Well Drill. (open access)

Well Drill.

Patent for a new and improved well drill. This design "consists in a novel construction of a tool for boring or drilling wells, which tool has the drill-bit and the reamer so united as to operate simultaneously, and thus serve the functions of the so-called "Z-bit" and effectually prevent the tool from being thrown laterally out of the line of cutting when striking bowlders; and the invention also consists in an improved construction of the coupling of the tool to the sinker-bar or drill-bar" (lines 9-18).
Date: July 17, 1888
Creator: Titus, Silas W. & Clark, Chester C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Velocipede (open access)

Velocipede

Patent for new and useful improvements to the class of velocipedes "in which the rotation of the propelling-wheel is produced by the oscillation of a rocking-chair" (lines 24-26).
Date: July 2, 1889
Creator: Rullmann, John D. & Eckenroth, George
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk Cutter. (open access)

Stalk Cutter.

Patent for a new and improved stalk cutter. This design "consists in the combination of a suitable frame, which is drawn along by two horses, so as to straddle a row of plants, a diagonal guide for guiding the plants, a guiding finger or piece for guiding the plants toward the knife, and a rake for raking the plants in piles or heaps as fast as they are cut" (lines 13-19).
Date: July 3, 1883
Creator: Early, Louis Simeon & Early, Matthias John Bourland
System: The Portal to Texas History
Steam Engine. (open access)

Steam Engine.

Patent for a new and improved steam engine. This design "consists in the construction and novel arrangement, in connection with a cylinder having bearings for the piston-shaft at each end and steam and exhaust ports at opposite ends, of an axially-elongated piston having opposite spiral threads or ribs of gradually-decreasing pitch from the end at which the steam enters to the end at which it escapes" (lines 19-26).
Date: July 3, 1883
Creator: Wilson, John C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk Cutter. (open access)

Stalk Cutter.

Patent for a new and improved stalk cutter. This design consists in "a stalk and weed cutter, the combination, with the oblique side knives, of the transverse slotted bars, springs, and the guide and pressure bars having vertical arms passing through the slots of the transverse bars, and connected to said springs . . . [and] the runner-frame, having oblique wings and front and side knives, the standards and bar, cross-bars, cross-springs, and adjustable pressure and guide bars" (lines 80-92).
Date: July 17, 1883
Creator: Cook, Emmanuel Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk Cutter. (open access)

Stalk Cutter.

Patent for a new and improved stalk cutter. This design consists "[i]n a stalk-cutter, the combination of the frame, having the central longitudinal parallel bars, slotted laterally and having the space between them, the sliding block, pivoted slotted knives, pivoted arms, and recessed side sills, and the pivoted lever and rack" (lines 77-83).
Date: July 17, 1883
Creator: Duncan, Garnett & Evens, John Richard
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk-Cutting Machine. (open access)

Stalk-Cutting Machine.

Patent for a machine to cut corn and other stalk vegetables and plants.
Date: July 5, 1887
Creator: Killingsworth, Thomas H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Thill Coupling. (open access)

Thill Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved thill-coupling. This design is "compris[ed of] perforated checks . . . a coupling-bolt, a locking-lever hinged to said bolt, said lever being provided with knob and notch, a cover -plate having groove and catch, and a spring-pin adapted to hold the lever and cover in engagement" (lines 81-87).
Date: July 19, 1887
Creator: Owens, Israel P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pressing and Drying Garments. (open access)

Pressing and Drying Garments.

Patent for pressing and drying pantaloons and garments which includes a hollow form made of sheet metal that is closed steam-tight and uses a steam pipe inside to dry the garments.
Date: October 8, 1881
Creator: Wolf, Louis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plaque and Picture Hanger. (open access)

Plaque and Picture Hanger.

Patent for a new and improved holder for plaques and pictures. This design "is to provide a simple and cheap device for conveniently hanging painted or ornamental plaques, plates, tiles, and similar decorative objects" (lines 15-18).
Date: July 25, 1882
Creator: Marucheau, Elizabeth L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pump. (open access)

Pump.

Patent for a new and improved pump. This design "has been specially devised for use in pumping gas, air, or vapor — as in ice-machines, for instance — and mainly with reference to attaining circulation with low pressure; but when operated at high speed considerable pressure may be attained therewith, whether operating upon vapors or liquids, as . . . [the] pump involves a novel mode of operation, in that it possesses characteristics partially common to pumps of the rotary system, as well as to those having a reciprocating piston" (lines 10-21).
Date: July 19, 1881
Creator: Rose, Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mold for Earth and Stone Fences. (open access)

Mold for Earth and Stone Fences.

Patent for a new and improved mold for earth and stone fences. This design "consist[s] of the inclined adjustable sides, having inclined standards, removable boards, and boards, tables, and locking-bolts . . . [and] the sides having lower boards or metallic pieces, upper removable boards or metallic pieces, and inclined standards of the tables, locking-bolts, handles, and stakes" (lines 21-30).
Date: July 26, 1881
Creator: Budd, Lewis R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Method of Working Volatile Hydrates for Artificial Refrigeration. (open access)

Method of Working Volatile Hydrates for Artificial Refrigeration.

