9781422283257

Black Achievement I N SC I E NC E

Engineering

Elijah McCoy

1

Mason Crest

Black Achievement I N SC I E NC E

Biology Chemistry Computer Science Engineering Environmental Science

Inventors Medicine Physics Space Technology

Black Achievement I N SC I E NC E

Engineering By MARI RICH Foreword by Malinda Gilmore and Mel Poulson, National Organization for the Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D Broomall, PA 19008 www.masoncrest.com © 2017 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher. Printed and bound in the United States of America. Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-3554-6 Hardback ISBN: 978-1-4222-3558-4 EBook ISBN: 978-1-4222-8325-7 First printing 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 Produced by Shoreline Publishing Group LLC Santa Barbara, California Editorial Director: James Buckley Jr. Designer: Patty Kelley Production: Sandy Gordon www.shorelinepublishing.com Cover photographs by PhotographerLondon/Dreamstime. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Rich, Mari. Title: Engineering / by Mari Rich ; foreword by Malinda Gilmore, Ph.D., Executive Board Chair, and Mel Poulson, Executive Board Vice-Chair, National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). Description: Broomall, PA : Mason Crest, [2017] | Series: Black achievement in science | Includes index. Identifiers: LCCN 2016002443| ISBN 9781422235584 (hardback) | ISBN 9781422235546 (series) | ISBN 9781422283257 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: African American engineers--Biography--Juvenile literature. | Engineers--United States--Bi- ography--Juvenile literature. Classification: LCC TA157 .R495 2017 | DDC 620.0092/396073--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2016002443

QR CODES AND LINKS TO THIRD PARTY CONTENT You may gain access to certain third party content (“Third Party Sites”) by scanning and using the QR Codes that appear in this publication (the “QR Codes”). We do not operate or control in any respect any information, products or services on such Third Party Sites linked to by us via the QR Codes included in this publication, and we assume no responsibility for any materials you may access using the QR Codes. Your use of the QR Codes may be subject to terms, limitations, or restrictions set forth in the applicable terms of use or otherwise established by the owners of the Third Party Sites. Our linking to such Third Party Sites via the QR Codes does not imply an endorsement or sponsorship of such Third Party Sites, or the information, products or services offered on or through the Third Party Sites, nor does it imply an endorsement or sponsorship of this publication by the owners of such Third Party Sites.

Contents

Foreword, by Malinda Gilmore and Mel Pouson, NOBCChE . 6 Introduction. 8 Elijah McCoy . 10 David Nelson Crosthwait, Jr.. 16 Otis Boykin . 22 Hugh Robinson . 28 Lonnie Johnson. 36 Thomas Mensah . 44 Walt Brathwaite. 50 Careers in Engineering. 56 Text-Dependent Questions . 60 Research Projects. 61 Find Out More . 62 Series Glossary of Key Terms. 63 Index/Author. 64

Key Icons to Look for

Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text, while building vocabulary skills. Research Projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connected to each chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Text-Dependent Questions: These questions send the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented here. Series Glossary of Key Terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminology used throughout this series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic moments, and much more!

S

cience, Technology, Engineering and Mathe- matics (STEM) are vital to our future, the future of our country, the future of our regions, and the future of our children. STEM is everywhere and it shapes our everyday experiences. Sci- ence and technology have become the leading foundation of global development. Both subjects continue to improve the quality of life as new findings, inventions, and creations emerge from the basis of science. A career in a STEM disci- pline is a fantastic choice and one that should be explored by many. In today’s society, STEM is becoming more diverse and even internationalized. However, the shortage of African Americans and other minorities, including women, still

exists. This series— Black Achievement in Science — reveals the numerous career choices and pathways that great African-American sci- entists, technologists, engi-

By Malinda Gilmore, NOBCChE Executive Board Chair and Mel Poulson, NOBCChE Executive Board Vice-Chair

neers, and mathematicians have pursued to become suc- cessful in a STEM discipline. The purpose of these series of books is to inspire, motivate, encourage, and educate people about the numerous career choices and pathways in STEM. We applaud the authors for sharing the experi- ences of our forefathers and foremothers and ultimately in- creasing the number of people of color in STEM and, more

