US798697A

US798697A - Incubator.

Info

Publication number: US798697A
Application number: US23917304A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank Clinton Perkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1904-12-31
Filing date: 1904-12-31
Publication date: 1905-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1922-09-05

Description

No. 798,697. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905. F. G. PERKINS.

INGUBATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 31, 1904.

Z c 1 L2 5 4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

g 3 .7 o w L/i i ofiizqyS.

SHEET 2.

PATBNTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

4SHEETS- F. C. PERKINS. INCUBATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 131:0. a1, 1904.

No. 798,697. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905. F. G. PERKINS.

INGUBATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC 31, 190i,

@2045 CTQ/MQM PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

F. G, PERKINS.

INCUBATOR.

uyucnmnnwn DEO.31, 1904.

4 SHBETB-SHEET 4.

Q m 1 k 1 muliw a mum co now-unusual. msmowx 0 cv FRANK CLINTON PERKINS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

INCUBATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 190 5.

Application tiled December 31,1904. Serial No. 239,173.

Be it known that l, FRANK tlhm'roy Punprovements in Incubators, of which the folments.

lowing is a specilication.

This mvention relates to an incubator wlnch is more particularly designed for hatching eggs continuously on a large scale.

The objects of this invention are to produce an incubator of this character in which the egg-trays are moved intermittently from the time they enter the machine through a succession of compartments in each of which the temperature is regulated to suit the requirements for hatching the eggs at that particular time; to provide improved means wherey by the are automaticallyand periodically turned; to provide means for conveniently and expeditiously inspecting the eggs at the proper time; to so construct the incubator that the same can be built in sections, the number of which can be varied to suit the desired capacity of the machine, and to improve the incubator in several details of construction.

in the accompanying drawings, consisting of four sheets, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of the front end of the machine. .Fig. 2 a similar view of the rear end of the machine.

spectively. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section in line 5 5, 1. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a plurality of inciibator-sections assembled according to my invention. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section of one of the eggtrays on an enlarged scale. Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section showing a modilied construction of my improved incubator. Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 10 is a cross-section showing a modilication of the means for heating the incubator.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

in its general organization my improved Figs. and i are vertical crosssections m lines 3 and H, Figs. 1 and 2, re

incubator comprises an inclosingcasing, which is divided into a number of compartments in each of which the egg-trays are confined about twenty-four hours, and a carrier whereby the trays are successively advanced from one compartment to another.

in the preferred form of the incubator, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, two longitudinal series of incubating-chambers are employed, one

series being arranged on top of the other, and

3 an endless conveyor or carrier is employed,

the upper part of which moves the trays successively in one direction through the upper series of compartments, while the lower part thereof carries the trays in the opposite direction through the lower series of compart- The upper series of compartmentsis constructed in the form of separable sections and consists of a frontend or receiving-section A, a rear end section B, and a plurality of intermediate sections C 1.), and the lower series is likewise constructed in the form of sections which are counterparts of those of the upper series and consist of a front or dischargingsection Aha rear section B, and a plurality of internnnliate sections U1). Each of the front end sections A A is provided with an outeror front end wall u, whichis closed, an inner or rear end wall H, which has a central opening, a front side wall 1/", having openings which are normally closed by doors a, a vertical fresh-air-inlet conduit lG, formed between the inner and outer walls 1' w on the rear side of this section, ahorizontal air-distributeonduit F, connected at one end with the top of the inlet-conduit and formed between an imperforate top partition or wall f of this section and a perforated partitionf", arranged below the top, and a perforated horizontal bottom 7, arranged above the lower end of this section and forming an outlet-conduit (i for this chamber for the foul air, which outlet-conduit is closed at its rear side and opens into the atmosphere at its front side. The outer wall of the frcsh-airdnlet conduit ter- 1 minates at its lower end above the lower end of the section, so as to form an air-inlet port or opening For the purpose of enabling the air-supply to be regulated the capacity of this inlet-conduit is varied, preferably by hinging the outer wall v at its upper end to this section. This permits the lower end of this wall to be moved laterally, more or less, for increasing or decreasing the supply of air, as required. The air-regulating valve or damper, which is thus formed by the hinged wall v, may be held in its adjusted position by any suitable means, that shown in the drawings consisting of a segment c, arranged on the section and receiving a socket w on the wall (3 and a set-screw 1:", arranged on the socket and bearing against the segment, as shown in Figs. 3, a, and

