Railway rail-fastening clip and assembly and methods of employing the same

A railway rail fastening clip (1) suitable for holding down a railway rail (2) is formed from a rod of resilient material bent so as to be approximately M-shaped in plan, the clip (1) being such that, when it is bearing on the flange of a rail (2), the longitudinal axis of a part (14) thereof, which interconnects inner legs (13, 15) of the M, lies in a reference plane which is substantially parallel, but not identical, to a plane containing the longitudinal axes of outer legs (11, 17) of the M. Such clips (1) are used with an anchoring device (5), which, as the clip (1) is installed therein, deflects the outer legs (11, 17) downwardly with respect to the inner legs (13, 15), so as to place the clip under stress.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a railway rail-fastening clip and assembly 
and methods of employing the same. 
The applicant's previous inventions, rail clips commonly referred to 
respectively as a "P-R" clip (disclosed in GB-861,473) and an "e"-clip 
(disclosed in GB-1,510,224), have both been successful for many years, 
providing low-cost rail fastenings that have been widely used in many 
countries around the world. These clips may be installed into shoulders 
alongside the rail either manually, using a sledgehammer to drive the clip 
into the shoulder, or automatically by a clip driving machine. Whilst 
automatic clip installation is obviously more desirable, being quicker and 
less labour-intensive, it can be a fairly complex process, requiring 
accurate positioning of the clip relative to the shoulder in order to 
achieve an adequate rail fastening. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a 
railway rail fastening clip suitable for holding down a railway rail, 
which clip is formed from a rod of resilient material bent so as to be 
approximately M-shaped in plan, the clip having, proceeding from one end 
of the rod to the other, a substantially straight first portion, a bent 
second portion, a third portion, a bent fourth portion, a fifth portion, a 
bent sixth portion, and a substantially straight seventh portion, the 
first and seventh portions forming respectively the outer legs of the M, 
the third and fifth portions forming respectively the inner legs of the M, 
the second and sixth portions joining the outer legs to the inner legs and 
the fourth portion connecting the inner legs together, wherein, when the 
clip is bearing on a rail, the longitudinal axis of the fourth portion 
lies in a plane which is substantially parallel, but not identical, to a 
plane containing the longitudinal axes of the first and seventh portions. 
Preferably, when a clip embodying the first aspect of the present invention 
is free from stress, no part of the longitudinal axes of the second and 
sixth portions of the clip is inclined with respect to the plane 
containing the longitudinal axes of the first and seventh portions by an 
angle greater than 40.degree. or, even more desirably, by an angle greater 
than 35.degree.. 
Alternatively, or additionally, when a clip embodying the first aspect of 
the present invention is free from stress, the ratio of the maximum 
distance between the longitudinal axis of each inner leg and the plane 
containing the longitudinal axes of the first and seventh portions to the 
diameter of the rod forming the clip is equal to or less than 4, and is 
preferably less than or equal to 2.0, and is most desirably less than or 
equal to 1.25. 
Preferably, in a clip embodying the first aspect of the present invention, 
the longitudinal axes of the said first and seventh portions are 
substantially parallel to one another. 
Desirably, in a clip embodying the first aspect of the present invention, 
the said third and fifth portions are substantially curved such that their 
longitudinal axes lie in respective planes which are at least 
approximately perpendicular to the said plane containing the axes of said 
first and seventh portions of the clip. 
Preferably, in a clip embodying the first aspect of the present invention, 
the said third and fifth portions are spaced apart from one another by the 
said fourth portion and the said second and sixth portions are bent such 
that respective parts thereof are closely adjacent to one another. 
Desirably, when a clip embodying the first aspect of the present invention 
is viewed in plan, the said fourth portion extends beyond respective free 
ends of the first and seventh portions. 
Preferably, in a clip embodying the first aspect of the present invention, 
the surface of each outer leg, adjacent to a free end of the rod, is, at 
least at the part which is uppermost when the clip is in use, inclined 
downwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the outer leg 
proceeding along that outer leg towards the free end, desirably at an 
angle of 30.degree.. 
