Serological incubator

Claim 2

An incubator for heating reactants contained in open ended test tubes to a selected temperature, comprising: a body member having an inner chamber and openings in a top surface thereof for inserting the test tubes into the chamber; a spring-loaded platform associated with each opening for sealing the associated openings when the platform has no test tubes placed thereon and for lowering into said chamber when test tubes are placed thereon; hood means for enclosing the openings and the portions of the test tubes that extend above the top surface; electrical heating means for heating a gas within the chamber; thermostat means in thermal contact with the gas for controlling said heating means in response to gas temperature; and circulating means for circulating the gas throughout the chamber and over the heating means, whereby the open ends of the test tubes are not subjected to circulating gas and evaporation of the reactants is minimized.

Claim 3

An incubator as described in claim 1, wherein the support means additionally comprises a carrier for holding the test tubes upright and for retaining the spring-loaded platform in the chamber.

Claim 4

An incubator as described in claim 1, wherein each spring-loaded platform comprises: a pair of posts mounted vertically beneath the top surface of the body member; a level platform slidably mounted to said posts for vertical motion; and leaf springs positioned beneath the platform for urging the platform in an upward direction to seal the associated opening.

Claim 5

An incubator for heating materials contained in containers to selected temperatures, comprising: a body member having an inner chamber and openings in a surface thereof for inserting the containers into the chamber; spring-loaded platform means associated with each opening for supporTing the inserted containers and for sealing the associated opening when the platform has no containers placed thereon; hood means for sealing the openings and enclosing any portion of the containers that extend above the surface of the body member; electrical heating means for heating a gas within the chamber; thermostat means in thermal contact with the gas for controlling said heating means in response to gas temperature; and circulating means for circulating the gas throughout the chamber and over the heating means, whereby the openings are sealed by the spring-loaded platform when no containers are placed on the platform.

Claim 6

An incubator for heating materials contained in containers to selected temperatures, comprising: a body member having an inner chamber and openings in a surface thereof for inserting the containers into the chamber; spring-loaded platform means associated with each opening for supporTing the inserted containers and for sealing the associated opening when the platform has no containers placed thereon; hood means for sealing the openings and enclosing any portion of the containers that extend above the surface of the body member; electrical heating means for heating a gas within the chamber; thermostat means in thermal contact with the gas for controlling said heating means in response to gas temperature; and circulating means for circulating the gas throughout the chamber and over the heating means, whereby the openings are sealed by the spring-loaded platform when no containers are placed on the platform.

Claim 7

An incubator as described in claim 4, wherein the hood means is constructed of a transparent material.

Claim 8

An incubator as described in claim 4, additionally comprising carrier means for supporting containers to be heated.

Claim 9

An incubator as described in claim 4, wherein the heating means comprises a heating rod contained within the chamber and extending substantially across the chamber, and the circulating means comprises a tangential blower positioned adjacent said heating rod and having a length substantially equal to that of the heating rod.

Claim 10

An incubator as described in claim 4, additionally comprising baffle means for establishing a circulation path throughout the entire chamber, and a screen baffle extending across the circulation path, whereby uniform heat distribution is provided within the chamber when the containers are unevenly inserted in the chamber.

Claim 11

An incubator as described in claim 4, additionally comprising a variable gas inlet positioned so that the circulating means draws unheated gas into the chamber and mixes it with heated gas and calibrated to provide uniform heat distribution within the chamber at selected temperatures.

Claim 12

An incubator for heating objects such as reactants contained in open ended test tubes to predetermined temperatures, comprising: a body member having an inner chamber and openings in a top surface thereof for inserting test tubes into the chamber; spring-loaded platform means associated with each opening for sealing the associated opening when there are no test tubes placed thereon and for supporting said test tubes within the chamber so that the open end of the test tubes extend above the top surface of the incubator and out of the openings; hood means for closing the openings and enclosing the portions of the test tubes that extend above the top surface; an electric heating rod contained within the chamber and extending substantially across the chamber; a tangential blower positioned adjacent said heating rod and having a length substantially equal to that of the heating rod so that the fan circulates air over the entire length of the heating rod; a baffle for establishing a path to circulate the air throughout the chamber; a screen baffle extending across the circulation path, to provide uniform heat distribution within the chamber when loaded with odd-shaped or unsymmetrically loaded test tube rocks; a variable air inlet positioned relative to said fan so that air is aspirated into the chamber, said air inlet being calibrated at selected temperatures to provide uniform heat distribution within the chamber; and thermostat means in thermal contact with the air within the chamber for controlling the electrical heating rod in response to the air temperature, whereby the air within the chamber is maintained at a selected temperature.

Claim 13

An incubator for heating objects such as reactants contained in open ended test tubes to predetermined temperatures, comprising: a body member having an inner chamber and openings in a top surface thereof for inserting test tubes into the chamber; spring-loaded platform means associated with each opening for sealing the associated opening when there are no test tubes placed thereon and for supporting said test tubes within the chamber so that the open end of the test tubes extend above the top surface of the incubator and out of the openings; hood means for closing the openings and enclosing the portions of the test tubes that extend above the top surface; an electric heating rod contained within the chamber and extending substantially across the chamber; a tangential blower positioned adjacent said heating rod and having a length substantially equal to that of the heating rod so that the fan circulates air over the entire length of the heating rod; a baffle for establishing a path to circulate the air throughout the chamber; a screen baffle extending across the circulation path, to provide uniform heat distribution within the chamber when loaded with odd-shaped or unsymmetrically loaded test tube rocks; a variable air inlet positioned relative to said fan so that air is aspirated into the chamber, said air inlet being calibrated at selected temperatures to provide uniform heat distribution within the chamber; and thermostat means in thermal contact with the air within the chamber for controlling the electrical heating rod in response to the air temperature, whereby the air within the chamber is maintained at a selected temperature.