Resource Type

States

Car Coupling. (open access)

Car Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad cars. This design relates "especially to that class known as 'gravity-pin supports;' and the object thereof is to provide improved means for supporting the pin so that it can be operated from the top of the car, or so that it will drop automatically when two cars come together" (lines 9-14). It consists, "with the coupling-pin and a supporting-arm pivotally connected to the draw-head and to the upper end of said pin, of a weight carried by said arm, and means . . . for supporting said weight and for tripping it" (lines 6-12).
Date: November 18, 1890
Creator: Epperson, Alexander
System: The Portal to Texas History
Burglar-Alarm. (open access)

Burglar-Alarm.

Patent for a portable device that can be hung on a door knob and sound an alarm when the knob is turned, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 18, 1914
Creator: Dick, Archie P., Jr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Well-Drilling Apparatus. (open access)

Well-Drilling Apparatus.

Patent for a well-drilling apparatus for boring Artesian and other wells. It is meant to "provide simple, efficient, and durable means for expanding or spreading the reamer-blades after the bit-carrying devices have been lowered sufficiently to arrange the reamer-blades below the plane of the lower end of the tubular drill-rod" (lines 10-17). Water pressure is also used to remove the cuttings from the boring-blades. Sections of cable that suspend and lower drill-bit carrying parts into the drill-rod are supported, and sections of drill-rod can be attached and added to the drill-rod. The method of securing the reamer-blades to the reamer-stock is improved with this patent. The parts fit snugly together and prevent water from getting into the drill-rod.
Date: February 18, 1896
Creator: Horton, Stephen A.
System: The Portal to Texas History