Desirably, in a clip embodying the first aspect of the present invention, 
at least one of the inner or outer legs of the clip is provided with first 
locating means for cooperating with second locating means provided on a 
clip anchoring device so as to locate the said clip at a desired position 
with respect to the said clip anchoring device when installed therein, 
wherein at least one abutment surface forms one of the first and second 
locating means and at least one cooperating projection forms the other of 
the first and second locating means, both the abutment surface and one 
face of the cooperating projection being acutely inclined in one sense to 
the longitudinal axis of the leg of the clip having said first locating 
means thereon such that the said one face of the said cooperating 
projection abuts against the said abutment surface so as to locate the 
clip, but such that driving of the clip in either of two directions 
parallel to the said axis forces said projection out of contact with said 
abutment surface. Preferably, the or each leg provided with said first 
locating means is one of the outer legs of the clip. Respective such first 
locating means are desirably provided on each of the said outer legs for 
cooperating with corresponding second locating means provided on the said 
anchoring device, when the clip is installed therein. 
Preferably, in such a clip, the or each abutment surface is formed by one 
inclined face of a recess, another face of the said recess being acutely 
inclined in the opposite sense to said longitudinal axis, said recess 
preferably being formed in a part of the or each outer leg which is 
uppermost when the clip is in use, which is desirably near the free end of 
that leg. Desirably, the inclined faces of said recess are joined together 
by a further face of the said recess which is substantially parallel to 
the longitudinal axis of the outer leg of the clip, such that said 
inclined faces are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined 
distance, thereby defining two desired positions at which said clip may be 
located with respect to the anchoring device when installed therein. 
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an 
anchoring device, for retaining a railway rail fastening clip, which 
device has a base member and a pair of clip-retaining members connected to 
said base member and extending substantially upwardly with respect thereto 
when the device is in use, said clip-retaining members being spaced apart 
so as to define an opening therebetween for receiving the interconnected 
inner legs of such an M-shaped clip and being formed with respective 
guiding passageways therethrough for receiving respectively the outer legs 
of the M-shaped clip, the device being such that, as a clip is driven into 
it, the outer legs thereof are forced downwardly with respect to the inner 
legs, thereby placing the clip under stress. 
Preferably, in an anchoring device embodying the second aspect of the 
present invention, the said guiding passageways are formed on respective 
outer faces of the said clip-retaining members. 
Desirably, in an anchoring device embodying the second aspect of the 
present invention, each of the said guiding passageways is in the form of 
a channel formed in a side wall of the associated clip-retaining member. 
In such anchoring devices, each of the said clip-retaining members 
preferably has, at respective locations thereon spaced from the said base 
member, an inwardly-projecting portion which extends at least partially 
over the said opening such that, when said clip is retained by said 
device, said inwardly-projecting portions are located directly above at 
least part of each of the inner legs of the clip such that those portions 
serve to limit upward movement of the said inner legs. 
In an anchoring device embodying the second aspect of the present 
invention, the roof of each passageway desirably has a portion which 
slopes downwardly, proceeding along said passageway in a direction away 
from the opening thereof into which an outer leg of a clip is inserted 
when the device is in use, for abutting the outer leg of the clip when the 
clip is being driven into the device so as to drive that leg downwardly 
with respect to said inner legs. 
Preferably, in an anchoring device embodying the second aspect of the 
present invention, said base member is such that when each outer leg of 
the clip is inserted into the opening of a corresponding passageway of the 
device such that an upper part thereof abuts the roof of the passageway 
and a lower part thereof abuts the floor of the passageway at said opening 
thereinto, the fourth portion of the clip is supported by said base 
member. 
Desirably, in an anchoring device embodying the second aspect of the 
present invention, opposing side faces of said clip-retaining members are 
not connected together by said base member along their entire lengths. 
Preferably, said base member connects only an end portion of one of the 
said clip-retaining members to an adjacent end portion of the other of the 
said clip-retaining members. 
Preferably, an anchoring device embodying the second aspect of the present 
invention which is for use with a clip embodying the first aspect of the 
present invention includes second locating means for cooperating with 
first locating means on said clip. 
Desirably, when such an anchoring device is in combination with such a 
clip, the roof of one or each of the passageways of the anchoring device 
is provided with a downwardly-directed projection for engaging with the 
recess provided on the corresponding outer leg of the clip. 
