Improvements in or relating to brooders for rearing young birds or animals

摘要

366,092. Rearing-appliances. CHURCH, G. T., Cogmore House, Cogmore Lane, Chertsey, Surrey. Oct. 29, 1930, No. 32515. [Class 5 (ii).] A battery brooder having a number of superimposed brood chambers comprises a vertically disposed heating chamber from which heated air is fed to each brood chamber through suitable apertures, and members in said heating chamber, each of which (except the uppermost one) serves to conduct some of the rising heated air through an aperture and also allows some of the air to rise vertically past it for entering the next brood chamber, the arrangement being such that no air having passed through one brood chamber is passed through another. A heating chamber B is built as a unit with brood chambers A, the dividing wall C being formed with openings C1 having adjustable pivoted or sliding doors C2. A heating unit D, comprising oil burner, gas burner, electric heater or hot pipes, communicates with a radiating pipe D2, baffle D3 and outlet D4, the whole heating assembly forming a removable unit ; when an electric heater or hot pipes are used, the heating unit may be arranged in an extension of the heating chamber. Fresh air enters at Bx and spent air leaves at Ax. A baffle system comprises hoods E at heights corresponding to the openings C1 and having apertures E2, except in the case of the uppermost one, through which air may pass to the next chamber. In a modification, each baffle, except the uppermost, is made slightly smaller than the casing. In a further modification, the openings C1 connect with the lower part of the heating chamber by means of separate pipes or ducts formed by plates fitted in the heating chamber. A temperature-controlled damper may be provided in the upper wall of the heating chamber. All the walls may be double and may be filled with insulating material. A run may be attached to each brood chamber. The Provisional Specification states also that the extension of the heating chamber containing the heating element may be formed as a step to the brood chamber and that electric heating means may be used together with oil or gas heaters.