US1917576A - Oscillatory incubator - Google Patents

Description

July 1l, 1933. B. H cLEM i 1,917,576

OSCILLATORY INCUBATOR (ftorlleg July 11, 1.933. B CLEM 15917576 OSCILLATORY INCUBATOH Filed Feb. 25, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i -3 /w'd X 5a .als 3.0 8

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July l1, 1933. B H CLEM 1,917,576

OS C ILLATORY INCUBATOR Filed Feb. 25, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 nventor; BE/vmM//v H, c2 EN;

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latented July 1l, 1933 uurran STATES PATENT g OFFICE BENJAMN CLEM., OF .NEW.JIADISN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF llQRTY-NINE PIR CENT TO J'. A. FLAG c SON, OF NEW MADISON, OHIO, A

oscILLaronY IliicUnAron` Application filed February 25, 1932. SeralNo. 595,043.

yhe object of luy-present invention, broadly speaking, is the provision of an incubator which is simple in its construction, economical in its operation, absolutely `reliable in its results, and which can be manufactured and soldata comparatively low price.

More specifically4 stated, by obj ect is to provide an incubator which is adapted yto be turned bated therein, that is turning the entire incubator rather than turning individual parts thereof, or turning t-he eggs individually, or without turning the trays separately, and without opening the incubator.

Another object, in combination With an alternating rotary incubator, is the means for iroperl conditioninof the interior of the in- 2') rubator, fer the purpose of proper incubation, is in providing a relatively stationary unit for automatically maintaining the proper circulation, temperature, and humidity, of the air inside the incubator at all times without the necessity of manual control. Other minor objects and subsidiary advantages and objects of my invention will suggest themselves in the course of the following specification.

@ne manner of earryingout the principles of my invention, in apractical and efficient construction, is shown in the accompanying three-sheets of drawings, in which-Figure l is a front elevation of my incubator, as it appears in vertical operative position.` Figure 2 is a cross section of the same, as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Figure 3 is a longitudinal section, as taken on the line 8-3 of Fig. 2. Figure 4 isa cross section, as taken on the line ll-i of Fig. l. Figure 5 is a detail section, as taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l. Figure 6 is a detail section, as taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. l. Figure 7 is a front elevation, with the doors omitted, showing the interior of the incubator. Figure 8 is an end elevation, indieating the three positions in which the incubator may be operated. Figure 9 is a vdetail view showing the inner face side of the cen# tral door, showing the adjustable ventilator element. Figure 10 is a side elevation of the conditioning unit alone. `Figure ll is an to different degrees of inclination, for Y the purpose of turning the eggs being incu- ,isometrical view of oneof the egg-traysindicating an egg positioned therein. `And Figure 12 1s an elevation of the thermostat, and

a plan of the Wiring.

comprising the disc-like end members l and Y 2, which have outwardly projecting door jamb `' portions 1 and 2,.respect1vely, each having a-straight outer forward edge. Said members l and 2 are spaced apart, parallel with each other, and theyjare connected by a plurality ofslats 3, or otherwise, which slats are laid adjoining each other, and the upper ends of the-members l and 2 are connectedl by a slatyand likewise the lower ends of the members arek connected by the slatr 3". Secured on the top face of the slat 3 is a beveled strip 4, and likewise secured on the bottom of the slat 3 is the beveled strip 5.

Thermal insulation of the body ofthe incubator i's'provided as follows: The periphery of the body, that is the slats 3is covered Withrsoft fiber board 6. 'The fiber board 6 projects laterally whereby it extends evenly with the endsl l and 2, with its other edges.V

contacting withV and being secured under the bevels of the strips l and '5. Completely covering the fiber board@ is a sheet of hardfiber panel board 7, whose ends yare secured Yunder the beveled portions of the strips 4 and 5. A'llllflmuler faces of the end membersyl and 2, and the projections l and 2', are

completely covered, each vby a sheet of hard fiber board 8 and 9, respectively. i

