Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
3~
The present application is related to copending
Canadian pa-tent applications serial number 32~,562
filed May 29, 1979; serial number 328,563 filed May 29, 1979;
and serial number 356,231 filed July 15, 19~0.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates broadly to rail
fastening assemblies incorporating a generally S-shaped rail
1~ fastening clip for securing a railway rail to a cross tie or
similar rail support or sleeper. The present invention
relates, more particularly, to an improved two-piece rail
fastening assembly of this character specifically adapted
for holdlng railway rails, supported on conventional tie
plates, to wooden cross ties.
Description of the Art
A railway rail is typically secured to a wooden cross
tie by supporting the rail on a tie plate and affixing the tie
plate to the cross tie by means of large spikes. There are
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i~
{ ~2~
1 usually four spike holes provided on each of the field and gage .
sides of the tie plate, two holes fairly close to the position
the rail base flange assumes on the tie plate and two near the
outer edge of the tie plate. The heads o the spîkes driven
through ~he holes adjacent the basè flange of the rail over~ap
the edges of the rail flange to hold it.
Rail anchors secured to the rail beneath the flangeJ on
either side of the cross tie, ususally complement the ! oregoing
arrangement to prevent longitudinal motion or creeping of the
0 10 xail. It is also conventional to use other assemblies in combina-
tion with this fastening arrangement to retard to prevent oye~turn
motion of the rails during use. With little variation, this has
been the scheme routinely employed for years to secure a rallway
rail to a wooden tie.
For purposes relevant to the present invention, a
different type of assembly is proposed in ~ritish Patent No.
1,145,497. This patent discloses a rail fastening assembly
making use of a generally S-shaped rail c~ip in combination with
a specially constructed tie plate. The tie plate is secured to
0 20 th4 cross tie by means of a pair of fixture bolts or screws at
the outboard sides only. A rib r~ms laterally across the t~e
plate adjacent the position of the base flange o~ the rail when
the same is in place, and is provided with a projection designed
to grasp or otherwise engage the central leg of the S-shaped
clip. The clip is twisted, by use of a special tool designed
to apply a torsional force to it, and is then positioned on the
tie plate in this twisted con,iguration. One leg of the S clip
.engages the base flange of the rail while the opposite free end
rests on the tie pla~e. The rail ls thus ~estrained by ~Tirt~e
30 or the torsional rorce exis~ing in the S-shaped clip~
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I
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:~2~37
1 There are obvious drawbacks to eac~ of the systems
described above. With respect to the first-mentioned system of
spikes, rail anchors, and rail-overturn prevention devices,
considerable track maintenance and attendant expense are
j involved. Application of all these devices is costly. There is
a tendency for the different parts to loosen and move away from
the tie due to the dynamic conditions encountered during use
and cyclic expansion and contraction as the result of varying
weather conditions. When rails require replacement the spikes
must be removed and, after awhile, the ties become "spike killed"
and they too must be replaced. The expense involved in maintain-
ing a track which employs this type of hold-do~n assembly is
considerable -- having been reported to be as high as $15,000.00
per year per mile of trac~. There are also substantial dis-
; adyantages with respect to the second-menti~ed, S-clip fastening
assembly. Tie plates must be specially designed ~o receive the
S-shaped rail clip. Special tools are re~uired t~ stress the
clip properly and to install it in that stressed condition.
, Obviousl~, this system is not well-adapted for use on existing
) 20 tracks because o~ its very construction.
Sl~D~ARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages o~
the systems noted above. It may be used on both new track in-
stallations and in rehabilitation of existing tracks. Its use
minimizes the need for a bevy of rail anchors and rail-overtllrn
prevention devices routinely employed in the co~plete package
of hardware now used for securing rails on wooden cross ties,
thus minimizing installa~ion and maintenance ex~enses, No
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1 special tools are required to install the ~astening ~ssem~l~es
of the present invention, either on new track or old. Yet, these
advantages are achieved without a loss of hGlding power, ~r
significan~ reduction in longitudinal and rotational ~r ove~turn:
restraint of the rail. - - ~
Track held down by the assembly o~ the prese~t i~en~ion
may be replaced without pulling and redriving spikes, a pr~ctice
which "spike kills" woodenties necessitating eventual tie
replacement since the spikes no longer hold properly in the wood
This i.s an especially important consideration for ~urves, w~ere
rails wear at about ten times the rate as straight track sec~ions.
