US846325A - Incubator. - Google Patents

Description

' No. 846,325. D PATENTED MAR. 5,1907.

GME. LITTLEFIELD.

INOUBATOR.

APPLICATION FILED I'BB. 16. 1905.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FIGQZ.

GEoRGE E. LITTLEFIE'LD, 0E BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

INCUBATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed February 16, 1905. Serial No. 245,847.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. LITTLE- 1 FIELD, a citizen of the United States, and a l resident of 54 Johnson Park, Buflalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have I invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incubators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to incubators, and has for its object to provide means for supplying moisture effectively to the incubatorchamber, means for controlling and regulating the heating and ventilation of the incubator-chamber, and means whereby certain of its parts are made removable and its interior rendered easily accessible.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the incubator and heater. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken between the diaphragm 8 and the egg-trays 15, as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is the upper part of the I heater on the line X X of Fig. 2, showing a modified form. Fig. 5 is the same View as the last, but shows the dampers raised; and Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6 6 of Fi 3. a

The body 1 of the incubator is represented as cylindrical in form and supported by four simi ar legs 2 2 2 2. A door 3 gives access to the incubator. A false top 4, (see Fig. 3,) by which the heat-regulator is supported, is secured within the incubator by the cleat ,5. Below the false top 4 there is a strip 6, i (see Figs. 3 and 6,) that extends transversely across the incubator and is supported by a cleat 7. The function of this strip 6 will presently appear. Below the strip 6 there is a porous or felt diaphragm 8, and the space between accommodates a thermostat. The diaphragm 8 is stretched upon a frame 9, and the latter is attached to the side of the incubator or otherwise held in place.

The egg-trays are supported bya spiderframe, and upon each of the arms of this I frame there as a central longitudinal ridge 1 l3 and on each side of the ridge a ledge 14. The egg-trays 15, of which there are six to correspond with the six arms of the spider-frame, are wedged-shaped and rest] upon the ledges 14 of adjacent. arms of the frame. The spiderframe is supported within the incubator-chamber by a cleat, 16, which is representedv as beveled at 17. A split hoop 18, of wire, whosev ends are separated the depth of the cleat 16, lies upon l the beveled face 17 of the cleat and supports A porous diaphragm, made up of a layer of burlaps 19 and a lower layer of felt 20, is stretched upon the ringlike frame 21 and attached thereto by tacks. The frame 21 lies upon the bottom 23 of the incubator, which is removably held in place by buttons 24 or other suitable means. The bottom 23 of the incubator is perforated, as at 25, so that the space 22 between the lower diaphragm and the bottom 23 of the incubator is in free communication with the outer atmosphere. This construction affords distinctadvantages in that the incubator can readily be opened and its parts removed forcleaning or repairing. When the bottom 23 is removed, the lower diaphragm comes out with it. The egg-trays are taken out through the doorway 3 in the side of the incubator. The spider supporting-frame 10 for the eg -trays and the hoop 18 are both removable through the open bottom by tilting and turning them till they clear the cleat 16, or the spider-frame is removed by first drawing the ends of two adjacent arms out through the doorway 3, which is wide enough for their passage, then tilting the frame so that these two arms can be drawn still further out, and a third arm also withdrawn, after which the frame can readily be slipped out. Thus the whole incubating-chamber is stripped and its parts separated, so that they can be examined, cleaned, and, repaired.

The heating means comprises a heat-generator and a heat-distributer. The heatgenerator is attached to and supported by the incubator-body 1 and is constructed as follows: Two fiucs are formed by placing a tube 26 within a larger tube 27. The outer tube 27 is suitably supported in a vertical position-as, for instance, by attachment to a reservoir 28 on the side of the incubatorand the inner tube 26 is attached to and supported by the top 29, which overlies and is fastened to the outer tube 27. The flue 30, between the inner tube 26 and the outer tube 27, is open to the atmosphere at the bottom of said tube 27 and also communicates with the outer air by means of several tubes 31, that lead out through the top 29 and project up an equal distance therefrom. The inner tube 26 is open at both. ends. A rim 32 is shown upon the top 29 around the opening at the upper end of the tube 26, and the interior of said tube 26 is visible through the spider frame.