through the port L"! at the lower end of the inlet-conduit passes upwardly through the same and from the upper end thereof into The fresh air entering the distributing-conduit, th'ence downwardly through the perforated lower wall thereof into the incubating-chamber of the section, thence through the perforated bottom into the outlet-conduit, and thence to the atmosphere, by which means fresh air is constantly supplied to this chamber. Within the inletconduit a continuous heater is arranged, con sisting, for instance, of a coil H, through which hot water is circulated and which heats the incoming air as the same passes upwardly through the inlet-conduit. As the air passes from the distributing-conduit into the upper part of the incubating-chamber the same is further heated by a plurality of electric lamps I or other heater arranged in this part of the chamber. These lamps are connected with an electric generator the circuit of which contains a thermostatic switch 6, which is also arranged in the upper part of this chamber, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. This switch is so adjusted that when the temperature of this chamber exceeds a certain degree the electric circuit of the lamps in the same will be broken, thereby causing the heating effect of'these lamps to be arrested until the temperature has again been lowered to the required extent, when the thermostatic switch again reestablishes the electric circuit containing the lamps l and causes heating of the chamber to be resumed. By dividing the heating system so that the heat is furnished partly by a continuous heater, such as the hot-water coil H, and partly by other heaters which are thermostatically controlled, such as the lamps in the upper part of the incubating-chamber, it is possible to control the temperature within the chamber with great nicety and without danger of at any time unduly cooling the eggs, as would be liable to occur if all of the lamps were extinguished or illuminated at one time.

When the incubator is installed in a locality where an electric current is not available from a general supply, it is preferable to heat the incubator by a combination of the electric-lamp system and the hot-water system, (shown in Figs. 1 to 6,) as follows: 2' represents a dynamo of any suitable construction which generates an electric current and which is connected in multiple with the groups or sets of lamps I and thermostatic switches a" in the several incuhating-chambers. .2 represents an internal-combustion engine having its crank-shaft operatively connected with the dynamo for driving the same. coil H, arranged in the air-inlets of the several incubating-chambers, has its upper and lower ends connected, respectively, with the upper and lower ends of the water-jacket .2

which surrounds the cylinder of the engine.

While the power of the engine is driving the dynamo for illuminating the lamps and heating the air in the incubating-chambers, the water in the jacket is heated by the explosions and caused to circulate through the let of each chamber.

The heatingjacket and coil for heating the air in the in' lets, thereby utilizing the heat developed by the engine for warming the incubator instead of Wasting the same.

For the purpose of causing the air to enter and leave uniformly throughout the incubating-chambers and also to protect the eggs against drafts a screen or filter is preferably arranged in the horizontal air inlet and out- Each of these screens preferably consists of a sheet 9, of burlap or other loosely woven or porous fabric, arranged centrally within the respective air inlet or outlet conduit F G and secured to a frame which is removably arranged in said conduit, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

The opening in the rear end wall of each chamber A A is practically closed by a yielding curtain or shutter, which consists, preferably, of two flexible flaps or sections J J, which engage each other at their opposing curved ends, while their opposite ends are secured, respectively, to the adjacent upper and lower edges of the rear end Wall of said chamber.

