US2759451A - Lateral hot air brooder - Google Patents

Description

' g- 1956 c. w. ZIMMERMAN 2,759,451

LATERAL HOT AIR BROODER Filed Oct. 19, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 O Clarence W Zimmerman [NV EN TOR.

Y WWW g- 21, 1956 c. w. ZIMMERMAN 2,759,451

LATERAL HOT AIR BROODER Filed Oct. 19. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

Clarence W Zimmerman I N V EN TOR.

my. 25m

United States Patent 9 LATERAL HOT AIR BROODER Clarence W. Zimmerman, Fort Lnpton, Colo.

Application October 19, 1953, Serial No. 386,733

6 Claims. (Cl. 119-34) This invention relates to a brooder and particularly to a brooder having a hover chamber and a feeding platform connected thereto.

In the brooding of chicks it is essential to provide a warm space or hover in which the chicks may be maintained at a comfortable temperature for sleeping or for other purposes. Also, it is desirable to provide a space accessible to the hover in which feed may be spread for the chickens to eat and in which the chicks may move about for exercise and exposure to the ultra-violet rays of sunlight so that the chicks may absorb the ultra-violet and receive the beneficial effects thereof.

In the operation of brooders it is essential that the brooder itself be readily accessible for cleaning and disinfecting so that the same may be kept in a sanitary and healthful condition.

In a construction according to the invention the brooder is provided as an enclosure having an adjustable floor therein and a heater chamber mounted below the floor with means mounted below the heater chamber for supplying heat thereto and a removable cover on the enclosure with a heat or hot air distributor mounted thereon and in communication with the heater chamber so that the heat may be evenly distributed through the enclosure. The floor is made adjustable with respect to the top so that the space to be heated will be proportional to the size of the chicks to be warmed.

The device is further constructed with a cold air or fresh air inlet to the heater chamber and a thermostatic device responsive to the temperature in the brooder so that cold air or fresh air will be admitted into the heater chamber to maintain the temperature in the brooder at the desired temperature and a gate is mounted in the passage and responsive to the thermostat for controlling this tempearture as may be desired. A second enclosure or attic like device is placed over the hover and the top is provided with suitable apertures so that the hot air from the hover will move upwardly into the second enclosure and thermostatic device is provided therein so that in response to over temperature therein the hot and stale air in the brooder may be readily exhausted through a suitable duct.

A feeding platform is provided adjacent to the hover proper and preferably at the lowest level to which the floor in the hover may be adjusted. The feeding platform itself is provided into a plurality of sections and curtain like flaps are provided thereon to prevent ready circulation of air therethrough and to restrain the movement of chicks so that they may slowly move about the platform. The platform itself is connected to the hover by means of an inclined ramp and a swinging door is provided on the hover and the ramp may be removed so that the swinging door may tightly close the hover not only to prevent 1ngress and egress of the chicks therein but to control the air flow therein.

It is accordingly an object of an improved brooder.

the invention to provide "ice,

It is a further object of the invention to provide a brooder which may be readily dismantled for cleaning.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved heating system for a brooder.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the brooder according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation through the brooder taken substantially on the plane indicated by the section line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on a reduced scale through the brooder taken substantially on the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the brooder;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation taken substantialy on the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the fresh air and temperature control.

In the exemplary embodiment according to the invention the hover comprises an enclosure 10 having a back wall 12 and side walls 14 and 16 with a front wall 18 which is substantially open to be closed by a suitable door 20 which is hinged adjacent the top of the enclosure 10 and swings into closing position with the front side of the enclosure. The enclosure 10 is provided with a bottom member 22 which is rigidly fixed thereto and has an appreciable aperture 24 therein for admitting heat therethrough for a purpose presently to be described. The floor 22 extends forward to provide an extended platform 26 and the side walls 14 and 16 are extended to provide side walls 28 and 36 which provide a cover runway having a top member 32 through which the chicks may pass in and out of the hover when the swinging door 20 is raised. A central feeding platform 34 is provided in front of the egress passageway and supplementary feeding platforms 36 and 38 are provided on each side of the central platform 34. The platform 34 being separated from the platforms 36 and 38 by means of partition walls 40 and 42.

The feeding platforms 34, 36 and 38 are provided with a suitable floor member 44 and the floor members 22 and 44 are supported on suitable supports such as posts 46. Obviously, the platforms 22 and 44 could be mounted on any suitable support other than the posts 46.

The feeding platforms 34, 36 and 38 are enclosed by means of suitable back walls 48 and 50, end walls 52 and 54 and a front wall 56 having a suitable door 58 therein so that the chicks may be removed from the device when desired. The partitions 4th and 42 are provided with suitable apertures 58 therein and closure curtains 60 are fastened thereover so that the air will not be dusty or circulate too rapidly therein and so that the chicks may be somewhat restricted in moving about the feeding platforms.

