Rail fastening devices

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6305613
  • Patent Number
    6,305,613
  • Date Filed
    Friday, July 11, 1997
    27 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 23, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A rail tie plate suitable for attachment to a wood tie has a pair of upstanding abutment members to accommodate a rail flange, each having an upwardly facing lower ramp surface inclining from a laterally outer side of the abutment member upwardly inwardly to a laterally inner side to facilitate insertion of a rail clip. The tie plate tapers in thickness and has an upper side canted with respect to the lower side. The lower side is provided with wedge shaped projections that tapers laterally in the same direction as the plate and have an end face making an angle no greater than 90° with respect to the lower side.
Description




The present invention relates to ties, tie plates, clips and shoulders for incorporation in a rail track. These elements may preferably and advantageously be used in combination, but may be used independently.




In a first aspect, the invention provides a steel tie for incorporation in a rail track, which is a modification of that described in my published application WO 94/28245 and comprises a generally horizontal oblong rectangular plate member for connection transversely of the rail and for restraining vertical rail movement, said oblong plate member having two shorter and two longer sides, each longer side having an outer margin portion inclined downwardly outward relative to the horizontal and a web member extending generally vertically on the underside of the plate member and generally parallel to and spaced inwardly substantially centrally of said longer sides of the plate member and serving to restrain longitudinal rail movement. The margin portions entrance the capture of ballast beneath the tie.




In a further aspect, the invention 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 intermediate portion bearing upwardly on said abutment surface, an end portion extending inwardly from said abutment surface and adapted to bear resiliently on an upper side of the flange for restraining the rail against vertical movement, and 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 avoid concentrations of stress that may result in failure of the rail fastening device in service. When the above clip in service resists a tendency for the rail flange to lift upwardly, for example to prevent rail roll over, there is a reversal of stress, and hence a point of zero stress in the outer portion between the abutment surface and the lower portions bearing on the bearing surface, and this results in good stress distribution. Having the bearing portion offset laterally inwardly from a centre of curvature of the outer portion results in the clip having increased compliancy, so that installation of the clip is facilitated, and further improves the stress distribution.




In a further aspect, the invention provides a rail retaining device comprising shoulder members for engaging opposite lateral sides of a rail flange, and a rail clip associated with each shoulder member in the form of a bent rod symmetrical about a vertical plane extending laterally of the rail and having an inner portion bearing on the adjacent flange, intermediate limb portions bearing upwardly on a downwardly facing abutment surface provided on the shoulder member and outer portions reacting resiliently on a bearing surface and each comprising a coil spring having a substantial portion thereof extending in a second vertical plane.




The rail clip of this device has the advantage that it is tolerant of dimensional variations in the rail or rail flange, in the shoulder member and in the clip itself, for example arising from manufacturing tolerances, as well as of variations in elevations of the rail flange for example as a result of canting of the rail. The coil spring renders the clip highly compliant. As compared with known bent rod clips of which applicant is aware, the device of the invention greatly reduces the torsional stresses to which the rod is subjected in installation or service.




In a further aspect, the invention provides a rail fastening apparatus comprising a shoulder member engaging at least one side of the rail flange and receiving a rail clip in the form of a resilient rod bent to provide in the installed position limb portions extending transversely of the rail and inner and outer portions adapted to bear on the rail flange and on a bearing surface laterally outwardly of the rail, respectively, said bent rod being generally symmetrical about a vertical plane transverse of the rail, said limb portions comprising an upper pair and a lower pair, and said shoulder member having a reaction surface engaging one of said pairs of limb portions when displaced relative to the shoulder member as a result of upward pressure exerted by said rail flange and displacing said one pair into contact with the other pair to provide a load bearing cross section of increased depth providing increased strength and bending stiffness.




This arrangement allows the rail clip to be formed of relatively thin rod, whereby the clip is made tolerant of dimensional variations, compliant, and relatively easy to install and lightweight and inexpensive to ship. When one pair of the limb portions is displaced into contact with the other, greatly increased strength and resistance to bending is achieved, since the limb portions effectively provide a beam of increased depth of cross-section. As is in itself known, the strength of a beam and its bending stiffness are related to the cube power of the depth of the beam.




In a still further 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 therebetween and each providing a downwardly facing upper abutment surface for reaction with a laterally inwardly inserted rail clip, and an upwardly facing lower 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 applicant is aware have offered difficulties to insertion of rail clips, the ramp surfaces of the above plate facilitate insertion of the rail clip, such as a 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.




In a further aspect, the invention provides a hook-in shoulder for fastening a rail relative to a horizontal plate member of a tie comprising a shoulder member for bearing toward a rail flange and having a pair of hook-in legs for passing through complimentary apertures in the horizontal plate member of the tie and engaging with the lower side of the horizontal plate member, each shoulder member having an abutment portion upstanding therefrom having an opening therethrough providing a downwardly facing abutment surface for reaction with a rail clip, wherein said abutment portion is box-form and said opening therethrough is bounded by a continuous upper wall providing said downwardly facing abutment surface.