Each of the intermediate incubator-sections is constructed substantially like the front sections, and the same letters of reference are therefore used to indicate like parts. In the intermediate sections, however, no front end walls are employed, such as are present on the front ends of the front sections. The front ends of the air-inlet and distributing conduits of the intermediate sections are closed by abutting this end of each intermediate section against the rear end wall of the section in front of the same, as shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 6. Each of the rear incubator-sections is also constructed substantially like the front sections, theessential differences being that it has a rear wall 5, which closes the rear end of the same, but no front end wall, the front ends of the air inlet, distributing, and outlet conduits of the same being closed by abutting the front end of this section against the rear end wall of the intermediate section in front of the same, as shown in Fig. 2. The front side walls of the rear sections B B are provided with openings ing which are normally closed by doors 6'. The rear sections are unprovided with any shutters or curtains for separating the chamber thereof from the chamber in the preceding section, inasmuch as such shutters are carried at the rear end of the latter. When two longitudinal series of incubator-sections are thus arranged one above the other, the lower sides of the air-outlet conduits are formed by the support upon which the lower series rests, while the lower side of the air-outlet conduits of the upper series is formed by the tops of the sections of the lower series. Inasmuch as the temperature of the air to which the eggcarrying trays are subjected must be varied at different times during the incubating pcriod, the thermostatic switch in each incubating-chamber which inc-loses each batch of eggs for one day is so ad usted as to maintain this chamber at the temperature retpiired for the i eggs at this particular stage of the incubating period. if desired, a sufficient number of sections may be employed in the upper and lower series so that complete incubation can be effected from the time the egg-carrying trays are introduced into one end of each sories to the time they reach the other end of f the same series. can be introduced into the chamber of one end section through the opening thereof and In this case the egg-trays the trays and chicks removed from the correcubation proceeds from the time the eggs are introduced into the upper front section to the time they are moved forwardly successively \Yhen space does not permit of through the intermediate sections and reach 3 the upper rear section, and then the eggcarrying trays are removed from the upper rear section and introduced into the chamber of the lower rear section and moved successively backward through the several intermediate sections. A machine having eleven such superposed pairs of sections would enable the incubation to be completed by one forward passage through the upper series and one rearward passage through the lower series. If a still smaller incubator is desired. the number of intermediate sections can be still further reduced, which, however, would necessitate more than one complete circuit of both series of chambers, the precise number of circuits depending upon the number of sections employed. \Yhen incubation is thus effected partly in both the upper and lower series of chambers, the egg-traysare transferred from one end chamber upon reaching that end of a series and placed in the companion end chamber of the other series for continuing incubation, this being possible owing to the openings in the end chambers.

