Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to rail fastening
devices, and, in a first aspect provides a rail fastening
device comprising a pair of opposing longitudinally
extending shoulders adapted to accommodate a rail flange
therebetween, a downwardly facing abutment surface provided
on each shoulder, and a resilient rail clip having an end
portion extending inwardly of and bearing upwardly on said
abutment surface and adapted to bear resiliently on an
upper side of the flange for restraining the rail against
vertical movement, an outer portion extending outwardly
from said abutment surface and curving laterally arcuately
outwardly and downwardly toward a lower portion adapted to
bear on a bearing surface at a region offset laterally
inwardly from a centre of curvature of said outer portion.
This arrangement provides better distribution of
stress through the rail clip than known devices of which
applicant is aware, and avoids concentrations of stress
that may result in failure of the rail fastening device in
service.
In a second aspect, the invention provides a rail
tie plate suitable for attachment to a wood tie, comprising
a base plate adapted to be applied to the tie and a pair of
abutment members upstanding therefrom to accommodate a rail
flange therebetween and each providing a downwardly facing
abutment surface for reaction with a laterally inwardly
inserted rail clip, and a ramp surface inclining from a
laterally outer side of each abutment member upwardly
inwardly to a laterally inner side thereof for facilitating
insertion of the clip to an installed position wherein an
inner end of the clip bears resiliently on an inner side of
the rail flange.
Whereas known wood tie plates of which the
applicant is aware have offered difficulties to insertion
of rail clips, the ramp surfaces of the plate of the
invention facilitate insertion of the rail clip, such as a
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rail clip as described above, inwardly to an installed
position wherein the inner end of the clip bears on a rail
flange disposed between the abutment members.
Examples of the structure in accordance with the
invention are described in more detail in the following
with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a rail fastening
arrangement in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 2 is a side view of a rail clip used in the
arrangement of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of one of
the rail fastening arrangements of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the arrangement of Fig.
3 with internal structure shown in broken lines.
Figs. 5 and 6 are isometric views of modified
versions of the rail clip employed in Figs. 1 to 4.
Fig. 7 is an isometric view corresponding to Fig.
3 showing use of the rail clip of Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a side view of a further modified form
of rail clip.
Figs. 9 and 10 are views corresponding to Figs. 3
and 4 showing use of a further modified form of rail clip.
Figs. 11 and 12 are isometric and side views,
respectively of a further modified form of rail clip.
Figs. 13 and 14 are isometric and side views,
respectively of a further form of rail clip.
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Figs. 15 and 16 are views corresponding to Figs.
3 and 4 showing use of the rail clip of Figs. 13 and 14.
Fig. 17 is an isometric view of a rail tie plate
in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 18 is a view of the tie plate of Fig. 17
with portions broken away to show interior structure.
Fig. 19 is a bottom plan view of the tie plate of
Figs. 17 and 18.
Fig. 20 is an isometric view illustrating the use
of the tie plate of Figs. 17 to 19.
Fig. 21 is a side view partially in section
showing the application of the fastening arrangement of
Fig. 20 on a wood tie.
Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 20 showing use
of a rail clip as shown in Fig. 6.
Figs. 23 and 24 are views corresponding to Fig.
20 showing use of a further modified form of rail clip.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals indicate like parts, Fig. 1, shows a plate form
usually steel tie 31 provided with baffle plates 33
generally as described in applicant's copending patent
applications WO 94/28245 published December 8, 1994, United
Kingdom No. 9500700.1 filed January 13, 1995 and Canadian
2,144,018 filed March 6, 1995, especially with reference to
Fig. llA of Canadian application No. 2,144,018.
Rails 35 and 37 are fastened with respect to the
tie 31 as shown somewhat schematically in Fig. 1, wherein
only short lengths of the rails 35 and 37 are shown for
clarity of illustration.
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As shown in Fig. 3, each rail, for example rail
35 is connected on the tie 31 using hook-in shoulder
members 39 and 41 having hook-like leg portions 43 which
are passed through openings in a plate member 45 forming an
upper portion of the tie 31.
Each shoulder member 39 and 41 has laterally
outwardly lower extensions 47 which bear on the plate
member 45 and opposed anti-squat wall members 49 for the
purposes described in more detail in the above mentioned
U.K. patent application 9500700.1.