A sliding roof 62 is provided over the feeding platforms 34, 36, 38 and is suitably slidably imposed on the walls 48, 50, 56 and is provided with hinge sections 64 and 66 hinged at 64, 66 (see Figure 5) which may be raised up inwardly to admit feed or other material thereinto or allow the operator to have egress to the device. The entire roof 62 preferably being slidably positioned with relation to the feeding platforms so that any portion of the platforms or all of the platforms may be uncovered as desired. Window like members 68 may be provided in the sections 64, 66 so that the ultra-violet radiation of the sun may readily pass therethrough and into the feed- 3 ing platform so that the chicks may be eradicated and made healthful thereby.

A depending heater enclosure 70 is secured to the bottom of the platform or bottom "22 below the aperture 24 and a suitable heating device herein shown as an oil burner device 72 is mounted therein and a plurality of apertures 74 are providedin the member 70 so that air may be admitted for the support of combustion in the oil burner 72. Products of combustion may be discharged in any suitable manner pre'ferably, not shown. A bottom member 80 is mounted in the enclosure 10 and is spaced above the bottom of the enclosure 22 by means of suitable shims 82 so that the bottom member 80 may be positioned at any desired height above the bottom 22. In order to permit the chicks to move from the bottom member 80 into the bottom 26 a ramp'84 is provided in the passageway or egress way so that the chicks may walk up and down and for convenience cleats 86 are provided on the ramp 84 so that the chicks may easily climb or descend on the ramp 84. Obviously, theramp 84 must be removed before the swinging door 29 will move into proper closing position with the front wall 18.

A removable top 88 is mounted on the enclosure 10 and substantially retains the heat in the enclosure so that a suitable hover is provided and the hover being of adjustable height to care for the various sizes of chicks which may be cared for therein. 7

The heating element for the hover comprises a heating chamber 90 rigidly secured to the bottom of the bottom member 88 and having a heat outlet conduit 92 extending upwardly through an aperture 94 in the bottom member 80. A return duct 96 extends through the bottom member 80 and extends downwardly into the heating chamber 90 and a suitable guard such as the circular fence 98 is mounted around the aperture 96 to prevent the chicks from falling into or stopping up the return passage 96. A cold air duct 100 is provided in the heating chamber 90 and is connected to an outer aperture 1594 which is enclosed in a suitable shield member 106. A valve gate 108 is mounted in a duct 100 and a thermostat 11 is mounted in the hover chamber and is connected to the gate 1% by means of a protecting rod 112 so that expansion of the bellows type thermostat 114 will actuate the rod to openand close the valve gate 198.

The heat distributing device includes a'cruciform duct device 116 rigidly mounted on the top fit? by means of brackets 118 and is provided with a downwardly depending duct 12b for sliding engagement with the duct 92 of the heater chamber 95). Cruciform duct device 116 is provided with terminal apertures 122 for discharging hot air therefrom.

The thermostatic device 119 is preferably mounted on a substantially cylindrical enclosure 128 which contains a preferably triangular mounting 13E) in which the frame 114} is mounted and in which 'the expansible bellows 114 may be adjustably mounted by 'means of the adjusting screw*ll32. Preferably the fence 98 is made as a portion of the container 128 so that the minimum of space is required for the temperature controller and the air excluder.

A second enclosure or attic member 'l40is removably received over the first enclosure and the top member 38 is provided with a plurality of apertures 1'42 and 144 so that stale hot air from the hover hanger may move upwardly into the secondenclosure 140. Enclosure 1'40 is provided with an outlet duct 144 which is controlled by means ofa gate valve 146. Thermostatic frame 148 is mounted on the top 150 of the upper enclosure MB and a bellows type thermostat 152 is mounted therein by means of an adjusting screw 154 and a push rod 156 extends into controllingcontact with the gate 146.

In 'the operation of the device according to the "invention the bottom "member '80 is adjusted to any desired height to"properlyaccommodatedhe chicks to be contained or cared for in the hover and a suitable heat will be supplied by the burner 72 to heat the heating chamber 90 so that hot air will move upwardly through the ducts 92 and 120 and be distributed by the distributor 116. The air will return through the return duct 96 because of suction created at the duct by the heated air rising in the ducts '92, 120 and again be heated so that the device will operate until the hover chamber has reached the desired temperature after which time the bellows 114 will operate to admit makeup or cool air by means 'of the gate 108 so that the temperature in the hover will be constantly controlled by theaddition of air at thepropertemperature as controlled by the thermostat 110. Stale hotair will go upwardly through the apertures 142 and 144 and affect the thermostat 152 which will "open the gate valve 146 to admit egress of the stale hot air so that constant supply of fresh warm air will move through the hover and the stale air will constantly be discharged through the duct 144.

When it is desired to feed the chicks the ramp'84 will be placed in position and the door 20 will be raised to open position so thatthe chicks will have egress through the passageway into the first feeding platform 34 and if desired may pass through the apertures 58 under the curtain like drops into either of the feeding platforms 36 or'38 where obviously the curtains may be fixed in position'so that the chicks may not pass therethrough.