Extending longitudinally and horizontally through the centralv portion" of the* body, and projecting outwardly beyond each end thereof, is the axle 10, which is located slightly.- below the. center thereof whereby the body may tip forwardly, shown in Fig. 8, until the strip 5 engages the sill 15,011 it may tip rearwardly until the lug 83 engages the standard 11; or it maybe locked in upright position, as in Figs. 3, 1 and 7, by inserting the key through an aperture in the crt-ure in the member 8. The projecting end portions of the axle 10 provide pivots, which are journaled in the upper portions of lthe standards 11 and 12, which extend Vupwardly from the ioor A, where they are supported b y the footanembers 13 and 14,'ro'spectively, which forni the supporting base for the incubator. vThe said standards are of such length .as to support the body the desired distance above the'floor, whereby the body may be rotated. Said standards are connected by the double member sill 15, which usually rests on the Hoor line `A,v however its position, or it-s equivalent, should be suchl that it will be rengaged by the strip 5, when the body 1s turnedto a certain position, as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Said axle may be rotatable or stationary,A

with relation to the body, 'as preferred.

The interior of the body is divided into three substantially equal sections, whichl will designate, for convenience of description, as the centra-l section, the right-hand section, and the left-hand section, that is when viewed from the front, as in Figs. r1 and 7. f e

Said sections are divided, at the front, by the vertical strips 16' and 17, which are of the same width as the .slats 3 and 3y between which they are secured, and their liront edges are flush with the slats 3 and 3 and aie in alignment with the front edges of the )ambs 1 and. 2, thereby providing rthe three door openings', as is shown in'Fig. 7.

Attached vertically, flat against the inner face of the jamb-l, and extending between the members 3 and 3, is the strip 18, and a like strip 19 vis attached tov the jamb 2, and it 'also ext-ends between the members 3 and 3, and said strips 18 and 19 are set inwardly 'forming rabbets for thedoors, hereinafter mentioned. .Attached vertically against the inner tace ofthe strip 16 is a. cleat 20, and a like cleat 21 isattached to the strip 17 and said strips are set vinwardly to form rabbets for the door for the central section Located directly rearward ofeachot1 the members 16, 17, 18 and 19, is a vertical post.V

member 22 ;v and midwaybetween each of the members 16, 17, 18 and 19, and its rear post 00 to its respective rear and intermediate post 22'and23, is a wire screen section 24, whose doorways. Extendingy horizontally and constandard 11 and into a corresponding ap-V is anintermediate post 23. Attached toA xach of the members 16, 17, 18 and 19, and

necting'the respective members 16, 17, 18 and 19 with their respect-ive rear and intermediate posts 22 and 23, are the respective sets et drawer slides 25, 2G, 27 and 28. The drawer slides 25 and 26 are located inside the right-hand section, and the slides 27 and 28 are located in the left-hand section. rlhere are no drawer slides located in the central section. Secured on and extending across between the uppermost slides 25 and 2G is a top plate 29; and likewise secured on and extending across between the uppermost slides 27 and 28 a top plate 30. The forward end ot each ot' the drawer slides 25 ant/i728 terminate a short distance inwardly from the front edges of the members 18 and 19; andremovably contacting with each set of members 18 and 19 is a vertical locking strip 31 and 32, respectively, and they are easily removable and replaceable. The upper end ot each ofv said strips 31 and 32 is loosely inserted in a socket 33, as shown in Fig. G, and its lower end portion is pre- Vented Afrom being pushed forwardly by means of a pintle 34. 1

N meral denotes the drawers or trays of which, in this instance there are sii; on. each side, that is in the Vend sections. Said trays are. adapted to rest slii'lably on their respective slides 25--26 on one side, and the slides .ter the proper circulation' ot air therethrough, and they also provide hand-holds tor the trays. 1t. will now be compreheiuled reason ot the interim' arrangement of ubator, l provide means for the tree of air entirely around and tl ough the trays. That to say, thev air may more npwar lv from the space ot the central section.- to' tne uppermost part of the body, where it will' be detlectec thereb),v to thel right and thelett, over the top plates 29 and A30, thence downwardly through the spaces.betwee the end members 1 and 2 and the cnil srreens 2i., thence into the bottom space below the tl'ireo sections, except that in passiiw f'wnwz.. `ly, as stated, a certain the air will pass inw'ardlr thri'iugh ions and be distributed over and, t the trays 35, and finally, all ot the air be returned into the central se".- tion. and then said operation will be repeated t 'ribed.

ine door openings. ot each ot thel three secrns nien Aowed, are each adapted to be occtive door. as the respective (looms-if, 38 andl Fach of said doors is formed double, with insulation ll0 pacled between the lfront and the back of each door. as indicated in Figs. 5 andv The doors 37 and are each provided with a double transparency l1 and respectively, each ol which is comparatively narrow,