The endless carrier shown in the drawings whereby the eggtrays are moved successively through the incubating-chamhers comprises two chain belts K l which are arranged side a by side and which move parallel around fixed sprocketavheels 11/ m at the front ends of the front chambers and in the rear ends of the rear chambers, also around intermediate fixed sprocket-wheels a, arranged at the joints between the several sections, also around adjustable sprocket-wheels 0, arranged in the central parts of the chambers in the front, intermediate, and rear sections. Each pair of companion fixed sprocket-wheels is secured to a transverse shaft (Q, which is journaled in hearings on the front and rear side walls of the respective chambers. Each of the front sections supports the shafts of one pair of front fixed sprocket-wheels and one pair of intermediate fixed sprocketavheels at its front and r air ends, respectively, each intermediate section supports the shaft of a pair of intermediate fixed s rocket wheels at its rear end, and each rear section supports the shaft of a pair of rear fixed wheels at its rear end. The adjustable wheels in eachof the front, intermediate, and rear sections are each mounted on a vertically-movable slide 1), which moves in a guideway on the adjacent side wall of the respective chamber. Any suitable means may be employed for effecting this adjustment, that shown in the drawings consisting of a screw p", which is capable of rotation only in the guideway and works in a threaded opening in the slide. The fixed sprocket-wheels of the upper chambers are arranged horizontally in line, or substantially so, and like wheels of the lower series of chambers are also arranged horizontally in line. The adjustable wheels in the intermediate and front sections of both series of sections are arranged out of line or offset from the fixed wheels, so as to produce a deflection in the adjacent parts of the chains passing around the same. The adjustable wheels in the front chambers are so arranged that they support the chains horizontally between the fixed wheels thereof and prevent downward deflection or sagging of these parts of the chain belts. In the upper series of chambers the companion chain belts pass horizontally forward over the front fixed wheels and the first pair of adjustable wheels 0 to the first pair of intermediate fixed wheels '11, thence downwardly at an inclination and around the adjustable wheels I) in the first intermediate chamber, thence upwardly at an inclination and around the fixed wheels 1/ at the rear end of the first intermediate chamber, thence downwardly and upwardly around the fixed and adjustable wheels of the remaining intermediate sections, thence downwardly around the adjustable wheels in the upper rear section, and thence over and downwardly around the rearmost pairof fixed wheels //1 in the rearchamber. 'llhat part of the chain belt in the lower series of chambers first passes underneath the fixed pair of wheels m in the rearmost chamber of this series, thence upwardly at an inclination over the adjustable wheels 0 in this chamber, thence downwardly at an inclination underneath the fixed wheels at the rear end of the intermediate chamber next to the rearmost chamber, thence successively over the adjustable wheels and miderneath the fixed wheels of the remaining intermediate sections, whereby ITO an alternate upward and downward deflection is produced in the belt, thence horizontally underneath the fixed wheels 01 Z, and over the adjustable wheel of the lower front section. In order to permit the chain belts to pass from the lower front section to the upper front section, the top and bottom partitions or walls of these chambers are provided in their front ends with openings 2*, which receive the vertical front portions of these belts. For the same purpose the rear sections of both series of chambers are provided in their horizontal top and bottom walls with openings 9' to perunit the rear vertical portion of the chain belts to pass from the upper rear chamber to the lower rear chamber. Each of the end chamhers is preferably provided with chain-openings in all of its horizontal members or walls, so as to permit of interchanging the chambers at one end of the incubator and enable either one to be used at the top or the bottom. Those belt-openings in any one of the end sections which are not in service forthe passage of a belt are closed by means of plugs o as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the upper front section the adjustable wheels 0 are arranged substantially in line with the adjacent fixed wheels in order to adapt themselves to those portions of the belt which pass over the adjacent fixed Wheels, and in the lower front section theadjustable wheels are arranged outof line with the adjacent fixed wheels, inasmuch as the corresponding parts of the chain belts pass around the under sides of the respective fixed wheels. The upper and lower front sec tions of the incubator are therefore identical in construction and the only change necessary to adapt either of them for use as an upper or lower front section is to place the adjustable wheels into the required position and insert plugs o into those openings which are not required, according as to whether the section is to be used in the upper or lower series of the incubator. The upper and lower intermediate sections are also identical in construction, and

the same is true with reference to the upper and lower rear sections, the only requirement for adapting any one of the intermediate and rear sections for use either as an upper or a lower section being the reversal of the adjustable wheels on the front and rear side walls of the respective chambers in order to adapt them to the course which the belt is required to take through the particular chamber. Any suitable means may be provided for holding the several sections in place after being assembled. For instance, this may be effected by dowling the sections together, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.

The egg-trays may be removably supported upon the endless carrier in any suitable manner so as to follow the movements of the carrier- The preferred means for thus supporting the egg-trays on the carrier shown in the drawings are constructed as follows: At suitable intervals the two chain belts are connected by transverse supporting-rods s. T represents frames whereby the egg-carrying trays are supported upon these rods. Each of these frames is of skeleton form and provided on opposite sides with hooks or seats 2/, whereby the same may be detachably suspended upon a pair of adjacent supportingrods .9. On its upper side the frame is provided with transverse guideways 25, which receive the tray and permit the same to he slid transversely off and on from the frame, but hold the tray against displacement in a direction lengthwise of the movement of the carrier. Each of the trays is preferably provided with a plurality of individual rectangular pocketseach of which preferably has its bottom a constructed of flexible material and adapted to receive a single egg.