Preferably in such an anchoring device and clip combination, said 
projection is located such that the clip is held in position in which the 
clip bears on an adjacent rail. Desirably, the roof of one or each of the 
passageways is provided with another downwardly-directed Projection for 
engaging with said recess which is preferably located such that the clip 
is held in a position in which the clip does not bear on an adjacent rail. 
Preferably, such projections are located at either end of one or each of 
the passageways. 
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a 
method of installing a clip embodying the first aspect of the present 
invention into an anchoring device embodying the second aspect of the 
present invention, in which the free ends of the rod forming the clip are 
inserted into respective openings of the passageways in the device such 
that an upper part of each outer leg abuts the roof of the passageway and 
the fourth portion of the clip is supported by the base member of the 
device, and the clip is driven such that the outer legs thereof are forced 
both along the passageways and downwardly with respect to the inner legs, 
thereby placing the clip under stress, the clip being driven until it 
reaches a desired location with respect to the device. 
A clip embodying the first aspect of the present invention can, where 
necessary or preferable, be installed manually into an anchoring device 
embodying the second aspect of the present invention, but when the clip 
and anchoring device are provided with first and second locating means 
installation of the clip into the anchoring device is facilitated, 
particularly automatic installation by a clip driving machine. 
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a 
method of employing a clip embodying the first aspect of the present 
invention in combination with an anchoring device embodying the second 
aspect of the present invention, wherein at least one of the inner or 
outer legs of the clip is provided with first locating means for 
cooperating with second locating means provided on the anchoring device so 
as to locate the said clip at a desired position with respect to the said 
anchoring device when installed therein, wherein at least one abutment 
surface forms one of the first and second locating means and at least one 
cooperating projection forms the other of the first and second locating 
means, both the abutment surface and one face of the cooperating 
projection being acutely inclined in one sense to the longitudinal axis of 
the leg of the clip having said first locating means thereon such that the 
said one face of the said cooperating projection abuts against the said 
abutment surface so as to locate the clip, but such that driving of the 
clip in either of two directions parallel to the said axis forces said 
projection out of contact with said abutment surface, and wherein the 
outer legs of the clip are inserted into the passageways of the device 
such that the locating means on the clip and device cooperate to hold the 
clip in a first position before the clip is driven, and the clip is driven 
into a second position in which the clip is held by said locating means so 
as to bear on a railway rail adjacent to the device. 
Preferably, in a method embodying the fourth aspect of the present 
invention, the clip is driven out of said second position back to said 
first position so that an insulator for electrically insulating the device 
from an adjacent railway rail, which insulator is located between the 
device and the rail, may be replaced without the need to move the device 
or the rail. 
In an alternative method embodying the fourth aspect of the present 
invention, the clip is driven, either from said first position or said 
second position, into a third position between the first and second 
positions in which the clip does not bear on a railway rail adjacent to 
the device but retains on the device an insulator, for electrically 
insulating the device from the rail, located between the device and the 
rail. 
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided an 
assembly comprising a railway rail, an anchoring device as claimed 
embodying the second aspect of the present invention positioned adjacent 
to a flange of the rail, and a clip embodying the first aspect of the 
present invention installed in the device, wherein the fourth portion of 
the clip bears on the rail flange. 
Preferably, an assembly embodying the fifth aspect of the present invention 
further comprises a shoulder insulator, formed of electrically-insulating 
material for electrically isolating the anchoring device from said rail, 
located between the device and rail, the insulator having first and second 
plate-like parts which adjoin one another at an angle, greater than 
0.degree., which is such that the first plate-like part of the insulator 
rests on a ledge portion of the anchoring device and the second part-like 
part of the insulator is in contact with a face of the anchoring device 
which adjoins said ledge portion and is adjacent to the foot of the rail, 
the insulator also having insulator locating means for locating the 
insulator relative to the said anchoring device. 
Preferably, in such an assembly the anchoring device has an upstanding 
ridge portion which projects into a corresponding slot in part of the 
insulator constituting at least part of said insulator locating means. 
Desirably, in an assembly embodying the fifth aspect of the present 
invention, at least part of said insulator locating means is constituted 
by a portion of the insulator which is located beneath part of said clip. 
