Improvements in Incubators or Apparatus for Hatching Eggs by Artificial Heat.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 20th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 25th Jan., 1887.
Improvements in Incubators or Apparatus for Hatching Eggs by
Artificial Heat.
I AUGUSTIN FIDDES of Lewins Mead in the City and County of Bristol, Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
.
First the means by which the eggs placed in the drawers or drawer of an Incubator
or Apparatus for Hatching Eggs by Artificial Heat can be systematically, all at once,
and by one operation, and at the will of the operator made to revolve or partially
revolve and then remain stationary until again purposely turned.
Another Improvement is the shape and arrangement I give to the Hot Water Tank,
by means of which a more equable or nearly equable temperature of the atmosphere
immediately in contact with the eggs is automatically maintained, within Incubators
or Apparatus for Hatching Eggs by Artificial Heat.
Another Improvement is the means I adopt to maintain a sufficient and equable or
nearly sufficent and equable degree of moisture in the atmosphere immediatly in con-
tact with the eggs within Incubators or Apparatus for Hatching Eggs by Artificial
Heat.
Another improvement is the introduction of a drawer or drawers in Incubators for
storing and preserving the Eggs intended for Incubation this preserving being accom-
plished by turning them periodicaly by the same means as is used to turn them in the
Hatching drawer or drawers which is as follows.
I divide the Egg drawers of Incubators into paralled divisions by means of strips
of Material or wires strained from side to side at distances apart sufficient to allow
the Eggs to rest without crowding in paralled rows and I make the bottom of the
drawers of a perforated material and cover it with a porous cloth which bottom or
cloth or both together I make to slide when required under the Eggs and thus give
them a simaltaneous revolving movement while they are held in their relative positions
by the parallel divisions or wires before described. By another way of attaining the
same object I make a sliding frame to fit into the drawer and having parallel divisions
to hold the eggs while their lower bilge rests upon a fixed bottom and I further fit the
egg drawers of my Incubators with evaporating pans which will be described further on.

page_text: In carrying out my said Invention and for the purpose of assuring the maintainance
of a more equable or nearly equable temperature of the atmosphere immediately in
contact with the eggs within Incubators, I make the Hot Water Tank of such a shape
that it practically extends all over the top of the egg drawer and surrounds it on three
sides and also supplies hot water circulating through evaporating troughs under the
drawer.
And for the purpose of assuring a sufficient and equable or nearly sufficient and
equable amount of moisture in the atmosphere immediately in contact with the eggs
within Incubators I do as before mentioned fit the egg drawers with evaporating pans
to contain water and sponges and I also fit movable evaporating pans immediately
under the bottom of the Hot Water Tank.
And for the purpose of my Invention I make a movable Drying Box of such a
shape and arrangement that it is easily fixed or removed and that fits one end of the
Incubator Frame and slips over and surrounds the lamp and Boiler and utilises the
radiating heat direct.

page_text: Improvements in Incubators or Apparatus for Hatching Eggs by
Artificial Heat.
I, AUGUSTIN FIDDES, of Lewins Mead, in the city and county of Bristol, engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what matter the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The improvements in incubators in which this invention consists relate, firstly, to
the drawer or compartment in which the eggs are hatched. Under this invention, the
bottom of the said drawer or compartment on which the eggs are deposited is capable
of being moved backwards and forwards within limits in the same manner as a sliding
shelf or drawer. The shelf is composed of perforated zinc covered on the upper face
with a porous cloth or blanket, as is usual, or it may be made of other materials.
Extending across from one side of the hatching drawer to the other are wires so
disposed as to divide that part of the space intended for the eggs into compartments.
In these divisions the eggs are placed end to end in separate parallel rows in regular
order and without crowding.
The egg space may be divided by strips of wood or by other means in lieu of wires.
The extent to which the shelf on which the eggs are deposited can be moved forward
or thrust back is such as to provide for reversing or turning the eggs which revolve
accordingly between the wires or partitions to the desired degree by the friction of
the cloth or blanket of the shelf as the latter is moved below them. Thus, by simply
moving the shelf, the whole of the eggs in the hatching drawer are simultaneously
turned when required in the process of hatching.
This invention relates, secondly, to the hot water tank whence the necessary warmth
is imparted to the eggs. According to this invention, the tank is so shaped as to
surround the hatching drawer on two or more sides in addition to extending over the
top thereof. By thus partially surrounding the hatching drawer with the hot water
tank those eggs which are towards the sides so surrounded are heated more uniformly
with those nearer the middle of the drawer.
This invention relates, thirdly, to the means for providing the necessary supply of
moisture for the eggs.
In the frame of the hatching drawer are provided spaces for troughs containing
water by the evaporation of which moisture is derived. In these troughs are placed
sponges for the purpose of promoting evaporation of the water in which they are
partially immersed.
For the further supply of the necessary moisture a water trough or troughs is or
are placed on a shelf at a convenient distance below the hatching drawer, and, for the
purpose of promoting evaporation, a circulating pipe in communication with the
boiler may be conducted through such trough or troughs.
This invention consists, fourthly, in the employment of a drawer for storing eggs
and preserving the same in proper condition for subsequent incubation. This drawer

