Resource Type

Car Coupling. (open access)

Car Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad cars. This design "has for its objects to provide a coupling-pin which can be reversed when one end becomes worn, to provide a reversible pin of novel construction, which is adapted to automatically engage the ordinary coupling-link, and to provide a coupling-pin of novel construction, with a device for holding it elevated when it is not desired to engage a coupling-link" (lines 10-18).
Date: May 15, 1883
Creator: Fowler, Joseph C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Condenser (open access)

Condenser

Patent for "the construction of surface-condensers for condensing steam, condensing cooling ammonia-gas, and other purposes" (lines 17-20) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: June 15, 1880
Creator: Lee, Charles Brogden
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hydraulic Excavating Machine. (open access)

Hydraulic Excavating Machine.

Patent for a new and improved hydraulic excavator. This design "consists in combining a submerged propeller-wheel with a water-jet tube having a flexible connection with the supply-pipe, so as to permit the water-jet tube to rise and fall . . . and also move laterally, whereby the tube will, when it meets an obstruction, yield sufficiently to prevent breaking, jarring, or injuring any of the parts, the water-jet tube and propeller bearing such relative positions to each other that the . . . obstructions disengaged by the jet will be held in suspension . . . and carried off by the natural current" (lines 14-27).
Date: January 15, 1884
Creator: Mansfield, Samuel M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Laundry-Iron (open access)

Laundry-Iron

Patent for improvements to heating and use of irons used for laundry.
Date: May 15, 1883
Creator: Pedder, James Nagel
System: The Portal to Texas History
Railroad Switch. (open access)

Railroad Switch.

Patent for a new and improved railroad switch. This design "consists in securing the short switch-rail to a long guard-rail, instead of pivoting it to the end of the sliding-rail or supporting-plate, the said guard-rail having the end remote from the short switch-rail spiked securely to the track, and the end carrying the switch-rail provided with lever or other moving devices whereby the switch-rails are thrown" (lines 21-29).
Date: January 15, 1884
Creator: Crowley, John H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Split Switch (open access)

Split Switch

Patent for a split switch, with illustrations. The "invention relates to split switches; and the object of our invention is to provide a switch which will be normally in condition to prevent a train from running on the main track from the siding, and yet always keep the main track in condition for the rapid movement of trains, and at the same time allow the shunting of a train from the main track to the side track" (lines 16-24).
Date: May 15, 1883
Creator: Crowley, John Henry & Temple, Bernard Moore
System: The Portal to Texas History