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the peep-hole 26!; at the lower end of said tube 26, which is covered with mica and is in alinement with a peep-hole in the outer tube 27.

A burner 33 of a lamp 34 iits snugly within the open lower end of the tube 26, and dampers 35 and 36 are adapted to lie upon the rim 32 and the tops of the tubes 31, respectively, and so to close, respectively, the opening at the upper end of the inner tube 26 and the openings at theupper end of the flue 30. The lamp is supported beneath the heater by means of a bracket 37, that is fastened at one end to the removable bottom of the incubator. An open tank 38 for water is fastened upon the tube 26 beneath the open lower end of the flue 30, so that air must pass over the water as it enters the flue, and an arm 39 is shown on the tank 38, that helps to support the lamp-bracket 37 by a spring 4.0. When the bottom of the incubator is to be removed, the spring 40 is first disconnected from the arm The. operation of the heater is as follows: The products of combustion pass up through the inner tube 26, heating its surface, while air for heating the incubator enters the open lower end of the flue 30 and is heated by contact with the heated surface of the inner tube 26. The fresh air to support combustion is drawn into the lamp through the usual perforations beneath the burner-cone. The heatdistributor comprises means for discharging into the incubator the air that is heated during its passage through the flue 30 and also means for heating the air within the incubator by direct radiation from the flues through which both the products of combustion and the heated air pass. A flue 41 for the products of combustion leads from the tube 26 near its upper end diametrically through the incubator. It is shown directly beneath the false top 4, (see Fig. 2,) and discharges through the side of the incubator into atmosphere at 42. The heated air passes from the flue 30 into the incubator through the flue 43, formed between the tube 41 and the larger surrounding tube 44. The tube 44 is extended into the incubator to about its center and is open at its outer end, so that the heated air from the flue 30 is discharged into the incubator at the point where it will best be diff used throughout the chamber. N ot only, therefore, will the incubator-chamber be heated by the introduction of fresh heated air from the flue 30, (con tinued in the flue 43,) but the air of the incubator will, fiuthermore, be heated by direct radiation from both the heated tubes 41 and 44.

. It is obvious that the volume of heated air that passes through the flue 43 and thence into the incubator can be controlled and regulated by means of the damper 36, which is adapted to lie upon and close the tubes 31 that lead directly to the atmosphere from the flue 30. It is equally clear that the volume of heated gases and air that passes through the flue 41 can be controlled and regulated by means of the damper 35, that is adapted to close the open end of the tube 26, through which the products of combustion are discharged. lf the damper 36 is raised so as to give the air free vent from the tubes 31, practically all the air that is heated within the flue 30 will pass out through the tubes 31 and none of it will enter the incubator-chamber through the flue 43. On the other hand, if the damper 36 is raised less than that, part of the air heated within the flue 30 will pass out through the tubes 31 and part will enter the incubator. The relative proportions are regulated by the height of the damper. So it is with respect to the regulation of the pro portions of the waste gases of combustion that pass off through the opening at the top of the tube 26 and out from the tube 41, respectively. Thus the temperature of the incubator maybe controlled by manipulating said dampers 35 and 36.

Since the sources of heat are twofoldviz., the volumes of waste gases that pass through the flue 41 and the volume of hot air that passes into said incub ator-chamber from the flue 30and these are each independently controlled, it becomes possible to maintain a steady temperature within a small range.

