US2352398A - Combination incubator and hatcher - Google Patents

Description

Jue 27, 1944. G. MARKEY 2,352,398

COMBINATION INCUBATOR AND HATCHER original Filed Nov. 1o, 193s s sheets-'sheet 1 i 4 n: n f

INVENTOR. @[0265 ME/(EY BY l Arroz/15) June 27, 1944, G. T. MARKEY 2,352,398

COMBINATION INCUBATOR AND HATCHER 'original Filed Nov. 1o, 1939 5 sheets-shet 2 June 27, 1944. G. T. MARKEY COMBINATION INCUBATOR AND HATCHER original Filed Nov. 1o. 1959 3 sheets-sheet s IN VEN ZOR. f 650,005 Ime/ffy Patented June 27, 1944 UNITE!) smrlts` PATENT OFFICE George T. Markey, Fort Atkinson, Wis., assignor to James Manufacturing Company, Fort Atkinson, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Original application November 10, 1939, Serial No. 303,748. Divided and this application August 24,1942, Serial No. 4,551,836

s claims.- (c1. 11s-'37) It is the intention that the present patent shall cover by. suitable expression in the appended claims, features of patentable novelty other than claimed in my pending application Serial No.

303,748, filedv November 10, 1939, of whichl this.-

application forms a division. Y i

The present invention relates to a combination incubator and hatcher within` a single cabinet wherein all of the eggs may be kept in the same stage of incubation by supplying theproper heat moisture and ventilation to invigorate maximumv embryonic development. k

It will be understood that eggs inv the early stages of incubation should have high humidity, low temperature and ventilation with some out` side air and that i'n the ladvanced stages of incubation, lower humidity, higher temperature and more ventilation vand outside air-are needed.

It` is an o-bject of thel present invention, in addition to providing means for changing the heat, moisture and ventilation to suit the embryo stage, to provide means whereby when the hatching stage is reached, the eggs may be placed in hatching trays and the heat, moisture and venl tilation changed to suit hatching requirements.

It is an object of the present invention to Iirnprove the processof incubating and hatching and to completethese operations in a continuous process and in a single cabinet.

(3i. An object of the presentinvention is to provide a cabinet which, at the end of each hatching period, may be conveniently l cleaned and disinfected.

A further object of the present invention isto,

provide means for ltering thel circulating air and convenient-means for removing the collected `material from the lters.

To these. and other useful ends, my invention consists of parts, combinations of parts, or their, equivalents, and -mode of operation, as herein` after set forth and claimed and shown inv-the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section of my complete cabinet having therein incubating trays..

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of my improved cabinet having therein hatching trays.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the cabinet illustrated in Figure 2 with the door and all but one tray removed.

Fig. 4 is a fractional section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of my improved cabinet taken on line 5-5 of Figure'.-

Fig. 6 is a fractional top viewf of an incubating*Y tray illustrating two egg holding cages inv position.

Fig. 'lis a fractional end view of the incubating tray shown in Figure 6, taken'on line 11 `of this' figure. Y ,Fig, 8 lis a fractional horizontal sectional View ticalsection for transferring the eggs from the incubating trays to the hatching trays by vmeans of .the cages illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

Fig. 11 is a vertical fractional section of the air duct showing therein, in vertical perspective, the air iilter.

Fig. 12 is a transverse section of the air iilter shown in Figure 11. l

` As thus illustrated, the cabinet comprises a rear panel I0, a front door which in its entirety is designated by reference character A, side panels Il and I2 and top and bottom panels I3 and I4. The panels and door are suitably insulated as is the custom in devices of the class. In the vari- 'ous figures, the insulating material in each of the parts is designated' by reference numeral I5. Door Ais provided with suitable hinges, rubber sealing gasket I6 and latching means (not shown) for securely binding the gasket so as to provide an air tight cabinet. Door A is provided with an opening I'l which is preferably positioned at the vertical and horizontal center ofthe door.

-A fan motor I8 is positioned in opening I'l', the motor being slightly smaller in" diameter than the opening thus to provide a relatively 'small annular air inlet from the exterior into the cabinet. A decorative cap I9 is securedv to the door and adapted to shield the motor and opening Il from View. Member I9 is securedv to the door by means of spaced supports 20 and suitable bolts, the supports being preferably adapted to hold member I 9 a short distance from the door thus providing a narrow annular air inlet 2| having an area about equal to the annular air passageway around the motor.

Cap I9 may be supplied with suitable grille inlets for the passage of air in which case' openings ZI may be eliminated or .reduced considerably in size. On the inner end of the shaft of motor I8, I mount a fan disc 22 having suitable blades.

