Eli H. Janney

Eli Janney, actually Eli Hamilton Janney ( born November 12, 1831 Loudoun County, Virginia; † June 16, 1912 in Alexandria, Virginia ) was an American inventor.

1868 constructed the Frachtenkontor Secretary automatic coupling for rail vehicles and had them patented on April 29, 1873. Named after him Janney coupling was in the U.S. for duty equipment, but was also used in Canada, Mexico and Australia, South Africa and the People's Republic of China.