Windmill. (open access)

Windmill.

Patent for a new and improved windmill. This design consists in "the sectional spiral vanes of the wind-wheel, having a flange on the outer edge, widest at the end of the vane on which the wind first takes effect, and inclined to the plane of the vane for deflecting the wind thereon . . . [and] [t]he brake, having guide-pulley and combined with the pull-cord, tail-vane, and the wheel-shaft, said shaft having a friction-wheel" (lines 13-22).
Date: February 24, 1885
Creator: Benoit, Joseph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Motor. (open access)

Motor.

Patent for a new and improved motor. This design "relates to a mechanical power adapted to operate a churn, saw, and for other light work, and it has for its object to provide a device of this character which shall be cheap and simple in its construction effective in its operation, and one that will be strong and durable" (lines 9-15).
Date: February 24, 1885
Creator: Forister, John Hardin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Feeding Chute for Stoves. (open access)

Feeding Chute for Stoves.

Patent for a new and improved feeding chute for stoves. This design "is to provide the chute with a pivoted latch or other like device that will securely hold the door closed, the device operating automatically in locking the door closed. A further object of the invention is to provide a pivoted chute with a swinging door, so that the two will act conjointly with each other" (lines 36-43).
Date: February 24, 1885
Creator: Mayfield, William Dudley
System: The Portal to Texas History
Signal Valve for Boilers. (open access)

Signal Valve for Boilers.

Patent for a new and improved signal valve for boilers. This design "consists in the combination, with a check-valve, of the ordinary construction, which is adapted to operate in connection with an inspirator, injector, or jet-pump, such as are commonly employed for feeding steam-boilers, of a signal-valve which is located above the check-valve, and which signal-valve, when the check-valve ceases to operate, is caused to open by the backward pressure of the steam from the boiler, permitting the escape of said steam, and thereby indicating that the feeder is not operating" (lines 14-26).
Date: February 24, 1885
Creator: McLane, Reed Atchinson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car Coupling. (open access)

Car Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad cars. This design consists in "[a] car-coupling constructed with a draw-head having a vertically-ranging and inwardly-tapering link-socket and a horizontal hole to receive the coupling pin, in combination with a coupling-link tapering from the middle toward the end . . . [and] . . . crossing the socket, and a coupling-pin adapted to said hole and to the coupling-link, and connected to [two] lever[s] [and a] link . . . and [one of] said lever[s] extending to the side of the car" (lines 39-52).
Date: February 24, 1885
Creator: Rye, Edgar
System: The Portal to Texas History