Who was Elijah McCoy and what did he do?
Elijah McCoy was a mechanical engineer who was born in Colchester, Ontario, Canada on 2 May 1844. McCoy was the son of former slaves (his parents had fled Kentucky for Canada on the Underground Railroad). Unlike other African-American pioneers, McCoy received a formal education in Scotland, where he won the credentials…
What was the most famous invention of McCoy?
His most famous invention was a cup that feeds lubricating oil to machine bearings through a small tube. Machinists and engineers who wanted genuine McCoy lubricators might have used the expression „the real McCoy“—a term meaning „the real deal“ or „the genuine article.“
Why did Elijah McCoy invent the automatic lubricator?
His automatic lubricator used steam pressure to pump oil wherever it was needed. McCoy received a patent for this invention in 1872, the first of many he would be granted for his improvements to steam engine lubricators. These advancements improved transit by allowing trains to travel farther without pausing for maintenance and re-oiling.
Where is Elijah McCoy Patent Office in Michigan?
In 2001, McCoy was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. A historical marker stands outside his old workshop in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Detroit is named in his honor. Asante, Molefi Kete. „100 Greatest African Americans: a Biographical Encyclopedia.“
When was Elijah McCoy’s first patent issued?
Elijah McCoy was issued his first patent – US patent #129,843 – on July 12th, 1872 for his improvement in lubricators for steam engines.
Who was Elijah McCoy’s wife Ann Elizabeth Stewart?
As a result, the lubricator improved efficiency in a variety of fields. In 1868, Elijah McCoy married Ann Elizabeth Stewart, who died four years later. A year later, McCoy married his second wife, Mary Eleanora Delaney. The couple had no children. McCoy continued to improve on his automatic lubricator design and make designs for new devices.
Why is William McCoy important to Black History?
McCoy was widely admired for his ingenuity and accomplishments, especially in the Black community. Booker T. Washington cited McCoy in his „Story of the Negro“ as the Black inventor with the greatest number of U.S. patents. In 2001, McCoy was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.