Patent ID: 7665622

Claim:
A railroad car coupler centering device comprising: a spreader beam configured to be mounted to a striker of a railroad car having a coupler extending from an end of the railroad car; a right side centering spring pivotally connected to the spreader beam by a right side hinge such that when said spreader beam is mounted to said striker, said right side centering spring is moveable about the right side hinge to: (a) a coupler engaged position to engage the right side of the coupler and to bias the coupler to a central position, and (b) a coupler disengaged position away from the coupler to allow the coupler to move from the central position to the right; and a left side centering spring pivotally connected to the spreader beam by a left side hinge such that when said spreader beam is mounted to said striker, said left side centering spring is moveable about the left side hinge to: (a) a coupler engaged position to engage the left side of the coupler and to bias the coupler to the central position, and (b) a coupler disengaged position away from the coupler to allow the coupler to move from the central position to the left.