in the operation of the incubator the carrier is advanced the extent of one tray-space every twelve hours and a new frame and eggladen tray are placed upon the carrier after the same has been thus advanced. Preparatory to the starting the incubation of a tray full of eggs a frame T is first placed upon a companion pair of supporting-rods in the upper front chamber and the egg-laden tray is then placed uponthis frame. As the trays move forward horizontally during the first stage of incubation in the upper front chamber the eggs remain substantially in the center of their respective pockets. As the tray enters the first intermediate chamber and goes through the next half-day of incubation the same is tilted downwardly at its front end, causing the eggs to roll toward the front sides of the pockets. As the carrier is advanced another step during the next half-day of incubation the tray is tilted upwardly at its front or advancing end in the rear part of the first intermediate chamber, thereby causing the eggs to roll toward the rear or trailing side of the pockets thereof. Each of thetrays is in like manner tilted in opposite directions during its passage through each of the intermediate and rear sections of theincubator, thereby automatically effecting the turning or shifting of the eggs periodically, as required, to produce proper hatching of the eggs. If the number of sections which are employed in the incubator is such that the incubation is not completed by the time the egg-trays pass in one direction from one end of a-seri'es to the other, the trays and their frames are removed from one end chamberand transferred to the adjacent end chamber of the other series for continuing the incubation in the opposite direction as long as may be necessary to hatch the eggs. As the trays and theirframes pass from one chamber to another the fiexible curtains are deflected by the frames and trays engaging with the same, and after the frames and trays clear the curtains the latter, owing to their resilience, again resume their normal position, in which their l nee-ting and opposing ends engage each other and form a 1 lamps with an electric circuit, so that the closure between the respective chambers on i opposite sides of the same. To permit the i curtains to be readily deflected by the frames and trays, the joint between the curtain-sections is arranged substantially in line with the frames and trays.

In order to permit of inspecting or candling the eggs, means are provided on one or more of the sections for this purpose, which are constructed as follows: As shown in Fig. 2, each of the rearmost intermediate sections 1) l) of the incubator is provided in its front side wall, on opposite sides of the adjacent adjustable sprocket-wheel, with openings, which are normally closed by doors 1'. These doors are hinged at their lower ends to the adjacent front wall of the respective section and are provided at their lower ends with a series of electric testing or inspection lamps V. Each of the trays has the flexible bottoms of its pockets provided at one side thereof with an inspection or testing opening H over which an adapted to rest when the tray is tilted toward that side of the tray. When it is desired to inspect the eggs in a tray, one or the other of the doors w is opened into a hori- Zontal position, so that the lamps on the lower or inner part thereof project upwardly, as shown in thenpper section of Figs. 2 and &. Upon now withdrawing the tray from the respective frame each row of eggs may be brought successively over the lamps below the same, so that by looking at the eggs from the top the state of incubation of the same may be determined by the light of the lamps shining upwardly through the eggs. As many lamps are preferably employed as there are longitudinal rows of eggs, and these lamps are so arranged that each egg in a row is illuminated by an individual lamp, thus permitting the entire row of eggs to be inspected at one time without removing any of the eggs from the tray. By shifting the several rows of eggs successively over the testinglamps all of the eggs in a tray can be inspected expeditiously, thereby reducing the time of exposure for inspection and increasing the output of the incubator in proportion, because the danger of spoiling eggs by inspection is reduced to a minimum. By providing two sets of lamps in the chamber of each inspecting-section, which are arranged underneath the oppositely-tilted trays therein, the eggs can be inspected in the trays regardless of whether the inspeeting-openings 1/" are arranged in the advancing side of the pockets or in the trailing side thereof, because in one position or the other the will be over openings of the pockets while passing through the inspecting-chamber, thereby avoiding the necessity of exercising care in placing the trays upon the frames of the endless carrier. 1 A switch w is preferably employed for conl l l lamps may be turned on for use and turned out when not required. Although the two iuspecting-sections are shown one above the other in front of the rearmost sections, these inspecting-sections can be placed wherever the size of the machine or other conditions may require.

Various means may be employed for moving the endless carrier forward, that shown in the drawings consisting of a hand-crank (7, applied to the shaft of one pair of fixed sprocket-wheels, as shown in Figs. and The endless carrier may be held in place by means of a pawl (1, mounted on one of the sections and engaging with a ratchet-wheel If, which is mounted on the driving-shaft adjacent to the hand-crank r].

