Lubricator – Patent No. 465,875
Inventor: Elijah McCoy, of Detroit, Michigan.
Patent Number: 465,875
Date of Patent: December 29, 1891
Description: Elijah McCoy’s patent for a “Lubricator” was an improved version of his earlier inventions. It describes a lubricator that automatically feeds oil to a machine’s moving parts. This version was designed to work on air brakes, traction engines, and steam pumps. Its key innovation was the “diverting lip,” a small projection inside the lubricator’s supporting arm.
- This lip was placed at the point where condensed steam from the main steam pipe entered the sight-feed chamber.
- As steam condensed into water and ran down the inside walls of the pipe, the lip would catch this water and divert it directly and quickly into the sight-feed chamber.
- This ensured that the chamber filled with cool water almost instantly.
This design was a significant improvement because it prevented hot steam from entering the chamber and shattering the delicate glass components, a common problem with earlier lubricators. It also kept the oil from being overheated, extending the life of the machine and the oil.
Societal Impact
Elijah McCoy’s patents, and this one in particular, had a profound impact on the industrial world of the late 19th century. His work was foundational to the efficiency and reliability of modern machinery.
- Industrial Efficiency: Before McCoy’s lubricators, workers had to manually oil machines, a time-consuming and dangerous task that required the machine to be stopped. His invention allowed machines to be lubricated automatically and continuously while they were running. This not only saved immense amounts of time and money but also improved worker safety.
- Widespread Adoption: The quality and reliability of McCoy’s inventions were so well-known that his name became a synonym for authenticity and quality. The phrase “The Real McCoy” is widely believed to have originated from engineers and machinists who would only accept his original lubricators, not the knockoffs that flooded the market.
Legacy of the Inventor: Elijah McCoy was an African American inventor and engineer who received over 50 patents. Born to formerly enslaved parents who escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad, he later moved to Michigan. His work on automatic lubricators for trains and other machinery was revolutionary and contributed significantly to the industrial development of the United States. His life story is a powerful testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of Black innovators who, despite facing immense racial discrimination, made groundbreaking contributions to science and technology.