Patent for a new and improved method of working volatile hydrates for refrigeration. This invention "consists in the continuous circulation through a chamber to be refrigerated of aqueous solution of volatile matter previously cooled by the expansive elimination therefrom of a portion of said volatile matter" (lines 64-68).
Date: July 26, 1881
Creator: Rose, Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mechanical Power. (open access)

Mechanical Power.

Patent for a new and improved engine. This design "relates to mechanical powers, the object being to combine with an ordinary tread-wheel mechanical advices adapted to be operated by horse-power to revolve said wheel. The invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts" (lines 9-14).
Date: July 10, 1883
Creator: Perrin, William J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lamp. (open access)

Lamp.

Patent for a new and improved oil lamp. This design "relates to improvements in lamps in which the reservoir is beveled, adapting it for use in conjunction with a conical corrugated reflector; and the object of [the] improvement is to produce a lamp that will afford more and better light with a given amount of oil" (lines 7-13).
Date: July 24, 1883
Creator: Newman, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mold and Mold Hoisting Apparatus for Building Concrete Walls. (open access)

Mold and Mold Hoisting Apparatus for Building Concrete Walls.

Patent for a new and improved concrete-raising apparatus. This design "consists in a mold in which a course of a wall can be formed, and in devices for raising the mold in the formation of another course. The invention also consists in details of construction and combination of parts" (lines 12-17).
Date: July 8, 1884
Creator: Carrico, Thomas Willson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Manufacture of Hydralic Cement (open access)

Manufacture of Hydralic Cement

Patent for invention is to utilize in rejected hydraulic matter such as decomposed limestone.
Date: July 7, 1885
Creator: Dimelow, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mechanical Motor (open access)

Mechanical Motor

Patent for "a motor of cheap and simple construction, which is adapted for driving various classes of light machinery, and more especially for use in connection with fans, such as are commonly used for creating currents of air in bar-rooms, dining-rooms, and the like" (lines 16-22).
Date: July 9, 1889
Creator: Harpst, Edgar S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Tool for Drilling Wells. (open access)

Tool for Drilling Wells.

Patent for improvement in "tools for drilling or boring Artesian, oil, and other deep wells; and it has for its object to prevent the loss of the drill or auger or of any portion of the drill-rods" (lines 9-13) via an "improved means for connecting the tool to the lower end of the drill-rod" (lines 15-16) including illustrations.
Date: July 16, 1889
Creator: McLane, Hiram H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Spiral Ring. (open access)

Spiral Ring.

Patent for a new and improved lap-ring. This design consists in a "lap-ring for connecting the tree-irons of double-trees and single-trees, consisting of the S-shaped lap-ring having the end curves spread laterally from the stem of the S, and carried round on spiral curves to points ninety degrees beyond a line that would evenly divide the figure thus formed longitudinally" (lines 41-48).
Date: July 8, 1884
Creator: Brooks, George W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Nut Lock. (open access)

Nut Lock.

Patent for a new and improved nut lock. This design "consists of a volute spring-washer which is formed of a stiff or steel strong plate that is coiled or set up in . . . an edgewise manner, and is provided with one or more projections or spurs on its top and bottom surfaces, adapted to engage with the under side of the nut and the fish-plate or other object, said spurs or projections being formed on the top and the bottom edges of the inner and outer coils of the spring-washer" (lines 20-29).
Date: July 1, 1884
Creator: Campbell, Eli F.; Noble, Laroy C. & Howe, Milton G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Oil Press Mat. (open access)

Oil Press Mat.

Patent for a new and improved oil press mat. This design "has for its objects to provide an improved oil-press mat which can be pressed and shaped into a compact body of the required configuration, and such shape be retained when subjected to pressure to compress heated envelops containing the meal from which the oil is to be extracted, and to provide a mat the face of which is elastic and tough, and liable to become heated, like like metal face-plates, while the main body of the mat is prevented from being softened and peeling or becoming detached from the facing" (lines 8-19).
Date: July 8, 1884
Creator: Osborn, Adelbert E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Surgical Instrument. (open access)

Surgical Instrument.

Patent for a new and improved surgical tool. This design consists "[i]n a surgical instrument, the combination, with the rod having the stepped head provided with grooves, of the springs, the pin, the stepped shell having offsets, the sliding sleeve, and the [other] pin" (lines 14-18).
Date: July 14, 1885
Creator: Poynor, John S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sulky Plow. (open access)

Sulky Plow.

Patent for a new and improved riding plow. This design consists in "[t]he combination of the bent axle having the vertical curved portion, the draft-bar secured to the axle, the plow-beam pivoted at its front end to a bracket secured to the draft-bar, rack secured to the plow-beam, pinion secured to the axle and engaging with the rack, sprocket-wheel on the shaft with pinion, sprocket-wheel journaled above [another] wheel and having a crank, and the endless sprocket-chain connecting the wheels" (lines 30-39).
Date: July 28, 1885
Creator: Miller, Tedor T.
System: The Portal to Texas History