In the modilication of the incubator shown in Figs. 8 and t) the incubator is organized with a single series, means are provided for heating the incubating-chamber exclusively by hot water, and the carrier is so constructed that the same moves back and forth through the same series of sections. In this construction a heating coil or radiator is provided, one portion a of which is arranged vertically in the air-inlet conduit E. while another portion :r is arranged horizontally in the upper part of the incubating-chamber. The hot water entering at the lower end of the lower portion of the coil passes upwardly through the same, thence horizmitally through the upper portion, and then is discharged to be again heated by any suitable means and again introduced into the lower portion. The regulation of the temperature in the incubatingchamber when using ln'iating-coils in this manner is effected by opening and closing a vent-port in the top of the inlet-conduit by means of a valve or damper ;1 This movement of the damper is effected by means of a rock-lever which is pivoted on top of the incubator and is connected with the damper and a thermostat 1/ arranged in the upper part of the incubatingchamber and connected with the rock-lever. The endless carrier for propelling the trays and their frames in this construction consists of two chains li K, which move back and forth in the same series of chambers and pass around sprocket-wheels M, mounted on shafts M, which are journaled in the chambers, the same being provided on the outside of the incul. atingchamber with a hand-crank and a ratchet stop device similar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the double-series incubator. in this construction of incubator only one part of the endless carrier is active, while the other part is idle.

Ifdesired,the incubator may be heated solely by means of electricity, such an organization being shown in Fig. 10, in which intermittently-burning electric lamps controlled by thermostats f, are arranged within the incudisconnecting each set of testinghating-chamber, and continuously-burning electric lamps 1 are arranged in the air-supply conduits and permanently connected with the electric generator .It will be noted that the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 is in all respects like that shown in Fig. 10, except that the continuous heater in the air-inlet of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 is composed of a hotwater coil, while in the construction shown in Fig. 10 the continuous heater consists of electric lamps, both constructions showing thermostatically-controlled electricheaters in the incubating-chamber.

My improved construction of incubator not only permits of hatching eggs continuously on a large scale with a smaller percentage of loss than has been possible heretofore, but also permits of manufacturing the same at a comparatively low cost on account of the identity of the sections. Furthermore, my improved construction of incubator enables the capacity of the incubator to be increased from time to time as necessitated by the increase in the business of the poultry raiser without requiring a reconstruction of the incubator and without causing any loss, inasmuch as there are no parts which have to be discarded when increasing the capacity of the incubator.

I claim as my invention 1. An incubator con'iprising an incubatingchamber, and an upright air-supply conduit having an air-inlet at its lower end ahd communicating at its upper end with the top of said chamber, the outer wall of said conduit being adjustable laterally for varying the airsupply, substantially as set forth.

2. An incubator comprising an incubatingchamber and an upright air-supply conduit havingan air-inlet at its lower end and communicating at its upper end with the top .of said chamber, the outer Wall of said conduit being hinged at its upper end so that its lower part is movable laterally for varying the air-supply and having means at its lower end for holding the same in its adjusted position, substantially as set forth.

3. An incubator comprising an incubatingchamber, an upright airsupply conduit having an air-inlet at its lower end and communicating at its upper end with the top of the incuhating-chamber, and a heater arranged in said air-supply conduit, substantially as set forth.

4:. An incubator comprising an incubating chamber, an upright air-supply conduit having an air-inlet at its lower end and communicating at its upper end with the top of the incubating-chamber, a heater arranged in said chamber, a heater arranged in said conduit, and means for controlling one of said heaters, substantially set forth.

5. An incubator comprising an incubatingchamber, an upright air-supply conduit having an air-inlet at its lower end and communicating at its upper end with the top of the incubating-chamber, a continuous heater arranged in said conduit. an electric heater arranged in the incuhating-chamber, and a thermostatic switch arranged in the incubatingchamber and opcratingto connect and disconnect the heater in the incubating-ch amber with an electric generator, substantially as set forth.

6. An incubator comprising a chamber and means for heating the incubator comprising partly an electric heater and partly a radiator, a dynamo connected with the electric heater, and an internal-combustion engine driving said dynamo and having a water-jacket around its cylinder which is connected with said radiator, substantially as set forth.

