Activated-Sludge Treatment. (open access)

Activated-Sludge Treatment.

Patent for a method that dehydrates sewage for easier removal.
Date: January 29, 1918
Creator: Moor, William C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Air Intake Device. (open access)

Air Intake Device.

Patent for an air intake device for automobiles and other internal combustion engines. Provides novel and improved heated air supply for carburetors during cold weather. Adjustable to admit unheated air in various proportions according to the air temperature and weather.
Date: January 29, 1918
Creator: Hornburg, C.A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Blackboard-Cleaner. (open access)

Blackboard-Cleaner.

Patent for a blackboard cleaner that incorporates a "water reservoir having manually controlled means for communicating the water of the reservoir to the rubbing element of the cleaner" (lines 13-17) including an illustration. The rubbing element was also made to be easily removed for replacement or cleaning.
Date: January 29, 1918
Creator: Satrum, Gilbert G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Marking-Pot and Brush. (open access)

Combined Marking-Pot and Brush.

Patent for a combined marking-pot and brush where the marking-pot "will effectually support a brush and prevent the handle thereof from dropping down in to the ink or paint contained therein" (lines 13-16). The marking-pot also provides a detachable cover to prevent spilling.
Date: January 29, 1918
Creator: McCombs, Charles C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Display Rack. (open access)

Display Rack.

Patent for rotary display rack for goods to be readily exhibited.
Date: January 29, 1918
Creator: Koehler, Bert J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mechanical Rectifier. (open access)

Mechanical Rectifier.

Patent for a mechanical rectifier for automobiles. This mechanical rectifier connects with the magneto or generator to turn alternating currents into to direct currents for charging a storage battery while operating the engine.
Date: January 29, 1918
Creator: Winterborne, Arthur William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Self-Cleaning Harrow and Cultivator. (open access)

Self-Cleaning Harrow and Cultivator.

Patent for a harrow and cultivator "which is self-cleaning in that, by manipulation of certain mechanism embodied in the machine, the teeth or shovels are caused to rotate about axes, giving up any stalks, grass, or other fibrous matter which may cling to the teeth or shovels impeding the working of the soil" (lines 15-21).
Date: January 29, 1918
Creator: Miner, John C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk-Cutter. (open access)

Stalk-Cutter.

Patent for an improved stalk cutter that can be connected with lister beams and thus, able to be connected to the lister to cut the stalks while plowing.
Date: January 29, 1918
Creator: Thompson, Roy De Witt
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cooler. (open access)

Cooler.

Patent for an "iceless cooler" (line 13) with key features such as low manufacturing cost, easy assembly, and the capability to be collapsed for compact storage when not in use, including illustrations.
Date: January 26, 1918
Creator: Chapman, T. M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Air-Supply-Valve Attachment (open access)

Air-Supply-Valve Attachment

Patent for a valve add on for a carburetor in order to control the air flow.
Date: January 24, 1918
Creator: Kirkpatrick, Monroe C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automatic Railway Switch. (open access)

Automatic Railway Switch.

Patent for providing the means for a switch to be actuated which will allow trains to enter or exit a siding of the track.
Date: January 22, 1918
Creator: Gullion, Robert, A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automatic Separating Device. (open access)

Automatic Separating Device.

Patent for an automatic separating device. This device operates with a link that connects the float level at the top of the tank with a valve handle at the bottom of the tank to control discharge from the tank.
Date: January 22, 1918
Creator: Allen, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Power-Transmitting Device. (open access)

Power-Transmitting Device.

Patent for new and useful improvements in Power-Transmitting Devices. "its object being to provide a device by means of which power taken from any suitable source may be economically transmitted and multiplied, for the purpose of driving machinery or other purposes."(lines 10-15)
Date: January 22, 1918
Creator: Montgomery, Edward F. & Burnham, Reuben B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Railroad Cattle-guard. (open access)

Railroad Cattle-guard.

Patent for an improved cattle-guard to keep livestock from crossing onto a railroad track or into railway property. This protects livestock and decreases railroad liability for loos of property. The invention includes a pivotal gate which runs parallel to the track that will go across the track to block animals if they try to cross the opening.
Date: January 22, 1918
Creator: Gidcumb, John T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Resilient Wheel. (open access)

Resilient Wheel.

Patent for improvements to resilient wheels with shock-absorbing elements in the hub.
Date: January 22, 1918
Creator: Robertson, Walter E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Incubator Regulator. (open access)

Incubator Regulator.

Patent for an incubator with an automatic regulator for the flame of an incubator or heating lamp. The invention also provides an improved regulator arranged to raise or lower the wick of an incubator lamp in accordance with the heat in the incubator itself.
Date: January 15, 1918
Creator: Harris, Luster. F. & Williams, Walter. L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Resilient Wheel. (open access)

Resilient Wheel.

Patent for improvements in resilient wheels. "This invention relates to a new and useful resilient vehicle wheel embodying flat arcuate springs by means of which the tread or shoe of the wheel is resiliently mounted with relation to the hub."(lines 8-12)
Date: January 15, 1918
Creator: Roberts, Samuel A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Terrace-Marker. (open access)

Terrace-Marker.

Patent for a terrace-marker that has "improved means for quickly and conveniently marking or laying out and leveling terraces which shall be light and consequently easily portable, durable and inexpensive to manufacture" (lines 13-17) including an illustration.
Date: January 15, 1918
Creator: Norris, William C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Time-Switch. (open access)

Time-Switch.

Patent for a time switch "which will be automatically operated to close the circuit and to open the circuit at predetermined times so that the translating devices in the circuit may be maintained energized for a predetermined length of time," (lines 10-15) including illustrations.
Date: January 15, 1918
Creator: Scholl, Max
System: The Portal to Texas History
Charge Firing Pin (open access)

Charge Firing Pin

Patent for a new improvement in Charge - Firing Pens by John N. Swanson. Designed for bombs and torpedoes to create a simple firing pen mechanism that is simple, yet prevents accidental detonation of munitions
Date: January 14, 1918
Creator: Swanson, John N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Aerocompass. (open access)

Aerocompass.

Patent for an aerocompass, which improves upon a compass combined with inclinometers or map-boards. It is intended for use on submarines, airplanes, or in an area when it would be difficult to use a regular compass.
Date: January 8, 1918
Creator: Fischer, Fred Charlie.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Canning Apparatus. (open access)

Canning Apparatus.

Patent for an apparatus adapted for use in canning operations for steaming and cooking fruit, vegetables, and the like, in the cans.
Date: January 8, 1918
Creator: Mueller, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Chute for Garbage (open access)

Chute for Garbage

Patent for improvements to the conveyer and chutes associated with the disposal of garbage. Also delivers coal and wood to the house from outside.
Date: January 8, 1918
Creator: Roberson, Ella
System: The Portal to Texas History
Corn or Grain Knife. (open access)

Corn or Grain Knife.

Patent for an improved corn or grain knife that is simpler in construction and inexpensive to produce. This corn or grain knife is "adapted for use in the hand of the user for clipping the tops of standing grain such as corn, by the simple act of opening and closing the hand" (lines 10-13), including illustrations.
Date: January 8, 1918
Creator: Holliday, Thomas B.
System: The Portal to Texas History