Preferably, the free end of an outer leg of the clip lies above said 
portion of the insulator. 
Preferably, an assembly embodying the fifth aspect of the present invention 
further comprises a clip insulator, formed of electrically-insulating 
material for electrically isolating said clip from the rail, which clip 
insulator is carried by a clip so as to surround the region thereon which 
bears on the rail. Desirably, said clip insulator comprises a 
substantially plate-like member formed in one main surface thereof with a 
channel shaped for receiving said clip, and preferably additionally 
comprises resilient projections overhanging part of said channel which 
deform under pressure to allow the insulator to be clipped onto or off the 
clip. 
Alternatively, said clip insulator comprises an encapsulating pocket of 
insulating material within which that part of said clip which bears on the 
rail is retained.

FIG. 1 shows an assembly comprising a resilient railway rail fastening clip 
1 having a toe portion 14 which bears against a flange of a railway rail 2 
supported by a rail foundation 3, the rail foundation 3 being cushioned 
from the rail 2 by means of a resilient rail pad 4 located between the 
base of the rail and the rail foundation 3. The rail clip 1 is held in 
place by an anchoring device or shoulder 5, the shoulder 5 having a pair 
of passageways 53 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1) in which 
respective limbs 11, 17 (only limb 17 being shown in FIG. 1) of the clip 
are located. The toe portion 14 of the clip 1 carries an insulator 6 
covering the lowermost surface of the toe portion 14, so that the toe 
portion 14 of the clip 1 bears on the rail flange through the insulator 6, 
which thereby insulates the clip 1 from the rail 2. Located between the 
rail 2 and the shoulder 5 is a "side post" insulator 7, for electrically 
isolating the shoulder 5 from the rail 2. The components in the assembly 
will now be described in more detail with reference to the remaining 
drawings. 
As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C, the clip 1 shown in FIG. 1 is 
substantially M-shaped in plan. It is made by bending a rod of resilient 
material which is, in this case, circular in cross-section (for example a 
steel rod 15 mm in diameter), so as to have, proceeding from one end A of 
the rod to the other end B, a straight first portion 11, a second portion 
12 bent through 180.degree., a curved third portion 13, a fourth portion 
14 which is bent through 180.degree., a curved fifth portion 15, a sixth 
portion 16 which is bent through 180.degree. and a straight seventh 
portion 17. The first and seventh portions 11 and 17 of the clip 
constitute the outer legs of the M, the third and fifth portions 13 and 15 
constitute the inner legs of the M, the second and sixth portions 12 and 
16 join respective inner legs to the outer legs, and the fourth portion 14 
of the clip joins together the inner legs. When viewed in plan, as in FIG. 
2A, the fourth portion 14 of the clip extends beyond the free ends A and B 
of the first and seventh portions 11 and 17. 
The second and sixth portions 12 and 16 of the clip 1 rise out of the plane 
containing the first and seventh portions 11 and 17 of the clip 1 such 
that no rising part of the longitudinal axes of those portions 12 and 16 
is inclined to that plane by an angle greater than about 33.degree., 
although in other embodiments of this invention this angle may be up to 
40.degree.. 
The third and fifth portions 13 and 15 of the clip 1 are curved such that 
their longitudinal axes lie in respective planes which are substantially 
perpendicular to the plane containing the first and seventh portions 11 
and 17 of the clip. Each of the third and fifth portions 13 and 15 in the 
illustrated embodiment has a first substantially straight part 13a, 15a 
and a second substantially straight part 13b, 15b, the longitudinal axes 
of which parts are inclined to one another at an angle of about 
30.degree.. However, the first and second parts 13a, 13b, 15a, 15b of the 
third and fifth portions 13 and 15 could themselves be curved so that the 
third and fifth portions 13 and 15 are curved more smoothly overall. 
When a clip is bearing on the rail, as shown in FIG. 1, a plane containing 
the longitudinal axis of the fourth portion 14 is substantially parallel 
to the plane containing the first and seventh portions 11 and 17. 