7. An incubator comprising a chamber, an air-inlet, and means for heating the incubator consisting of electric lamps and a thermostatic switch arranged in said chamber, a dynamo connected with said lamps and switch, a heating-coil arranged in said air-inlet, and an internal-combustion engine driving said dynamo and having a water-jacket around its cylinder which is connected with opposite ends of said coil, substantially as set forth.

8. An incubator comprising an incubatingchamber, an upright air-supply conduit arranged on one side of the chamber and having its outer wall terminating short of the lower end of the incubator forming an air-inlet, an air-distributing conduit arranged above the chamber and connected at one end with the upper end of the upright conduit and having perforations in its lower side for communication with the top of said chamber, and an airdischarge conduit arranged horizontally underneath the incubating-chamber and having perforations in its upper side for communication with the bottom of the incubating-ehamber, substantially as set forth.

9. An incubator comprising an incubatingchamber, an upright air-supply conduit arranged on one side of the chamber, an air-distributing conduit arranged above the chamber and connected at one end with the upper end of said upright, conduit, an air-discharge conduit arranged underneath said chamber and communicating at one end wit-h the atmosphere, and screens arranged in said air distributing and discharge chambers, substantially as set forth.

10. An incubator comprising a plurality of incubating-chambers, individual heaters for said chambers, and an egg-tray carrier movable successively through said chambers, substantially as set forth.

11. An incubator comprising a plurality of incubating-chambers, movable shutters which separate the chambers from each other, individual heaters for said chambers, and an eggtray carrier movable successively through said chambers, substantially as set forth.

12. An incubator comprising a plurality of ineubating-chambers. an egg-tray carrier I movable successively through said clnnnbers, individual heaters for said chambers, and shutters for separating said chambers from each other and each consistingol. two flexible llaps which have their opposing ends engaging each other and arranged in the path of said tray-carrier, substantially as set forth. l

1 An incubator comprisingfrontand rear i end sections and a pluralitv of intermmliate l sectimis, each section containing an ineubat- 1 ing-chamber, and an egg-tray carrier movi able successively through said chambers, substantially as set forth.

t-t. .\n incubatorcomprising a frontsection having front and rear end walls, a plurality of like intermediate sections each of which conj tains an i1icul ating-chamber and is closed at its rear end by a rear end wall while its front end is closed by abutting either against the rear wall of the front section or the rear wall of the intermediate section in front of the same. and an egg-tray carrier movable suci cessively through said chambers, substanl tially as set forth.

15. An incubator comprising a plurality of ineubatingchambers, an egg-tray carrier movable successively throughsaid chambers, and means for tilting said carrier and the trays supported thereby in opposite directions, substantially as set forth.

It. An incubator comprising a plurality of incubating-chambers, chain belts movable successively through said chambers, egg-trays carried by said belts, and wheels supporting said belts and arranged to tilt the belts and the trays supported thereby in opposite di rectiolis, substantialf as set forth.

1T. An incubator comprising a plurality of incubatingchambers, a pair of chain belts movable parallel through said chambers, eggtrays supported upon said belts, a plurality of lixed wheels around which said belts pass, and a plurality of adjustable wheels alternating with the fixed wheel and supporting the belts so that the same and the 'trays carried thereby tilt alternately in opposite directions, substantially as set forth.

18. An incubator comprising a front section, a rear section and a piurality of intermediate sections, each containing an incubating-chamber, a pair of fixed wheels mounted on shafts journaled in hearings at the front and rear of the chamber in said front section, a pair of fixed wheels mounted on a shaftjournaled in bearings at the rear of the chamber in said rear section. a pair of lixed wheels mounted on a shaft journalcd at the rear of the chamber in each of said intermediate sections, a pair of adjustable wheels mounted in the central part of the chamber of each front, intermediate and rear section, chain belts passing around said wheels. and egg-trays supported on said belts, substantially as set forth.

19. An incubator comprisingan incubatingchamber, a tray arranged in said chamber and having a pluralitv of individual egg-pockets, and means for tilting said tray alternately in opposite directions. substantially as set forth.

2b. Anincubatorcomprising-anincubatingchamber, a tray arranged in said chamber and having a plurality of individual egg-pockets, each provided with a flexible bottom, and means for tilting said tray alternately in opposite directions, substantially as set forth.

