USA HISTORY

WESTWARD EXPANSION INDUSTRIALIZATION URBANIZATION 1870 1900

SECOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Which significant African American inventor of the Industrial Revolution is credited with the lubricating system, oil-drip cups, for steam engines (railroads)?
A
Sarah E. Goode
B
Madame C.J. Walker
C
Elijah McCoy
D
Jan E. Matzeliger
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Elijah McCoy was the inventor of the lubricating oil cup that allowed railroad steam engines to be lubricated without stopping the train, saving time and money. McCoy was born in Colchester, Ontario, Canada on May 2, 1844. His parents escaped from slavery in Kentucky to Canada on the Underground Railroad.

Detailed explanation-2: -Elijah McCoy received his first patent for an automatic lubricating device in 1872. Previously, engines had to be stopped before necessary lubrication could be applied. McCoy’s invention allowed engines to be lubricated while they ran, saving precious time and money.

Detailed explanation-3: -Elijah McCoy, “The Real McCoy” (May 2, 1844–October 10, 1929) He’s best known for inventing an automatic lubricator that was used on trains. Elijah McCoy (May 2, 1844–October 10, 1929) was a Black American inventor who received more than 50 patents for his inventions during his lifetime.

Detailed explanation-4: -His job was to walk the length of the train, oiling its axles, bearings, and other moving parts regularly. McCoy quickly realized that his job could be done more efficiently, so he developed a lubricating cup that would automatically drip oil onto moving parts.

Detailed explanation-5: -McCoy began experimenting with automatic lubricators. The trick was to create a mechanism with a large reservoir that fed oil into the engine one drip at a time. He patented his first lubricator in 1872 and quickly followed it with five more improvements.

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