Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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I Claim:
1. A method for incubating and hatching eggs comprising
the steps or placing a plurality of eggs on a horizontal egg
support surface (22); provided with a plurality of curved
surfaces (24, 26); positioning each egg so that the longitudinal
axis or the egg forms an acute angle relative to the egg support
surface (22) with the air-cell end of the egg being higher than
the other end; characterized by:
providing said horizontal egg support surface (22)
with a plurality of curved surfaces (24, 26);
immobilizing each egg relative to the egg support
surface (22) in one of said curved surfaces (24, 26); and
incubating the eggs until they hatch.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step or positioning
each egg comprises the step of positioning each egg so that the
longitudinal axis of the egg forms an angle of at least 20
degrees relative to the egg support surface (22).
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of positioning
each egg comprises the step of positioning each egg so that the
longitudinal axis of the egg forms an angle of approximately 35
degrees relative to the egg support surface (22).
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said method further
includes the step of preventing the eggs from touching one
another.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein said method further
includes the step of tilting the egg support surface (22) during
the step of incubating the eggs.
6. Apparatus for incubating and hatching eggs comprising
means for supporting a plurality of eggs on a substantially
planar egg support surface (22); characterized by egg supporting
recesses (24, 26) provided on said substantially planar egg
support surface (22) for holding each egg so that the
longitudinal axis of the egg forms an acute angle relative to
the egg support surface (22) with the air-cell end of the egg
being further from the egg support surface (22) than the other
end.
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7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said holding means
(24, 26) comprises means for holding each egg so that the
longitudinal axis of the egg forms an angle of at least 20
degrees relative to the egg support surface (22).
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said holding means
(24, 26) comprises means for holding each egg so that the
longitudinal axis of the egg forms an angle of approximately 35
degrees relative to the egg support surface (22).
9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said apparatus
further includes means for preventing the eggs from touching one
another.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said apparatus
further includes means for tilting the egg support surface.
11. A tray for holding eggs during incubation and hatching
comprising a bottom (12) having a surface (22) for supporting
eggs; characterized by:
a plurality of curved surfaces (24, 26) formed on said
bottom (12) each of which is constructed for holding an egg so
that the longitudinal axis of the egg forms an acute angle
relative to the bottom surface (22) with the air-cell end of the
egg being further from the bottom surface than the other end.
12. The egg tray of claim 11 wherein said tray includes a
side wall (14, 16, 18, 20) having an upwardly-directed interior
shoulder (42, 43, 44) for supporting the bottom of another such
tray in a nesting fashion.
13. The egg tray of claim 12 wherein said side wall (14,
16, 18, 20) includes air vents (58, 60) above said shoulder (42,
43, 44) for permitting a flow of air directly over eggs held by
said curved surfaces (24, 26).
14. The egg tray of claim 12 wherein said shoulder (42,
43, 44) is constructed and arranged to space the upper surface
of an egg received in a first tray from the lower surface of the
bottom of a second tray stacked on and nested within said first
tray.
15. The egg tray of claim 14 wherein said egg tray further
includes means (52, 54) for guiding a first such egg tray into
stacked and nested relation with a second such tray when said
first tray is lowered onto said second tray.
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16. The egg tray of claim 11 wherein said tray includes a
side wall (14, 16, 18, 20) having a downwardly directed exterior
shoulder (34, 36) for engaging a support in a tray rack.
17. A facility for incubating and hatching eggs comprising
an egg incubating and hatching chamber (78, 80, 82) in which
eggs are incubated and hatched; a first plenum (70, 72, 74, 76)
in fluid communication with said chamber (78, 80, 82) for
providing a flow of fresh air into said chamber (78, 80, 82); a
second plenum (98, 100, 102, 104) in fluid communication with
said chamber (78, 80, 82) for receiving a flow of used air from
said chamber (78, 80, 82); a first sealable opening (106)
between said first plenum (70, 72, 74, 76) and said chamber (78,
80, 82) said first opening (106) permitting a plurality of eggs
to be moved from said first plenum (70, 72, 74, 76) into said
chamber (78, 80, 82) when said first opening is unsealed;
characterized by:
a second sealable opening (108) between said second
plenum (98, 100, 102, 104) and said chamber (78, 80, 82), said
second opening (108) permitting a plurality of eggs to be moved
from said chamber (78, 80, 82) into said second plenum (98, 100,
102, 104) when said second opening (108) is unsealed.
18. The facility of claim 17 wherein said facility further
includes a plurality of said chambers (78, 80, 82), each being
in fluid communication with said plenums (70, 72, 74, 76) (98,
100, 102, 104) and having such first (106) and second (108)
sealable openings.