The box form abutment portions offer considerably improved resistance to derailed dragging equipment as compared with known hook-in shoulder members of which applicant is aware.




In a further aspect, the invention provides a hook-in shoulder for fastening a rail relative to a horizontal plate member of a tie comprising a shoulder member for bearing toward a rail flange and having a pair of hook-in legs for passing through complimentary apertures in the horizontal plate member of the tie and engaging with the lower side of the horizontal plate member, each shoulder member having an abutment portion upstanding therefrom having an opening therethrough providing a downwardly facing abutment surface for reaction with a rail clip, and an integral seating portion extending laterally outwardly from the abutment portion and having a lower side bearing on the plate member and an upper side formed with a pit for locating a rail clip.




These shoulders provide a seat for rail clips, such as clips as described above, and facilitate installation and retention of such clips.




In a still further aspect the invention provides a rail retaining device comprising shoulder members for engaging opposite lateral sides of the rail flange, and a rail clip associated with each shoulder member in the form of a bent rod symmetrical about a vertical plane extending laterally of the rail and having an inner portion adapted to engage the adjacent flange, intermediate limb portions adapted to engage upwardly on a downwardly facing abutment surface provided on the shoulder member and outer portions adapted to react on a bearing surface laterally outwardly from the flange and wherein the clip comprises a contact portion varying in width in the direction longitudinally of the rail between the inner and intermediate portions and the shoulder member is adapted to contact said contact portion and resist lateral withdrawal of the clip from the rail.




This device is especially, although not exclusively useful as a zero load retaining device allowing longitudinal movement of the rail relative to the shoulder members but serving to maintain gauge and resist rail rollover.











The above noted aspects of the invention are described in more detail hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.





FIG. 1

is an isometric view of a rail fastening arrangement in accordance with the invention.





FIG. 2

is an isometric view of a tie employed in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is an isometric view on an enlarged scale of a rail fastening device shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 4

is an isometric view from one side of a hook-in shoulder employed in the arrangement of

FIGS. 1

to


3


.





FIG. 5

is a view from the opposite side of the shoulder of FIG.


4


.





FIG. 6

is an isometric view of an insulator employed in the rail fastening arrangement of

FIGS. 1

to


3


.





FIG. 7

is an isometric view of an insulating cant or seat plate used in the fastening arrangement of

FIGS. 1

to


3


.





FIGS. 8

,


9


and


10


are side views, respectively, of the rail clip fastening device of

FIG. 3

modified by incorporation of different forms of rail clip, with internal structure shown by broken lines.





FIG. 11



a


to


j


are isometric views, respectively, of various forms of rail clip.





FIG. 12

is an isometric view of a rail tie plate in accordance with the invention.





FIG. 13

is a view of the plate of

FIG. 12

with portions broken away to show interior structure.





FIG. 14

is a side view partially in section showing the application of the plate of

FIG. 12

on a wood tie.





FIG. 15

is an isometric view showing application of the tie plate of

FIGS. 12

to


14


.





FIGS. 16 and 17

are views corresponding to

FIGS. 8 and 3

showing use of a further form of clip.





FIG. 18

,


19


and


20


are plan, end and side elevational views, respectively, of the clip of

FIGS. 16 and 17

.





FIG. 21 and 22

are views corresponding to

FIGS. 16 and 17

showing use of a still further form of clip.





FIG. 23 and 24

are isometric and plan views, respectively of the clip of

FIGS. 21 and 22

.





FIG. 25 and 26

are cross-sections taken at the position shown by line XXV—XXV in

FIG. 21

, showing the configuration of the limb portions in the installed position, and at maximum rail rotation, respectively.





FIGS. 27 and 28

are side and isometric views respectively of rail retaining devices in accordance with a further aspect of the invention applied on a plate-form support.





FIG. 29

is an isometric view of the clip of

FIGS. 27 and 28

.





FIG. 30

is a plan view of the clip of FIG.


29


.











Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts,

FIGS. 1 and 3

show a fastening arrangement employing a steel tie


20


as shown in

FIG. 2

comprising a generally horizontal oblong rectangular plate member


21


which is for connection transversely of the rails


22


. In

FIG. 1

, as well as in subsequent Figures, rails


22


and the like are shown as only short lengths for clarity of illustration, whereas it will be appreciated that, in installed track, lengths of rails


22


and the like run continuously over successive ties


20


and the like which are disposed at the usual intervals along the track. Tie is generally similar to that described in WO 94/28245 and has a web member


23


extending substantially centrally between the longer sides of the plate member


21


. The lower edge of the web member


23


is formed with a thickened or bulbous portion


24


, and the tie


20


is provided with ballast engaging plate members such as a members


33


connected to the tie on its underside through a three point securement. The upper end of each plate member


33


is provided with a pair of upwardly extending end portions


34


passing through slots


34




a


formed symmetrically of the median of the plate member


21


that extends transversely of the rail. The end portions


34


extending above the plate member


21


are bent over or twisted to locate them relative to the plate member


21


. The third retaining point for each plate member


33


is provided by a notch


37


formed in the lower side of the bulbous portion


24


. Each plate member


33


is formed with a slot in its upper side through which the web member


23


extends. A portion of the plate member adjacent the lower end of the slot lodges in the notch


37


.