A thermostat is employed to regulate the temperature. The thermostat shown comprises metal strips 45 and 46, that are bowed outwardly away from each other at 47 and 48, respectively. The strips rest within the stirrup 49, that is attached to the strip 6. A stem 50 is fastened to the arched part 47 of the strip 45 and extends up through the false top 4 of the incubator. A lever 51 is pivotally supported at 52 upon a block 53 and is perforated above the stem 50 to receive a thumb-screw 54. The latter has a screwthreaded recess to receive the threaded end of the stem 50. One end of the lever carries a rod 55, that passes through perforations 56 and 57 in the dampers 36 and 35, respectively. A head 58 on the end of the rod engages the under side of the damper 35. The screw-threaded end 59 of the lever carries an adjustable weight 60. As the metal of the strips 45 and 46 expands and contracts with the change of temperature within the incubator, the arcs-of their respective portions 47 and 48 change, raising or lowering the stem 50, as the case may be, and consequently the lever 51. If the lever is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, in which both the tube 26 and the flue 30 are closed, a rise in temperature will cause the parts 47 and 48 of the metal strips 45 and 46, respectively, to expand and force up the lever 51. A small movement will lift the damper 35,, but may not disturb the damper 36, and in this case the products of combustion will pass away from under the closed damper 36 and between the tubes 31. If the temperature continues to rise Within the incubator, the damper 36 will also be raised from its seat, and if the dampers are raised clear from their seats all heat will be cut off from the incubator. The thermostat is adjusted by means of the thumb-screw 54 and weight 60, and access is gained to these by removing the lid 61.

Another novel feature of my incuhatcr movable bottom; an egg-tray; a diaphragm beneath said egg-tray for the diffusion of air Within the chamber, and adapted to be removed when the bottom of said chamber is open.

2. An incubator-chamber having a door, and a removable bottom; an egg-tray removable through said door; a supportingframe for said egg-tray and a diaphragm beneath it, for diffusing air through the chamber, both supporting-frame and diaphragm being removable when the bottom of said and one that is important is found in the chamber is open. j

3. In an incubator, the combination wlth means whereby moisture is supplied to tlie air before it enters the incuhatcr from the heater. Attention has already been called to the water-tank 38, which is located just beneath the inlet of the flue 30, so that all the air that enters the incubator must pass over the water in this cup. Another Water reservoir 28 is placed at the point Where the heated air enters the incubator from the heater. This is the point at which the heated air acquires its highest temperature, and consequently its greatest capacity for absorbing moisture. The reservoir is so located that all of the air passing from the the incubating-chamber, of a heater comprising a central flue for products of combustion, open to the atmosphere at its upper end; a concentric surrounding flue for hot air, also open at its upper end; means for discharging the heated air from the heater into the chamber; dampers adapted to close, respectively, the fines above mentioned; a thermostat Within said chamber; and means operated by said thermostat for opening and closing said dampers succes- 4. In an incubator, the combination with heater into the incubator must pass over the the incubating-chamber, of a hot-air heater,

water in the tank. shown in the drawings the tank 28 is represented as built around the tubes 41 and 44, and the pipe 44 is perforated at 62 and 63 to connect the hot-air flue 43 with the reser voir. A cap 64 gives access to the reservoir. The location of the reservoir adjacent to the heated surface of the tube 27 and its proximity to the heated tube 41 maintains the water within said tube near the point of vaporization. The air that enters the incubator from the heater is thus supplied before it enters the incubator with that additional moisture which it is adapted to hold by reason of its gain in heat while passing through the heater, and so when the air enters the incubator it does not take water from the eggs to their injury.

The operations of the heater and thermostat have been described. The ventilation is effected by the introduction of the fresh air through the heater in the manner de scribed, its diflusion through the incubator l and out through the perforations 25, in the course of which it passes downwardly through the diaphragm 8 above the eggtrays and that below them comprised of the layers 19 and 20 of porous materials.

l/Vhat I claim is 1. An incubator-chamber. having a re- In the construction a l I l I l water-reservoir adjacent to said heater and warmed thereby; a flue for discharging heated air from the heater to the chamber, extending through said reservoir above the water-line and open thereto.

5. In an incubator, the combination with the incubating-chamber, of a hot-air heater; a water-reservoir adjacent to said heater and warmed thereby; a flue for conducting the waste products of combustion from said heater through said reservoir and chamber to the atmosphere; a tube around said flue, extending from said heater through said reservoir above the water-line, and open thereto, into said chamber.

6. In an incubator, the combination with the incubating-chamber, of a hot-air heater comprising a flue for the products of combustion and an adjacent flue for the heated air; reservoirs, adapted to supply moisture to the air at the inlet and outlet, respectively, of the hot-air flue of said heater; a flue for the heated air leading from the hot-air flue in said heater,- through the reservoir at this point into said chamber.

GEO. E. LITTLEFIELD.

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