A radial fan for an incubator for poultry eggs and newly hatched poultry. The fan has a longitudinally-elongated, hub and a plurality of self-supporting, radially-extending, fan blades on the hub. Each blade is laterally deformable, so that it is deformed by air pressure in a counter-clockwise direction when the hub is rotated in a clockwise direction and is deformed by air pressure in a clockwise direction when the hub is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction.

The present invention relates to a method for promoting production of female embryos in fertilized eggs, comprising steps of :incubating said eggs; generating at least one type of energy with a predetermined energy profile; and simultaneously generating a pre-determined profile of a non-energy parameter by means of an energy generation device, applying both energy profile and the non-energy parameter to the eggs; and, collecting the eggs; wherein said method is non-toxic to the embryos, the application of both the energy profile and the non-energy parameter increases the fraction of females in the hatched chicks.

The sex of embryos in eggs is influenced or controlled through the application of light having selected wavelengths and heat in order to promote the development of embryos of a selected sex. An incubating device is provided having an interior cavity that can be sealed from an outside, and having a plurality of lighting elements disposed in the interior cavity. Eggs are disposed on trays, and pre-determined environmental conditions are applied to the interior cavity to promote hatching of the eggs. Concurrently with the application of the environmental conditions, the eggs are irradiated according to pre-determined lighting conditions having wavelengths substantially concentrated in selected ranges In some embodiments, the temperature of the incubator is kept above or below the optimal incubation temperature.

A PCM-based heat exchanger is disclosed, said phase change material (PCM)-based heat exchanger comprising: a) a case having insulated walls comprising an inlet and an outlet; and b) a plurality of modules comprising a support structure containing a phase change material, wherein said modules are arranged within said case in a way as to define a fluidic path connecting said inlet with said outlet. Another object relates to an apparatus, wherein said apparatus is an incubator, such as an infant incubator or a chicken/eggs incubator, or a glove box, characterized in that it comprises the PCM-based heat exchanger operatively connected with a hood defining an insulating compartment, a fan adapted for injecting an air flow into said PCM-based heat exchanger and a system to regulate the air temperature inside the hood.

An egg incubator includes a base assembly having a base tray configured to support a plurality of eggs and a motorized egg turner configured to turn the plurality of eggs. The egg turner includes a hub, a first ring concentric with the hub, and a first plurality of spokes extending radially from the hub. Each of the first plurality of spokes is circumferentially-spaced from an adjacent spoke of the first plurality of spokes and includes: a radial member extending from the hub toward the first ring, a first diverging member extending obliquely from the radial member to the first ring, and a second diverging member extending obliquely from the radial member to the first ring. The motorized egg turner also includes a second ring positioned outward from and circumscribing the first ring and a second plurality of spokes extending radially between the inner ring and the outer ring.

A system and method to promote biological responses within incubated eggs using lighting devices within an incubation chamber. A light supporting device is installed within the incubation chamber in spaced relation to an incubation device housing a plurality of eggs. The light supporting device is positioned to direct light at pre-determined wavelengths into the interior cavity of the incubation device to irradiate the plurality of eggs to promote a biological response within the eggs.

An egg incubator having a base assembly, a window, and a lid assembly. The base assembly includes a base tray configured to support a plurality of eggs, and a first water trough beneath the base tray and configured to retain a quantity of water. The window is removably coupled to the base assembly. The lid assembly is coupled to the window. The base assembly, window, and the lid assembly enclose a main incubation chamber sized to hold a plurality of eggs therein. The lid assembly includes a heating element configured to heat the main incubation chamber to a desired temperature, and a circulating fan configured to generate an airflow over the heating element.

A hinged door for gaining access to a chamber interior region for receiving a storage item therein. The hinged door comprising a frame, a transparent material pane within the frame, a smart glass material disposed proximate the material pane and controllable between a transparent and opaque condition responsive to an electric current supplied to the smart glass material, a phase change material within the frame, and a temperature controlling device proximate the phase change material.

An egg incubator having a base assembly, a window, and a lid assembly. The base assembly including a base tray configured to support a plurality of eggs, a water trough beneath the base tray and configured to retain a quantity of water, and a motorized egg turner configured to periodically turn the plurality of eggs. The window is configured to be removably coupled to the base assembly. The lid assembly is coupled to the window. The base assembly, window, and the lid assembly enclose a main incubation chamber sized to hold a plurality of eggs therein. The lid assembly includes a heating element configured to heat the main incubation chamber to a desired temperature, and a circulating fan configured to generate an airflow over the heating element.

A system and method to promote biological responses within incubated eggs using lighting devices within an incubation chamber. A light supporting device is installed within the incubation chamber in spaced relation to an incubation device housing a plurality of eggs. The light supporting device is positioned to direct light at pre-determined wavelengths into the interior cavity of the incubation device to irradiate the plurality of eggs to promote a biological response within the eggs.