US1507463A - Incubator - Google Patents

Description

Sept. '2 1924. 1,507,463

' P. CHRISTIANSSQN INGUBATOR Filed Jan. 18. 1923 2 Shoets-Shoot l ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1924-.

PEI-IR CHRISTIANSSON, OF CARLOS, MINNESOTA.

INC'UBATOR.

Application filed January 18, 1923. Serial No. 613,383.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PEHR CHRISTIANSSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carlos, in the county of Douglas and State of Minnesota, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Incubators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to incubators, and its general object is the provision of an im proved structure by means of which the handling of the eggs for the purpose of turning and cooling the same may be accomplished with a minimum amount of time and labor.

A more specific object is the provision of a drawer for containing the eggs-which maybe withdrawn for the purpose of cooling the same without removing the eggs therefrom, the drawerbeing also provided with a plurality of'individual trays which are revolubly mounted and provided with means whereby the same may be simultaneously revolved forturning all of the eggs from the outside of theincubator in a moments time.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain details of construction, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective vlew of an 111- cubator equipped with my invention.

F1g. 2 is a perspective view of the front part of the same with the drawer extended.

Fig. 3 is a plan view parts shown in section. v

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the drawer.

Fig. 5 is a vertical: transverse section through the incubaton Fig. 6 is aside elevation of the lamp support -with the adj acent' part of the incubator shown in section.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of theen'd of one of the trays.

The incubator of which my invention forms a part comprises a rectangular body portion 1 supported by the-usual legs 2', and provided with a heating system 3', which is preferably of the hot water type. The water is heated in the usual 'manner by means of a-lamp 4 which is supported beneath a flue 5 around which extends a water jacket. The operation of the lamp and the a ount of heat hich is tran ed t9 the ed by eyes of the drawer with incubator is controlled means of a damper 6, the position of which is determined by means of an arm 7 which is actuated by meansof a thermostat 8. i I Instead of the usual egg trays,-which must be removed through a hinged door, in order to cool or turn the eggs, I have provided the incubator with a sli dable drawer 9 which extends substantially throughout the length and breadth of the body 1, and is provided at its front side with a; window 10 and dr;a w. er pulls 11. The drawer may be extended as shown in Fig. 2 for the purpose of. cooling the eggs, or for inserting or removing the same from the trays. A button 12 or the like may be-provid'ed for locking the drawer in closed position, as shown in Fig. 1.

Since the drawer is of considerable length, and in order to 0001 all the eggs equally or to gain access to all of the trays it is necessary to completely extendthe drawer, I have provided means for supporting the same when in its extended position. This means includes a bail 13 which. is pivotally support 14 secured in the upper front edge of the incubator. When the drawer is fully extended, the bail is adapted to engage in a groove or notch 15 which extends transversely across the underside'of the drawer 9. p In order to check theextension of the drawer at the proper point, and to prevent the drawer from being accidentally withdrawn completely fromthe incubator, Ihave providedat each side of theincubator, near the front edge,,a spring-pressed pin 16 which is adapted to enter a recess 17' formed in the inner end of the drawen lVhen it is .de-

sired to close the drawer, the pins may be withdrawn from the recesses 17 by means-of the, protruding heads 18., r I

' Vithin the-drawer 9, a plurality of trays 19 extend transversely thereof and are provided with trunnions 20 which are revolubly supported in vertical slots 21 formed in the inner side walls. of the drawer. Each'tray is preferably of a width to receive two rows of eggs, and the slots 21 extend to theupper edges of the side walls of that the traysmay be easily removed therefrom for the purpose of cleaning: orfilling the same. Each tray is provided at one end with a sprocket/wheel 22 which is engaged by a sprocket chain 23, the upper and lower flights of which extend outwardl ro Slots, 2. n the front wal f h the; drawer so drawer and engage over a sprocket wheel 25 which is mounted in a bracket 26 secured to the front side of the drawer. A series of L-shaped brackets 27 or the like are arranged to bear against the upper flight of the chain 23 between the trays to secure proper engagement of the chain with the sprockets 22, and the lower flight ofthe sprocket chain is supported by a series of rollers 28 for a similar purpose.

It will be understood, therefore, that when the sprocket wheel 25 is rotated through an angle of 180, all of' the trays are turned simultaneously. For convenience in effecting this rotation, have provided a bail 29 which is secured, by a non-rotatable connection, to the sprocket wheel 25 and may be retained in its upper or lower position by means of holders 30.