The preferred form of tie


20


has the plate member


21


generally of uniform thickness and has outer margin portions


21




a


and


21




b


on each longer side that are inclined linearly downwardly outwardly relative to the horizontal plate portion


21


. The portions


21




a


and


21




b


serve to capture ballast beneath the plate member


21


and resist any tendency for the tie to sink downwardly into the gravel or other ballast under the tie


20




a


. The linear portions


21




a


and


21




b


avoid rounding of the ballast, since they provide contact normally of their surfaces. This avoids production of fines, fouling of the ballast and poor drainage with attendant risk of electrical grounding of the rail through water contact. The slots


34




a


for reception of the upper end portions of the ballast engaging members


33


are inclined in the direction outwardly from the web structure


23


transversely inwardly towards the centre of the tie


20




a


, to locate ballast engaging plate members


33


having their concave sides directed transversely inwardly toward the centre of the tie


20




a


, as seen in

FIG. 1

, so as to tend to retain ballast beneath the tie


20




a.






It may be noted from

FIG. 2

that the plate member


21


is formed, on each side of the rails


22


with apertures


46


and


47


that are asymmetric about the longitudinal median of the rail. For example, as seen in

FIG. 2

, apertures


46


on the laterally outer side of the rail are spaced apart a distance greater than the spacing of the apertures


47


on the inner side of the rail, so that apparatus fastened to openings


46


is non-interchangeable with apparatus fastened to openings


47


, for reasons discussed later.




In the rail fastening arrangement shown in

FIGS. 1

,


3


,


8


,


9


and


10


, the rails


22


are canted inwardly downwardly. The flange


48


of rail


22


is seated on an electrically insulative, e.g. rubber, tapering cant plate


49


interposed between the plate member


21


and the flange


48


. The arrangements differ only in the form of rail clip that is employed.




The flange


48


is located between hook-in shoulder members


51


and


52


and retained by rail clips, for example rail clip


53


as seen in

FIGS. 1

,


3


and


11


(


b


), inserted through the shoulder members


51


and


52


and bearing downwardly toward the rail flange


48


. In the examples illustrated, electrical insulators


54


are interposed between the clips


53


and flange


48


, but it will be appreciated that a similar arrangement may also be employed without the insulators


54


wherein clips


53


or the like bear directly on the flange


48


.





FIGS. 4 and 5

show in more detail the shoulder member


52


comprising a base


56


having a planar lower surface for seating on the plate member


21


, and a pair of legs


58


with lateral extensions


59


adapted to be inserted through the openings


46


and to engage the lower side of the plate member


21


, as seen in FIG.


9


. As seen in

FIG. 4

, the inwardly facing sides of the legs


58


may be provided with recesses


61


to assist in clearing the edges of the openings


46


during insertion. Laterally outwardly, the base


56


is formed with an extension or seating portion


62


having its lower surface coplanar with the surface


57


and a longitudinally elongated trough-like recess or pit


63


in the upper side for receiving rail clips such as the clip


53


or the like. The pit


63


in this example is generally concave in lateral cross-section, as seen in

FIG. 8

, and at each end of the trough-like pit


63


, the extension is provided with upstanding laterally extending anti-squat walls


64


adapted for confining the limb portions of rod-form clips, as described in more detail later. An outer side of the trough-like pit


63


may be formed with an inwardly directed portion


66


, the longitudinally directed end faces


67


of which may act as further longitudinal restraints for rod form clips or the like. Drainage channels


68


extend from the trough-like pit


63


to the outer side of the seating portion


62


.




Upstanding from the base


56


is a box-like abutment portion


69


having an opening


71


therethrough to receive the clips


53


or the like. The lower side of the opening


71


comprises an upwardly inwardly inclining ramp surface


72


, a generally horizontal portion


73


which may receive an outer end


74


of insulator


54


. In the event the clips


53


and shoulders


51


and


52


are employed in the absence of the insulators


54


, the ramp surfaces


72


serve to facilitate inward insertion of the clips


53


to the installed position as seen in

FIGS. 3

,


8


,


9


and


10


wherein the inner ends of the clips bear downwardly on the rail flange


48


. Further, with the insulators installed, as seen in

FIG. 9

the surfaces


72


supports the correspondingly inclined ramp-like portion


75


of the insulators


54


which facilitates installation of the clips


53


.




The upper side of the opening


71


comprises a downwardly convex abutment surface


77


. It will be noted that the opening


71


is bounded by a continuous upper wall comprising a cross bar portion


78


the lower side of which provides the downwardly facing abutment surface


77


. The box form abutment portion


69


with its continuous upper wall


78


provides considerably improved resistance to fracture or deformation of the shoulder portion when exposed to derailed dragging equipment.