- These benefits are realized, in ~ne embodiment o~ the
~ present invention, by employing a two-piece rail astener c~m-
prised of a generally S-shaped rail clip received on ~he head of
a mating chair designed to be anchored in th~ inb~ard spi~e hQles
OI a conventional tie plate. Spikes in the out~oard spike ~oles
of the tie plate secure it ~o a wooden cross ti~ in the nor~l
manner. The rail clip acts as a torsional s~ring clip to
- restrain the rail.
In another embodiment, at least one of the inboara
spikes in the tie plate is replaced by a chair ha~ing a do~m-
wardly depending shank. The shank passes through the spike hole
in the tie plate and into the tie where it is restrained or
embedded. The S-shaped rail clip is recei~ed on the head o~ the
chair to restrain the rail.
Other advantages of the present invention will ~ecome
apparent to those skilled in the art upon ex2mination of the
following detailed description of preferred embodi~ènts, t~en in
conjunction with che figures of drawin~, wherein:
8~
1 . BRIEF ~ESCRIPTION OF THE D~AWINGS
Figure 1 is a top plan view of an S-shaped rail clip in
accordancè with the present invention, shown in its relaxed
configuration;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the rail clip
shown in Figure l;
Fi,gure 3 is a side elevational view of one embodiment
of a chair in accordance with the present invention.
, Flgure 4 is a front end view of the chair shown in
o 10 .Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of one embod~ment
of an assembly ln accordance with the present i~vention, where
the rail clip is not fully seated;
` Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5~ but show~ng the
rail clip in a fully seated position and stressed configuration;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in
Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a view taken substantially along the line
8-~ of Figure 7, with parts broken away to show the m~nner ln
o 20 which the chair is anchored on the tie plate;
Figure 9 and 10 are side elevational views of an
alternate embodiment of a chair in accordance ~ith, the present
invention;
Figure 11 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment
of an assembly of the present invention; and,
Figure 12 is a sectional view taken substantially alon~
the line 12 12 OI Figure 11, showing various ways in which ~he
chair may be restrained with the tie.
~ )377~
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRE~ E~BODI~NTS
The following detailed description of preferred embodi-
ments is made to illustrate the advantages of the present inven-
tion. This description is illustrative only, and should not be
deemed to limit the scope of the instznt invention as the same
advantages may be realized even Lhough variations on the pre-
ferred embodiments be made by those skilled in the art.
One embodi~ent of a two-piece rail fastening assembly
- of the present invention, designated generally as lO and best
viewed in Figures 5-8, is comprised of a generally S-shaped xail
clip, designated generally as 30 and best viewed in ~igures 1 and
2, and a chair designated generally as 50 and best viewed ~n
Figures 3 and 4. The assembly 10 is specially adapted for ~se in
combination with a standard tie plate 12 upo~ ~hich a railway rail
14 is sea~ed. The rail 14, as is conventional, includes a stem
16 which ter~inates at its lower end in a base flange 18. Ihe
tie plate 12, supporting rail 14, is itself supported on 2 cross
tie 20.
