Resource Type

Automatic Trip Gear for Power Presses. (open access)

Automatic Trip Gear for Power Presses.

Patent for a new and improved trip-gear for power-presses. This design "consists in providing the lever connected with an ordinary reversible gearing with a cord and weight, so that when in its normal position and not in use the small friction-wheel will not come in contact with either face of the large friction wheel. The upper end of the press is provided with a notched metallic plate connected with the reversing-lever, so that when the follow-block in its upward passage passes the said plate the lever will be released, and, falling back into its normal position by the press, is immediately stopped" (lines 24-36).
Date: December 1, 1885
Creator: Wilson, Martin M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Quilting Frame. (open access)

Quilting Frame.

Patent for a new and improved quilting frame for sewing machines. This design consists "[i]n a quilting frame, the combination, with suitable supporting standards having an inclined V-shaped track secured thereto, of a rail having rollers mounted upon the side thereof and traveling upon said track, depending brackets secured to the ends of said rail, transverse secured to the ends of said depending rods, and rollers having bearing in said transverse strips" (lines 3-11).
Date: December 9, 1884
Creator: German, Francis M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Device for Sheltering Animals. (open access)

Device for Sheltering Animals.

Patent for a new and improved animal shelter. This design "relates to a device which may be adapted for use as a hen's nest, a dog-kennel, a stable for domestic animals, or for analogous purposes. The principle of construction prevalent in all these different adaptations for use of the device consists of certain improved means for automatically closing the door as the animal steps into a vertically-swinging compartment, and for automatically opening the door as the animal leaves said swinging compartment" (lines 13-23).
Date: December 21, 1880
Creator: Austin, John Overton
System: The Portal to Texas History