The other shoulder portion


51


on the upper side of the rail flange


48


is generally similar to the shoulder described above with reference to

FIGS. 4 and 5

, except the opening


71


is disposed at a higher elevation relative to the planar lower side of the base


56


. The legs


58


of the shoulder portion


52


are spaced a smaller distance apart, corresponding to the spacing of the openings


47


, while legs


58


of the shoulder


51


have a spacing corresponding to the openings


46


, so that the shoulders


51


and


52


are non-interchangeable, and inner shoulder


52


designed to be applied to the lower side of the canted rail flange


48


cannot inadvertently be installed on the outer or upper canted side of the flange or vice versa.




An inner, preferably generally vertical face


79


of the shoulders


51


and


52


bears directly on and locates the edges of the rail flange


48


or bears toward such edges and locates them with the interposition of a wall portion


81


of the insulator


54


. In the case in which the faces


79


bear directly on the edges of the flange


48


, the tie


20


is formed with a somewhat smaller spacing than illustrated between the sets of openings


46


and


47


.




In the preferred form, the tie plate or pad


49


is a resilient insulating pad as described in applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,850, issued Aug. 9, 1994.




The pad is formed with tabs


82




a


and


82




b


which are of different lengths and are received snugly in complimentary pockets


83




a


and


83




b


in the shoulder members


51


and


52


, respectively, so that the pad


49


cannot inadvertently be installed wrongly and the rail inadvertently canted in opposition to the inclination that matches the shoulders


51


and


52


.




It may be noted that, with the insulating pad


49


and insulators


54


, the rail


22




a


is electrically isolated from ground, and may be used as a conductor in, for example, an electrically conductive rail signalling system or the like.




The rail clip


53


employed in

FIGS. 1 and 3

is formed of bent metal strip and as seen best in FIG.


11


(


b


), comprises an upper limb portion


84


that reacts with the abutment surface


77


, an upswept inner end or distal portion


86


that bears resiliently downwardly on or toward the flange


48


of the rail


22


, for restraining the rail


22


against vertical movement, an outer portion


87


curving laterally arcuately outwardly and downwardly toward a lower limb portion


88


extending to a lower portion


89


that rests in the pit


63


and bears on the extension


62


, and an upwardly directed end portion


91


.




All the clips shown in

FIG. 11

comprise a generally J-like shape wherein the lower portion such as the lower portion


89


that bears on the shoulder


51


or


52


is offset laterally inwardly from the centre of curvature of the arcuate portion


87


. As a result, when the inner end portion


86


is loaded upwardly as a result of uplift of the rail flange


48


, there is a stress reversal within the clip and a zone of zero stress whereby the stresses are distributed more uniformly through the body of the clip and stress concentrations are avoided.




In use, after installation of the cant plates


49


, shoulders


51


and


52


, insulators


54


and laying of the rails


22




a


and


22




b


, the inner ends


86


of, for example, the clips


53


are inserted loosely through the openings


71


to rest on the portion


74


of the insulators


54


and pressure applied on the outer portions


87


to cause the lower portion


89


to ride inwardly upwardly over an outer arcuate ramp portion


93


of the extensions or seating portion


62


. At this point the upper portion


84


of the clip


53


is compressed by the abutment surface


77


and the clip


53


is driven inwardly until the lower portion


89


snaps into the pit


63


in the installed position seen in FIG.


3


.




In the installed position the compressive reaction on the clip


53


between the surfaces


63


and


77


result in a strong downward toe load exerted on flange


48


by end portion


86


.





FIG. 8

shows a rail fastening similar to that of

FIGS. 1 and 3

, except the clip


153


, seen in FIG.


11


(


a


), is irremovable except by the application of special tools. Parts similar in function to those of the clip


53


are denoted by similar reference numerals raised by


100


.




It may be noted that, similar to the clip


53


, clip


153


has a lower portion


189


that bears on the extension


62


and is offset inwardly from the centre of curvature of the portion


187


to provide improved stress distribution as discussed above. In this case, however, the portion


189


extends downwardly into the pit


63


. In installation, the end portion


186


may be inserted loosely manually into the opening


71


and the rear of the portion


187


given blows with a driving tool such as a hammer or slug to drive the clip


153


inwardly toward the position shown in

FIGS. 31 and 32

. The inner end portion


186


is urged upwardly as it rides on the upwardly inclining surface of the rail flange


48


or the insulator


54


disposed thereon, and the upper limb


184


is compressed more strongly as it progressively enters the opening


71


. As a result, there is a strong downward compressive reaction at the lower portion


189


. As the clip


153


is driven inward, the end portion


189


rides up the arcuate ramp portion


93


of the extension


62


and snaps into the pit


63


when it reaches the installed position. Because of the compressive reaction, the edges of the lower portion


189


tend to engage firmly in or bite in the surface of the pit


63


, and therefore tend to resist attempts to lever the clip


153


outwardly from the shoulder


51


or


52


, and therefore rendering the fastening device resistant to vandalism. The clip


153


may be removed by application of a special tool for example an hydraulically powered compression device which compresses the portions


184


and


189


toward one another in order to free the lower portion


184


from the pit


66


and permit lateral outward withdrawal of the clip


153


.





