Elijah McCoy
Engineer whose oiling device kept machines running smoothly.
Their Story
Elijah McCoy was a Canadian-born American engineer and inventor, the son of formerly enslaved parents. He designed a device that automatically oiled the moving parts of steam engines while they ran, so machines did not have to stop for maintenance. He earned dozens of patents during his career.
Era
1800s
Field
Mechanical Engineering
Elijah McCoy
Engineer whose oiling device kept machines running smoothly.
Engineering · Mechanical Engineering · 1800s · Black Innovators
Their Story
Elijah McCoy was a Canadian-born American engineer and inventor, the son of formerly enslaved parents. He designed a device that automatically oiled the moving parts of steam engines while they ran, so machines did not have to stop for maintenance. He earned dozens of patents during his career.
Key Innovation
Invented an automatic lubricator that oiled engines while they kept running.
Why It Matters Today
Automatic lubrication still keeps engines, factories, and machines working reliably without constant stops.
Learn More
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah_McCoy
Wilkinson STEM Education Foundation · 251 American Innovators · wilkinsonstemfoundation.org
