Improvements in Incubators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1897.
Improvements in Incubators.
I, PIERRE GEORGE CHARLES ALIOTH, 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 certain improvements in Incubators consisting in the
general arrangement and combination of particular parts of that class of apparatus.
In order more clearly to describe my invention, I make reference herein to the
accompanying drawings on which,―
Figure 1 is a vertical section of an incubator constructed according to my
invention;
Figure 2 being another vertical section through line 2-2 of figure 1 ;
Figure 3, a horizontal part section through line 3-3 of figure 2.
The improved incubator shewn on the drawings is made in the form of a
rectangular box or chamber A having a perforated bottom A¹, and sides and top
glazed in any suitable manner. Within the chamber A are arranged inclined trays
or drawers B, B¹ to receive the eggs to be hatched, such drawers being arranged to
slide in grooves so as to facilitate their withdrawal when the sides a, a¹ of the
chamber are turned down, as shewn in dotted lines on figure 1. In the centre of
the chamber A is a chimney C extending to nearly half the height thereof and being
open at the top and bottom. Under the bottom A¹ is arranged a false bottom,
covered with a wire gauze sheet D. A pipe E connected with the chimney C allows
the products of combustion from any suitable heating apparatus-as for example a
lamp F-to pass inside the chamber A. This pipe E is covered at the top by a
conical cap c suspended from one end of a lever d swinging on a pivot d', the other
end of which lever carries a ball-float e, supported on a liquid contained in a bent
tube, one arm of which is open to receive the float, whilst the other e¹ is closed so
that it may contain a liquid such as chloride of ethyl for instance, which is
susceptible to very great expansion at a relatively low temperature. The expansion
of this liquid at a temperature for instance of 38° C. is such as to raise the float e
by means of the lever to a sufficient extent to bring the conical cap c down on to
the upper end of the pipe E and to close it, thus preventing the consumed gases
from passing into the chamber A as soon as the temperature within it reaches the
above limit (38° C.). In that case the consumed gases escape to the outer air
through radial branches f formed on the pipe E or on an extension thereof.
By means of air holes g formed all round the cover of the chamber A the consumed
gases are caused to be dispersed uniformly throughout the chamber, such holes being
increased in size according to their distance from the chimney C from which the
heated gases are emitted.
In the false bottom and around the pipe E is arranged a small evaporating tank G
provided with a pipe b shewing the level of the water supplied thereto through a
stopcock 61, and also furnished with a discharge cock c¹. By the effect of the heat
communicated to it through contact with the pipe E, the water in the evaporating
tank G becomes vaporised and the vapour thus produced escapes through the holes h.

page_text: This vapour mixing with the warm air in the chimney C imparts the desired
degree of humidity to it, the passage of the vapour aud consequently the moisture
of the air being regulated as required by means of an annular register i operated by
a rod ¹. The evaporating tank G is simply secured under the chamber A by means
of cross-bars firmly screwed thereto, and may be raised on feet or otherwise supported
at the desired height.
Finally the drawers or trays B, B₁ as well as the bottom A¹ of the chamber, are
perforated to admit the outer air to freely circulate therethrough, such circulation of
the outer air being restricted by the wire gauze sheet already referred to in the
false bottom.
In conclusion I may vary the forms and dimensions of the several parts of my
apparatus in any way provided they are constructed of suitable materials, and the
improved incubator may be made of any convenient size.
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 egg incubator, constructed, combined and arranged to operate substantially
as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Sixteenth day of November 1007
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.