The upper side of each extension 47 is formed
with a longitudinally extending grooved or recessed
formation 51 from which drainage channels 53 extend
downwardly and outwardly.
Each shoulder member 39 and 41 is provided with
an upstanding, generally rectangular abutment portion 55
having an opening 57 through it. The opening 57 provides a
downwardly facing abutment surface 59.
A rail clip 61 formed of bent metal strip is
inserted through the opening. As seen in Figs. 2 to 4, the
clip 61 comprises an upper limb portion 63 that reacts with
the abutment surface 59, a preferably upswept inner end
portion 65 that bears resiliently downwardly on or toward
the flange 67 of the rail 35, for restraining the rail 35
against vertical movement, an outer portion 69 curving
laterally arcuately outwardly and downwardly toward a lower
limb portion 71 extending to a lower portion 73 that rests
in the recess 51 and bears on the extension 47 and an
upwardly directed end portion 75.
It may be noted that the lower portion 73 is off-
set laterally inwardly from the centre of curvature of the
arcuate portion 69. As a result, when the end portion 65
is loaded upwardly as a result of uplift of the rail flange
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67, there is a stress reversal within the clip 61 and a
zone of zero stress whereby the stresses are distributed
more uniformly through the body of the clip 61 and stress
concentrations are avoided.
It may be noted in the example of Figs. 3 and 4
the inner end 65 of the clip 61 bears on insulators 77 and
the rail is canted and may be further electrically
insulated from ground by a generally rectangular insulating
pad 79 which also performs the function of a cant plate.
Fig. 5 shows a clip 61a generally similar to the
clip 61 except the upper limb 63a and end portions 65a are
of reduced width measured in the longitudinal direction as
compared with the arcuate portion 69a and rem~in;ng
portions of the clip, whereby the clip is provided with
generally laterally inwardly facing inclining shoulder
portions that may be engaged by tools and facilitate
mechanized installation and de-installation of the clips.
Fig. 6 shows a further example providing
laterally inwardly arranged tool-engaging faces 81a except
in this instance the lower limb portion and inner end
portion 73a and 75a are of reduced width.
Fig. 7 is a view generally similar to Fig. 3
showing the installed clip 61a of Fig. 5 and illustrating
how the faces 81 are exposed for engagement by a tool for
deinstallation or installation.
Fig. 8 shows a further example of a clip 61c
similar to the clip 61 of Fig. 2 except the end portion 75c
approaches more closely toward the upper limb portion 63c.
The clip 61c is less compliant than the clip 61.
Generally, it is preferred that a clip which is more
compliant, as shown in Fig 2, be employed so that
deflection of the upper limb portion 63 toward the end
portion 75, such as may occur during installation of the
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clip is not usually limited by contact between the portions
63 and 75.
Figs. 9 and 10 show a rail fastening similar to
that of Figs. 3 and 4, except the clip 161 is irremovable
except by the application of special tools. Parts similar
in function to those of the clip 61 of Fig. 2 are denoted
by similar reference numerals raised by 100.
It may be noted that, similar to the clip 61,
clip 161 has a lower portion 177 that bears on the
extension 47 and is offset inwardly from the centre of
curvature of the portion 169 to provide improved stress
distribution as discussed above. In this case, however,
the portion 177 extends downwardly into the recess 51. In
installation, the end portion 165 may be inserted loosely
manually into the opening 57 and the rear of the portion
169 given blows with a driving tool such as a hammer or
slug to drive the clip 161 inwardly toward the position
shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The inner end portion 165 is
urged upwardly as it rides on the upwardly inclining
surface of the rail flange 67 or the insulator 77 disposed
thereon, and the upper limb 163 is compressed more strongly
as it progressively enters the opening 57. As a result,
there is a strong downward compressive reaction at the
lower portion 177. As the clip 161 is driven inward, the
end portion 177 rides up an arcuate ramp portion 179 of the
extension 47 and snaps into the recess 51 when it reaches
the installed position. Because of the compressive
reaction, the edges of the lower portion 177 tend to engage
firmly in or bite in the recess 51, and therefore tend to
resist attempts to lever the clip 161 outwardly from the
shoulder 39 or 41, and therefore rendering the fastening
device resistant to vandalism. The clip 161 may be removed
by application of a special tool which compresses the
portions 171 and 163 toward one another in order to free
the lower portion 177 from the recess 51 and permit lateral
outward withdrawal of the clip 161.
