Locomotive Ash-Pan. (open access)

Locomotive Ash-Pan.

Patent for "locomotive ash-pans which are cleared of ashes and cinders without necessitating the stopping of the engine or requiring the fireman or other person going beneath the engine to relieve the ash-pan of its contents, thereby saving expense in labor and obviating loss of time in long runs." (Lines 8-15) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: March 9, 1897
Creator: Cummings, Summer Field
System: The Portal to Texas History
Harrow. (open access)

Harrow.

Patent for a new and improved harrow. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with the revolving harrow-teeth and prong-wheels, of the centrally-hinged vibratory frame, carrying drag-hook teeth . . . [and] [t]he combination, with the harrow-frame . . . carrying the hook-teeth, of the pulley, chain, and lever" (lines 62-70).
Date: March 20, 1883
Creator: Lewis, Charles Patton
System: The Portal to Texas History
Nut-Lock. (open access)

Nut-Lock.

Patent for a nut lock with a locking washer at the base of the nut that does not unscrew. The nut forms a bar of spring metal.
Date: March 13, 1894
Creator: Mauermann, Albert J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Skate-Wheel. (open access)

Skate-Wheel.

Patent for a skate-wheel that is meant for roller skates, but it can be used for other things. It gives the skate a smooth gliding movement. The "invention consists essentially of a stationary runner or slide rigid to the skate and arranged in a circular rim or tire, so that there will be as little friction as possible between the two parts, the runner being adapted when in operation, to slide along its bearing in the rim or tire and by this means the tire is made to turn as in the ordinary wheel" (lines 24-32).
Date: March 13, 1894
Creator: Mauermann, Albert J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Turn-Table. (open access)

Turn-Table.

Patent for a turn table that is "used for turning locomotives engines end to end; and the object of [the] invention is to provide a simple lever attachment for an ordinary turn-table, by which one man may easily turn the table and its load, and also to arrange the lever mechanism so that it may be easily locked in place when not in use and will not be likely to get out of order" (lines 8-16).
Date: March 27, 1894
Creator: Rohrbach, Gabriel
System: The Portal to Texas History