FIGS. 9

shows a modified clip


53




a


, that comprises an upwardly bowed portion or corrugation


84




a


in the upper limb portion


84


extending inwardly adjacent the abutment surface


77


in the installed position, as seen in FIG.


26


. The upwardly bowed portion


84




a


engages the surface


77


, and provides increased resistance to migration of the clip


53




a


outwardly from its installed position as a result of impacts or vibration encountered in service.





FIG. 10

shows a modified generally C-shaped or double J clip


53




b


, also seen in FIG.


11


(


j


), wherein the end portion


86


is bent over laterally arcuately inwardly and downwardly to provide a U-shape the lower limb


86




a


of which bears compressively on the rail flange


48


. The upper limb


86




b


is elevated above the outer end


84




b


of the upper limb portion


84


and the reaction with the surface


77


tends to urge the clip


53




b


inwardly and retain it in the installed position seen in

FIG. 10

even if wear occurs of the outer edge of the pit


63


. Preferably, to improve stress distribution, the zone of contact between the flange


48


and the lower limb


86




a


is offset outwardly from the centre of curvature of the U-shape and


86


.




FIG.


11


(


g


) shows a clip


53




c


generally similar to the clip


53


except the upper limb


84




c


and end portions


86




c


are of reduced width measured in the longitudinal direction with reference to rail


22


as compared with the arcuate portion


87




c


and remaining portions of the clip, whereby the clip


53




c


is provided with generally laterally inwardly inclining faces or shoulders


92


that may be engaged by tools and facilitate mechanized installation and de-installation of the clips.




FIG.


11


(


i


) shows a further example


53




d


providing laterally inwardly arranged tool-engaging faces


92




a


except in this instance the lower limb portion and inner end portion


89




d


and


91




d


are of reduced width.




An advantage of the clips of the invention is that they allow separation of the installation stresses from in service stresses. Because of the stress reversal and improved stress distribution, the arcuate portion


87


or


187


is subject to relatively less stress or loading in service in resisting a tendency for the rail flange


48


to lift upwardly, for example to prevent rail rollover.




With the clips of the invention, therefore, because of the stress distribution and the avoidance of stress concentrations, the arcuate portions


87


or


187


or the clips as a whole 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. The clip


53




b


of FIGS.


10


and


11


(


j


) is especially preferred because there is a double stress reversal, firstly at the end


84




b


and secondly at the end


86




b


and this gives especially good stress distribution.




FIG.


11


(


c


) shows a modified form of clip


153




a


having a relatively thin arcuate portion


187




a


, so that the clip is relatively easy to install. The clip has a thickened upper limb portion


184




a


and lower portion


189




a


to provide a desired stiffness and resistance to rail flange uplift.




FIG.


11


(


e


) shows a further modified form of clip


153




b


wherein the arcuate portion


187




b


, lower limb


188




b


and lower portion


189




b


are thin rendering the clip especially compliant and easy to install while the upper limb portion


184




b


and inner end portion


186




b


are relatively thick to provide adequate stiffness to resist rail flange uplift.




FIG.


11


(


d


) shows a modified clip


53


(


e


) similar to clip


53




a


of

FIG. 9

except in place of upwardly bowed portion


84




a


, the upper limb portion


84


has an upwardly projecting circular boss


84




e


on the portion that extends inwardly of surface


77


in the installed position and resits outward movement of the clip


53


(


e


).




FIG.


11


(


f


) shows a further clip


53


(


f


) similar to clip


53




a


except lower limb portion


89


is provided with a downwardly convex corrugation


89




f


of smaller radius that is better adapted to fit within a clip locating recess of small dimensions.




FIG.


11


(


h


) shows a further clip


53




h


having a lower small radius portion


89




h


similar to portion


89




f


described above and a double corrugation


189


and


191


in the upper limb portion. The corrugations


189


and


191


extend outwardly and inwardly of the surfaces


77


in the installed portion and resist clip withdrawal or overdrive. That is the outer corrugation


189


engages the surface


77


to prevent the clip


53




h


from being driven too far inwardly in installation.





FIG. 12

shows a tie plate


201


formed in a single piece; for example by casting, suitable for installation on a concrete or wood tie. The plate


201


comprises a generally rectangular plate formed base


202


generally similar in its shape, configuration and mode of use to the tie plate described hereinafter with reference to

FIGS. 39

to


46


. The plate has a central portion tapering laterally in thickness with an inclined upper surface


203


to provide for cant of the rail


22


. Upstanding from the plate


202


are two abutment members


204


having openings


205


through them somewhat similar to the opening


71


in the shoulder portions


51


and


52


described above with reference to

FIGS. 1

,


3


,


4


and


5


.