A standard tie plate is conventi~al~y a steel p~ate
extending beneath the entirety of the base 1ange l8 of rall 14
and projecting outwardly from the base area on both the field
and gage sides o the rail. Typically, the tie plate incl~des
four holes pierced through the plate on each of the field and
gage sides: a pair of outboard holes 22 and a pair of inboard
holes 24. Although there ~ay be some variations on this general
arrangement of elements, virtually all "con~entional" tie pla~es
follow this type of configuration. Note, for e~ample, Vol I,
anual for Railw2y Engineering (Fixed Properties~ published by
the American Railway Engineering Association, which ~rovides
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7~
1 specifications for tie plates. In the standard system for
fastening a rail to a cross tie, headed 12g bolts or spikes are
used to secure the tie plate to the tie. The fasteners through
the inboard holes 24 engage the base flange of the rail as well,
so that the rail flange is sandwiched between the tie plate and
the heads of the fastening bolts or spikes. In this m~nner, the
rail is supported on and affixed to the tie plate which, in turn,
is directly fastened to the cross t~e.
As best viewed in Figures 7 and 8, one embodiment of
lO the instant assembly 10 replaces both of the inboard bolts or
spikes heretofore passing through inboard holes 24~ As best
viewed in ~igures 11 and 12, another embod~ent of the inst2nt
assembly lO replaces only one of the inboard bolts or spikes
heretofore passing through an inboard hole 24. Tn both e~bod}-
ments a pair of conventio~al headed lag bolts ~r spikes 26 are
employed in the outboard holes 22 on each of the field and gage
sides of the tie plate in order to secure the same to the cross
tie 20. In the latter embodiment of Figure 11 and 12, i~ is pos-
sible to employ this arrangement on ligh~-rail tracks where the
3 20 tie plate has only inboard holes since the ~air itself can pro-
vide a means to stabilize the tie plate.
The rail clip component, 30, of the assembly lO is a
generally-S shaped torsional spring rail cllp best viewed in
Figures 1 and 2. Clip 30 is comprised of a central leg 32, a rail
bearing leg 34 and a tie bearing leg 36. The rail bearing and
tie bearing legs 34 and 36 are terminal legs of the clip 30,
which are spaced on opposite sides of the central leg 32 and
joined thereto by generally arcuate portions, 38 and 40 res~ect-
ively, extending from opposite ends of central leg 32~ With
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1~20371~
re'~erence to Figure l, there are two loops thus defined on clip
30; 2 first loop 42 comprised of central leg 32, ~ail bearing
leg 34 and the arcuate portion 38 joining the two together~ and
2 second loop 44 comprised of central leg 32, tie bearing ie~
36, and the arcuate portion 40,joining the ~wo together,
Loop 42 is bent slightly in an upward direction
beginning at approximately the midpoint ol central leg 32~ as
best viewed in Figure 2. The angular displacement of loop 42
from the horizontal (with reference to Figu~e 2) is preferably
L0 within the range of from about 15 to about 20, and most p~efer-
ably about I8. The distal end of rail bearing leg 34 is a~so
bent slightly in an upward direction. The angle of inclination
of the distal end of leg 34 (with refere~ce ~o Figure 2) is
preferably about 10 with respect t:o the horizQ~tal.. A land 46
L5 is ~ormed on the underside of leg 34 between the point at which
loop 42 is bent upwardly and the point at which the distal end
of the leg is bent upwardly.
ln the embodiment shown in Figures 5-~, the chair ~0
which cooperates with clip 30 is comprised of a body portion 52,
~0 an 2nchoring portion 54, and a head portion 56, The anchor~ng
portion 54 depends downwardly ~ro~ the body ~2, and is comp~ised
of a pair of legs 58 which terminate in hook or latch means 60.-
The spacing between legs 58 is substantially the same as the
spacing between the ~nboard spike holes on a standard ~ie plate
'5 (e,g., approximately 3~1/2 inches on centers), Likewise, the
cross-sectional dimensions and configurations o~ the legs 58
are designed to mate with the spike holes on a c~nventional tie
plate, as is the projection of the hook or 12tch means 60.
Insorar as there may be some variation in the shape and spacing
0 OI ~he inboard spike holes on various tie plates, the exact
--8--
1 dimensions of the anchoring portion of chair 50 can be altered
accordingly. To facilitate the insertion of the anchoring por-
tion 54 of chair 50 within the inboard spike holes 24 on the
tie plate, the lower ends of each of the legs 58 are provided
with a slight inward taper 62, best viewed i~ Figures 4 and 8.
