Arc Lamp (open access)

Arc Lamp

Patent for improvements arc lamps that "will be uninfluenced by the jar of the locomotive" (lines 17-19). Consisting of carbon-carriers rotated by clock-train.
Date: July 10, 1888
Creator: Gaston, E. James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Animal Trap. (open access)

Animal Trap.

Patent for a new and improved animal trap. This design consists in "the combination of the wire frame having the parallel base-arms, the coiled-springs, the upwardly-extending arms, and the downwardly-extending loop, the loop or ring on the bend and engaged portions of said wire, and the trigger-wire having the frontwardly-projecting point engaging said ring" (lines 80-87).
Date: July 10, 1888
Creator: Beversdorf, Louis, Jr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Tug. (open access)

Tug.

Patent for a new and improved hame tug. This design consists in "the carrier . . . adapted for connection with the belly and back bands, constructed with a recess for the spring and provided with guides or ways for the tug-bar, such guides or ways leading forward and back from the spring-recess, whereby the tug-bar may extend entirely through and beyond the opposite ends of the spring-receiving recess, combined with the tug-bar and the spring" (lines 68-77).
Date: July 10, 1888
Creator: French, Stephen H. & Maltby, William J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vehicle Spring. (open access)

Vehicle Spring.

Patent for a new and improved vehicle spring. This design consists in "front wheels [that] are set well under the wagon-bed, so as to facilitate turning; and . . . the spring-braces, while they greatly assist in strengthening the spring and supporting the load as it grows heavier, do not in any way interfere with the action of said springs. . . . By this improved construction a simple, strong, and durable vehicle is provided, in which heavy loads may be carried with ease" (lines 46-55).
Date: July 10, 1883
Creator: Payne, Joseph Mott
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vehicle. (open access)

Vehicle.

Patent for a new and improved horse carriage. This design calls for "the rider [to] press the treadles so as to hold the wheels in contact with the ground. When sufficient speed has been acquired the treadles are released, and the springs will then raise the wheels from contact with the ground, and the momentum will then be sufficient to keep the wheel erect. Should it be inclined to tilt, it may easily be righted by pressing either treadle so as to throw the wheel on the tilting side in contact with the ground" (lines 61-74).
Date: July 10, 1883
Creator: Smith, James Franklin
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
Gate (open access)

Gate

Patent for an improvement to gates. This model consists of a gate mounted at the middle on a vertical post pivoted at top and bottom.
Date: July 10, 1883
Creator: Cope, Mason L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Condenser. (open access)

Cotton Condenser.

Patent for a new and improved cotton condenser. This design involves "[t]he lint pass[ing] from the gin through the flue and between the condensing-cylinders, by which it is formed into a bat. The blast from the gin serves to blow all dust from the lint through the wire-cloth of the cylinders and out through the openings in the ends of the latter. The upper cylinder will move vertically in its bearings . . . and thus adjust itself to any quantity of lint that may pass from the gin" (lines 46-55).
Date: July 10, 1883
Creator: Sewell, Franklin Milner
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Chopper and Scraper. (open access)

Cotton Chopper and Scraper.

Patent for a new and improved cotton chopper and scraper. This design consists "[i]n a four-wheeled machine for scraping and chopping cotton, the combination of the two scrapers having their standards connected by a cross-bar at the top to form a foot-rest, and pivoted intermediately to the frame, with the rear rotary choppers connected adjustably with the same shaft, and arranged at an oblique angle thereto" (lines 86-93).
Date: July 10, 1883
Creator: Russell, William R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Corn and Cotton Planter Combined. (open access)

Corn and Cotton Planter Combined.

Patent for a new and improved planter. This design "has relation to that class of cotton and corn planters in which are hoppers smaller at their top than at their bottom and hoppers larger at their top than at their bottom, to adapt them for planting cotton-seed and corn, respectively. It is the object of the invention to provide the planter with interchangeable hoppers of the above construction, whereby either can be used upon the same machine, as found desirable, the hopper-seat being especially adapted to receive and hold thereon either one of the hoppers" (lines 12-24).
Date: July 10, 1888
Creator: Mallison, James C.
System: The Portal to Texas History