19. The facility of claim 17 wherein the pressure in said
first plenum (70, 72, 74, 76) is maintained at a higher pressure
than the pressure in said second plenum (98, 100, 102, 104).
20. The facility of claim 17 wherein said facility further
includes a portable egg rack (84, 86) for moving a plurality of
eggs into and out of said chamber (78, 80, 82) via said first
(106) and second (108) openings, respectively.
21. The facility of claim 18 wherein said first (70, 72,
74, 76) and second (98, 100, 102, 104) plenums comprise first
and second rooms.
22. A method for incubating and hatching eggs comprising
the steps of providing fresh air to a first plenum (70, 72, 74,
76); loading an egg rack (84, 86) with a plurality of eggs
moving the rack (84, 86) through the first plenum (70, 72, 74,
76) to an egg incubating and hatching chamber (78, 80, 82) in
fluid communication with said first plenum (70, 72, 74, 76);
moving the rack (84, 86) from the first plenum (70, 72, 74, 76)
into the chamber (78, 80, 82); incubating the eggs in the
chamber (78, 80, 82) until the same are hatched; exhausting
chamber (78, 80, 82) air into a second plenum (98, 100, 102,
104) during incubation and hatching; characterized by:
moving the rack (84, 86) from the chamber (78, 80, 82)
into the second plenum (98, 100, 102, 104) after the eggs are
hatched.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein said method further
includes the step of maintaining the pressure in said first
plenum (70, 72, 74, 76) higher than that in said second plenum
(98, 100, 102, 104).
24. The method of claim 22 wherein said method further
includes the step of periodically scrubbing and washing the
second plenum (98, 100, 102, 104).
25. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of moving the
rack (84, 86) from the first plenum (70, 72, 74, 76) into the
chamber (78, 80, 82) comprises the steps of:
opening a first door (106) to the egg chamber (78, 80)
82);
moving the rack (84, 86) through the open door (106)
into the chamber (78, 80, 82); and
closing the first door (106).
2 6 . The method of claim 22 wherein the step of moving the
rack (84, 86) from the chamber (78, 80, 82) into the second
plenum (98, 100, 102, 104) after the eggs are hatched comprises
the steps of:
opening a second door (108) to the egg chamber; and
moving the rack (84, 86) through the open door (106)
into the second plenum (98, 100, 102, 104).
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27. The method of claim 26 wherein said method further
includes the steps of:
moving the cleaning equipment through the second
plenum (98, 100, 102, 104) and into the egg chamber (78, 80, 82)
via the second door (108); and
scrubbing and washing the egg chamber (78, 80, 82).
28. The method of claim 22 wherein said method further
comprises the step of circulating hot and cold water through the
chamber (78, 80, 82) for regulating chamber temperature during
incubation.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein said method further
includes the step of using the circulating water to provide heat
for a building in which the chamber (78, 80, 82) is located.
30. A facility for incubating and hatching eggs comprising
a first plenum (70, 72, 74, 76) filled with fresh air; an egg
rack (84, 86); an egg incubating and hatching chamber (78, 80,
82); means for permitting rack movement (106) from said first
plenum (70, 72, 74, 76) into said chamber (78, 80, 82); means
for communicating fresh air (90) from said first plenum (70, 72,
74, 76) to said chamber (78, 80, 82) during egg incubation and
hatching; a second plenum (98, 100, 102, 104); means for
exhausting chamber air (94) into said second plenum (98, 100,
102, 104) during incubation and hatching; characterized by:
means for permitting rack movement (108) from said
chamber (78, 80, 82) into said second plenum (98, 100, 102, 104)
after incubation and hatching.
31. The facility of claim 30 wherein said means for
permitting rack movement (106) from said first plenum (70, 72,
74, 76) into said chamber (78, 80, 82) comprises a door.
32. The facility of claim 30 wherein said means for
permitting rack movement (108) from said chamber (78, 80, 82)
into said second plenum (98, 100, 102, 104) after incubation and
hatching comprises a door.
33. The facility of claim 30 wherein said facility further
includes means for maintaining the pressure in said first plenum
(70, 72, 74, 76) at a higher level than the pressure in said
second plenum (98, 100, 102, 104).
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34. The facility of claim 30 wherein said facility further
includes means for circulating hot and cold water (88) through
chamber (78, 80, 82) for regulating chamber temperature.
35. The facility of claim 34 wherein said facility further
includes a heat exchanger (110) for extracting heat from water
which has been circulated through said chamber (78, 80, 82)
during egg incubation.