US404634A - knopff - Google Patents

Description

(No Mouel.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. KNOPFF. INGUBATOR.

Patented June 4, 1889.

(No Modem 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. KNOPFP.

INGUBATOR.

No. 404,634. Patent ed June 4,- 1889.

Witnesses n. Perms. F'l nla-Lilhugnpher. Wnshingtum n. a

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILHELM KNOPFF, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

INCUBATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,634, dated June 4, 1889.

Application filed January 8, 1887. Serial No. 223,801. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILHELM KNOPFF, of Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and German Empire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Incubators, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to imitate as closely as possible the effect of a setting hen on the eggs which she covers.

To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my incubator; Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the same on the line A B of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a vertical section on the line 0 D of Fig. 2;. Fig. 4, a similar section on the line E F of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a plan view of the evaporating-box. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail views of thedevices for raising and lowering the artificial mother, Figs. 6 and 7 being elevations taken at right angles to each other, Fig. 8 illustrating a modified arrangement of the upper rods, and Fig. 9 representing a plan view.

A designates the casing of the incubator, having a base B, roof 0, and door 12 WVithin this casing are rectangular double walls 1) h, leaving a Water-space a between them, and closed at the top and bottom, so as to form a water-jacket. This is complete on all sides, except at the front, where a door b gives access to the space within said water-jacket. In the lower part of this space an evaporatordrawer 6, provided with small water-pockets e of any convenient number, is supported on guideways or shelvesf, formed in said waterjacket. The said drawer extends through the front of the incubator A, so that it may be drawn in or out at will.

Between the base B and the bottom plate of the casing a gas-burnerj is arranged. The heat from this burner evaporates the water in pockets 6'. The evaporation is accelerated by a draft of air through valves 8', which open at the front of the incubator into the space immediately below said evaporator drawer. Corresponding valves 8, similarly arranged in the upper part of the front of casing A, allow exit to said draft. The said valves 8 s are hingedto the casing, so that either of them may be entirely opened at will. Valve 8 is also provided with apertures u, and valve .9 I with apertures a, through which a lesser draft of air will normally pass, even when the valves 3 s are closed, as shown in Fig. 1. Immediately above said evaporator-drawer a nest-drawer dis arranged, having several compartments and perforated walls and bottom. Each compartment is provided with soft fibrous material shaped to form a nest and having filaments which dangle into the water in pockets 6, in order that capillary attraction may supply the nests with sufficient moisture to aid in keeping the under side of the eggs moderately cool. The steam from the evaporating-drawer also ascends through the bottom perforations of this nest-drawer and aids in the same cooling and moistening operation. Air enters said nest drawer through these holes, and also through the holes (1 in its side walls. The nest-drawer is supported on shelves or guideways f, formed in the waterjacket, and may be withdrawn through the door b Immediately above the nest-drawer an artt) ficial mother 0 is suspended, consisting of a hot-water receptacle having rubber bellies c extending downward, one to each nest. The curvature of the nest corresponds to that of o the bellies, and consequently each egg is in contact with a belly of the artificial mother,,. when the latter is lowered for hatching. The hot water is supplied to said receptacle or artificial mother through flexible pipes 72, Figs. 1, 3, and 4. The said artificial mother is raised and lowered by a hand-wheel w, which turns a screw-shaft 1.0 so as to make a nut 10 travel up or down thereon according to the direction of rotation. This nut is connected by levers 10 w, and 10 to the top of the receptacle or artificial mother aforesaid.

The water-space a is supplied with fresh water from a receptacle 7c through a pipe m and angular tube m.

A thermometer r is arranged in a small casing, which communicates with the interior of the receptacle or artificial mother 0, and another thermometer 'r is similarly arranged in a receptacle communicating with the waterspace a. The heat of the water in the said receptacle and in the water-jacket is indicated by these thermometers through windows left in their casings.

The space under roof 0 is used as a coop nut, and levers for raising and lowering said for the young chickens, and is preferably exartificial mother at will, substantially as set tended laterally by Wing D. forth.

Having thus described my invention, What I In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my 5 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters hand in presence of two witnesses.

Patent is- T v 1 I l 1 A series of nests and the box or drawer con- ILHILLM KNOP taining them, in combination with a hot-Wa- \Vitnesses:

ter receptacle or artificial mother arranged H. BRACKEBUSCH,

ID for contact with said eggs, and a screw-shaft, B. ROI.

Images