SPRING CLIP REMOVER

OUTIL SERVANT A RETIRER LES FIXATIONS DE RAILS A RESSORT

English Abstract

The present invention relates to a tool (10) used for the removal of retained spring clips on railway tracks. The tool is characterised by a body (12) and a handle (14), the body having clip engaging means (22) adapted to engage outer edges of a retained clip and the handle including means (24) capable of delivering an impact to the body, the clip engaging means being adapted to compress the outer edges of the clip so as to permit passage of the clip through a gate retaining the clip to thereby release the clip. The invention also discloses a protective shroud (30) used to protect an operator of the tool from injury caused by movement of the clip when released.

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un outil (10) utilisé pour le retrait de fixations de rails à ressort sur les voies ferrées. L'outil se caractérise par un corps (12) et une poignée (14), le corps ayant des dispositifs de désembrayage de fixations (22) adaptés pour désembrayer les bords extérieurs d'une fixation retenue et les dispositifs, incluant la poignée (24), capables de produire un impact dans le corps, les dispositifs de désembrayage de la fixation étant adaptés pour compresser les bords extérieurs de la fixation afin de permettre le passage de la fixation à travers une fente retenant la fixation pour ainsi relâcher la fixation. L'invention révèle également une enveloppe protectrice (30) utilisée pour protéger un opérateur de l'outil des éventuelles blessures causées par le mouvement de relâchement de la fixation.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A tool useful for removing a spring clip retained on a rail track by
having outer edges of the clip retained outside of a gate, the tool including:
a body having a recess formed in a front face thereof, the recess
serving as clip engaging means, and a bulbous portion extending
rearwardly from a lower end of the body, said bulbous portion being
adapted to bear against an inner surface of the rail track; and
a handle including an impact hammer, said impact hammer
comprising an open ended tube located around the handle and slidable
over a longitudinal axis of the handle to thereby deliver an impact to the
body, the clip engaging means being adapted to engage and compress
outer edges of the clip in response to an impact delivered to the body from
the impact hammer so as to permit passage of the outer edges and body of
the clip through the gate to thereby release the clip; and the tool further
including a shroud attached to the tool and located so as to pass over the
clip and the body to protect the operator of the tool.
2. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the impact hammer is adapted
to be manually or hydraulically operated.
3. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool is connected to an
automatic track laying device, the track laying device having means capable
of acting as an impact hammer.
4. A tool according to claim 1, wherein the shroud means comprises an
arcuate cover of elastomeric material attached to an upper portion of the
body of the tool and extending over a retained clip forming a barrier
between a retained clip and the operator to thereby protect the operator.
5. A method of removing a spring clip retained on a rail track by having
outer edges of the clip retained outside of a gate, the method comprising
steps of:
providing a tool having a body and a handle, the body having a
recess formed in a front face thereof, the recess serving as a clip engaging

means and a bulbous portion extending rearwardly from a power end of the
body, said bulbous portion being adapted to bear against an inner surface
of the rail track, the handle including an impact hammer, said impact
hammer comprising an open ended tube located around the handle and
slidable over a longitudinal axis of the handle to thereby deliver an impact
to the body, the clip engaging means being adapted to engage and
compress outer edges of the clip in response to an impact delivered to the
body from the impact hammer so as to permit passage of the outer edges
and body of the clip through the gate to thereby release the clip, and the
tool
further including a shroud attached to the tool and located so as to passover
the clip and the body to protect the operator of the tool;
engaging the clip in the recess formed in the front face of the tool;
and
delivering an impact to the tool with the impact hammer to thereby
engage and compress the outer edges of the clip so as to permit passage of
the outer edges and body of the clip through the gate to thereby release one
clip, the shroud serving to limit the travel of the release clip and protect
the
operator from the clip.
6. A tool for removing a retained spring clip comprising:
a body having clip engaging means adapted to engage outer edges
of a retained clip; and
a handle including means capable of delivering an impact to the
body, the means capable of delivering an impact including an impact
hammer having an open ended tube located around the handle and
slidable over a longitudinal axis of the handle to thereby deliver an impact
to the body, the clip engaging means being adapted to compress the outer
edges of the clip in response to an impact delivered to the body from the
handle so as to permit passage of the clip through a gate retaining the clip
to thereby release the clip.
7. A tool according to claim 6, wherein the clip engaging means
comprises a recess formed in a front face of the body.
8. A tool according to claim 7, wherein the recess formed in the front
face of the body has sides inclined so as to meet at a point at an upper end
thereof wherein outer edges of a clip engaged by the recess may be

