the, centre of the rubber tray. The circulation therefore is from the
boiler to the centre of the rubber tray, thence to the ends down the pipes to each
end of the tank forming the "mother" roof, and thence by another pipe to the
boiler.
The boiler I adopt is made in the following manner:-It is about four inches
wide and has three flat elbowed flues opening out at one end and the bottom; under
each of the three openings in the bottom I place a lamp with flat wick of suitable
size for the flue.
The lamps are regulated as follows:-A sliding plate with 3 triangular or rather
T shaped holes, but with a triangle instead of a stroke for the top of the T, and a
very broad short shank fits over the lamps; when the broad part of the triangle is
over the wick the whole wick is exposed to the action of the flame; when the shank
is over it only a narrow place in the centre of the wick is uncovered; by moving
this plate the amount of flame and consequently the heat can be regulated to a
nicety.
To work the regulating plate automatically I employ a regulator of the following
description-A pipe from the air chamber before described leads to a drum covered
with an elastic waterproof diaphragm; from this diaphragm proceeds a pin which by
suitable levers works the slide. When the water is too hot in the india-rubber tray
it expands the air in the air chamber. This in turn puffs out the diaphragm and
thus works the slide and shuts off, if necessary, all but the narrow portion of the
wicks left uncovered by the shanks of the triangular holes. As the water cools the
diaphragm contracts and the slide is drawn back, the wicks are uncovered and the
Hame spreads over the whole wick or that portion uncovered.
To test the temperature I place a thermometer with a bent stem and an elon-
gated bulb extending nearly to the centre of the egg tray, and immediately below
and touching the rubber tray. The remainder of the thermometer tube is vertical
outside the tray and indicates exactly the heat the eggs are exposed to. In practice
I place the eggs in the trays at each end of the incubator, a few each day, and each
day move them nearer to the centre where the greatest heat is, for 20 minutes or half
half an hour cach day; the trays are lowered from beneath the india-rubber cloth
to cool. The rubber cloth at such times is supported by the central pipe, and by
cross bars at one or more intermediate points on each side.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Grey Penman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
September 1877.
i JOSEPH GREY PENMAN, of 5, South Crescent Chambers, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INCUBATORS AND ARTIFICIAL MOTHERS, AND IN
THE REGULATION OF HEAT FOR THESE AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Figure 1 is an elevation in perspective showing incubator and artificial mother,

page_text: Figure 2, elevation of opposite side showing heating apparatus.
Figure 3, section of boiler.
Figure 4, plan of regulating plate.
Figure 5, longitudinal section of incubator and mother.
Figure 6, transverse section of same through contre, showing heating apparatus.
Like letters relate to like parts in all the Figures.
This Invention consists of an entire apparatus for incubating eggs of any size
from a goose egg to a sparrow's. The eggs are placed on zinc or other suitable per-
forated plates over a layer of damp earth in shallow trays A, perforated with a row
of holes along their sides and ends near the bottom for the outlet of foul air, and
another row near the top for the admission of fresh air. The object of the damp
earth is to prevent the dessication of the eggs. Over the egg trays is placed a
flexible (india-rubber cloth) tank or cistern B filled with warm water to the depth
of about one inch, the rubber lying freely on the oggs. Immersed in the water of
the rubber tank are one or more pipes C, C; three are shown in Drawing,
forming a chamber (any other shape of chamber would do, the main point being
that a conducting chamber containing considerable quantity of air, gas, spirit, or
other expansible body shall be immersed in the warin water). The use of this air
chamber will be hereafter described. Over these trays and air chamber I place
covers D, on which can be placed earth for striking cuttings, raising seeds, or for
other purposes, or a glass shade could be placed over them, and ferns and flowers
planted. In one part of one of the covers however is sunk an india-rubber tray E
with wooden frame, having its lower surface dipping down into the water below.
This tray acts as a place to put birds in just after they have chipped the shell, and
where they obtain more freedom and room for hatching out. The water from the
rubber cistern B, B, is brought down by one or more pipes Y at each end to a thin
iron tank G forming a sloping portion of the roof of the artificial mother H below.
The sides and ends of this artificial mother are of wire netting, wood, or glass, and
the top, except on the side where the sloping tank roof G is placed, is also of wire
netting. Two to four pipes Y pass down from the ends of the rubber cistern to this
tank to keep up the circulation, and another pipe L proceeds from it to a boiler M,
to be hereafter described. The roof tank G is placed sloping, say three inches from
the floor of the "mother" chamber H at one side, and seven or eight inches at tho
other, so that birds of different sizes can creep under it for warmth. A tap N at
its lowest point, called the discharge cock, is used for emptying the water in wholo
or in part when required. The whole usually stands on four legs, made moveable so
that they can be taken off for shipment; and in small sized machines on four feet
or knobs without legs. The boiler M is placed to one side and a pipe O from it
leads into a transverse pipe P (with several openings along its course) in the centre
of the rubber tank B. The circulation is therefore from the boiler to the centre of
the rubber tank, thence to the ends down the pipes Y to each end of the tank G,
forming the "mother" roof, and thence by another pipe L to the boiler.
The boiler I adapt for oil lamps is made in the following manner, see section
Figure 3-It is about four inches wide, and has three flat elbowed flues Q opening
out at one end and the bottom. Under each of the three openings in the bottom I
place a lamp R with flat wick of suitable size for the fluo.
The lamp is regulated as follows:-A sliding plate S with three triangular or
rather T shaped holes, but with a triangle instead of a stroke for the top of the T,
and a very broad shank fits over the lamp. When the broad part of the
triangle is over the wick, the whole wick is exposed to the action of the flame į
when the shank is over it, only a narrow place in the centre of the wick is
uncovered. By moving this plate the amount of flame and consequently the heat
can be regulated to a niceity.
To work the regulating plate automatically I employ a regulator of the following