6

Black Achievement in Science: Engineering

Series Foreword

specifically, increasing the numbers of African American to pursue careers in STEM. The personal experiences and accomplishments shared within are truly inspiring and gratifying. It is our hope that by reading about the lives and careers of these great sci- entists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians, the reader might become inspired and totally committed to pursue a career in a STEM discipline and say to themselves, “If they were able to do it, then I am definitely able to do it, and this, too, can be me.” Hopefully, the reader will realize that these great accomplishments didn’t come easily. It was because of hard work, perseverance, and determination that these chosen individuals were so successful. As Executive Board Members of The National Organi- zation for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) we are excited about this series. For more than 40 years, NOBCChE has promot- ed the STEM fields and its mission is to build an eminent cadre of people of color in STEM. Our mission is in line with the overall purpose of this series and we are indeed committed to inspiring our youth to explore and contribute to our country’s future in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We encourage all readers to enjoy the series in its en- tirety and identify with a personal story that resonates well with you. Learn more about that person and their career pathway, and you can be just like them.

Series Foreword

7

sk most people what engineers do, and they will probably mention designing bridges or building tunnels. While that’s correct, it’s far from a complete answer. Engineering has many specialties, and engineers are involved in al- most every facet of modern life. We brush our teeth with toothpaste formulated by chemical engineers, fly on planes tested by aerospace engineers, drink water whose purity is ensured by environmental engineers, and play video games designed by software engineers. Engineers work on the world’s largest buildings and, smallest computer chips. That tunnel? It took a whole team of engineers to envi- sion, design, and build. A structural engineer decided how large it should be and what materials and equipment would be needed to build it; a mechanical engineer was responsi- ble for its ventilation system; a civil engineer specializing in traffic issues gave advice about the posted speed limit and the rate at which cars should be allowed to enter and exit; and an electrical engineer designed its lighting system (because no one wants to drive through a dark tunnel). Simply put, engineers are people who use science, tech- nology, and math to come up with practical solutions to re- al-world problems. They strive to create a better world by making it safer, cleaner, healthier and much more efficient. Many engineers are fond of quoting Albert Einstein, who once said, “Scientists investigate that which already is; engineers create that which has never been.” Similarly, the novelist James Michener wrote in his 1982 book Space , A

8

Black Achievement in Science: Engineering

Introduction

“Scientists dream about doing great things. Engineers do them.” As they have done in every field of human endeavor, Afri- can Americans and people of African descent from around the globe have made enormous con- tributions to engineering—often in the face of equally enormous challenges. In this volume are profiles of just a few of the most well known individuals, repre- senting many more achievers.

Using existing machines or creating new ones, engineers are problem solvers.

Despite that rich history, engineering still does not at- tract enough people of color. African Americans account for approximately 14 percent of the population, but the National Science Foundation has estimated that they rep- resent just three percent of all scientists and engineers. It’s imperative to change that situation because diversity is un- deniably crucial to innovation. Scott E. Page, a professor of complex systems, writes, “Diverse groups of people [have] more and different ways of seeing a problem and, thus, faster [and] better ways of solving it.” The accomplishments of the men and women in this book are proof of that statement and can be inspirations to future engineers of color. Find out more about joining their ranks in Chapter 9.

Introduction

9

apprenticeship a period of learning a skill or trade from a master in the field conduit a channel for conveying water or other fluid penchant a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something Words to Understand

10

Black Achievement in Science: Engineering

Chapter 1

Elijah McCoy

Engineer and Inventor Born: Colchester, Ontario, Canada, c. 1843 or 1844 Died: October 10, 1929, Detroit, MI Nationality: American, Canadian Achievements: 57 U.S. patents, most to do with lubrication of steam engines

W

hen a person refers to something as “the real McCoy,” he or she is implying that the item is a genu- ine, high-quality piece of goods.

