Anti Friction Journal. (open access)

Anti Friction Journal.

Patent for a new and improved anti-friction journal. This design "relates to anti-friction devices adapted especially for hoisting pulleys; and it has for its object to provide a device in which the shaft or axis of the main hoisting-pulley shall be supported or mounted upon the peripheries of wheels of a considerable diameter as compared with that of the hoisting-pulley, whereby the friction may be lessened to the greatest possible extent" (lines 24-32).
Date: July 22, 1884
Creator: Taylor, John C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bellows Attachment for Barrels. (open access)

Bellows Attachment for Barrels.

Patent for a new and improved bellows attachment for barrels. This design "provide[s] means for securely attaching the bellows to the barrels, so as to exclude the admission of air, except such as is forced in by the bellows; and a further object of the same provides for the shutting off the flow of liquid, as desired" (lines 13-18).
Date: July 1, 1884
Creator: Park, Hardy B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wood Pavement. (open access)

Wood Pavement.

Patent for a new and improved wood pavement. This design "consists in a pavement consisting of wooden blocks stripped of bark, cylindrical in shape, and sawed at right angles to the axis of the blocks. Said blocks of live bois d'arc or other hard timber, about six inches long, and placed on ends on a road-bed of bank sand and gravel after the same has been well and compactly rolled, and the spaces between the blocks filled with screened gravel and rammed until solid, and then coated with tar and pitch" (lines 12-22).
Date: July 1, 1884
Creator: Johnson, William M.
System: The Portal to Texas History