L11 Le CTA laterally, but vertically they extend almostthe full length of the doors, as shown in Fig. 1, in order that all of the trays may be seen theretlu'ough. c

Formed through the upper' portion of the door 38 an aperture 43, which is adapted to be opened and closed by the slide or shutter 44, shown in Fig. 9, and which is in sliding Contact with 'the back of the door 38, being slidably mounted and guided by the flanged frame 45, and it is manually operable bymcans of the knob 46, and when in closing position the slide 44 cont-acts with the stop 47.

rhe upper forward corner of the'shutter44 carries the indicating pointer 48, which acts stop when the shutter is opened, that is it contacts with the upper end of the frame 45. `Located above-the pointer 48 there is a `graduated s rale 49, for indicating the degree to which the aperture 43 is opened or closed.

'l' he door 3i is .mounted to the strip 16 by means of the hinges 74 and 75.Y The door 38 is mounted to the strip 16 by means of the hiuges't and 77. And the door '39 is mcnnt-L ed to the strip 17 by means of the hinges 78 and 79.

rEhe door 8T is provided with a spring latch 89. Like Yisc the door 38 is provided with a pring la tch 81. And the door 39 is provided with a spring latch 82. l x qWhen the body of my incubator is infupright position as in Fig. 1, and elsewhere in the drawings, it may be locked in that position by means of the key 50, which inserted through an 4apertur'e therefor through the standard ll and into a corresponding ape'rf ture Aharmed through the liber? board V6 and into the member l. placement of the keyY 59 it is secured to the chain 51, which latter is attachedto the eyelet 52 which in turn is secured into t-he member 11, as shown in Fig. 1.

1t is to be observed that when the key 59 is removed, the body of my incubator may be turned forwardly until the strip 5 engages the sill 15; and when the body is turned in the opposite direction the stop lug 83 may engage the standard 11. By this arrangement there are three positions provided for the body of the incubator, all of which are indicated in Fig. '8. i

The'means for conditioning the interior of my incubator as to heat, humidity and the circulation of air, consists of Va. single unit suspended upon the axle 10 and located inside the central portion .of the' incubator, but which is relatively stationary, that is, it does not turn when the main body of theincubator is turned, and it consists, in this instance, of a double frame whose members 53 and 54' are permanently fixed at substantially rightangles to each other, being connected together at their adjoining edges, forming' a saddle, which is adapted tostride the axle 10.

Permanent-ly `fixed and extending upwardln order to prevent mis-k ly from the juncture of said members, 53 and 54, is the comb 55, with a post 56 extending upwardly from the upper edge thercof,whose purpose'will hereinafterbe made apparent.

Thev frame memberv 54. carries a plate 57' therein, which plate has a comparatively large aperture B formed therethrough, which extends ythroughout the major portion of said plate'57. 1 Located concentrically with the aperture B, and located inwardly from, that is back of, the said aperture B, is an electric motor: 58, which is retained in suspension by a. plurality of arms 59 which extend from the plate 5?. Securely mounted on the outwardly extend ing shaft of said motor is a fan 69, which is revolvable in or near said aperture B. y

Removably mounted in the frame 53 is the water pocket 61, which tapers from its upper end downwardly toits lower edge, that is it expands upwardly, whereby it is formed D- shaped in crossisection. Numeral 62 denotes a clampv by which the pocket 61 is secured ink the frame 53, but whereby it Lmay be easily detached therefrom.

Secured across the flat lower' edgeportion `ofthe inner side of the pocket 61, isthe heat` ing element 63, which has the terminal posts 64 and 65, to whichare attached the respective wires'66 and 67. Secured to the comb 55, is thex socket 1ne1nberf68, which carries the terminal posts 68a and 68h, and the said wire 66 is attached vto said post 68. Attached to the postl 681 is the wire 72, the other endl of .which is attached to the distributing post 73.-

VThe wire 67 is attached to the distributing post 69. Numeral 86 denotes the condenser, which is secured to the comb 55,.and extend.-