compressed in response to an impact delivered to the body from the handle
by progressive downward movement of the body over the clip and
movement of the edges of the clip within the recess.
9. A tool according to claim 6, wherein the body has a bulbous portion
extending rearwardly from a lower end thereof, said bulbous portion being
adapted to engage and bear against an inner surface of a rail track so as to
be able to force a compressed retained clip to thereby release the clip.
10. A tool according to claim 6, wherein the tool additionally comprises
resilient shroud means for restricting the movement of a released clip and
forming a barrier between an operator of the tool and the clip.
11 A tool according to claim 10, wherein the shroud means is an
arcuate cover of elastomeric material attached to an upper portion of the
body of the tool and extending over a retained clip thereby forming a barrier
between the clip and an operator.

Description

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1
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a tool for removing elastic rail fasteners,
commonly referred to as spring clips from rail track. These clips secure the
rail
section to the sleeper and can be used in insulated or non-insulated track on
either concrete, steel or timber sleeper assemblies, or on continuously cast
deck trade.
BACKGROUND ART
Spring clips are used to fasten rail to sleepers or rail seat assemblies and
are
available in various geometries. The present invention applies to a removal
1 0 tool suitable for use on clips of the general characteristics as displayed
in the
accompanying drawings. That is the clip prongs (or toes) need to be drawn
together before they can be forced through a 'Gate' in the securing shoulder
to
finally remove the clip. The clips holding force (toe load) being released
during this removing phase.
1 5 There are currently two basic methods of removing these types of clips:
Firstly a mechanism which forces the prongs together and then pulls the clip
off from the rear of the clip available in manual and automated formats and,
a mechanism consisting of a wedge which fits in front of the prongs and is
driven downwards by hammer.
2 0 The wedging action pushes the clip out at the prongs. This service is
available
in a manual format requiring two operators, one to hold the wedge in position
and the other to drive the hammer.
In both cases the tools are slow (particularly in manual mode), uneconomical
and can be dangerous. The existing manual tool in method 1 for example is
2 5 an expensive articulated unit which hinges about the rear of the shoulder
on
removal, requiring a large rotational action accompanied by a severe 'Jerk' to
force the clip off. In method 2 the clip is ejected at high speed and can
cause
severe injury on contact.

2
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to address the above problems by providing a
tool useful for removing a retained spring clip in which the task can be
completed successfully with only a single operator. Moreover, by using a tool
as described below, the operator is able to stand behind the clip out of line
of
the direction of travel of the clip, that is from a position of relative
safety.
Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
tool
useful for removing a retained spring clip characterised by a body and a
handle, the body having clip engaging means adapted to engage outer edges
1 0 of a retained clip and the handle including means capable of delivering an
impact to the body, the clip engaging means being adapted to compress the
outer edges of the clip so as to permit passage of the clip through a gate
retaining the clip to thereby release the clip.
In preference, the clip engaging means comprises a recess formed in a front
1 5 face of the body.
In preference the tool further includes an arcuate shock absorbent shroud
attached to the handle and adapted to fit around a retained clip.
The means for delivering an impact to the body may include manually or
mechanically activated means such as an impact hammer or hydraulic impact
2 0 means. Alternatively, the means for delivering an impact may be supplied
from
an automatic track laying device.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a variety of means to
produce an impact on the body could be envisaged. Thus in any particular
situation the choice of means to provide an impact will reflect the facilities
2 5 available and the extent to which the tool could be used and the skill of
those
using it. A controlled hydraulic means of delivering an impact could be
preferred because of the ability to apply only sufficient impact to release
the
clip and therefore avoid any excessive force.
By incorporating a means capable of delivering an impact to the body as a
3 0 part of the handle of the tool of the present invention the tool may be
operated