page_text: description :-A pipe from the air chamber C leads to a drum T covered with an
elastic waterproof diaphragm on one of its sides; from this diaphragm proceeds a
pin U which by suitable levers works the slide. When the water is too hot in the
india-rubber cistern it expands the air or other fluid in the air chamber. This in
turn puffs out the diaphragm, and thus works the slide and shuts off, if necessary,
all but the narrow portion of the wicks uncovered by the shanks of the triangular
holes. As the water cools the diaphragm contracts and the slide is drawn back, the
wicks are uncovered and the flame spreads over the whole wick or that portion
uncovered.
To test the temperature I place a thermometer with a bent stem, and an elon-
gated bulb extending nearly to the centre of the egg tray and immediately below
and touching the rubber tank. The remainder of the thermometer tube is vertical
outside the tray and indicates exactly the heat the eggs are exposed to. In practice
I place the eggs in the trays at each end of the incubator, a few each day, and each
day or two move them nearer to the centre where the greatest heat is. For twenty
minutes or half an hour each day the trays are lowered from beneath the india-
rubber cloth to cool. In addition to this cooling, each egg is also moved two or
three times a day in each row, and also turned half round on itself, the object being
to change its locality in the tray and that part of it which had last received the
heat froin the india-rubber, so as to change the parts that come in contact with the
heated surface. The rubber cloth at such times is supported by the central pipe,
and by cross bars ✗ at one or more intermediate points on each side.
If it be desirable to use gas instead of oil lamp, the regulator is substantially the
same as for the latter, with the addition of another drum similar to T, which may
be called the gas drum, also covered on one side with an elastic diaphragm, and
The gas
placed face to face with the former one at a distance of about two inches.
enters the gas drum through a conical-shaped hole directly opposite the centres of
each drum, and into which hole a brass or other metal plug is fitted, being fixed at
its other end to the diaphragm of the first-mentioned drum, the effect of which
arrangement is that when the heat in the hermetically sealed chamber expands the
diaphragm of the drum immediately connected with it in an outward direction, it
forces the gas diaphragm inwards, or in a contrary direction, and thus projects the
plug into the conical inlet for the gas, and either entirely or partially shuts off the
gas from entering the gas drum. A regulating nut is placed on this plug midway
between the two diaphragms, and is easily acted on by a finger and thumb.
To prevent the gas from being entirely shut off, a small tube is placed on the
main gas pipe immediately before the entrance to the drum, and its other end placed
over the burner, so that when gas issues from the latter it is instantly lighted by
the former.
When gas is used instead of oil lamp an alteration is made in the construction of
the boiler to the extent of removing the elbow tubes, and employing one straight
tube throughout, from end to end, into which is placed a brass tube constructed on
the principle of a Bunsen burner, and perforated with a number of small holes along
its upper surface, and in connection with the regulator above mentioned.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I am well aware that more or less suc-
cessful attempts have been made from time to time to hatch, and rear birds by
artificial heat, and that therefore the principle of using an artificial incubator and
mother is old; but what I believe to be new and desire to claim under the berein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The mode of preventing the dessication of the eggs by placing them over
moist earth in an incubator, substantially as described.
2nd. The employing an india-rubber or other waterproof flexible.tank or cistern
as a heating medium above and lying on the eggs, into which tank or cistern the
heated water enters across its centre by the several openings above described, and is
discharged at each end, passing over the eggs in its course, the lower portion of the

page_text: eggs being protected from the heat by the damp soil or other similar damp material
underneath them, thus exactly following the natural process, in which the warm
body of the hen lies on the eggs in a nest usually constructed on the damp ground.
3rd. The construction of heating apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
.
4th. The apparatus for, also the mode of regulating the heat, not merely for
artificial incubators and mothers, but for any other purpose by means of air or other
elastic fluid hermetically closed in a chamber surrounded by the heat to be regulated
in combination with a diaphragm, and a sliding plate or its mechanical equivalent,
substantially as described.
5th. The general arrangement and construction of incubator and artificial
mother, substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Grey Penman, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOSEPH GREY PENMAN. (LS.)