SMALL-SIZED INCUBATOR

Abstract

The invention relates to household appliances intended for agricultural purposes and can be used for the incubation of eggs from any poultry bird at a homestead or a private household as well as in small business or for breeding poultry in small quantities. The small-sized incubator comprises a housing, preferably having the form of a parallelepiped, configured to have a frame structure (1); a heat-insulating cover (4), a heating element (11), a humidifier (13), a fan (14), at least one egg tray configured to rotate eggs, a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, a control unit configured to be connected to a backup power unit, according to the invention, the said frame housing is configured to be assembled and disassembled with connectors (3); the said heating element is located on or directly above the inner surface of the heat-insulating cover; the incubator is equipped with an emergency fan (15) located on the top of the housing. Further, for another embodiment of the small-sized incubator which differs from the first one in that the humidifier is configured to be a high frequency membrane equipped with a reflector, which, according to yet another feature of the invention claimed, is located above the membrane at an angle from 30 to 60 to the membrane. The application of the present invention allows us to create an energy-efficient small-sized incubator with highly-reliable operation in a given range of air temperature and humidity by positioning heating, ventilation and humidification elements in the design of the incubator and, at the same time, by improving the ease of its operation and providing an opportunity for thorough cleaning by configuring the housing and the heat-insulating cover of the incubator so that the said elements are made assemblable and disassemblable.

Claims

1. A small-sized incubator comprising a housing, preferably having the form of a parallelepiped, configured to have a frame structure; a heat-insulating cover, a heating element, a humidifier, a fan, at least one egg tray configured to rotate eggs, a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, a control unit configured to be connected to a backup power unit, wherein the frame housing is configured to be assembled and disassembled with connectors; the heating element is located on or directly above the inner surface of the heat-insulating cover; the incubator is equipped with an emergency fan located on the top of the housing.

2. The small-sized incubator of claim 1 wherein the heating element is positioned in the upper and/or side parts of the housing.

3. The small-sized incubator of claim 1 wherein the heating element is configured so that heating capacity can be changed.

4. The small-sized incubator of claim 1 wherein the heating element is configured to form a heating mat.

5. The small-sized incubator of claim 1 wherein the axis of the fan is located at a distance of up to 0.5 of the height of the incubator from the lower inner surface of the heat-insulating cover.

6. The small-sized incubator of claim 1 wherein the fan is equipped with a diffuser located directly above the humidifier.

7. The small-sized incubator of claim 1 wherein the small-sized incubator is equipped with an additional fan located on a wall of the frame housing that is opposite the fan with a diffuser.

8. The small-sized incubator of claim 1 wherein the small-sized incubator is equipped with ventilation openings located on a heat-insulating cover.

9. A small-sized incubator comprising a housing, preferably having the form of a parallelepiped, configured to form a frame structure; a heat-insulating cover, a heating element, a humidifier, a fan, at least one egg tray configured to rotate eggs, a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor, a control unit configured to be connected to a backup power source, wherein the frame housing is configured to be assembled and disassembled with connectors; the heating element is placed on or directly above the inner surface of the heat-insulating cover; the humidifier is configured to be a high-frequency membrane equipped with a reflector.

10. The small-sized incubator of claim 9 wherein the reflector is located above the membrane at an angle of 30 to 60 to the membrane.

11. The small-sized incubator of claim 9 wherein the heating element is positioned in the upper and/or side parts of the housing.

12. The small-sized incubator of claim 9 wherein the heating element is configured to change the heating capacity.

13. The small-sized incubator of claim 9 wherein the heating element is configured to form a heating mat.

14. The small-sized incubator of claim 9 wherein the axis of the fan is located at a distance of up to 0.5 of the height of the incubator from the lower inner surface of the heat-insulating cover.

15. The small-sized incubator of claim 9 wherein the fan is equipped with a diffuser located directly above the humidifier.

16. The small-sized incubator of claim 9 wherein the small-sized incubator is equipped with an emergency fan located in the upper part of the housing.

17. The small-sized incubator of claim 9 wherein the small-sized incubator is equipped with an additional fan located on a wall of the frame housing opposite the fan with a diffuser.

18. The small-sized incubator of claim 9 wherein the small-sized incubator is equipped with ventilation openings located on a heat-insulating cover.

Description

[0058] The present invention is illustrated by the following exemplary embodiments and the respective figurative materials as follows:

[0059] FIG. 1 is a general expanded view of the frame housing of the incubator with a fan and an emergency fan and a heat-insulating cover;

[0060] FIG. 2 shows an assembly of the frame housing;

[0061] FIG. 3 is a general view of the frame housing of the incubator divided into the upper, central and lower parts;

[0062] FIG. 4 is an image of a frame housing with a humidifier;

[0063] FIG. 5 is an image of a frame housing with a heating element (heating mat).

[0064] Figures that illustrate the invention disclosed herein as well as a particular embodiment of the incubator are in no way intended to limit the claims appended hereto but to explain the essence of the invention.

