America 250 Candidate: Automatic Steam-Engine Lubricator
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AUTOMATION HISTORY · AMERICA 250 · REPLACEMENT CANDIDATE
Automatic Steam-Engine Lubricator
American milestone: 1872 · Elijah McCoy · Ypsilanti, Michigan
Status: Replacement candidate. Final number pending chronology audit.
Why it belongs in America 250
Elijah McCoy patented important improvements in lubricators for steam engines in 1872. His designs supplied and regulated lubricant while machinery operated, reducing the need to stop equipment for repeated manual oiling.
Connection to automation
Automatic lubrication is a basic reliability function in modern machinery, extending operating time and reducing repetitive maintenance intervention.