AN IMPROVED INCUBATING APPARATUS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to May Arnold, of Acton, in the County of Middlesex,
Spinster, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED INCUBATING APPARATUS." A
communication from abroad by Henri Gustave Voitellier, of Mantes, in the
Republic of France.
Sealed the 11th October 1878, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 3rd April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said May Arnold at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd April 1878.
MAY ARNOLD, of Acton, in the County of Middlesex, Spinster. "AN IMPROVED
INCUBATING APPARATUS." [A communication from abroad; by Henri Gustave
Voitellier, of Mantes, in the Republic of France.]
The object of this Invention is to construct an incubating apparatus in a more
simple and economical manner than heretofore, and which will give results equal, if
not superior, to those complicated and expensive apparatus hitherto employed.
In all these apparatus the heat has been applied either above or below the eggs,
and it has thus been difficult to obtain proper ventilation of the eggs (which is one
great essential in the operation of hatching), without the employment of complicated
appliances which have rendered such apparatus practically useless.
According to the present Invention, the heat is applied round the nest of eggs,
leaving the surface of the eggs uncovered.
The apparatus consists of a rectangular or other shaped box or case, on the
bottom of which is secured a block of wood having a circular hole in the centre,
and in this circular space the eggs are to be placed. Upon this block of wood is
placed a closed annular metal reservoir to contain hot water, and this reservoir is
provided with inlet and outlet pipes fitted with cocks by which the hot water may
be introduced into the reservoir, and the cooled water drawn off.
A small pipe is fitted to the top of the reservoir to conduct steam to the eggs
under treatment, for the purpose of moistening the same.
ر

page_text: The ventilation is effected by means of a short open pipe which enters at the
bottom of the case, and projects up into the centre of the case or box. The lid of
the box or case is provided with a pair of hinged glazed frames, and through which
the attendant (managing the apparatus) may observe from time to time a thermo-
meter, and when required may, by opening one or both of the glazed frames,
regulate the temperature and assist ventilation.
The space between the outer case or box and the reservoir is filled with [some
non-conducting material to prevent radiation, and thus assist in keeping the water
hot in the reservoir. To obviate the necessity for refilling the reservoir from time
to time with hot water, the apparatus may be provided with a lamp or other
heating medium whereby the water when once at the proper temperature required
may be maintained at that temperature. The heat generated by the lamp or other
means is communicated to the water through a flue, which may either surround
the reservoir or may be enclosed in the reservoir. -
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said May Arnold in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th October
1878.
MAY ARNOLD, of Acton, in the County of Middlesex, Spinster, "AN IMPROVED
INCUBATING APPARATUS." A communication from abroad by Henri Gustave
-Voitellier, of Mantes, in- the Republic of France.
The object of this Invention is to construct an incubating apparatus of the
greatest possible 'simplicity and practical utility to the poultry rearer consistent
with the future health, strength, and size of the chickens hatched thereby. In all
the machines hitherto devised to attempt the same purpose, the heat has been
applied either above or below the eggs, and it has thus been difficult to obtain
proper ventilation of the eggs without temporary withdrawal of them from the
.source of heat.
According to the present Invention, the heat is applied round the eggs in a closed
annular metal reservoir, leaving the surface of the eggs uncoverablo.
The round form has been adopted as the most advantageous, but the heating
reservoir may also be oblong, oval, or square.
The arrangement of the machine consists in steadying the heat in the egg re-
ceptacle by its size and by the quality of non-conducting material between the
creservoirs and the case, calculated in connection with the heat producible by the
introduction from an outside source of a certain quantity of boiling water twice in
the 24 hours.
As the egg receptacle is only closed by a glazed frame, the temperature can be
ascertained at any inoment, so that the inexperienced person need only visit it n
little oftener to regulate the temperature and assist ventilation, by opening one or
more of the glazed frames, to obtain the same result as the practised operator who
can regulate his machine unhesitatingly.

page_text: The thermometer being placed upright in the receptacle is easy to examine, and
not exposed to the deviations which often present themselves in the horizontal
position which it occupies in other apparatus.
The proper ventilation of the eggs is one great essential feature in the operation
of hatching. The present apparatus supplies a considerable volume of air unaffected
by the outside temperature. As to humidity, it is given at pleasure as needed by a
sinall pipe marked in the plan by the letter S, which spreads it equally over the
eggs in the receptacle, and softens the shell at the period of hatching.
The machine is so made as to be taken to pieces and put together again without
having recourse to the manufacturer. All the parts of the case are put together
with screws.
It is principally intended that the necessary boiling water should be brought to
the machine from without twice daily, but the apparatus may be provided with a
lamp jet or fire box, by the lighting of which for awhile, twice daily, the water it
contains may be not kept continuously at right heat as in regular lamp incubators,
but restored to the temperature it is then calculated to maintain sufficiently of
itself for 12 hours, and the heat so generated may be communicated to the water
through a flue which may either surround the reservoir or may be enclosed in the
MAY ARNOLD. (L.S.)