Car Coupling. (open access)

Car Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad cars. This design "is to provide means for raising the catch to release it from either side or from the top of the car, and holding it in such raised position" (lines 8-12). It consists, "with the draw-head and the catch pivoted therein and having tip extended vertically through the front end thereof, of eyes in said draw-head, a wire frame journaled in said eyes and having forwardly extending arms above and beneath the body of said catch, and means . . . for turning the frame in said eyes" (lines 85-93).
Date: October 21, 1890
Creator: Whatley, Richard I.
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
Cotton-Chopper (open access)

Cotton-Chopper

Patent for a new and improved Cotton Chopper, which explains what it is used for and what the new improvements are.
Date: October 19, 1897
Creator: Hyland, Robert R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Planter. (open access)

Planter.

Patent for a planter "especially designed for planting seed and preparing the ground in advance of the opener, so as to remove weeds, trash, and other foreign matter from the path of the shovel preparing the furrow to receive the seed." (Lines 9-14) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 12, 1897
Creator: Tinning, James D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plow. (open access)

Plow.

Patent for a new and improved plow. This design "relates to plows; and it consists in certain improvements of construction of the same, having for its object to admit of the adjustment of the heel-bar of the plow with relation to the standard of the same, and also to provide the said heel-bar with an adjustable knife or cutter which shall serve as a rudder to prevent the plow from swerving to either side during operation" (lines 8-16).
Date: October 7, 1890
Creator: Echols, Christopher Columbus
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wheel-Scraper. (open access)

Wheel-Scraper.

Patent for a scraper to be mounted on a vehicle for the purpose of removing mud from a wheel. Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 26, 1897
Creator: Gray, John B.
System: The Portal to Texas History