US638309A - Incubator. - Google Patents

Description

No. 638,309. Patented Dec. 5, I899. E. W. ANDREWS.

INCUBATOR.

(Application filed July 7, 1899.)

(N0 Modal.)

W|TNE3SESF INVENTUR W 0: @MMWM I ATTORNEY TH: Mcmus PEYERS cu. PHoro-u'mo. WASHINGYON. n. c. a

' of the chamber.

Unrrnn drains A'IFN'I Utmos EDWIN W. ANDREWS, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. W; ANDREWS INOUBATOR COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

'INCUBATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,309, dated December 5, 1899.

Application filed July 7,1899. Serial No. 723,064. (No model.) I

vember, 1893, the objects of my present invention being to improve the heater and thermostatic regulator andalso to improve the internal structure of the incubating-chamber, as will hereinafter appear. I attain these objects by the mechanisms and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical section of the incubator on the line 1 1 in Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the same on line 2 2 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 an end view and cross-section on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throu ghout the several views.

A represents the outer casing of the incubator, which is supported, preferably, upon legs at a suitable distance from the floor. The incubating-chamber A is provided at the front with the usual door or doors, having glass therein, through which the interior of the chamber may be observed for the purpose of regulating the temperature and amount of moisture necessary for the proper manipulation of the eggs.

B and G represent transverse partitions at each end of the incubating-chamber, said partitions extending only part way to the top of the chamber.

D represents an egg-tray which is supported on suitable cleats between the partitions B and O at a proper distance above the floor At the right-hand end and extending across the incubator to Within a.

short distance of the front and rear thereof is an inclosed water-box E, from which extend the horizontal radiating return-pipes F F, these pipes passing out from the lower portion of the box E and resting on the top of the partition B at one end and upon the shelf G at the other, which said shelf rests upon the top of the partition 0 and forms therewith a separate chamber at the left-hand end of the incubatingchamber for a purpose hereinafter pointed out. The pipes F F are arranged in pairs, being provided with returnbends at the ends remote from the water-box. Within the water-box E is a small or secondary chamber H, formed by a partition which rises to near the top of the box. The inner members of the return-pipes communicate with this secondary chamber H and the outer members with the water-box E, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2.

Depending from the water-box E and communicating therewith att' is a water-drum I, a pipe h connecting this water-drum with the secondary chamber H, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and a cock t" being provided to draw off the water from the drum when desired.

Within the drum I is a conical hot-air flue J, communicating at the bottom with the atmosphere through a series of small holes j and at the top with a horizontal flue K, extending transversely at each side across the bottom of the Water-box E and provided at each end with chimneys or vents L L, which extend up through the top of the incubator. Within the flue J is a chimney M, which is of a conical shape to conform with the flue J up to the top of the horizontal flue K, through which it passes straight up to and through the top of the incubator. A cylindrical sleeve 76 rises from the top of the flue K around the chimney M,forming an air-space between said chimney and the water contained in the waterbox E. Near the lower end of the chimney M is a series of holes m for a purpose hereinafter described. Below the incubatingchamber is the heater-lamp, said lamp being provided with a flaring chimney N, which slips over the projecting end of the chimney M, forming thereby one continuous chimney from the lamp-burner to and through the top of the incubator. The lamp restsupon a shelf 0, hinged at the back to a bracket 0, depending from the bottom of the incubator, said shelf being arranged to swing down for the removal and replacement of the lamp, the front end of the shelf when the lamp is in position being held in place by a suitable I hook, (not shown,) which depends from the bottom of the incubator.

A pipe P extends downward from near the top of the water-box E through the bottom of the incubator, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for the purpose of admitting air to the water-box above the water therein. Near the top of the box at the inner side are two holes (1 q, adapted to be opened and closed by a sliding shutter Q, operated from the front of the incubator by a rod Q.

R represents a thermostatic bar, preferably of hard rubber, which extends obliquely across the incubating-chamber directly beneath the radiating pipes F, being fastened at one end to a bracket 7", attached to the partition C and passing through a slit 1) in the partition B at the other end. A screw-threaded rod 9" is fastened to this end of the bar and extends out through the end of the incubator, where it is provided with a thumb-nut S. At a point in the rod R equidistant from the bracket 7" and where said rod passes through the partition B is fastened an upright rod T, which passes up through the top of the incubator and is coupled to the lever U, which said lever is pivoted to the standard V and is provided at the extreme end with a pendent cap a, positioned directly over and adapted to close the chimney M. The opposite end of the lever U is provided with a sliding weight WV.