Outwardly from each portion


204


, the plate


202


is formed with a pair of openings


207


spaced longitudinally apart.




In this example, the members


204


and


205


are spaced apart such that their lower inner surfaces


224


, as seen in

FIG. 13

, snugly accommodate the rail flange


48


between them.




Outwardly from each opening


205


, the upper side of the plate


202


is formed with a recess, in this case a rectangular recess


226


for accommodating a lower portion of a resilient clip preferably the small radius portion


89




f


or


89




h


of a clip such as clips


53




f


or


53




h


or lower portion


189


of an irremovable clip


153


described above with reference to FIG.


8


.




It will be noted that the lower portion of each opening


205


is defined by an inwardly upwardly inclining ramp surface


227


commencing at the plane of the upper side of the plate


202


adjacent the outer side of opening


205


, and terminating as seen in

FIG. 13

at or slightly above the upper side of the flange


48


when received between the members


204


.




Spikes


229


may be passed through openings


207


co retain the plate


201


on a wood tie


230


, as seen in

FIG. 14

, or these openings


207


may receive studs or other cast in anchors of a concrete tie of the like.




In use, as seen in

FIG. 14

, a clip


53


may be inserted somewhat loosely through the opening


205


to the position shown in broken lines in FIG.


14


and driven inwardly to the installed position seen in solid lines. During initial application of the clips


53


to the plate


201


, the inner ends


86


ride up the ramps


227


, so that the outer edges of the flange


48


do not interfere with inward movement of the clips


53


, thus greatly facilitating mechanized installation of clips such as clip


53


.




A further advantage of the arrangement shown is that the box-form shoulders


204


offer considerably improved resistance to derailed dragging equipment.




In the preferred form, as seen in

FIG. 14

the lower side of the plate


202


is provided with discrete wedge-shape projections


231


that taper laterally solely in the same direction as the central portion


203


and engage in the wood tie


230


and resist lateral displacement of the plates


201


. It may by noted that as seen from

FIGS. 13 and 14

each projection


231


is spaced inwardly from a longitudinal edge of the plate


201


, and, as seen in

FIG. 14

, each wedge shape projection


231


tapers from an end face making an angle of 90° with the lower side of the plate


201


.




Desirably, adjacent each recess


226


, the plate


222


is provided with a drainage hole


232


.




Desirably, as seen in

FIG. 12

, a transition portion


233


between the laterally outer portion


202


of the plate and the central portion


203


inclines inwardly upwardly and is provided with a rectangular opening


234


for reception of a conventional chisel-form rail road spike having a head engaging on the flange


48


as an adjunct to the use of the clips such as clip


53


. Preferably, the openings


234


are offset from one another on opposite longitudinal sides of the members


204


.





FIGS. 16

to


17


show examples of bent wire rod form clips


301


used with hook-in shoulders


51


and


52


similar to those described above on a tie


20


as described above. The rail flange


48


seats on an insulating cant plate


49


, and the clips


301


bear on the flange


48


through insulators


54


.




Each clip


301


is in the form of a bent rod symmetrical about a vertical plane, for example the plane indicated at A—A in FIG.


49


and extending laterally of the rail


22


in the installed position. Each clip


301


comprises an inner central portion


302


which bears downwardly on the rail flange


48


, downwardly outwardly inclining limb portions


303


which bear upwardly on the downwardly facing abutment surfaces


77


and outer portions


304


which bear resiliently on the seating portions


62


of the shoulders


51


and


52


. Each outer portion


304


is in the form of a coil spring of which, as seen especially in

FIGS. 18 and 19

a substantial portion extends in a vertical plane parallel to the plane A—A, thereby reducing torsional stresses in the clip


301


in service.




In the example shown in

FIGS. 16

to


20


, the coil spring or spiral portion


304


extends arcuately, as seen for example in FIG.


20


through greater than 360° and terminates in an end portion


306


extending arcuately upwardly outwardly. An arcuate portion


307


spaced inwardly from the end


306


bears in the pit


63


of the seating portions or extension


62


. Preferably, to increase resistance to squatting or compression of the coil portion


304


, the end portion


307


are inclined with respect to the vertical plane A—A. In the example shown in

FIGS. 16

to


20


, the portions


307


are toed outwardly so that, on upward compression of the inner central portion


302


the end portions


307


engage compressively outwardly against the anti-squat wall portions


64


. In other embodiments, the end portions


307


may be toed inwardly toward the plane A—A and may engage inwardly compressively on the end surfaces


67


of the portion


66


to provide resistance to compression-induced squatting.




By virtue of the fact that the coil spring portion


304


is a spiral extending arcuately through more than 360°, the rod form clip


301


is highly compliant. The generally vertical orientation of the coil spring


304


as seen in, for example,

FIG. 19

greatly reduces the torsional stresses to which the clip is subjected in service.





