(AfricaWithin.com) McCoy's lubricating cup proved adaptable to other types of steam engines, which were used in factories and at sea. Versions of this cup became standard components on many types of heavy machinery, entering service on railways of the West, on Great Lakes steamships, and even on transatlantic liners. (AfricaWithin.com)

McCoy began inventing other mechanisms. In 1892, McCoy invented devices to lubricate railroad locomotives. In the 1920s, McCoy applied his lubricating system to airbrakes used on locomotives and other vehicles using air brakes. Almost all of McCoy's patents related to automatic lubrication, with the exception of a patent for an ironing table and a lawn sprinkler.

McElrath)

As bigger, heavier and more powerful locomotives were built, rather than use oil alone as a lubricant, designers preferred to mix the oil with powdered graphite, a form of carbon. Powdered graphite is soft and greasy, and easily withstands high temperatures. However, because it is a powder rather than a liquid, it can clog an engine. In 1916 McCoy patented what he described as his greatest invention, the "graphite lubricator." Within his patent application, he claimed that this invention would permit the use of graphite "without danger of clogging." And to the surprise of no one, he was right. It worked flawlessly. (AfricaWithin.com) letter from one railroad superintendent read: "We have found the McCoy Graphite Lubricator to be of considerable assistance in lubrication of locomotives equipped with superheaters (and requiring the graphite lubricator...)" (AfricaWithin.com)

The firm manufactured and sold his graphite lubricators, including an advanced version that also lubricated a railroad train's air brakes.
Over the course of his life he was granted fifty-two patents, most of which were for improvements in steam engines, although he did patent a folding ironing board and self propelled lawn sprinkler.

Fact or Myth

There are some experts who believe -- backed up by evidence -- that the oil cup, which automatically delivers a steady trickle of lubricant to machine parts while the machine is running, predates McCoy's career; a description of one appears in the May 6, 1848 issue of Scientific American. (the Not-so-Real McCoy)

Bibliography

AfricaWithin.com. "Elijah McCoy." 2001. Africa Within. 27 January 2009 http://www.africawithin.com/bios/elijah_mccoy.htm.

Lemelson MIT Program - Inventor of the Week. May 1996. 27 January 2009 http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/mccoy.html.

McElrath, Jessica. "Elijah McCoy." n.d. About.com - African-American History. 27 January 2009 http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/elijahmccoy/p/bio_mccoy_e.htm.

Northern California Council of Black Professional Engineers. Elijah McCoy. 09 October 2007.

27 January 2009 http://www.ncalifblackengineers.org/Elijah%20McCoy.htm.

The Not-so-Real McCoy." n.d. Brinkster. 27 January 2009 http://www33.brinkster.com/iiiii/mccoy/.