A false top X, supported on cleats Y Y, extends transversely across the incubator above the water-boX E and the radiating pipes F, forming a dead-air space between the incuhating-chamber and the top of the incubator. In order that none of the heat within the incubating-chamber shall rise into said deadair space through the perforation for the rod T, this rod is surrounded by a tube 00, which is fastened into the false top X and the top of the incubator, the rod T passing out from said tube through a suitable stuffing-box. Airis admitted to the chamber formed at the right-hand side of the incubator by the partition B through a hole a at the bottom of said chamber, and in the outside wall of the incubator at this end, near the bottom thereof, are two additional inlet-holes a, provided with sliding shutters, only one of these holes a being shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus described the several parts of my improved incubator, the operation thereof is as follows: The water-box E, drum I, and radiating pipes Fare first filled with water through the filler-cap e to the level indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The lamp is then lighted and placed in position, as shown in Fig. 1, the heat therefrom passing directly up through the chimney M and imparting no heat to the Water, since said chimney is separated from the water by an air-space throughout its entire length. The weight WV on the lever U has previous to this been run back on said lever, so as to lift the cap a above the top of the'chimney M, thereby placing a tension on the thermostatic bar R through the rod T and bowing said bar upward. As soon as the lighted lamp is in position the thumb-nut S is turned, thereby straightening the bow in the rod R and drawing the rod T downward, causing the cap a to close down upon the top of the chimney M. The hot gases from the lamp will now pass through the holes m into the flue J, rising thence into the horizontal flue K and passing to the chimneys L L, thereby heating the Waterin the drum I and in the water-box E and producing a circulation of hot water through the radiating pipes F, the secondary chamber H, and the return-pipe 7? back to the drum I. As soon as the temperature in the incubating-chamber rises the rod R will expand and bow upward again, thereby allowing the cap u to be thrown away from the chimney M by the weight W. If the temperature within the incubating-chamber is not yet high enough, the thumb-nntS is again turned, putting thereby more tension upon the thermostatic bar R and causing more heat to pass through the fines J K L L. When the right degree of temperature has been produced by the necessary number of manipulations of the thumb-nut S, the thermostatic regulator will take care of itself thereafter without further attention, it being apparent that as soon as the temperature fal ls the bar R will contract, thereby drawing the cap a down upon the chimney M and causing the hot air to pass up from the chimney into the heating-fines, increasing the heat of the water in the circulating system, and that as soon as the temperature rises again the expansion of bar R will cause cap to to rise and allow the heat to pass directly out of the chimney M. The holes j, opening into the bottom of the flue J, will cause a circulation of the outer air through the heater-fines, so as to prevent a dead-air space therein and the conduction of heat from the chimney across the flues to the Water in the heater.

A constant circulation of air from the outer atmosphere into and through the incubatingchamber is produced by way of the hole a up through the inlet-chamber formed by the partition B, the air passing up around the front and rear ends of the Water-box E through the air-passages y y at the ends of the cleatsYY, which said cleats otherwise fill the spaces between the ends of the water-box and the outer walls of the incubator. The air is warmed as it passes up around the Water-drum and over the top of the water-box, and it passes thence downward through the eggtray into and through a suitable number of holes 0 at the bottom of the partition C, thence rising up ward through the exit-chamber formed by partition 0 and shelf G, and finally passing out through holes g at the opposite end of the incubator. Preferably I arrange the holes 0 singly or in pairs at the front and rear ends of the partition 0, thereby causing the air to circulate downward across the entire Width By properly adof the incubating-chamber.

j ustin g the slides over the holes a an increased circulation may be produced through the incubating-chamber to any desired degree. If there be not enough moisture in the outer air, the slide Q is drawn out, so as to partially or wholly open the holes q g at the top of waterbox IE, thereby allowing a circulation of air up through pipe P over the water in the waterbox into the incubating-chamber, the air thus admitted being permeated with the moisture that exists at the top of the water-box.

By reason of the dead-air space at the top of the incubating-chamber the temperature within the chamber will not be affected by climatic changes outside of the incubator, and the heating apparatus will therefore operate more steadily, with the result that there will be very little variation of the temperature within the incubating-chamber after the incubator is properly placed in operation. It will be seen that the lamp is left free to burn with a constant flame, the temperature of the heating system being adjusted by shifting the heat currents from the chimney to the fines, and vice versa. I attain by this means a more steady and perfect regulation of the temperature than where the lamp-flame is governed by the thermostat.

Having thus described my improvements, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In an incubator, a heating system comprising a water-box, a radiating return-pipe extending out therefrom into the incubatingchamber, a drum depending from and in communication with the water-box, a connection between the drum and the radiating returnpipe whereby a circulation of water is produced through the several members of the system, hot-air flues extending upward through the drum and water-box, a chimney passing upward through the drum-flue and in communication therewith near the bottom, alamp below the chimney, and mechanism operated by a thermostatic bar within the incubatingchamber, whereby the heat from the lamp is diverted from the chimney into the fines and vice versa according to the temperature with in said chamber.

2. In an incubator, a heating system comprising a water-box, a secondary chamber within the water-box, radiating return-pipes passing out from the water-box into the incubating-chamber and back to the secondary chamber, a drum depending from and in communication with the water-box, a pipe connecting the drum with the secondary chamber, hot-air flues extending upward through the drum and branching out through the water-box, said flues being open to the outer air at top and bottom, a chimney passing upward through the drum-flue and in communication therewith near the bottom, an air-space be tween the chimney and the water in the waterbox, a lamp below the chimney, and. mechanism operated bya thermostatic bar Within the incubating-chamber, whereby the heat from the lamp is diverted from the chimney into the flues and vice versa according to the tem* perature within said chamber.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig nature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN W. ANDREWS. Witnesses:

WM. R. COMPTON, H. M. LOVELL.

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