Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad cars. This design "relates to a car-coupling constructed with draw-heads having stationary hooks and recesses in their sides, and provided with pivoted hooks held in place by springs, and provided with a trip plate and lever, and with chains and a lever, whereby the cars will couple themselves when run together, can be readily uncoupled, will uncouple themselves when thrown from the track, and can be prevented from coupling when run together" (lines 23-32).
Date: May 5, 1885
Creator: Griffin, James Lee
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pump for Oil Cans, &c. (open access)

Pump for Oil Cans, &c.

Patent for a new and improved pump for oil cans. This design "especially relates to means for holding a pump cylinder or barrel within the cask or can, and preventing oil from escaping through the aperture or opening through which the cylinder passes; and to these ends it consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts" (lines 20-26).
Date: October 27, 1885
Creator: Nelson, John Bryon
System: The Portal to Texas History
Signal Valve for Boilers. (open access)

Signal Valve for Boilers.

Patent for a new and improved signal valve for boilers. This design "consists in the combination, with a check-valve, of the ordinary construction, which is adapted to operate in connection with an inspirator, injector, or jet-pump, such as are commonly employed for feeding steam-boilers, of a signal-valve which is located above the check-valve, and which signal-valve, when the check-valve ceases to operate, is caused to open by the backward pressure of the steam from the boiler, permitting the escape of said steam, and thereby indicating that the feeder is not operating" (lines 14-26).
Date: February 24, 1885
Creator: McLane, Reed Atchinson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Dress-Chart. (open access)

Dress-Chart.

Patent for dress-chart, with illustrations. The purpose of this dress-chart relating to "pattern charts for cutting any and all garments" regardless of man, woman, or child (lines 9-11).
Date: August 25, 1885
Creator: Northen, Mary Eva
System: The Portal to Texas History