Clutch Clamp. (open access)

Clutch Clamp.

Patent for a new and improved clutch-clamp. This design "is to provide a simple and effective device for lowering or hoisting the pipe or rods of pumps into bored wells or other places, such as mines or shafts, and without injury to the pipe or rod, such device being not only readily and easily handled in connecting it to or disconnecting it from the object to be raised or lowered, but capable of being manufactured at comparatively small cost" (lines 20-29).
Date: August 16, 1887
Creator: McCoy, John William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bridge. (open access)

Bridge.

Patent for "improvements in bridges of that class which are used for crossing streams or country roads, and for such other purposes as a bridge may be desired" (lines 15-18), with instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 16, 1887
Creator: Mitchell, Joseph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Steam Engine Governor. (open access)

Steam Engine Governor.

Patent for a new and improved steam-engine governor. This design consists in "the combination, with the valve-stem and governor-balls, of a lever connected with the said valve-stem, a weighted lever connected with the said valve-stem lever, a piston-rod connected with the said weighted lever, a piston attached to the said piston-rod, and a small cylinder in which the said piston operates, and which is connected at one end with the interior of the steam-chest" (lines 93-102).
Date: August 16, 1887
Creator: Arnold, Eliphalet L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Folding and Self Supporting Ironing Table. (open access)

Folding and Self Supporting Ironing Table.

Patent for a new and improved ironing board. This design consists in "the combination of a board, a leaf hinged thereto near one end, and adapted to bear against the same when turned to an upright position, a reach pivotally connected at one end with the leaf, the supporting-feet pivoted to the leaf, the supporting-feet pivoted to the free end of the reach, and the arm intermediate the free ends of the reach and board to support the latter in position when unfolded for use" (lines 24-33).
Date: August 16, 1887
Creator: White, Andrew Asbrey & King, Charles Rufus
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cultivator. (open access)

Cultivator.

Patent for a new and improved cultivator. This design "ha[s] for its object the provision of strong and reliable means whereby any desired number of plow-shovels may be used and the distance between the said plows regulated or adjusted at will by very simple means. A further object is to provide means to enable all the plows, excepting two, to be removed, to adapt the device to be used to lay off rows at a predetermined distance apart to prepare for sowing" (lines 9-19).
Date: August 16, 1887
Creator: Sutton, James Macaulay
System: The Portal to Texas History
Device for Controlling Runaway Horses. (open access)

Device for Controlling Runaway Horses.

Patent for a new and improved device for controlling runaway horses. This design has for its object "to construct an apparatus whereby such a pressure may be applied by the rider or driver of the animal in connection with which the apparatus is employed, the invention consisting of pads that are supported by lever-arms pivotally connected to a bit, and of a means whereby said pads may be moved toward each other—that is, to a position so that they will bear upon the outer nostril-wall . . . [since horses] may be quickly subdued by bringing continued pressure to bear upon their noses" (lines 9-21).
Date: August 16, 1887
Creator: Grumbach, Isaïe
System: The Portal to Texas History