For the clip shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the ratio of the maximum distance 
between the longitudinal axes of the third and fifth portions 13 and 15 
and the plane containing the first and seventh portions 11 and 17 to the 
diameter of the rod forming the clip is 1.23. A preferred maximum value 
for this ratio is 2.0, but it could be as high as 4.0. 
The outer legs of the clip, i.e. the first and seventh portions 11 and 17 
thereof, are each provided with detents 18 on their upper surface adjacent 
to the respective free ends A and B of the clip. The end B of one of the 
outer legs of the clip (which in this embodiment is identical to the other 
outer leg) is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2D and 2E. 
In this embodiment, the detents 18 are each shaped so as to have two faces 
18a, 18b which are inclined in opposite respective directions with 
reference to the longitudinal axes of the first and seventh portions 11 
and 17 and another face 18c forming the floor of the detent 18 which joins 
together the inclined faces 18a, 18b and is itself substantially parallel 
to the longitudinal axes of the first and seventh portions 11 and 17. In 
this embodiment, the inclined faces 18a, 18b are inclined at an angle of 
30.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axes of the first and seventh 
portions 11 and 17. The floor 18C of the detent serves to space apart the 
inclined faces 18a, 18b of the detent 18, but in an alternative embodiment 
this floor 18c may be omitted so that there is no space between the 
lowermost edges of the inclined faces 18a, 18b of the detent 18. 
The detent 18 is preferably on the uppermost surface of the first and 
seventh portions 11 and 17 of the clip as shown, rather than on a lateral 
face thereof, so that when the clip 1 is installed in an anchoring device 
5 the force on the outer legs of the clip caused by the engagement of the 
anchoring device 5 with the detents 18 is in substantially the same 
direction as the stress acting on the second and sixth portions 12 and 16 
of the clip 1 owing to deflection of the outer legs. 
Each free end A,B of the clip 1 is tapered on its upper and lower surfaces, 
the upper and lower tapered surfaces 19a, 19b being in this embodiment at 
an angle of approximately 30.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis 
of the clip. In the present embodiment the detent 18 is formed Just behind 
the tapered part 19a of the upper surface. As will be clear from the 
description of FIGS. 10A to 10C later on, the taper 19a on the upper 
surface of the outer leg is intended to ease insertion of the clip 1 into 
an anchoring device 5. The taper 19b on the lower surface of the outer leg 
is intended to facilitate use of the clip in holding the insulator 7 in 
place between the anchoring device 5 and the rail 2. 
In such an embodiment of the clip made from a rod of diameter 15 mm:- the 
inwardly-facing surfaces of the outer legs are 75 mm apart; the distance 
between the outermost part of the fourth portion 14 and a line joining the 
outermost parts of the second and sixth portions 12 and 16 is 120 mm; the 
maximum height of the clip, i.e. the height between the uppermost point of 
the third portion 13 of the clip above the lowermost point of the first 
and seventh portions 11 and 17 of the clip, is 34 mm; the lowermost point 
of the fourth portion 14 of the clip is 10 mm above the lowermost portion 
of the first and seventh portions 11 and 17; the outermost portion of the 
fourth portion 14 extends 40 mm beyond the free ends A and B of the outer 
legs; the second parts 13b, 15b of the third and fifth portions 13 and 15 
are each 42 mm long; the radius of curvature of the second and sixth 
portions is 10, whilst that of the fourth portion is 9; the upper surface 
of the outer legs are tapered to a distance of 8 mm from the free end of 
the leg, the lower surface of the outer legs being tapered to a distance 
of 10 mm from the end of the leg; each detent 18 is 1.5 mm deep, being 9 
mm across at its widest part perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the 
outer leg, having a floor 18c 8.5 mm long as measured in the direction 
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outer leg, and being 15.5 mm long 
overall; in forming the detent 18 and the upper face taper 19a, material 
is preferably taken away from the end of the free leg such that it has a 
diameter of 14.5 mm as measured across the leg at the point where the 
upper face taper 19a meets the detent 18; the angle .alpha. shown in FIG. 
2C is about 12.degree., but could in other embodiments be 19.degree. for 
example or up to 25.degree.. 