Language experts disagree about the origins of the phrase, with some asserting that it is derived from an advertising slogan used by the Edinburgh-based MacKay whiskey dis- tillery in the 1870s and others positing that American sportswriters first used it when discussing welterweight champion Norman Selby, who boxed under the name “Kid Mc- Coy.” (There is even another alcohol-related theory, which holds that the phrase stems from a Prohibition-era smuggler named Bill McCoy, who was known for procuring only the finest illegal liquor.) Despite those admittedly colorful tales, the most widely accepted explanation is that the “real McCoy” was first used to refer to

11

the revolutionary devices invented by engineer Elijah Mc- Coy to lubricate steam engines. McCoy’s innovations al- lowed for the engines to be lubricated while remaining in operation, eliminating costly and inefficient service stops. While steam engines eventually fell into disfavor with the development of the internal combustion engine, they were the major source of power for transportation and manufac- turing in the 19th century, so McCoy’s work had a major positive impact on the nation’s economy. There is some dispute about the exact date of Elijah Mc- Coy’s birth, but it was probably around 1843 or 1844. What is not in doubt is that his parents, George and Mildred Goins McCoy, had been slaves in Kentucky. With the help of the Underground Railroad, they escaped to Canada, where slavery had abolished in 1833. Canada was then part of the British Empire, and a new- ly free and grateful George McCoy enlisted with the British military. In return for that service, he was granted 160 acres of farmland near Colchester, Ontario. Historians disagree— yet again—about the family’s exact movements. Some say that when Elijah McCoy was about three years old, his par- ents returned to the U.S., settling with him and his eleven siblings in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on the north shore of Lake Erie. Others claim that the move did not take place until after the Civil War. All agree, however, that Elijah McCoy showed a re- markable penchant for mechanics from a very young age and particularly enjoyed tinkering with farm machinery. When

12

Black Achievement in Science: Engineering

he was about 15, his par- ents, recognizing his in- telligence and talent, ar- ranged for him to travel to Scotland to undertake an apprenticeship in me- chanical engineering. Upon his return to Michigan, however, he found it impossible to find work as an engineer, despite his training and credentials. Although

Some antique engines still run on the power created by burning coal.

the Civil War had ended, racial prejudice was rampant, even in the North, and the only job he was offered was that of a fireman and oiler for the Michigan Central Railroad. His duties included shoveling coal at a rate of two tons an hour to fuel the steam engine and lubricate its moving parts; while some considered it an enviable job, because a fireman could sometimes be promoted to locomotive driv- er, it was backbreaking work—and a far cry from the more prestigious post for which he was qualified. McCoy, like any engineer, particularly disliked ineffi- cient systems, and he found it frustrating that the train had to be stopped frequently and the engine shut down before it could be oiled. He reasoned that it might be possible to pump oil to the spots at which it was needed with the help of steam pressure. Setting up a machine shop at his home in

Elijah McCoy

13

Ypsilanti, McCoy created what became known as the lubri- cating cup, which consisted of a piston, set in an oil-filled container. Steam pressure pushed down on the piston, forc- ing the oil into conduits that carried it to the engine’s moving parts. McCoy received a U.S. patent on June 23, 1872, and the Michigan Central Railroad agreed to try the lubricating

cup on some of its locomotives. The device was a resounding success, al- lowing for faster, more cost-effective train travel. The lubricating cup was later adapted to other types of steam engines and was widely used on ocean liners and in factory machin- ery. After others began making infe- rior knock-offs of the device, those in the knowwere said to ask for only the “real McCoy.” McCoy, who later moved to Detroit, received almost 60 patents over the course of his life—most for advanced, better-performing lubri- cation devices. (He said a device that allowed for the use of powdered graphite—an exceptionally effec- tive lubricant but one prone to trou- blesome clogging—was among the most important of his innovations.)

This is the drawing submitted by McCoy to the U.S. Patent Office for his most important railroad invention.

14

Black Achievement in Science: Engineering

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online