Valve-Operating Mechanism (open access)

Valve-Operating Mechanism

Patent for Valve Operating Mechanism that includes "new and useful improvements" (lines 5-6), and "has for its primary object to provide a simple and efficient means for operating a valve at a distance" (lines 10-12).
Date: September 10, 1918
Creator: Baurens, Jean Marie, Jr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automatic Fuel-Changing Valve. (open access)

Automatic Fuel-Changing Valve.

Patent for Automatic Fuel Changing Valve. The purpose of the invention is to provide a mechanism that switches to another gas supply when the one which is feeding the system runs low.
Date: March 26, 1918
Creator: Connelly, John S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvements in Processes of Distillation and Apparatus Therefor (open access)

Improvements in Processes of Distillation and Apparatus Therefor

Patent for improvements in processes of distillation and apparatus therefor in petroleum refineries.
Date: April 30, 1918
Creator: Prichard, George L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvements in Burners (open access)

Improvements in Burners

Patent for improvements for burners. It is related explicitly to hydrocarbon burners. Its purpose is to keep the oil and steam separate as they leave the burner by keeping them in two separate streams.
Date: June 19, 1918
Creator: Trahan, Clair A
System: The Portal to Texas History
Purifying Oils (open access)

Purifying Oils

Patent that converts low grade petroleum into higher grade petroleum. The process warms aluminum chlorid with petroleum material in a nonviolent way to make a purifying oil.
Date: August 27, 1918
Creator: McAfee, Almer M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Process of Purifying Paraffin. (open access)

Process of Purifying Paraffin.

Patent for improvements in the process of purifying paraffin wax.
Date: August 27, 1918
Creator: McAfee, Almer M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stump-Puller. (open access)

Stump-Puller.

Patent for an improved design for a stump-puller, using a hoisting derrick and lever to attach to the stump and pull it from the ground.
Date: April 23, 1918
Creator: Weese, Frank
System: The Portal to Texas History
Electrical Apparatus for Heating Stills, Boilers, and the Like. (open access)

Electrical Apparatus for Heating Stills, Boilers, and the Like.

Patent for "Improvements in Electrical Apparatus for Heating Stills, Boilers, and the like" (lines 6-8) that uses electricity and includes "a heating element which is not affected by repeated changes in temperature, which is adapted to present a heating surface of large area, which may be raised to a high temperature with a low current, and which is many times more economical in use than metal coils possessing less heat radiating powers" (lines 21-28) including illustrations.
Date: April 9, 1918
Creator: Lorenz, Charles O.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Refrigerating Machine. (open access)

Refrigerating Machine.

Patent for a refrigerating machine that works with a double jacketed brine cylinder with a self-contained expansion tank for the coolant. It is meant to provide cooling with small displacement of the cylinder, but with great circulation of the brine.
Date: December 31, 1918
Creator: Bell, Samuel R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rail Joint (open access)

Rail Joint

Patent for improved rail joints to lock rail sections together against accidental displacement with illustrations.
Date: August 15, 1918
Creator: Stewart, Amon Leslie
System: The Portal to Texas History
Process of Making Aluminum Chlorid. (open access)

Process of Making Aluminum Chlorid.

Patent for the process of making aluminum chlorid (chloride) wherein solid materials are preheated to alleviate heating supply issues during the process.
Date: May 28, 1918
Creator: King, George H. & Roberts, Gerald I.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Roof Structure. (open access)

Roof Structure.

Patent for an improved roof structure that has "movable panels in the roof and side walls... to permit of manual adjustment to regulate the temperature, light, and moisture" (lines 10-14). This patent includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 29, 1918
Creator: Simon, Jacob P.
System: The Portal to Texas History