A modified form of the clip shown in FIGS. 2A to 2E is shown in FIGS. 3A to 
3E. The clip of FIGS. 3A to 3E differs from that of FIGS. 2A to 2E in that 
the third and fifth portions 13 and 15 thereof have respective first parts 
13a and 15a which are slightly curved, the second parts 13b and 15b 
remaining straight, such that the overall height of the clip is reduced in 
comparison to that of FIGS. 2A to 2E. In addition, the free ends of the 
outer legs 11, 17 of the clip 1 are rounded at their tops 19a' and are 
chamfered at lateral parts 19c thereof, so as to ease insertion of the 
clip into an anchoring device. 
The clip shown in FIGS. 2A to 2E, or that shown in FIGS. 3A to 3E, may be 
used, as shown in FIG. 1, with an anchoring device as shown in FIGS. 4A to 
4C, although this anchoring device may be modified in some respects, for 
example as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C. 
The anchoring devices 5 of FIGS. 4A to 4C and 5A to 5C comprise a base 
member 51, which extends substantially horizontally when the device is in 
use, and a pair of clip-retaining members 52 which are connected at one 
end thereof to either end of the base member 51 so as to extend 
substantially perpendicularly thereto both vertically and horizontally. A 
channel formed in the outwardly-facing wall of each clip-retaining member 
52 provides a passageway 53 for receiving the outer legs of the clip of 
FIGS. 2A to 2E. The clip-retaining members 52 are spaced apart by the base 
member 51 so as to define an opening 54 therebetween for receiving the 
inner legs of the clip. Overhanging the opening 54 from the top of each 
clip-retaining member 52 are inwardly-extending projections 55, which 
projections 55 serve to limit upward movement of the inner legs of the 
clip which may occur due to rail tilt when the clip is in use. Each 
passageway 53 has an opening 56 at the end of the clip retaining member 52 
which is furthest from the base member 51, but is closed by a wall 57 at 
the other end of the clip-retaining member 52 so as to provide means by 
which the insulator 7 may be located on the anchoring device 5, as will be 
explained later in more detail. For this purpose also, the roof of the 
passageway adjacent to the wall 57 is removed. 
When the anchoring device 5 is in use, the floor of the passageway 53 is 
substantially horizontal. The passageway 53 has only one side face, 
constituted by a wall 52a of the clip-retaining member 52 formed so as to 
lie between the outer and inner legs of the clip 1 when in use, the other 
side of the passageway being open. The roof of the passageway 53 is formed 
so as to have a sloping part 53a which is inclined with respect to the 
horizontal when the device is in use such that the passageway is taller at 
the part of that sloping part 53a which is closer to the opening 56 than 
it is at the other end of the part 53a, the roof of the passageway 53 
being formed at either end of the sloping part 53a in such a way as to 
provide projections 53b and 53c for cooperating with the detent 18 formed 
in the outer leg of each clip 1 for locating the clip 1 at a particular 
location with respect to the anchoring device 5. 
The first projection 53b which is formed at the opening 56 of the 
passageway 53 presents to the opening 53 a first face 53b', which is 
fairly shallowly inclined to the horizontal in a direction such that the 
height of the passageway decreases proceeding towards the wall 57. The 
projection 53b then has a second face 53b", which is more steeply inclined 
with respect to the horizontal, but in the opposite sense, than the first 
face 53b' such that the height of the passageway increases. The second 
projection 53c which is formed closest to the wall 57 has a first face 
53c' forming the sloping part 53a and a second face 53c" which is inclined 
in the opposite sense with respect to the horizontal by an angle which is 
greater than the angle of inclination of the sloping part 53a, but is 
smaller than the angle of inclination of the second face 53b" of the first 
projection 53b. Extending from each wall 52a of the clip-retaining members 
52 in a region above the passageways 53 is a part 58 such that between the 
passageway 53 and the part 58 there is defined a recess 59 into which a 
tool, for installing a clip into or removing a clip from the device, or 
for lifting a sleeper to which a pair of anchoring devices 5 have been 
secured, may be inserted. The roof of the recess 59 may be sloped along 
one edge as shown. The wall 52a of each clip-retaining member 52 may be 
rounded or sloped along one edge as shown so as to reduce the amount of 
material required to make the anchoring device 5. 