For the purpose of inserting or removing the eggs from the trays, each tray is provided with a removable cover 31 which is preferably foraminous so that proper circulation and ventilation will be secured, the bottoms also being f'oramino'us, as shown at 55 in Fig. 2'. The cover 31 is provided at one end with a plurality of eyes 32 which engage hooks 33 secured in the end wall of the tray. The other end of the cover is provided with a bail 34 which extends around one or more eccentrics 35. Each of these eccentrics is provided with a circumferential groove 36 within which the bail 3 L is adapted to be retained, and the eccentric is pivotally mounted on a pin 37 about which it may be moved by means of a lug 38, to the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the cover is stretched and maintained in closed position. The eccentric is also provided with a notch 39 in which a pin 40 may be inserted to look the eccentric in position, but may be easily removed when it is desired to rotate the eccentric to release the bail 34C and remove the cover. A retaining rod ll may also be extended transversely across the cover to retain the intermediate portion of the same in proper position when the tray is inverted, and this retaining member is provided at its ends with eyes 42 which slidably engage the tracks 43 that extend from end to end of the tray and are preferably secured intermediately to the sides of the tray, as indicated at 4%. When it is desired to re move the cover, the retaining rod e1 may be moved to the end of the tray, and the cover, after being released. by the eccentrics 35, may be easily removed.

The incubator is preferably provided with a ventilating hole 45 in its rear wall which may, if desired, be closed by a removable peg. A thermometer tray 46 may also be secured at a convenient point along the side wall where it may be viewed through a small window s7.

For supporting "the lamp 4, I have provided a U-shaped bracket 48 whichis secured by screws to the under wall of the body l, as shown in Fig. 6, and a vertical screwthreaded rod 49 is adjustably supported in the bracket by means of suitable lock nuts 50, and its upper end is guided in a plate v51 secured between the legs of the bracket, and the upper end of the rod projects into a recess 52 formed in the bottom of the body 1.

The lower end of the rod 49 is provided with I an adjustable wing nut 53 or the likeby means of which the lamp support 5% may be adjustably supported.

From the foregoing description, it willbe seen that l have provided an incubator in which the turning and cooling of the eggs, or any of the other operations which are necessary in using the incubator, may be performed with very little labor and in a minimum amount of time, all of the eggs being handled simultaneously. The eggs may be supported in the drawer and coo-led without removing the same therefrom. It will also be noted that when the drawer is in its extended position, the inner end thereof will close the opening into the incu-- bator and thus prevent the interior thereof from becoming cooled, The lamp may be easily and quickly adjusted vertically in order to obtain the best results.

lVhile I have shownand described in detail the construct-ion and arrangement by means of which my invention may be carried out, it will be understood that this is merely illustrative and that various modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit-'ofthe invention as defined by the claims.

hat is claimed is 1. In an incubator, an egg chamber, a plurality of trays in. said chamber for. receiving eggs, eachv tray having trunnions on which it is revoluble, and a sprocket wheel secure-d thereto, a sprocket wheel revolubly mounted outside the chamber, a sprocket chain connecting all of said sprocket wheels, a bail secured to the outside sprocket. for oscillating the same to turn the trays, and means for limiting the movement of the bail in each direction.

2. An egg tray for incubators, comprising bottom and side walls, a foraminous cover hinged at one end and having a bail at the other end, and a rotatable eccentric for em gaging said bail to hold the cover in closed position.

3. In wan incubator, a tray adapted to be filled with eggs and having a cover, hooks at one end of the tray, eyes on one end of the cover engaging the books, the other end of the cover having a bail, eccentrics mounted on the tray and having circumferential grooves with which the. bail is en said eccentrics being rotatable to ock the bai in the grooves or release it therefrom.

ageable,

4. In an incubator, a tray adapted to be filled with eggs and having a removable foraminous cover supported at each end, tracks secured to the tray at each side of the cover, and a retaining member slidably supported by the tracks and normally extending across the intermediate portion of the cover to retain and support the same when the tray is inverted, said retaining member being slidable longitudinally beyond the end of the cover to permit the opening of the latter. I

5. In an incubator, a tray adapted to be filled with eggs and having a cover, hooks at one end of the tray, eyes on one end of the cover engaging said hooks, the other end of. the cover having a bail, eccentrics mounted on the tray and having circumferential grooves with which the bail is engageable, said eccentrics being rotatable to lock the bail in the grooves or release it therefrom, tracks secured to the tray at each side of the cover, and a retaining member slidably supported by the tracks and normally extending across the intermediate portion of the cover to retain and support the same when the tray is inverted, said retaining member being slidable longitudinally beyond the bail at the end of the cover to permit the cover to be removed when the bail is released from the eccentrics.

6. In an incubator, an egg tray having a foraminous cover with eyes at one end, hooks secured to the side of the tray and-on which the eyes are mounted, the other end of the cover having a bail, and eccentrics mounted on the. tray and having circumferefipial grooves with which the bail is engagea e, the bail in the grooves or release it therefrom.

7, In an incubator, an invertible tray having a foraminous cover hinged at one end, said cover having a bail at the other end, and an eccentric rotatably mounted 011 the side of the tray and engageable with said bail to hold the cover in closed position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereunto afliXed nature.

, PEHRCHRISTIANSSON.

said eccentrics being rotatable to lock my sig-

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