FIGS. 21

to


26


illustrate a further wire rod form clip


401


used together with hook-in shoulders


51


and


52


, a tie


20


, insulating cant plate


49


and insulators


54


.




The rail clip


401


, which may be formed of relatively thin gauge bent metal rod is again symmetrical about a vertical plane transverse to the rail


22


and comprises an outer central portion


402


that bridges longitudinal between outer lower limb portions


403


. A lower pair of intermediate limb portions


404


extend arcuately upwardly from the portions


403


. A pair of upper limb portions


406


extend generally parallel to the lower portions


404


and connect to them through a sharply arcuately upwardly extending transition


407


. The upper limb portions


406


are spaced apart longitudinally a smaller distance than the lower portions


404


, as seen in FIG.


25


. The upper limb portions


406


sweep outwardly upwardly through a transition portion


408


which in service contacts the abutment surface


77


and extend outwardly to upper limb portions


409


the ends of which


411


in an unstressed position as seen in

FIG. 21

are spaced a short distance above the longitudinal portion


402


.




The spacing of the lower limb portions


404


is such that when the clip


401


is installed, the outer sides of the portions


404


engage snugly against opposing side faces


71




a


and


71




b


of the opening


71


, as seen in FIG.


25


. In the installed position, as seen in

FIG. 53

, the upper limb portions


406


are displaced slightly downwardly toward the lower limb portions


404


as compared with the as-manufactured condition, whereby there is a resilient downward reaction at the inner portion


407


bearing downwardly on the rail flange


48


.




The clips


401


effectively serve to guard against uplift of the flange


48


or rollover of the rail


22


. Upward pressure on the inner portions


407


of the lower limb portions


404


result in a greatly increased downward reaction between the abutment surface


77


and the upper limb portions


406


, so that these are displaced downwardly into contact with the lower limb portions


404


, as seen in

FIG. 26

thus providing in effect a beam of greatly increased depth, strength and stiffness as compared with the individual rod components of the clip


401


. Any reaction tending to cause spreading of the limb portions


404


is resisted by the side walls


71




a


and


71




b


. As a result, there is greatly increased reaction on the flange


48


at and beyond the state illustrated in FIG.


26


.




Further, the toe or inner end portions


407


of the limb portions inwardly of the shoulder


51


spread apart and engage on the side walls


71




a


and


71




b


of the shoulder and resist any tendency for outward movement of the clip


401


relative to the shoulder


51


.




Further, with the embodiment shown in the drawings, upward rotation of the rail flange


48


is resisted by the upper limb portions


409


being displaced downwardly into contact with the bridging portion


402


to provide increased stiffness.




It will be appreciated from consideration of, for example

FIG. 21

, the clips


401


may be relatively easily installed, as with the other clips described above, by insertion of the inner end portion


407


within the opening


77


somewhat loosely, and applying pressure to the outer end portions


402


and


411


to drive the clips inwardly to the installed position seen in

FIGS. 21 and 22

wherein the lower portion


403


lodges in the pit


63


, the clip is compressed between surfaces


77


and


63


and there is a downward toe load exerted by the inner portion of the clip, for example portions


407


on the rail flange


48


.





FIGS. 27

to


30


illustrate rail retaining devices in accordance with further aspects of the invention.




In the example illustrated, a first canted rail


22




a


is a loaded or running rail forming one of a pair of rails comprising a rail track. The other loaded or running rail is not shown in the drawings.




On the inner or gauge side of the running rail


22




a


is provided a guard rail


22




b


which serves to catch or retain the wheels of rolling stock in the event of derailment from rail


22




a.






The rails


22




a


and


22




b


are supported on plate form support members


501


, which may be, for example, an upper flange of an I-beam. The rails


22




a


and


22




b


are retained by retaining devices comprising hook-in shoulders


502


and


503


of different heights in the case of the canted rail


22




a


, and


504


in the case of the rail


22




b


, cooperating with rail clips


506


which are of bent rod form symmetrical about a vertical plane extending laterally of the rail. These clips


506


are adapted to cooperate with the shoulders


502


,


503


and


504


to retain the rails and prevent rail roll over and the like while exerting zero load on the rail flanges


48


and therefore allowing longitudinal movement of the rails


22




a


and


22




b


relative to the shoulders


502


to


504


and the supports


501


. For example, the supports


501


may be the supporting members of a bridge construction and it may be desirable to allow longitudinal movements of the rails relative to the bridge construction such as may result from thermal expansion and contraction effects.