. ing from the post 69 into the condenser 86, is

the wire 87. Also a wire 88 extends from the post 73 into the condenser 86. The purpose of the condenser 86 is only for preventing sparking between the members v71 and 85, and electric current does not iiow` therethrough. Attached to the post 68@ is the wire 92, which extends to one terminal of the fan motor 58; and attached to the post 68b is the wire 93, which extends to the other terminal of the motor. The thermostatwhich is mounted on th post 56, comprises a bracket member 94, whichl is adjustably mounted on said post 56. In-

tegral with the member 94 is the horizontal lower arm 89, having an upturned linger 89', at its outer end. Numeral 99 denotes the in-I termediate arm, whose outer end is pivoted to the linger 89T, and'it has an outwardly ex-L tending linger 95 which carries the upwardly extending contact 85. Said arm 99 extends inwardly tornear the bracket 95, where it terminates in an upwardly extending finger 99. Pivoted to the upper portion of the bracket 94 is the forwardly extending upper arm 91, which carries, at its forward end, the downwardly extending contact point 71,

which is adapted to contact with the point 85. Secured tothe central portionoit the under edge of the arm 90 are the expansion and contraction discs C and D. Letter E denotes the adjusting screw E, by the manipulation of which any desired degree of 'temperature may be attained inside the incubator before the heat will be reduced or increased, by therelation of the points 7l and 85 to each other.

Returning now to the wiring: Connecting the post 69 and the contact 7l is the wire T0. Connecting the post 73 and the contact 85 is the wire S4. Numeral 9G denotes the connecting plug-head, which is adapted to connect i' with the plug 68. Numerals'fl? and 9S denote thermain line circuit wires, through which' electric current is supplied to my invention.

The operation of my invention is substan-A tially as follows:

First, the doors maybe opened'and the trays lilled with eggs F, resting the lilled trays on the slides Q5, 26, 27 and 28as they are shown in Fig. 7. Atfthis time, or at any other time, the pocket 6L should be filled with water. Next the electric current is to beconnected, by attaching the head 96 to the plug G8', with said plug inserted in the'socket (i8, at which time the discs C and D will be spaced apart, with the points 7l and 85 in l contact with each other. This last movement will hook up the electric circuit whereby-'the fan 60, and the heater G3 will be functioning. The doors should now be closed and secured, placing the incubator in the position in which l it is shown in Fig. l. The fan will cause the dicated by the scale 49, throughout the period of incubation.

At certainl periods the eggs should be turned. this is accomplished without opening the doors or discontinuing the operation of the fan or the heater, and without touching the eggs, but it isto be accomplished as follows: Assumingrirst. that the incubator is turned d ownwardly to its limit of movement, which will bring the stripl 5 into contact with the sill l5, which will be the position ot the incubator as indicated by the dottedline G in Fig. S. Then when it is desired to again turn the eggs one has only toturn theincuhater to its limit upwardly, until the lug 83 f i engages the edge of the standard ll., as indicated by the dotted line H in Fig. 8. Turning the incubator from one to thevother of said downward and upward limits of movement, will afford the proper turning of the eggs contained therein.

. llhen it is desired to obtain access to the interior ofthe incubator, one has only t turn it to the .position 'in which it is indicated in solid lines in Fig. 8, that is to say, to the position in which it is shown in Fig. l, at which-position it may be locked by inserting the key 50, as above explained.

It is to be observed that the trays are all secured in position, by means ot the removable locking strips 3l and 32, which are adapted to prevent the trays from sliding when the incubator is tipped upwardly or downwardly.

Also it is to be noticed that the conditioning` unit, located in the central section, is adapted to adjust itself by gravity, as it is tree to turn on thc axle l0, but when the device is turned downwardly or upwardly it will not change its position, except relatively to the body of the incubator. However a slight change'ot the angular inclination of the conditioning unit will be caused by and depending upon the amount of water in the pocket l, but this is entirely inconsequential.

The paramount point to be regulated is the heat inside the incubator, and this is accomplisl'ied automatically by the thermostat shown, which acts upon the principle of lthe dilation by heat ot the compound contactingr discs C and D, which warp when the heat attains the desired degree, and the compound dilation thereof is transmitted to the compound arms 90 and 91, which eventuates in separating the points 71 and 85and thereby breaking the electric circuit and therefore the heat will be reduced until the desired temperature is restored. And conversely, whenthe proper temperature is restored the discs C and D will become deflected, thereby permitting thecontact 7l to impinge upon the contact 85, thereby restoring the electric circuit and allowing the parts to function as before.

It should be understood that the electric circuit which operates the fan G() is. when the circuit is completed by the insertion of the plug-head 96, direct. through the wires 92 and 93, and it is always unvarying when the circuit is plugged in.