Thus, this embodiment of chair 50 is secured to tie plate 12 by
inserting the legs 58 through inboard holes 24 with the chair in -
a somewhat downwardly angled position, and thence rotating same
to làtch the hook 60 of each leg beneath the tie plate as shown
.0 10 in Figure 8.
The head portion 56 of chair 50 is designed to cooperate
in mating engagement with the rail clip 30~ A lip 62 projects
outwardly from the head porLion 56 for this purpose, the lip 62
extending generally across the breadth of t~e bo~y porti~n 52
;5 between the legs 58. The lip 62 is defined ~y a lront face 64,
a top outside face 66, and a bottom inside face ~8. The inside
face 68 is slightly inwardly concave~ tapering from an outer
edge 70 and merging into the body portion S~. A jaw 72 is thus
~ormed having a bight configured to receive the central leg of
'0 20 clip 30 as.described more fully hereinbelow.
The lip 62 preferabIy includes an upwardly flared front
end 74. The inside face 68 and, thus, jaw 72 follow the upward
flare of lip 62 such that the bight of jaw 7~ opens progressively
as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The angle of inclination of the
. flare is approximately equal to, but preferably slightly less
than, the angle of inclination of the loop 4~ on clip 30 ior
reasons explained below. A slight protuberance 76 is deLined at
.the juncture of the ,~lared and straight portions uf thP edge 70.
This protuberance is designed to mate with a small notch or
37~
1 detent formed.on the central leg 32 of clip 3D corresponding
generally to the point at which the loop 42 is bent upwardly, as
best viewed in Figure 6. ~n overdrive preventer 78 is provided
on the front end of body portion 52 by round;ng the egdes
thereof in the area corresponding to the bign~ of jaw 72,
as best viewed in Figllres 3 and 7.
The assembly 10 comprised of the clip 30 and chair
50 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 is best vie~ed in Figures 5-8~
Installation of the assembly 10 is relativel~ simple, whether the
o lO fastening assembly is used on a new track ins~allation or in
the rehabilitation of old track. The chair 5D is secured to the
inboard spike holes 24 of tie plate 12 by c~n~ing the ch2~r
slightly and inserting the legs 58 through the }nboard h~les.
; The chair is then rotated upwardly so that the latch or hook
member 60 projects beneath the tie plate 12, as shown in ~igure 8.
The S-clip 30 is driven into seat~g engagement with
the chair 50. Figure 5 shows the clip placed with the lvop 40
.in the flared portioIl of jaw 72 prior to the driving operation.~
The loop 42 is ~hen struck with a hammer or e~uivalent tool
O 20 and the clip is driven to the right into a ~lly seate~ position
as shown in Figure 6. During the driving ope~ation, the ti.~e
bearing leg rides across the face of the tie ~late 12 while the
land 46 on the rail bearing leg rides across the face of the base
flange 18 o~ rail 14. The flare of jaw 72 aids in guiding the
central leg into latched, mati.ng engagement with the head portion
of the chair. When in the fully-seated position of Figure 6, the
slight protuberance 76 cooperates with the mating detent
. means on central leg 32 tO insure a positive loc~ between the
two components. Overdrive preventer 78 ~nsures proper
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1 relative positioning of the protuberance/detent. Positive en-
gagement of t~e clip with the chair is promoted by this pro
tuberance!detent arrangement, along with the relative angular
relationship between the upwardly oriented loop on the clip and
flared front end of the jaw on the chair and the relative dimen-
sions between the spread o~ loop 42 2nd the thickness of the head
portion of the chair on which this loop is r~cei~ed.