I provide a partition 23 having'an'opening 24 positioned in front of and concentric with fan 22. Member 23 hask preferably forwardly extending flanges 25 which are secured todoor A vsecured to the door.

as illustrated in Figure 5 thus forming a vertical air duct 26. The top and bottom ends of member 23 are ared rearwardly as at 2l.

Directly above and below the top and bottom trays, I provide partitions 28-28, one forming an air duct between the side walls and the top wall and above the top tray and the other forming an air duct between the side walls and the bottom wall and below the bottom tray, the par-4 titions having their front edges shaped to contact or embrace the top and bottom edges of member 23 (see Figures 2 and 5). The rear ends of members 28 terminate on about the vertical plane of the rear ends of the trays thus forming horizontal air ducts 29--29 which open into duct 26. By scrutinizing the drawings, it will be drawer-like to the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

It will be seen that the trays, when in position, provide a considerable space between their fronts and the central portion of member 23 (see Figure 2). It will be seen that room is provided for the free passage of the air from fan 22 to the front ends of the trays as indicated by arrows and the air will be caused to move rearwardly between or through the trays.

Clearly after the trays are removed, racks B may also be removed by lifting latches 35, leaving the entire inner surface of the cabinet clear j for cleaning and disinfecting.

seen that when the door is closed, an air passageway will be formed from the rear of the trays to fan 22.

The shape of the blades of member 22 is such as will cause the air to travel in the direction indicated by arrows; thus it will be seen that a suitable volume of air will be caused to move between the hatching or incubating trays and return to the fan as indicated by arrows and that a small quantity of air will be drawn into the cabinet through opening 2| and the space around the motor. Clearly the motor is cooled and a A slight pressure is created in the cabinet.

Anvopening 30 is provided preferably in the top of the cabinet having means (not shown) whereby the size of the opening may be regulated so as to control the quantity of air entering the cabinet through openingv It will be noted that the rear ends of the l trays are spaced a distance from the rear wall of the cabinet providing room for the mechanism which tilts the cages and a vertical air passageway, the purpose of Whichwill be understood by scrutinizing Figure 2.

Referring now specifically to Figures 3, 4 and 5. The cabinet and door, it will be observed, are provided with metal sheathings 3`| and 38. The sheathing surfaces are smooth and have no permanentlyattached parts except small floor brackets, latches near the top of the cabinet and partition 23 which is detachably Obviously the entire kinside of the cabinet may be easily cleaned and disinfected. y

I provide two racks-which in their entirety are designated by reference character B,each rack consisting preferably of angle iron posts 3|-3| and being secured in spaced relation by means of spaced angle irons 32, the racks being vertically positioned as indicated in Figures 3 and 4. The distance between members 32 is suitable for the free reception of hatching trays, the sides of the trays resting on the inwardly extending flanges of these members (see Figure 4).y

Angle bars 3| are provided with spaced outwardly extending brackets 33 which are adapted to hold the racks a short distance away from the side walls of the cabinet. The bottom ends of members 3| are fixed in their positions by means of brackets 34`which are secured to the floor of the cabinet and are adapted to cooperate with members 33 and gravity latches 35 to hold the racks into position but provide convenient means for detaching the racks.

I'provide inturned portions 36 on the rear end of angle irons 32 thus to provide stops for the trays which are adapted to slide into the cabinet adjacent trays.

The incubating trays are, in their entirety, designated by reference character C and the hatching trays are designated in their entirety by 4reference character D, e'ach being about the same length as members 32.

The side and end walls of hatching trays D extend upwardy to within a short distance of the Therefore there is not sufficient space left for proper circulation of air. The end walls of these trays are therefore provided with a large number of apertures as will hereinafter appear.

. Incubating trays C may be conventional com- `prising'egg holding'cages as disclosed in my Patent Number 1,796,872, March 17, 1931 or they may be similar to the cages illustrated in my Patent Number 2,267,473, issued December 23, 1941, and as illustratedin Figures 6` and 7 of the present application.

Trays C comprise frames having side members 40-40 and end members 4|-4|, the cages being spaced and pivotally mounted within this frame as is thecustom in devices of the class; thus when the trays C are in position in the cabinet, as illustrated in Figure l, air will be caused to circulate rearwardly between the trays and in Clearly the eggs will be surrounded by conditioned air which will return tothe fan as indicated by arrows.

Trays D are preferably made from sheet metal having side walls 42-42 and ends walls 43-43, the end walls having a, multiplicity of spaced openings 44 allowing air to pass into and out of the trays through these openings.