` However the heating element has means for its variation, which i will now make clear: When the contact points 71 and 85 are connected with each other, the circuit through the heater 63 is practically direct and on full 'maXimum power, the same being from the post 68", through the wire 84, the contact 85, to the contact 7l, then through the wire 70, to the post 69. From the latter this circuit will continue through the wire G7 to the heating element 63, then returning through the wire G6, to the post 68 of the socket 68,'thereby completing the direct full powerA circuit for the heater 63.

Now should'the contacts 7l and 85 become separated, by reason of excess heat in the in- Cil is i cubator, acting upon the discs C and D, then the circuit through thepheating element will be disconnected andv cease to function, but the tan 60 will continue to operate, by reason of the unbroken circuit through the wires S32 and 93. The condenser 86 is connected to the postsGQ and 73, by the respective wires 87 and 8S.

Thermally, humidly, and circulatively speaking, my incubator is entirely automatic in its operation, as manually it requires only the supplyingof water and electricity there to, and turning the eggs, when required, but only one slight movement of ones hand is required for the latteroperation.

lt is to be understood that various changes may be made in the several details herein set forth, in the arrangement ont the parts, in the details ot operation of the parts, without departing from the spirit ot the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof which are new and useful and involve invention. l

l make no claim per se to the various elements of the conditioning unit, as they are old, and a description thereof would add more to prolixity than to clear-ness of comprehension.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the United States, is-w 1. An incubator having a body substantially round in cross section, means tor forming the interior of said body into a plurality of interconimunieating sections, a door tor closing the entrance to each section, 4means for 'removably supporting egg trays in certain oi' said sections, means provided tor the cir culation of air through all of said sections an d trays, a shaft extending centrally througlfi said body and on which the body is adapted to oscillate, an air conditioning unitlocated inside said body and suspended fromrsaid shaft but not oscillatable with said body, and means 'for supplying electric current to operate said air conditioning unit. Y

2.. fin oscillatory incubator including means t'or insulating` the exterior of the incubator, means Jfor dividing the interior of the incubator into` inter-communicating sections, egg trays slidably supported in certain of said sections, an outside door tor each section, there being an aperture through the door of the central section for the ingress and egress of air into and from the interior ot the incubator, means for controlling the passage of air through said apertures, a fan located in the central section for circulating the air throughout all of the sections, a water container located in the central section, a heater located in the central section, means for supporting the fan, the water container, and the heater so that they will not oscillate with the oscillation of theincubator, and means for operating the fan and the heater by electricity, all substantially as shown vand described.

3. An incubator comprisinga cylindrical body, a sha-ft extending horizontally through the body and on which the bodymay oscillate, said shaft being slightly out of center with relation to the axial center of the body whereby 'said body will normally assume one of two predetermined positions when it is released, said body being divided into compartments comprising a central compartment and an end compartment on each side oit' the central` compartment, a door leading Jfrom outside into each of said compartments, means for removably supporting trays in each of the end compartments, means for circulating air through all of said compartments, an air conditioning unit located in` the central compartment, said unit including means whereby said air conditioning unit will remain stationary when the body ot the incubator is oscillated, and means for retaining the body in a position other than the predetermined position.

4. ln combination, a body adapted to have a limited degree ot oscillation, a shaft supporting said body, -an air conditioning unit located in the body and carried in suspension by said shaft whereby it is not oscillatable with the body and comprising a saddle f loosely engaged on said shaft, an electric motor secured to the saddle, a fan operative by said motor, a watercontainer carried by thesaddle, an electric heating element at tached to said water container, means for supplying electric current for the operation ot' said motor and for heating the water, and a thermostat for the automatic control ot the electric current.

y5. An incubator comprising Ya body adapted to be oscillated manually, trays for containing eggs located in the body and adapted to be oscillated therewith, there being passageways whereby air may circulate through and around all of said trays, an electrically operable air conditioning unit located in the body, said air conditioning unit comprising an electric motor,'a'` fan operable by said motor, a water containing pocket, a heating element associated with said pocket, means for conducting electric current to operate the motor and for heating the heating element, a thermostat connected into said electric current conducting means, and means for suspending the conditioning unit inside the said body whereby it will not oscillate therewith, all substantially as set forth.

BENJAMIN H. CLEM. y

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