The operator may readily remove the top of either the feeder or the brooder chamber so that the device may be readily cleaned and the top 88 or the floor member maybe readily removed therefrom for proper cleaning. It will be obvious that the distributor 116 being fixed to the top 88 maybe readily removed therewith without disturbing th esame. Further the thermostatic device being fixed onthe bottom member 80 may be readily removed therewith without disturbing the operation of the valve 108.

Likewise the attic member may be readily removed without disturbing the thermostat or thegate 146. 7

It will thus be apparent that the present invention-has provided an improved brooder in which all portionsmay be readily gotten to clean or'disinfect the same and in which the chicks may have ready access to various portions of the device or may be imposed for suitable warming if desired. Further, the floor member may be readily adjustable to the height of the poultry to be cared for therein and obviously if the poultry is of sufficient size the floor-member 80 may be rested directly on the bottom =22 of the enclosure.

While for purposes of exemplification a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown, and des'cribed according to the best present understanding thereof, it will be apparent-to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement thereof without departing fromthe true spirit-andpurpose of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A brooder comprising a substantially rectangular enclosure, a removable top on said enclosure, a bottom member removable through the top of said enclosure, a

beating chamber fixed under said bottom membe rneans mounted onsaid enclosure for'applying heat'to said heating chamber when-said bottom member is in place in said enclosure, a heat outlet duct communicated to 'said'heating chamber and extending upwardly through said bot- 'mer'n ber removable through thetop of said enclosure, a

heatingchamberfix'ed under said bottom member, means mounted on said enclosure for applying heat to said heating chamber when said bottom member is in. place in said enclosure, a heat outlet ductcoirimfini'cated to said heating chamber and extending upwardly thr ough said bottom member, a return passage in said bottom member and extending downwardly into said heating chamber, a guard positioned around said return passage, an air inlet duct communicating with said heating chamber, a control valve in said duct, and means responsive to the temperature between said bottom member and said top for operating said valve.

3. A brooder comprising a substantially rectangular enclosure, a removable top on said enclosure, a bottom member removable through the top of said enclosure, a heating chamber fixed under said bottom member, means mounted on said enclosure for applying heat to said heating chamber when said bottom member is in place in said enclosure, a heat outlet duct communicated to said heating chamber and extending upwardly through said bottom member, a return passage in said bottom member and extending downwardly into said heating chamber, a guard positioned around said return passage, a heat distributor mounted on said top, a depending duct on said distributor adapted to communicate with said heat outlet duct.

4. A brooder comprising a substantially rectangular enclosure, a removable top on said enclosure, a bottom member removable through the top of said enclosure, a heating chamber fixed under said bottom member, means mounted on said enclosure for applying heat to said heating chamber when said bottom member is in place in said enclosure, a heat outlet duct communicated to said heating chamber and extending upwardly through said bottom member, a return passage in said bottom member and extending downwardly into said heating chamber, a guard positioned around said return passage, a heat distributor mounted on said top, a depending duct on said distributor adapted to communicate with said heat outlet duct, said bottom member being adjustable with respect to the top.

5. A brooder comprising a substantially rectangular enclosure, a removable top on said enclosure, a bottom member removable through the top of said enclosure, a heating chamber fixed under said bottom member, means mounted on said enclosure for applying heat to said heating chamber when said bottom member is in place in said enclosure, a heat outlet duct communicated to said heating chamber and extending upwardly through said bottom member, a return passage in said bottom member and extending downwardly into said heating chamber, a guard positioned around said return passage, supporting shims selectively insertable between said bottom member and said enclosure to selectively position said bottom member in said enclosure.

6. A brooder comprising a substantially rectangular enclosure, a removable top on said enclosure, a bottom member removable through the top of said enclosure, a heating chamber fixed under said bottom member, means mounted on said enclosure for applying heat to said heating chamber when said bottom member is in place in said enclosure, a heat outlet duct communicated to said heating chamber and extending upwardly through said bottom member, a return passage in said bottom member and extending downwardly into said heating chamber, a guard positioned around said return passage, an air inlet duct communicating with said heating chamher, a control valve in said duct, and means responsive to the temperature between said bottom member and said top for operating said valve, a second enclosure removably positioned on said first mentioned enclosure, said top having apertures communicating said first and second enclosures, an air outlet duct in said second enclosure, 21 control valve in said air outlet duct and means responsive to the temperature in said second enclosure for operating said valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 669,856 Randolph Mar. 12, 1901 752,542 Fuston Feb. 16, 1904 846,865 Rogers Mar. 12, 1907 1,165,509 Irwin Dec. 28, 1915 1,303,804 Kohl May 13, 1919 1,671,039 Mead May 22, 1928 1,676,583 Straw July 10, 1928 1,891,838 Portela Dec. 20, 1932 2,593,029 Holdredge Apr. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 382,777 Great Britain Nov. 3, 1932

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