Engineering Inventions

1887 Scientific American  
1eitufifit �mfrieau. ENGINEERING INVENTIONS. A rail way rail spring has been pa tented by Mr. Edward A. Olmstead, of New York City. It is a bowed spring plate with slots throu/(h which pass the spikes for securing the rail to the ties, whereby both rail and sprin/( are held in place, it being designed to diminish the pounding effect of hellvy trains npon the rails and lessen the noise. A car coupling has been patented by Mr. Eugene A. De May, of Richmond, Texas. It has a spring-pressed hook
more » ... ched to or formed upon a rock shaft extending to the top of the car, with a hand wheel 10 turn it, and there is also a rod extending to the side of the car, for uncoupling cars from the bottom or side, the device being applicable with the ordinary draw bar. A dumping car has been patented by Mr. Lawrence J. Woodhead, of Chattanooga, Tenn. In connection with hinged sides or /(ates, it has mechanism for opening and closing and holding them locked in position, while the car has a rounded or convex bottom, which aids in the automatic removal or dumping of the load, the devices being easy to operate, and the ca� simple of construction and durable. _ ••• AGRICULTURAL INVENTIONS. A potato digger has been patented by Mr. James W. Scott, of Uhrichsville, Ohio. The plow or scraper can be let into or removed from the ground easily by the driver, a rocldng motion is given to a shaker to separate the earth from the potatoes as both are raised by the plow in its forward progress, and there are varlOUS novel features of construction and arrange ment of par ts. A sulky harrow has been patented by Mr. Nathaniel T. Collins, of Hartford, Kansas. The invention covers Varif)UB novel details in the construc tion and arrangement of parts, permittin/( the raising or lowering of the two harrows mdependently of each other, and the lengthening or shortening of each as desired, while the machine is light, durable, and effective. ••• MISCELLANEOUS INVENTIONS. A ball tnrning lathe has been patented by Mr. Tronson Draper, of Petrolia, Ontario, Canada. It has an adjustable face plate covered with l�ather and backed by rubber or other elastic material, a pair of tongs havmg steel cups, an adjustable steel cup placed on a holder, a ball rest, and means for adjusting the steel cup holder, with other novel features.
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican06251887-409 fatcat:ivkv23lcofg5ncj4y3glheg3pq