Upward forces are established in both of the term;nal
legs 34 and 36 when the clip 30 is seated. ~hese ~orces arise, in
lo part, because the top face of the flange 18 on the rail where
leg 34 engages it is vertically displaced from the top face of
tie plate 12 where leg 36 engages it, the am~nt of vertical
displacement being greater than can be acco~dated by the clip
in its relaxed configuration. Consequently~ the dri~ing operation
forces the legs 34 and 36 to be stressed up~a~dly w~en the clip
is seated~ the lip on the chair providng a d~wnward restraining
force on the eentral leg 32. This counter~c ive force provided
by lip 62 al~o insures secure engagemPnt of the hook means ~0
with ~he tie plate 12. The upward forc2s ~n legs 34 and 36
3 20 are resol~ed through the two loops 42 and 4~ as oppositely
oriented rotational forces existing at opposing ends of central
leg 32. Consequently, the clip 30 functions as a torsional
spring rail clip where the holding power of ~he fastening
assembly arises predominantly through torsion. The magnitude of
the torsional force can be suitably tailored by appropriate
selection of the angle of inclinatlon of the loop 42 relative
to the flare at the front of jaw 72 and the relative dimensioning
of the legs of the clip. Furthermore, undex dynamic operating
conditions, the holding forces exerted egainst the rail will rise
~2~3~ ~
as the rail at~empts to move away from the tie plate since the up-
ward force on rail bearing leg 34 will increase and be resolved in
central leg 32 as an increased torsional force~
~n alternate embodiment of the assembly 10 is shown in
. ~igures 9~12, wherein like re~erence numerals denote like parts
in respect of the embodiment discussed above (Figures 1-8). The
principal difference between the assembly sh~wn in Figures 9-12
and that descri~ed above is that the chair 50 is secured directly
to the wooden cross tie by means of a single 12g or shank which
~asses through one of the inboard spike holes 24 only. Thus, in
place of the two legs 58 of the chair descri~ed a~ove~ the
alternate embodiment shown in Figures 9-1? has 2 single shank 80
Otherwise, the chair is identical to that descri~ed above and
shown in the preceding figures or drawing.
In the embodiment shown i.n Figures 9 a~d 10, the shank
80, which is preferably somewhat larger in c~oss section than a
standard spike, terminates in a pointed tip 82 in order that th~
chair may be driven into this wooden member. The outer surface of
the shank 80 is shown in Figures 9 and 10 to include a stepped
wedge or barbed configuration of elements 84 to retard pullout of
the chair from the wooden tie. Any similar sur~ace rougheninc
could equally well be employed for this purpose.
Figures 11 and 12 shown an assembly o~ the S-clip 30
and the ~lternate em~odiment OL the chair shown ln ~igures 9 and
10. Figure 12 also shows a number of ways in which this ch2ir may
be restrained within the cross tie 20. For example, the ~hair
shown at position A is i~lustrated, in full lines, with a smooth
shank 8C terminating in a point 82, the length o~ the shan~ 80
being greater than the thic~ness of the tie 20. Restraining means
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86 are included near th.e distal end of this-shank to prevent pull-
.out of the c~air from the tie~ Thus, this chair would be driven
into position and, once the tip of shank 80 projected beyond the
bottom surface of tie 20, the restraining means 86 would prevent
upward motion of the chair. The embodiment illustrated in
Figures 9 and 10 is shown in phantom lines at position A in
Figure 12 for comparison. This latter embodiment relies on the
~arbed or stepped surfaces at 84 to prevent pu~lout o~ the chair.
~n this case, where the tip of the chair do~s not include re-
.0 straining means such as 8~ a bonding agent may be applied to the
outer surface of shank 80 to reduce furt~er the tendency for
pullout. Such a bonding agent could be, for example, magnesium
phosphate cement.