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An advantage of the clips of the invention is
that they allow separation of installation stresses from in
service stresses. Because of the stress reversal and
improved stress distribution, the arcuate portion 69 or 169
is subject to relatively less stress or loading in service
in resisting a tendency for the rail flange 67 to lift
upwardly, for example to prevent rail rollover.
With the clips of the invention, therefore, the
arcuate portions 69 or 169 may be made relatively thin, so
that the clip as a whole is rendered compliant and easy to
install, while still offering adequate strength to resist
uplift of the rail flange.
Figs. 11 and 12 show a modified form of clip 161a
having a relatively thin arcuate portion 169a, so that the
clip is relatively easy to install. The clip has a
thickened upper limb portion 163a, lower limb portion 171a
and lower portion 177a to provide desired stiffness and
resistance to rail flange uplift.
Figs. 13 and 14 show a further modified form of
clip 161b wherein the arcuate portion 169b, lower limb 171b
and lower portion 177b are thin rendering the clip
especially compliant and easy to install while the upper
limb portion 163b and inner end portion 165b are relatively
thick to provide adequate stiffness to resist rail flange
uplift.
Figs. 15 and 16 are views similar to Figs. 3 and
4 showing the clip 161b in installed position.
Fig. 17 shows a tie plate 201 especially although
not exclusively adapted for application to a wood tie.
The tie plate comprises a generally rectangular
plate-formed base 202 with a generally thickened central
portion 203 providing a wear surface for reception of the
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rail flange 67. In the present example, the plate serves
as a cant plate and the central portion 203 tapers in
thickness, as best seen in Figs. 21 and 24.
Upstanding from the plate 202 are two abutment
members 255, somewhat similar to abutment portions 55
described above, having openings 257 through them providing
downwardly facing abutment surfaces 259 for reaction with
rail clips, such as a rail clip 61 as described above with
reference to Fig. 2. In this example, the members 255 are
spaced apart such that their lower inner surfaces 204, as
seen in Fig. 21, snugly accommodate the rail flange 67
between them.
Outwardly from each opening 257, the upper side
of the plate 202 is formed with a recess, in this case a
rectangular recess 206 for accommodating a lower portion of
a resilient clip such as the lower portion 63 of the clip
of Fig. 2, or lower portion 177 of an irremovable clip 161
as seen in Figs. 9 and 10.
It will be noted that the lower portion of each
opening 257 is defined by an inwardly upwardly inclining
ramp surface 207 commencing at the plane of the upper side
of the plate 202 adjacent the outer side of opening 257,
and terminating as seen in Figs. 18 and 21 at or slightly
above the upper side of the flange 67 when received between
the member 255.
Outwardly from the recesses 206, the plate
portion adjacent each side is formed with a pair of
openings 208 through which fastening members, such as
spikes 209 may be passed to retain the plate 201 on a wood
tie 210, as seen in Fig. 21, or which may receive studs or
other cast in anchors in the event the plate 201 is applied
to a concrete tie or the like.
In use, as seen in Fig. 21, a clip 61 may be
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inserted somewhat loosely through the opening 257 to the
position shown in broken lines in Fig. 21 and driven
inwardly to the installed position seen in solid lines.
During initial application of the clips 61 to the plate,
the inner ends 65 ride up the ramps 207, so that the outer
edges of the flange 67 do not interfere with inward
movement of the clips 61, thus greatly facilitating
mechanized installation of the clips.
A further advantage of the arrangement shown is
that the box-form shoulders 25 offer considerably improved
resistance to derailed dragging equipment.
In the preferred form, as seen in Figs. 21 and
19, the lower side of the plate 202 is provided with wedge-
shape projections that taper laterally in the same
direction as the central portion 203 and engage in the wood
tie 210 and resist lateral displacement of the plates.
Desirably, adjacent each recess 206, the plate is
provided with a drainage hole 212.
Desirably, as seen in Fig. 17, the transition
portion 213 between the laterally outer portion of the
plate 202 and the central portion 203 inclines inwardly
upwardly and is provided with a rectangular opening 214 for
reception of a convention chisel-form rail road spike
having a head engaging on the flange 67 as an adjunct to or
in addition to the use of the clips such as clip 61.
Preferably, the openings 214 are offset from one another on
opposite longitudinal sides of the members 255.