21. An incubator comprising an incubatingchambcr, a tray arranged in said chamber and having a plurality of individual eggpocl ets each provided in its bottom with an opening over which the egg is adapted to rest. and an illuminating device arranged below said tray, substantially as set forth.

22. Anincubatorcomprisinganincubatingchamber, a tray arranged in said chamber and having a plurality of individual egg-pockets each provided near one side of its bottom with an opening over which an egg is adapted to rest, means for tilting the tray, and an illuminating device arranged below said tray, substantially as set forth.

23. An incubatorcomprisiuganincubatingchamber, a tray arranged in said chamber and having a plurality of individual egg-pockets each having a flexible bottom which is pro vided near one side with an opening over which an egg is adapted to rest, means for tilting the tray, and an illuminating device arranged below the tray, substantially as set forth.

24. An incubator comprising an incubatingchamber having an opening in its side which is normally closed by a door, a support arranged in said chamber, an egg-tray which is provided with openings underneath the eggs and which is movable from said support laterally through said opening in the chamber, and an illuminating device arranged to illuminate the space below the path of the egg-tray, substantially as set forth.

Anincubatorcomprisinganincubatingchamber having an opening in its side, a door normally closing said opening and hinged at its lower end to the chamber so that the same can be shifted into a horizontal position, a support arranged in said chamber, an eggtray having openings in its bottom over which the are adapted to rest and movable from said support laterally through said side opening of the chamber, and electric lamps arranged on the lower part of said door in position to be moved underneath the lateral path of the tray when the door is opened, substantially as set forth.

26. An incubatorcomprising a plurality of incubating-chambers, an endless carrier movable through said chambers, frames mounted on said carrier, and egg-trays removably supported on said frames, substantially as set forth.

27. An incubator comprising a plurality of incubating-chambers, a pair of endless chain belts movable parallel through said chambers, transverse supporting-rods connecting said belts at intervals, skeleton frames provided at their tops with transverse guideways and on opposite sides with hooks for engaging with two adjacent supporting-rods, and egg trays supported in the ways of said frames, substantially as set forth.

'28. An incubator comprising an upper and a lower horizontal series of incubating-chainbers, an endless carrier constructed to move forwardly through one series of chambers and backwardly through the other series of chambers, and egg-trays adapted to be supported on said carrier, substantially as set forth.

29. An incubator comprising an upper series of sections and a lower series of sections, each section containing an incubating-chamber, an endless carrier consisting of chain belts which pass horizontally forward through one series of sections, thence vertically through the sections at one end of both series, thence horizontally backward through the other series of sections, and thence vertically through the sections at the other end of both series, and egg-trays supported on said carrier, substantially as set forth.

30. An incubator comprising a pluralityof sections which are identical in construction and interchangeable and each of which contains an incubating-chamber, and means for supporting an egg-tray within the chamber, substantially as set forth.

31. An incubator comprising a plurality of sections each of which contains an incubatingchamber, means for supporting an egg-tray within said chamber, and an upright air-supply conduit having an air-inlet at its lower end and communicating at its upper end with the top of said chamber, the outer wall of said conduit being adjustable laterally for varying the air-supply, substantially as set forth.

32. An incubator comprising a plurality of sections some of which are identical in construction and interchangeable and each of which contains an incubating-chamber, means for supporting an egg-tray Within the chamber, an upright air-supply conduit having an air-inlet at its lower end and communicating at its upper end with the top of the incubatingchamber, and a heater arranged in said airsupply conduit, substantially as set forth.

33. An incubator comprising a plurality of sections each of which contains an incubatingchamber, means for supporting an egg-tray within the chamber, an upright air-supply conduit having an air-inlet at its lower end and communicating atits upper end with the top of the incubating-chamber, a heater arranged in said chamber, a heater arranged in said conduit, and means for controlling one of said heaters and means for detachably connecting said sections, substantially as set forth.

\Vitncss my hand this 28th day of December, 1904.

FRANK CLINTON PERKINS.

Witnesses:

THEO. L. Porr, E. M. GRAHAM.