[0065] The small-sized incubator comprises a frame housing 1, having the form of a parallelepiped, configured to have a frame structure. The frame housing 1 consists of individual frame elements 2 configured to be solid and/or hollow and having a cylindrical shape. In some embodiments, they may have a prismatic shape. Frame elements 2, in their turn, are interconnected with connectors configured to form muff couplings 3 varying in design which ultimately fix the frame housing 1.

[0066] The small-sized incubator contains a heat-insulating cover 4, which completely covers all walls of the frame housing 1, when the incubator is in operation, and, when not in operation, unfolds to form two sidewalls 5 and one solid wall 6, being the front, the upper and the rear walls. The said walls 5 and 6 are totally connected to the bottom of the cover 7. When the incubator is in operation, the walls 5 and 6 of the cover 4 are interconnected by means of a zipper fastener 8 and a textile fastener (a Velcro fastener) (not shown in FIG). The front part of the wall 6 of the cover 4 has a vertical inspection window opening 9 made of a transparent material to allow for visual inspection of the condition of eggs. Handles 10 are located on the sidewalls 5 to easily move the incubator from place to place.

[0067] The small-sized incubator contains a heating element having the form of a heating mat 11 that is a dielectric insulated elastic cable sewn inside a fabric mat. The heating element can also be made using the design solutions known in the prior art. The heating mat 11 is located directly above the inner surface of the heat-insulating cover 4, in particular on the two sidewalls and the upper wall of the frame housing 1. In other embodiments, the heating mat may be located on the inner surface of the heat-insulating cover 4. Alternatively, there are also options for placing the heating mat 11 relative to the upper wall and/or the sidewalls of the frame housing 1, depending on the required temperature conditions.

[0068] The small-sized incubator contains a humidifier 13 which can be made using the design solutions known in the prior art. According to the second embodiment of the incubator, the humidifier 13 is configured to be a high-frequency membrane having the form of a water tank with a working area having the form of a cuvette with a high-frequency membrane placed on the bottom thereof. The humidifier 13 is also equipped with a reflector placed above the membrane at an angle of 45 to the membrane. The water tank is filled with water to maintain certain air humidity inside the incubator. The availability of water in the tank can be visually checked through the window opening 9. The air humidity inside the incubator is regulated automatically. The autonomy of the incubator is also achieved in that water should be added once every three to four days depending on the given humidity parameters.

[0069] The small-sized incubator contains a fan 14 equipped with a diffuser (not shown in FIG.) having the form of a channel which, in combination with the fan 14, is a forced airflow guide. The fan 14 is mounted to the rear inner wall of the frame housing 1 using a T-type coupling. The fan 14 with the diffuser is located directly above the humidifier 13, and the axis of the fan 14 is located at a height of 40 cm of the incubator from the lower inner surface of the heat-insulating cover 4.

[0070] The small-sized incubator is equipped with an emergency fan 15 located in the upper part of the frame housing 1, in particular on the rear inner wall. In order to notify of events occurring in case of a deviation from the pre-set parameters, additional sound signaling is provided (not shown in FIG.).

[0071] Further, the small-sized incubator is equipped with an additional fan (not shown in FIG.) located on a wall of the frame housing 1 that is opposite the fan 14 with the diffuser, in particular opposite the fan 14 with the diffuser.

[0072] The small-sized incubator is equipped with ventilation openings 16 located on the heat-insulating cover 4. As the air masses are constantly heated inside the incubator, ventilation openings 16 are made in the lower part and in the upper part of the heat-insulating cover 4 to allow for the inflow and outflow of air, respectively. In a particular embodiment, ventilation openings 16 are located on the sidewalls 5 when made in the lower part of the heat-insulating cover 4 and on the rear wall 6 when made in the upper part.

[0073] Further, the small-sized incubator comprises at least one egg tray (not shown in FIG.) configured to rotate eggs and is installed in the so-called cells of the frame housing 1 formed with the frame elements 2. The number of egg trays is determined by a user and, depending on that number, the frame housing 1 is then assembled by adding or removing frame elements 2 using connectors. In any position, egg trays do not create obstacles to the movement of air, so eggs do not overheat.

[0074] Further, the small-sized incubator is equipped with a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor located in the middle of the incubator where an egg is to be hatched.

[0075] The small-sized incubator is also equipped with a control unit (not shown in FIG.) having the form of a box with a digital display. The control unit is located on the outer side of the frame housing 1 of the incubator. As is known, it is recommended to maintain a temperature with an accuracy of up to 0.3 C. and humiditywith an accuracy of up to 5% for the egg incubation process. The control unit provides automatic operation of all elements of the incubator. In the event of an emergency shutdown of the 220V power network, an indicator on the display of the control unit informs a user that the incubator is switched to the backup power supply. The control unit provides an opportunity to change the heating capacity of the heating mat 11. A multi-stage heating system builds the algorithm of maintaining a given temperature at its own. To maintain temperature and to compensate for losses, a microcontroller located in the control unit has 255 opportunity gradations where 0 is 0% and 255 is 100%.

