Carbon Holder for Electric Arc Lamps (open access)

Carbon Holder for Electric Arc Lamps

Patent for improvements made to the carbon holder for electric arc lamps to improve efficiency in replacing the lamps. To improve upon the current design, the patent illustrates and describes a new level clutch system to allow movement, as opposed to the gravity-based design previously implemented.
Date: March 17, 1914
Creator: Lacy, Benjamin Burton & Elrod, Henry E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Centrifugal Pump (open access)

Centrifugal Pump

Patent for centrifugal pump design meant to improve upon past models in which pieces of the pump wear out over time.
Date: December 17, 1918
Creator: Duda, Oswald
System: The Portal to Texas History
Truck. (open access)

Truck.

Patent for a truck or hand cart useful for loading and unloading at depots. This hand cart has has a hand actuated lift for lifting objects to the height of the loading vehicle.
Date: November 17, 1919
Creator: Thomas, Theodore G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Well Mechanism (open access)

Well Mechanism

Patent for a mechanism for drawing water from wells. Illustrations included.
Date: May 17, 1910
Creator: Layne, Mahlon E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Truck (open access)

Truck

Patent for a traction truck that minimizes jarring of the truck bed.
Date: October 17, 1911
Creator: Haight, Washington Z.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Speed-Controlling Mechanism for Motor-Vehicles. (open access)

Speed-Controlling Mechanism for Motor-Vehicles.

Patent for a device that automatically closes the throttle to slow the speed of a motor vehicle when necessary. The device is designed to respond to vehicle load, road surface, and a predetermined speed limit.
Date: July 17, 1917
Creator: Carpenter, John C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Method of Sapping or Destroying Trenches or Other Defensive Works. (open access)

Method of Sapping or Destroying Trenches or Other Defensive Works.

Patent for a method of sapping or destroying trenches or other defensive works to use in military operations.
Date: September 17, 1918
Creator: Hughes, Howard R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sulphur-Mining Apparatus. (open access)

Sulphur-Mining Apparatus.

Patent for a thermal solvent based sulfur mining apparatus that is placed in a sulfur mining well. Utilizing thermodynamics, the apparatus has a new way to introduce air or steam into the various parts of the apparatus. It is designed with "simplicity and durability of construction" (lines 49-50).
Date: December 17, 1918
Creator: Carmichael, Robert E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Float-Valve. (open access)

Float-Valve.

Patent for a float valve not using slots and links, including illustrations.
Date: August 17, 1915
Creator: Garrott, John Collier
System: The Portal to Texas History
Record-Book. (open access)

Record-Book.

Patent for a record book using primary and secondary indexing tabs for improving classification of documents.
Date: December 17, 1918
Creator: Sumners, Gustavus D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Strainer for Oil and Water Wells (open access)

Strainer for Oil and Water Wells

Patent for a strainer for oil and water wells. Illustrations included.
Date: May 17, 1910
Creator: Decker, Harry R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Drapery Support and Form (open access)

Drapery Support and Form

Patent for a new kind of drapery system that keeps the drapes pleated neatly and allows drapes to open and close easily with metal fasteners.
Date: February 17, 1914
Creator: Jantzen, Marius
System: The Portal to Texas History