Mary Walton and her inventions

                            In 1879, Mary Walton patented a method of deflecting smoke stack emissions (U.S. patent #221,880) through water tanks and later adapted the system for use on locomotives.

In 1870, Eliza Murfey patented 16 devices for improving the packing of journals and bearings for railroad-car axles. These packings were used to lubricate the axles with oil which reduced derailments caused by seized axles and bearings. In 1879, Mary Walton developed a method of deflecting smoke stack emissions through water tanks and later adapted the system for use on locomotives. In the 1880s, many cities developed a mass transit system using noisy elevated trains. To reduce the noise, Walton invented a sound-dampening system that cradled the track in a wooden box lined with cotton and then filled with sand. She received a patent for the system on February 8, 1881, and later sold the rights to the Metropolitan Railroad of New York City. Other inventions by women included a railway crossing gate by Mary I. Riggin and several patents for the construction of railway tracks by Catherine L. Gibbon. 

 

In 1879, Mary Walton invented a device to help combat smoke pollution. This mechanism minimized pollution that was being poured into water tanks where it was held and then flushed into the city’s sewage system. This device was later used on locomotives. She received a patent for this invention. (#221,880) 

Later in 1880’s, when elevated trains were being installed all over the large cities, Mary Walton invented a device to help muffle the sound that was said to cause nervous breakdowns. She built a make-shift train in her basement. She cradled the rails in wooden boxes. The outside of the boxes were painted with tar, filled with sand, and lined with cotton. When the vibrations were absorbed, so was the sound from the vibrations. This resulted in less sound being heard by all the citizens. On February 8, 1891, she received a patent (#327,422) for this and then sold the rights to the New York City’s Metropolitan Railroad. 

Little is known about Mary Walton’s life or the hardships she endured. However, she, like many other inventors, had to go through many hardships to get a patent. To get a patent an inventor must apply for a patent which takes several years. The patent is expensive and you are very vulnerable for an infringement or violation of the law. You must check with the patent office to make sure your invention has not been done before because if so there can be years of wasted time. After several years your patent will be either approved or discarded. Even if you do receive a patent there is no promised protection.

After the process of applying for a patent is done, there is still much more work to be done. To actually make this invention into the market, you must hire someone or do it yourself. You or the person you hire will call or meet with companies start a company yourself. Mary Walton may have gone through these hardships or even harder ones to receive a patent for her inventions. Overall, we can all agree that it is very hard and hard work to get an invention patented.