Convertible Churn And Ice-Cream Freezer. (open access)

Convertible Churn And Ice-Cream Freezer.

Patent for a new and useful convertible churn and ice cream freezer, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: June 27, 1899
Creator: Everhard, Joseph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton-Chopper. (open access)

Cotton-Chopper.

Patent for improvements in cotton-choppers by "providing a frame in which is journaled the shaft carrying the cutting-wheel, which derives its motion through connection with the traction-wheels, the said shaft being arranged at an angle to the line of travel of the machine and connected by knuckle or swivel joint with a shaft comprising a part of the driving mechanism.” (Lines 19-26) Illustration is included.
Date: October 27, 1891
Creator: Poole, Luther M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Incubator (open access)

Incubator

Patent for an incubator designed to maintain temperature automatically.
Date: September 27, 1921
Creator: Kovar, Joe
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire-Straightening Tool. (open access)

Wire-Straightening Tool.

Patent for a wire straightening tool, with illustrations, that relies on a series of levers and cams to apply pressure to the wire as it is pulled through. The patent notes that "the wires can be straightened quickly and with facility, thereby permitting the using of all twisted and bent wire which has heretofore gone to waste and resulting in considerable saving of metal" (page 2, lines 14-18).
Date: January 27, 1920
Creator: Cervenka, Frank L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Plows (open access)

Improvement in Plows

Patent for a new design for a subsoil plow. Includes instructions and illustration.
Date: December 27, 1870
Creator: Clifton, Josiah
System: The Portal to Texas History
Telephone Or Switchboard Plug (open access)

Telephone Or Switchboard Plug

Patent for a telephone or switchboard plug. "This invention relates to improvements in connecting plugs adapted to be used with spring jacks of telephone switchboards" (line 8-11). Illustrations included.
Date: November 27, 1906
Creator: Dozier, Alva Battie
System: The Portal to Texas History
Planting Attachment For Cultivators. (open access)

Planting Attachment For Cultivators.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in corn and cotton planting attachments for cultivators, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: February 27, 1900
Creator: Weddle, John Crit
System: The Portal to Texas History
Releasing Device for Brakes of Locomotive Drive-Wheels. (open access)

Releasing Device for Brakes of Locomotive Drive-Wheels.

Patent for a simple and durable improved releasing device for brakes of locomotive drive-wheels that prevents "the drive wheels from being locked and sliding on the track rails, to obviate the uneven wear on the wheel tire" (lines 15-18). The invention has an auxiliary piston connected to the triple valve piston and is controlled by back pressure in the steam chest.
Date: November 27, 1894
Creator: Pelham, Walter O.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Railway Rail Fastening. (open access)

Railway Rail Fastening.

Patent for a new and improved rail fastening. This design consists in "[t]he combination of the tie having upwardly-inclined ends, the chairs having the recesses on their under sides to receive the ends of the tie, said recesses having their outer ends inclined to correspond with the inclination of the ends of the tie, and the clamping devices connecting the chairs together, and thereby securing them firmly on the ends of the tie" (lines 90-97).
Date: November 27, 1888
Creator: McRae, Daniel M.
System: The Portal to Texas History