Churn. (open access)

Churn.

Patent for a churn with an improved dasher-operating mechanism. It simply and effectively combines a "rotary and reciprocatory movement to a churn-dasher to hasten the separation of the butter" (lines 11-13). The dasher is attached to a frame, and is operated through a crank. The churn rests on a platform also attached to the frame.
Date: January 19, 1897
Creator: Wright, William L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Attachment for Cotton Plows. (open access)

Attachment for Cotton Plows.

Patent for a new and improved plow. This design consists, "with the plow-stock provided with a staple near the lower end of the standard, having an opening formed with a series of parallel sides, and a staple on the beam . . . consisting of a series of bails of the fender-plate rigidly secured to the rod, the lower end of said rod being formed in cross-section of a series of parallel sides, said end adapted to fit and be adjusted in said staple, the upper end of the rod being adapted to be adjusted in any one of the bails of the staple" (lines 7-18).
Date: January 7, 1890
Creator: Collier, Johnathan T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automatic Car Brake. (open access)

Automatic Car Brake.

Patent for a new and improved automatic car brake. This design "consists, first, in the combination of the draw-heads . . . connecting-rods . . . and a partially-rotating shaft provided with suitable slotted cams, which cams are attached to the brake-beams, so that when the draw-heads are forced inward or drawn out the brakes will move out of contact with the wheels; second, in the combination, with the slotted cams and a mechanism for moving them, of the rods which are connected thereto, and which pass through the brake-beams, the sliding sleeves, the springs, and the nuts" (lines 13-27).
Date: January 22, 1884
Creator: Miller, John D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Gin Hopper. (open access)

Cotton Gin Hopper.

Patent for swinging adjustable breast for Cotton-Gin Hoppers designed to regulate the density of cotton. Accompanied by illustrations.
Date: January 20, 1883
Creator: Horne, Edward G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Portable Dam. (open access)

Portable Dam.

Patent for a new and improved portable dam. This design "consists in the combination of the timbers which form the dam, the vertical uprights between which the timbers are place, the braces which support the dam in an upright position, the rider placed upon the braces, the wires, and the hooks to which the wires are fastened" (lines 13-19).
Date: January 7, 1890
Creator: Williams, Stephen P.
System: The Portal to Texas History