As best seen in

FIGS. 29 and 30

, each bent rod clip


506


comprises inner portions


507


adapted to engage on the rail flange either directly or on insulators


54


, these inner portions having upswept ends, and intermediate limb portions


508


adapted to engage upwardly on the upper sides or abutment surfaces of the openings


509


provided in the shoulders


502


to


504


and outer portions


511


comprising central portions of the rod and adapted to react on bearing surfaces constituted by laterally outward projections


512


of the shoulders


502


and


503


and projections


513


of the shoulders


504


. Between the portions


507


and


508


, the clip


506


tapers laterally outwardly in width (as measured in the direction longitudinally of the rail) from an inner wider portion


514


to a portion of reduced width


516


. The portion


514


is substantially wider than the length of the opening


509


in the shoulders


502


to


504


. In use, the clips


506


are driven inwardly through the openings


509


, the bent rod clip


506


compressing in width as it is driven inwardly through the opening. Once installed, displacement of the clip


506


laterally of the shoulder


502


,


503


or


504


is resisted by engagement of the tapering portion between portions


514


and


516


with the edges of the openings


509


. In the installed position, the clips


506


extend approximately horizontally, as seen in FIG.


27


. The shoulders


504


employed for the guard rail


22




b


have a central lateral extension


513


which is accommodated in an upwardly swept central portion


517


of the clip


506


. In the case of the load bearing rail


22




a


, the inner ends


507


of the clips


506


are somewhat elevated relative to the support surface


501


, and the shoulders


502


and


503


have elongated platform like extension


512


, which support portions of the clips


506


outwardly from the central portion


517


. In the normal position shown in

FIGS. 27 and 28

, there is substantially zero reaction between the clips


506


and the flanges


48


of the rails


22




a


and


22




b


, substantially the only reaction arising from the weight of the clip


506


bearing on the rail flanges and on the lateral extension


512


and


513


.




In the event of a wheel derailing from rail


22




a


and moving laterally toward rail


22




b


, displacement or rotation of the rail


22




b


is resisted by the combination of the shoulders


504


and clips


506


. For example, considering the clip


506


and shoulder


504


on the inner side of rail


22




b


adjacent rail


22




a


, the reaction would tend to rotate clip


506


in an anti-clockwise sense, and such rotation is resisted by the engagement of the upper side of the clip


506


on the abutment surface provided by the upper side of the opening


504


, which tends to function as a pivot. Downward rotation of the outer end portion


511


is resisted by its engagement on the lateral extension


512


. The downward pressure exerted by the clip portion


511


on the extension


512


resists any tendency for retraction of the hook portions


59


from the openings through which they are passed in the flange or other plate-like support


501


.



Claims
  • 1. A rail and 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 therebetween a rail having a rail flange portion on each side, each rail flange portion having a laterally outer edge and an upper side, each laterally outer edge of each rail flange portion engaged by a lower laterally inner side of a respective abutment member, each abutment member providing a downwardly facing upper abutment surface for reaction with a laterally inwardly inserted rail clip, and an upwardly facing lower ramp surface defining a lower side of an opening extending through said abutment member and inclining from a laterally outer side of each abutment member upwardly to a termination on a laterally inner side thereof at least as high as said upper side of said rail flange portion engaged thereby, said lower ramp surface terminated at a planar surface of an upper side of said plate outwardly of the abutment members, for facilitating insertion of the clip through said opening to an installed position wherein an inner end of the clip bears resiliently on an inner side of the rail flange and, said plate having a central portion between the abutment members that tapers in thickness and has an upper side canted with respect to the lower side thereof and said lower side is provided with discrete wedge shape projections spaced inwardly from a longitudinal edge of said plate said projections having vertical surfaces facing in a direction of increasing thickness of the central portion of the plate.
  • 2. A rail and tie plate as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plate portion laterally outward of each abutment member formed with a pit in its upper side for location of an outer end of said clip.
  • 3. A rail and tie plate as claimed in claim 2 comprising a hole through the plate portion distinct from and coincident with the pit for drainage thereof.
  • 4. A rail and tie plate as claimed in claim 1 wherein a central portion between the abutment members has an upper side offset upwardly from an outer plate portion outward of each abutment member, and comprising a transition portion inclining inwardly from said outer plate portion upwardly toward said central portion longitudinally outward from the abutment member, and a rectangular opening in each transition portion for reception of a spike.
  • 5. A rail and tie plate as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wedge shape projections taper laterally solely in the same direction as the central portion, each wedge shape projection having an end face making an angle no greater than 90° with said lower side.
  • 6. A rail and tie plate as claimed in claim 5 wherein said angle is substantially 90°.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
9500700 Jan 1995 GB
Parent Case Info

This application is a continuation of application PCT/CA96/00021 filed Jan. 15, 1996 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/566,327 filed Dec. 1, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,406.

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Non-Patent Literature Citations (5)
Entry
Allevard Stedef “Stedef DSA Fastening”, 2 pages, no date.
BHP Rail Products (Canada) Ltd. “Steel Ties and Turnouts”, 4 page, no date.
Sato Railway Systems “Y-shaped steel sleeper track for railways”, 11 pages, no date.
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Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent PCT/CA96/00021 Jan 1996 US
Child 08/893710 US
Continuation in Parts (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/566327 Dec 1995 US
Child PCT/CA96/00021 US