Members 42 and 43 are provided with inturned flanges 45 which are adapted to support a screen bottom 46, the bottom fitting free between the `plying the proper water level in the panl and means (not shown) are provided for raising or lowering the front end of plate 53 so as to cause the air to more or less violently impinge the surface of the water to preserve the proper humidity of the circulating air.

I provide means for heating the circulating air comprising an electric resister 54 which circles the motor and is preferably positioned in air duct 26 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. I provide a thermostat and switch 55 with suitable connections (not shown) to member 54 and to the electric supply whereby the thermostat will control the current supplied to member 54. If desired, motor I8 may also be controlled by this switch so the resister and motor operate simultaneously on the on and off principle.

The resister, thermostat and electrical connections to the motor are too well known to require further description.

I prefer to operate the motor continuously so there is a continuous air circulation in the cabinet but the resister is preferably controlled intermittently as is the custom in incubators of the class. The cages in trays C are adapted to be rocked back and forth at stated intervals as is the custom in incubators.

I provide shafts 55 which extend through one of the cabinet walls and having thereon a hand grip. Brackets 51 are suitably positioned within the cabinet, secured to shafts 56 and are adapted to detachably engage a sliding member 58 (see Figure 6), the sliding member having an operating connection to the cages; thus the cages may be rocked at desired intervals by gripping the hand piece on shaft 56.

The operation of my device is as follows: An entire setting of eggs may be placed in incubating trays C which will be contacted by the warm moving air as already described. Suitable moisture will be provided and a suitable temper-ature maar he maintained during the incubating period.

At hatching time, or say on the 19th day, trays C may be removed one at a time and the eggs placed in hatching trays D which are placed in the cabinet as illustrated in Figure 2. The transfer of the eggs from the incubating trays to the hatching trays may be by hand in the usual manner or if cages, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 'l are supplied, then the hatching trays may be positioned over wood blocks 59 so the screen 46 is held near the top of the tray as illustrated. Next, tray C is placed over tray D and the eggs released as indicated in Figure l0, after which tray C is removed and when tray D is lifted, the screen:

Cil

taut, holding the large end of the sack against the inlet end of member 23; thus it will be seen that all air passing into duct 26 must first pass through the filters.

When it is necessary to clean the filters, all that is required is to open the door, turn crank 64 so Ias to release hooks 62 and remove the lter from the duct. Clearly it is an easy matter to clean the downl and other material from the inside of the filters and again replace them in their position as illustrated in Figure 2.

It will be seen that at very low cost I have provided air filtering means which, if properly taken care of, will last practically the life of the incubator and incur no cost at all for upkeep.

It will be seen that I have provided a unitary incubating and hatching cabinet wherein the proper temperature :and humidity of the circulating air may be supplied at all stages of incubation and hatching; that the cab-inet will be efflcient and economical; that the eggs may be transferred from incubating to hatching trays with minimum labor and that after the completion of the hatching period, all of the parts within the cabinet may be removed and the cabinet cleaned and disinfected preparatory for another setting of eggs and that whilein operation, the temperature and humidity of the air are always in. complete control of the operator and that more or less fresh air may be caused to mingle with the circulating air according to the wishes of the operator.

Attention is called to the fact that the blades on the fan disc 22 are placed between partition 23 and the disc forming a fan that will act centrifugally to direct air through opening 24 and discharge it outwardly in :all directions as indicated by double pointed arrows in Figure 5. The

. air thus discharged will move rearwardly between It is very necessary in my device to lter the circulating Iair, particularly during the hatching period. I provide simple, inexpensive and practically indestructible means for the purpose as follows:

I provide open end fabric sacks which, in their entirety, are designated by reference character E. The open ends of these sacks are provided with means whereby they cannot be pulled into the air duct 26. This may be accomplished preferably by means of a wire frame work to which the fabric is secured and having a size somewhat larger than the open end of the duct. These members may be made of suitable fabric material and are preferably V-shaped as illustrated in Figures 11 and l2. The side and end walls of the sacks converge at about the angle shown in these figures.

The apex of the sack is provided with a wire rod 6l to which preferably two or more spaced hooks 62 are secured. I provide a cranked rod 63, the ends of which protrude through members 25 one end having a crank 64.

I provide a stop 65 on member 25 and position this stop so when the crank is moved to its lowest position and slightly past the center, member 64 contacts this stop.

Member 63 is positioned so when the crank is in its normal position, member E will be stretched or through all of the trays and will then return through ducts 29 to filter E and then through duct 26 to the fan.

The action of the fan blades and disc 22 will be such as will cause a slight vacuum lbetween the disc and kthe front of the trays or water pan 50; thus there will be a slight reverse current of air in the center of the cabinet toward the disc caused 'by the air as it is discharged from the edge of the disc. The movement of the air is clearly indicated by single and double pointed arrows in Figures l, 2 and 5.