Yet another means to secure the shank 80 in tie 20 is
L5 shown at position B in Figure 12. Here the ~ie 20 is provided
with an oversized channel or cavity 88 filled with a bonding
material 90. This bonding material could be ma.gnesium phosphate
cemen~, or a polymeric or resinous material com~atible with the
wooden tie. The ~onding material 90 complet~y encaps~llatPs shank
20 80 and, when rigid, indirectly bonds the sh~nk of .~he chair to the
wooden tie. The cross sectional area of ca~it~ 88 is preferably
larger than that of the spike hole through which shank 80 projects
This serves ~wo advan;ageous functions. Fi~st, when the bonding
material 90 solidifies, pullout resistance is enhanced since the
25 block of material holding the shank is larger than the spike hole
Thus, the shank must be parted from the bonding agent if i~ is to
be removed. Second, the larger cross section of cavity 88, and
the solid bonding material, improves latera~and longitudinal
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restra.int of the chair relative to the rail, Dependin~ on design
considerations, the filled cavity 88 need ~ot extend entirely
through the tie 20 .T~is approach is shown in full lines in
Figure 12 at position B. If desired, the cavity can go through
the tie, as s~own in phantom lines in Figure 12 at position B.
Either approach may also be advantageous for secur;ng the chair
in a spîke-killed ~ie. Other concep~ually similar approaches may
~e used to guard against pullout of the chair without departing
from the spirit of the present invention.
Since the chair of the alternate embodiment shown in
- - Figures ~-12 replaces but a single inboard spike, i~ is preferabl~to stagger the pl~cement of the chairs on ~ield and gage sid~s of
the rail, as shown in Figure 11. Depending on the configuration
of the shank 80, this will minimize any te~de~cy foT splitting
thewooden cross tie 20. Also, a more uniorm hold;ng force is ap-
plied across the rail 14 in this staggered conf~guration.
Because the chair in this alternate embodiment is directly
affixed to the tie, as opposed to indirect affixation in the em-
~odiment of Fi~u~es 3 and 4, it may be advisable in the scheme
shown in Figures 11 and 12 to provide ~he undersurface o~ tie
plate 12 with 2 coating of a bonding material such as thos~ de-
scribed above. This bonding material will ~end to preve~
relative movement between the tie and the tie plate which could,
under severe conditions, loosen the shank 80 in its grip on the
tie depending, for example, on which of the many shank configura-
tions is used.
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1 Fabrication of the components of assembly 10 is very
easy. The clip 30 is preferably fashionedfrom round stock o~
spring steel having an appropriate diameter and length suita~le
to yield one clip. The spring is fashioned by bending the pre-
sized rod around mandrels and the required angularity of the
loops is imparted by a simple forming operation. The spring clip
can then ~e heat treated in a conventional manner to give
requisite strength and ductility thereto. ~he chair ~0 may be
cast from ductlle iron, or formed from steel and appropriately
0 10 heat treated.
The operation of assembly 10 of the presen~ in~ention
is extremely efficient. When pairs of assem~ly 10 are used,
- one on each o~ the field and gage side, to hold a iength of track
in pla~e, the holding power of the assembly in both longitu~lnal
and rocking or overturn directions is sufficient to reduce the
need for both rail anchors and conventiona~ ove~turn preventers
in many applications, and even to eliminate the need for ~uch
devices in other applications. This allows ~or considerable
savings in both the capital expense o installing or rehabi~ita-
~ing a rail and also the maintenance involved in ~e-application
of rail anchors and overturn preventers sin~e the same have a
tendency to loosen over a period of time. ~urthermore, rai~s can
be replaced by simply removing the spring c~ip~ Since no spikes
need be removed, tie life is prolonged considerably.
2~ Having now described the present invention with
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, the s~illed
artisan will recognize that various substitutions, modiiications,
changes, and omissions may be made without departing f-om the
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~337~
1 spirit thereof. For example, changes in t~e dimension, numbers
or location of spike holes in the tie plate are intended within
the disclosure of t~e present invention. Likewise, a compression
of the geometry of the S clip (e.g., squashlng as viewed in plan)
j . while retaining t~e torsional force for holding power is intended
within the disclosure of the present invention. In likP vein,
the chair of the embodiment shown in Figures ~-12 could be ~ormed
with two shanks, spaced and dimensioned to pass through both
inboard holes in the tie plate into engagement with the tie.
lo Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention be limited
solely by the scope of the following claims
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