page_text: is furnished with a sliding shelf whereby the eggs may be turned at required intervals
to prevent permanent settlement on one side of the yolks. Air is permitted to pass
freely through the drawer to keep the eggs fresh and cool.
This invention consists, fifthly, in the use of a drying box or chamber lined with a
porous cloth or blanket and conveniently arranged to be attached to the frame and to
partially surround the boiler which is also covered with cloth.
This box is designed to receive the newly hatched chicks which are placed therein
to dry as they are hatched.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 represents a
semi front elevation and semi vertical section of an incubator having embodied
therein the improvements in which this invention consists. Fig. 2 is a plan of one
half of the hatching compartment or drawer.
The shelf a of the hatching drawer is composed of perforated zinc covered on the
upper face with a porous cloth or blanket, as is usual. It may, however, be of
wood or other suitable material. This shelf is capable of being moved forwards
and backwards.
The eggs
bare placed on the sliding shelf and are maintained in regular order in
parallel rows by the wires e extending from one side of the drawer to the other. The
shelf a may be moved backwards and forwards to an extent sufficient to cause the
eggs thereon to make one half of a revolution between the wires c and so to bring the
lower part of each to the top, at the required intervals. The shelf is actuated from a
handle d, Fig. 2, which rotates a pinion wheel e taking into the teeth of a rack formed
on the outer end of the bar f. By the use of a rack and pinion the extent to which
the eggs are turned may be controlled with great nicety. The shelf may, however,
be actuated by simply pulling or pushing the bar f, or by any equivalent means.
Under a modification the shelf on which the eggs are deposited may be fixed and
the drawer frame be made capable of sliding so as to cause the eggs to be turned by
rolling.
The hot water tank g whence the requisite heat is imparted to the eggs is, according
to this invention, shaped so as to surround the hatching drawer at the sides in addition
to extending, as is usual, over the top. The tank may be made to extend around the
back also of the hatching drawer.
By so shaping the tank, a more uniform distribution of the heat to the eggs is
obtained, those eggs which are towards the sides and back of the drawer being heated
more uniformly with those further in.
For the purpose of affording to the eggs a part of the requisite degree of moisture
the frame of the hatching drawer is provided with boxes j in which are placed troughs h
containing water. In the incubator illustrated in the drawings appended hereto the
water troughs are placed at the back and front of the drawer. They may, however,
be otherwise disposed as, for instance, at the sides of the drawer. By the use of
sponges (not shown in the drawings) placed in the said troughs evaporation of the
water is promoted.
To further assist in affording the requisite moisture for the eggs a water trough or
troughs is or are placed on a shelf iminediately below the hatching drawer and the
evaporation of the water therein is further promoted by carrying the pipe i, through
which the hot water from the tank passes, through such trough hor through a series
of such troughs.
As a convenient means of storing eggs intended for incubation, a drawer is
employed and fitted to work in the frame of the incubator. The shelf m of this
drawer is similar to that of the hatching drawer above described and is free to be
moved in substantially the same manner for the purpose of turning the eggs between
wires or partitions p to prevent permanent settlement to one side of the yolks and to
keep the eggs fresh and cool.
Cold air has free play through the bottom of the drawer and through the perfora-
tions in the fixed cover n. As the sliding shelf m should at all times cover the bottom
of the drawer, it is made longer from back to front to the extent necessary to cause
the eggs to make one half of a revolution. The drawer is conveniently slotted at the

page_text: front and back to provide for the passage of the shelf m accordingly. Stops are
placed in the draw bar to prevent the shelf from being drawn forward or pushed back
beyond the required extent of travel.
A fifth improvement comprised in this invention is the use of a box o conveniently
arranged to be hung or suspended from the frame of the incubator and to partially
surround the boiler k.
This box affords a convenient receptacle for the chicks which are transferred to it
from the hatching drawer, and they are therein dried by the heat radiating from the
boiler. The box is lined with a porous cloth or blanket and the boiler is covered with
a like material for the protection and comfort of the chicks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an incubator, providing the hatching drawer or compartment with a movable
shelf, free to slide within definite limits, on which the eggs are deposited, and
providing the drawer with wires; or their equivalents, for maintaining the eggs in
separate rows and approximately in the same relative position whilst permitting the
eggs to turn when required, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In an incubator, obtaining rotatory movement of the eggs in the hatching
drawer or compartment by means of a frame free to be moved over a fixed shelf on
which the eggs are deposited, the said frame being provided with wires or their
equivalents for maintaining the eggs in separate rows and approximately in the same
relative position.
3. In an incubator, the employment of a tank, from which the heat is afforded to
the eggs, having the sides, or the sides and the rear end, extended down to surround
the corresponding parts of the hatching drawer for the purpose of more uniformly
distributing the heat among the eggs, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. In an incubator, the use of a trough or troughs placed in the hatching drawer,
and containing sponges, for affording part of the necessary moisture for the eggs,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. In an incubator, the use of a trough or troughs placed below the hatching com-
partment or drawer for the purpose of further assisting to afford moisture for the
eggs, and through which trough or troughs is conducted a pipe having hot water
circulating therethrough, substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. In an incubator, the use of a drawer for storing and preserving eggs, furnished
with a movable shelf, free to slide within definite limits, and on which the eggs are
deposited, and providing the drawer with wires, or their equivalents, for maintaining
the eggs in separate rows and in approximately the same relative position whilst
permitting the eggs to turn when required, substantially as herein before described.
7. In an incubator, the use of a box arranged to partially surround the boiler or
heating apparatus and employed as a receptacle and drying chamber for the chicks as
they are hatched in and removed from the hatching compartment or drawer, substan-
tially as hereinbefore described.
8. In an incubator the combination of a hatching drawer with sliding shelf a and
wires or partitions c, a tank such as g, extending above and partially around the
hatching drawer, evaporating troughs such as h and h', a storing drawer such as / with
sliding shelf m and wires or partitions p, and a drying box such as o, partially
surrounding the boiler k, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the
appended sheet of illustrative drawings and for the purposes set forth.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.