[0076] A loop 17 is connected to the control unit, and the said loop is attached to the frame elements 2 of the frame housing 1 by means of connectors, for example, in the form of binders. The incubation mode cannot remain constant and should be changed depending on peculiarities of embryonal development at various stages (i.e. should be differentiated by incubation phase). Using the control unit, the temperature and humidity are set in accordance with the accepted incubation technology. Once the parameters are set, the incubator operates in the automatic mode.

[0077] Further, the incubator may comprise a Wi-Fi sensor (not shown in FIG.) having the form of any Wi-Fi sensor known in the art which allows for control, and subsequently, manage the parameters of the incubator.

[0078] In the event of a power failure, the small-sized incubator can automatically switch on the backup power supply having the form of any battery (not shown in FIG.) known in the art. Once network voltage is available again, the incubator automatically switches to the stationary source of power supply, and the battery is charged from the network. This ensures the operation of the incubator in an automatic mode.

[0079] The incubator equipped with an emergency system and configured so that it is low-voltage and can be operated from a backup power supply provides safety of operation.

[0080] Further, the small-sized incubator comprises a LED strip (not shown in FIG.) located on the rear wall of the incubator. To ensure the energy efficient operation of the incubator, the light inside the incubator is activated by a user pressing a button on a front panel of the control unit.

[0081] The small-sized incubator works as follows.

[0082] First, the frame housing 1 having the form of a parallelepiped is assembled by installing the frame elements 2 in fitment holes varying in design of the muff couplings 3. The frame elements 2 of the bottom and the upper part of the frame housing 1 can be assembled separately and can be ultimately fastened to the main part of the frame housing 1. Further, the frame elements 2 are then installed between the walls of the frame housing 1 to form the so-called cells for egg trays.

[0083] The assembled frame housing 1 is then placed on the bottom of the heat-insulating cover 4 as shown in FIG. 1. The fan 14 with the diffuser with the axis located at a height of 40 cm of the incubator from the lower inner surface of the insulating cover 4 is then installed on the rear inner wall of the frame housing 1. Next, the emergency fan 15 is installed in the upper part of the frame housing 1 on the rear inner wall.

[0084] The humidifier 13 is then filled with water and placed on the bottom of the heat-insulating cover 4. The loop 17 is fixed with binders on the frame elements 2 of the frame housing 1. Next, the heating mat 11 which covers the upper wall and sidewalls of the frame housing 1 is freely installed on top of the frame housing 1.

[0085] Eggs are then loaded onto egg trays and egg trays are installed in the so-called cells of the frame housing 1 one by one. The number of trays is determined by a user, and the frame housing 1 is assembled based on that number by adding or removing the frame elements 2 using connectors. Next, the loop 17 is connected to the main elements of the incubator operation: the humidifier 13, the temperature sensor, egg trays to be connected one by one, the fan 14 with the diffuser, the emergency fan 15, and the LED strip. If the ambient temperature is low (not lower than 10 C.), the additional fan is connected.

[0086] Next, the heat-insulating cover 4 with the frame housing 1 and the above mentioned elements of the incubator are completely closed using the zipper fastener 8 and the textile fastener (Velcro fastener). The loop 17 is then connected to the control unit. The incubator is connected to the mains with a power cable (not shown in FIG.). The incubator works. If the power supply is disconnected, the incubator connects to the backup power supply to ensure an uninterrupted process of egg incubation independent of power failures.

[0087] The required temperature and humidity conditions are set in the incubator using the control unit. Water in the form of fog for wetting is sprayed and taken up by airflow with the help of the fan 14 with the diffuser located directly above the humidifier 13 and is evenly distributed throughout the volume of the incubator. The air inside the incubator is circulated using the fan 14 with the diffuser. Ventilation openings 16 provide natural convection of airflows inside the incubator: external oxygen-enriched air enters the incubator, while exhaust air saturated with carbon dioxide comes out of the incubator. In the event of a deviation from the pre-set temperature parameters, for example, when eggs produce more heat during the final days of the incubation process, the emergency ventilator 15 automatically cools the air inside the incubator by blowing the overheated air out of the incubator. Thus, when a temperature increases above the required normal value, the overheated air is removed with the help of the emergency fan 15. To notify of events occurring in case of a deviation from the pre-set parameters, the sound signaling is activated.

[0088] During the operation of the incubator, the basic temperature and humidity parameters are subject to control, while the condition of eggs is subject to visual inspection using the vertical inspection window opening 9. After the completion of the incubation process, the small-sized incubator is completely disassembled, with all disassembled structural elements are subject to thorough cleaning, disinfection, and the heat-insulating cover 4 can also be washed. Although characterized by structural simplicity, the present invention can increase the hatchability rate. A sample incubator made according to the present invention has been studied and tested, and the said studies and tests confirmed performance of the incubator and the expected technical result.

[0089] Thus, the application of the present invention allows us to create an energy-efficient small-sized incubator characterized by highly-reliable operation in a given range of air temperature and humidity by positioning heating, ventilation and humidification elements in the design of the incubator and, at the same time, by improving the ease of its operation and providing an opportunity for thorough cleaning by configuring the housing and the heat-insulating cover of the incubator so that the said elements are made assemblable and disassemblable.