Internal Combustion Engine (open access)

Internal Combustion Engine

Patent for a improved Internal Combustion Engine. The improvement is the construction of the ignition of the internal combustion engine where the fuel in the compression chamber is ignited explosion of a different fuel of a more highly explosive nature.
Date: August 9, 1921
Creator: Simpson, Joseph Ryan.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Knee-Pad. (open access)

Knee-Pad.

Patent for a simple and efficient knee-pad "made of leather or other pliable material, padded with a yielding lining to give comfort to the wearer" (lines 9-11). It prevents gravel, moisture, and other things from injuring the knee of the user.
Date: August 27, 1895
Creator: Dowling, Stonewall Jackson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Spading-Machine. (open access)

Spading-Machine.

Patent for a spading-machine that "can be propelled by any mechanism desired and which has soil engaging devices mounted in a novel manner whereby, as the machine is moved forwardly, said devices will be forced downwardly into the soil and then lifted upwardly so as to lift or break the soil." (lines 11-17) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 28, 1917
Creator: Robinson, David M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mulsher. (open access)

Mulsher.

Patent for a tool to help with farming. It cuts weeds below the surface of the ground and throws the soil towards the row of crops. This tool should help with crop growth.
Date: August 17, 1915
Creator: Sikes, Jonas C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Washing-Machine. (open access)

Washing-Machine.

Patent for a washing machine with altered construction for quick removal and insertion of clothing, while still working safely and quickly with a variety of fabrics. It uses a rotary table and a pounder.
Date: August 19, 1902
Creator: Lawrence, James M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Triple Valve For Air-Brakes (open access)

Triple Valve For Air-Brakes

Allows the "auxiliary reservoir to be recharged without releasing the brakes" (lines 11-13) improving the triple valve in air-brake systems.
Date: August 25, 1903
Creator: Robinson, David M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fountain-Brush (open access)

Fountain-Brush

Patent for a brush for cleaning fountains. Illustrations included.
Date: August 15, 1911
Creator: Peeler, William L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Seed Planter. (open access)

Seed Planter.

Patent for a new and improved seed planter. This design "entirely do[es] away with the use of belts in the operation of the two dropping-cylinders, so that there will be no slipping of the belts upon the pulleys, and thus caus[ing] the seed[s] to be planted at different distances apart" (lines 22-27).
Date: August 24, 1880
Creator: Ward, Michael
System: The Portal to Texas History
End-Gate Lock. (open access)

End-Gate Lock.

Patent for "a fastening for end-gates of wagons and the like, the arrangement of parts being such as to permit the end-gate being always held in a locked position until it is desired to lower or raise the same." (lines 11-15).
Date: August 9, 1898
Creator: Murray, Nicholas Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Game-Table. (open access)

Game-Table.

Patent for improvement in game-table in which it provided with a table similar in construction to the ordinary billiard-table. “A series of spring-pressed levers fulcrumed in the lower end of a casing and each provided at its upper end with a hook and at its lower end with a ball extending over the floor of the table.” (P. 2, lines 67-71) This game is played by using one or more balls to strike a series of balls that are arranged along the bottom of a casing, causing the levers to disengaged the rods, therefore revealing a card through an opening formed in the front of the casing. Illustration is included.
Date: August 18, 1891
Creator: Patillo, John P. W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Horse Hay Rake. (open access)

Horse Hay Rake.

Patent for a new and improved axle for hay rakes. This design consists in "[t]he rake-head comprising the middle section and end sections, and the links having their opposite ends pivoted, respectively, to the front and rear side at the outer ends of the [one] section and the inner ends of the [other] sections" (lines 19-24).
Date: August 7, 1888
Creator: Milam, Moses L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Poultry-Feeder. (open access)

Poultry-Feeder.

Patent for a poultry feeder machine that automatically releases feed when a chicken pecks at the bait suspended from a lever. It helps prevent wasting the feed, including illustrations.
Date: August 15, 1916
Creator: Seamans, John D.
System: The Portal to Texas History