Before loading the incubating trays for the rsttime and placing them in the cabinet. it will 'be understood that it is desirable to operate the air circulating. heating and humidifying device for a number of hours, or until the proper temperature and humidity are secured. This is necessary largely because during the operation of preparing the cabinet, and while adjusting the parts, a harmful condition at times may exist. After the device is once properly adjusted, heated and operated., all that is necessary is to slightly change adjustments as needed for best results. Furthermore it is well to have the device properly prepared for incubating before loading so as to more definitely determine the pipping or hatching time. Clearly slight changes in temperature and humidity may be made during the incubating and hatching period as dictated by experience for `best results.

Having thus shown and described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a cabinet having a door, a number of trays positioned drawer-like in said cabinet, their rear and front ends being a distance from the rear wall of the cabinet and from said door, the top and bottom trays being spaced a distance from the top and bottom walls of the cabinet, a motor positioned in an opening in said door `and having a fan, the forward edge of which is positioned between said door and the front ends of said trays, a partition secured to said door positioned adjacent the forward edge of said fan forming an air duct, a portion of the top and bottom of the partition being flared rearwardly so its ends terminate adjacent the vertical plane of the front ends of said trays and adjacent the top and bottom thereof, and an opening in said partition concentric with said fan and adapted to form an inlet therefor, said fan having means whereby air will be caused to travel between and around said trays to the 4upper and lower ends of said air duct and through said duct to said fan.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 including; partitions in said cabinet positioned adjacent the top and bottom of said top and bottom trays, the front ends registering with the inlet ends of said air duct, and their rear ends registering with the rear ends of said trays whereby7 air passageways are formed from the rear of the trays to the inlet ends of said air duct.

3. A device as recited in claim l including; the opening in said door in which said motor is positioned being slightly larger than the motor to thereby form an annular air inlet, and an outlet opening remote from said inlet whereby the quantity of air entering said annular inlet will be discharged through said last opening.

4. A device as recited in claim 1 including; a water pan positioned in rear of said fan and between trays and having a deector adapted to cause the air to impinge the water in said pan.

5. A device as recited in claim l including; removably secured air lters positioned in the inlet ends of said air duct whereby the recirculating air will be ltered before leaving said fan.

6. A device as recited in claim l including; air lters positioned in the inlet ends of said air duct comprising open end fabric sacks positioned in the inlet ends of said air ducts, the open ends being adapted to ll the inlet ends of said air duct, and means for detachably securing said sacks into position whereby they may be removed and cleaned and replaced.

7. An incubator and hatcher of the class described; comprising in combination an elongated vertically positioned cabinet having a door in its front substantially the width and length of the chamber therein, a number of trays positioned in the cabinet in vertically spaced relation with their fronts and rears positioned a distance from said door and from the rear wall of the cabinet and arranged to be removed or replaced drawer like when the door is opened, the upper and lower trays being positioned a short distance from the upper and lower walls of the cabinet plates adjacent the upper and lower trays and being spaced a distance from the upper and lower walls of the cabinet forming air ducts for substantially the length of the trays, an air duct formed by a flanged plate with the flanges attached to the sides of the door and its ends being arranged for the reception of air from the front ends of said air ducts, an opening in said plate positioned substantially midway its sides and ends, a fan adjacent said opening and means for driving the fan, said anged plate and the blades of the fan being shaped and positioned whereby the air moved by the fan will Abe caused to pass between the trays and substantially parallel thereto and through said air ducts and opening.

8. A unitary incubator and hatcher comprising a housing having an openable wall, a motor mounted in said openable wall and so positioned therein as to provide a substantial space between a portion of the motor and the Wall to permit passage of air from one side of the wall to the other and across the motor, a fan having a shaft connected to the motor, a partition attached to the openable wall having a substantial opening surrounding the shaft, the fan and motor being on opposite sides of the partition, tray supports in the housing adapted to receive incubating or hatching trays on the supports in superposed relation, air deecting plates spaced from the walls and positioned between the uppermost and lowermost trays and their adjacent walls, said partition having portions flared away from the openable wall and terminating adjacent the uppermost and lowermost plates, a humidier tray within the housing substantially at a level with the fan, a deflector plate above the humidifying tray, said trays and plates being spaced from each other and from the walls of the housing whereby air moved by the fan will pass between the trays over the humidifier and between the plates, partitionv and walls and whereby air from outside the housing will be mixed with the moving air within the housing, said housing being provided with an opening for discharge of excess air.

GEORGE T. MARKEY.

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