3
to remove a retained clip by a single operator. Also the tool of the present
invention permits the operator to stand in a position well clear of the likely
trajectory of a released clip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described, by way of an illustrative non-
limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG 1 illustrates schematically a tool useful for removing a retained
spring clip in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention;
FIG 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a tool for removing a
1 0 retained spring clip;
FIG 3 illustrates the embodiment of FIG 2 in use;
FIG 4 illustrates in cross section the position of the body of a tool of
the present invention;
FIG 5 illustrates a section taken through the line 5' to 5' from FIG 4;
and
FIG 6 illustrates a section of FIG 5 as the tool is used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in FIG 1 is a tool 10 useful for removing a retained spring clip 11.
The tool 10 comprises a body 12 and handle 14. Attached to the handle 14 is
2 0 a means for delivering an impact to the body 12 comprising a sliding
impact
hammer 26.
The body 12 comprises a wedge having a flattened front face 13. The body 12
is adapted to be fitted between rail track 18 and the outer edges of the clip
11
as shown in FIG 4. At its lower most end the body 12 has a bulbous portion 20
2 5 extending rearwardly therefrom the bulbous portion 20 is adapted to engage
and bear against the inner surface of the rail track 18, so as to secure the
tool
10 in position.

~1~.~6~~~
4
The front face 13 of the body 12 has a recess 22 located at a lower end
thereof. The recess 22 is adapted to fit around the outer longitudinal edges
of
the clip 11, and edges of the recess 22 are inclined towards each other so as
to form a triangular recess.
A recess (not shown) is also cut into rear face of the body 12. This effect of
this
latter recess is to reduce the overall weight of the body 12 and therefore the
tool 10.
The handle 14 is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the body 12 and extends
generally upwardly therefrom. The handle 14 is formed of a tubular inner
section 24. A generally tubular outer section 26 is slidingly inserted over
the
inner section 24. The outer section 26 is able to move freely over the inner
section 24. The outer section 26 functions as an impact hammer 26.
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS 2 and 3.
Shown in FIGS 2 and 3 is a tool 28 for removing a retained spring clip 11. The
1 5 embodiment shown in FIGS 2 and 3 includes many of the features described
for the tool 10 and like numerals will be used to describe like parts.
The tool 28 includes a body 12 and a handle 14. Additionally, the tool 28
incorporates a protective shroud 30. The shroud 30 is located at the junction
of the body 12 and handle 14 and comprises an arcuate cover formed of
2 0 elastomeric materials with bound metal edges 32. The shroud 30 extends
forwardly of the body 12 so as to entirely cover the spring clip 11.
The use of the tool 10 or 30 will be described with reference to FIGS 4 to 6.
Shown in FIG 4 in cross section is a spring clip and railway track assembly.
The clip 11 is shown in position retaining a rail 34 in position. As can be
2 5 clearly seen in FIG 5 outer toes 36 of the clip 11 rest so as to be
outside of a
gate 37 in the rail shoulder 38. The tool 10, 28 is fitted into position
between
the uprights of the rail 34 and the clip 11 such that the recess 22 is fitted
around the toes 36. This is shown in cross section in FIG 5.
The outer tube 26 of the handle 14 is used in a manner of an impact hammer
3 0 to create a downward force of the body 12 thereby forcing the toes 36 of
the

5
clip 11 through the recess 22. As the body moves downwardly over the clip
the toes 36 are compressed as shown cross sectionally in FIG 6. Eventually
the toes 36 are compressed sufficiently to clear the gate 37 in the shoulder,
the tool 10 may then be used to push the clip 11 through the gate 37. The
bulbous portion 20 is useful in that, by bearing against the rail track the
clip
may be urged forwardly through the gate 37.
In the embodiment shown in the drawings, a particular type of clip is shown.
However other types of clip are also available, these other types including
substantially more solid clips. The toes of a substantially more solid clip
require a considerably greater force to produce the compression necessary to
release the clip. In such cases, the means capable of delivering an impact to
the body would be modified so as to be able to produce a sufficient impact.
Using a hydraulic impact means this would, of course be readily achievable.
As may well be imaged the shroud 30 is useful for restricting any undesirably
1 5 excessive movement of the clip 11.
Also as can be seen in FIG 3 the tool 10, 30 is readily operated with an
operator standing behind the clip 11 thereby being protected from any
unwanted impact with a clip 11. It can also be seen that the tool 10, 30 is
easily operated by a single person.

Representative Drawing