Machine for Driving Horses. (open access)

Machine for Driving Horses.

Patent for an improved, simple, and efficient horse-whipping or driving machine that is meant to whip horses that are connected to machines that are powered by horses, such as thrashers, fans, and bark-mills. "The invention comprises a whip-carrying lever pivotally mounted on one end of the sweep-lever of a draft horse power, and means for moving said lever so that the whip will be caused to strike the draft horses" (lines 18-22).
Date: June 27, 1893
Creator: Williams, Samuel
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gate. (open access)

Gate.

Patent for a gate that is meant "to facilitate the opening of the gate without the intervention or use of the hands; to strengthen and brace the gate so as to prevent any possible sagging thereof, the braces being extended to form part of the hinge joint; to provide and dispose a latch so that it can be easily actuated by the foot from either approach for the purpose of releasing and opening the gate; lastly, to provide a gate that will close automatically without the use of springs and which will be simple, cheap, light and give satisfactory results" (lines 14-26).
Date: November 14, 1893
Creator: Jester, Andrew Edmond & Alexander, John Gilaspie
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Engine. (open access)

Rotary Engine.

Patent for an improved, simple, and durable rotary engine that operates effectively and fully utilizes the motive. It consists of a central driving shaft, a cylinder with an annular bore, a piston that fits in the bore, an arm in the driving shaft, a divided packing-ring, a gate that slides in the bore, a cam mechanism, and a piston valve.
Date: September 19, 1893
Creator: Stone, Charles H. & Stone, Alonzo
System: The Portal to Texas History