The Real McCoy is much more than a ubiquitous North American catchphrase; it's a self-lubricating cup that allowed the metal joints of a train to be automatically oiled as it worked (patented in 1872). This was one of the 57 U.S. patents that Canadian-born Elijah McCoy created. McCoy revolutionized steam engine travel and quickly became a leading expert in the field of thermo-dynamics.