The floor of the passageway 53 is preferably extended beyond the opening 56 
so as to provide a part 53d against which the lower surface of the outer 
legs of the clip may rest when the clip is about to be installed in the 
device 5. The base member 51, which provides a support for the fourth 
portion 14 of the clip 1 when it is not bearing on the rail, is in this 
embodiment intended (when in use) to receive a side post insulator 7, a 
step 51a being provided in the face of the base member 51 which is closest 
to the rail 2 when the device 5 is in use for receiving a 
horizontally-extending part of the insulator 7. It should be noted, 
however, that this step 51a would not be required if the anchoring device 
5 were to be used with a conventional insulator for electrically isolating 
the device from the rail. 
Further savings in the material needed to make the device 5 may be achieved 
by omitting the overhanging projections 55, thereby enabling the overall 
height of the anchoring device 5 to be reduced, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 
5C. The parts 58 have also been omitted from the device of FIGS. 5A to 5C, 
although the upper part of this device 5 could be modified so as to 
provide a recess for receiving installation or lifting tools. 
In one embodiment of the anchoring device shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, for use 
with a clip as described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2E, the overall 
height of the anchoring device is 60 mm and its overall width is 101 mm. 
The clip-retaining members 52 define an opening between them which is 57 
mm wide, the walls 52a being 9 mm wide. The lowermost surface of each 
overhanging part 55 is 46 mm above that part of the anchoring device which 
will be level with surface of the rail foundation 3 when the device is in 
use, the separation between the overhanging parts 55 being 32 mm. The part 
53d extends beyond the opening 56 of the passageway 53 a distance 11 mm, 
the length of the passageway from the inner wall 57 to the opening 56 
being 77 mm. The wall 57 is 8 mm thick as measured in a direction parallel 
to the length of the passageway 53 and is 21 mm high. The thickness of the 
floor of the passageway is 3 mm and the height of the passageway at the 
opening is 22 mm. The height of the passageway then decreases at an angle 
of about 13.degree. to a height of 20 mm before increasing again at an 
angle of about 45.degree. to a height of 24 mm. The sloping part 53a of 
the passageway roof is inclined at an angle of about 18.degree. and at its 
lowermost point 18.5 mm above the floor of the passageway 53. The second 
face 53c" of the second projection 53c is inclined at an angle of 
30.degree. to a height of 24 mm, the lowermost point of the second 
projection 53c being 26 mm from the outer face of the wall 57. The 
lowermost point of the first projection 53b is 68 mm from the outer face 
of the wall 57. The recess 59 above the passageway 53 has an upper surface 
which is inclined at an angle of about 15.degree. starting at a height of 
44 mm above the lowermost point of the anchoring device and increasing to 
51 mm, the floor of the recess being 32 mm above the lowermost point of 
the anchoring device. The step 51a formed in the base member 51 is formed 
at a height of 15 mm above the lowermost point of the anchoring device and 
is of depth 8 mm. 
The anchoring devices 5 of FIGS. 4A to 4C and FIGS. 5A to 5C may, as shown 
in FIGS. 6A to 6F, be secured to a concrete rail foundation by means of a 
stem 50 provided so as to project from the base member 51 thereof. The 
stem 50, forming an integral part of the anchoring device 5, is embedded 
in the concrete sleeper 3 during manufacture of the sleeper 3 and is 
provided with vanes 50a to counteract any tendency of the anchoring device 
5 to rotate in the sleeper 3. 
The insulator 7 shown in FIG. 1 will now be described in more detail with 
reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C. The insulator has a first plate 71 which, 
when the insulator is in use, is located between the anchoring device 5 
and the rail 2. Projecting perpendicularly from a central portion of the 
top edge of the first plate 71 is a second plate 72 which is shaped such 
that when in use it can be located in the step 51a of the anchoring device 
5 so as to provide an unbroken flat surface on the base member 51. The 
first plate 71 is lower at its central portion that it is at either end, 
there being provided at either end of the first plate 71 upstanding 
insulator locating members 73 which extend perpendicularly to the first 
plate 71. These insulator locating members 73 are spaced from the second 
plate 72 so as to provide respective recesses 74 for receiving the walls 
52a of the clip-retaining members 52 of the anchoring device 5. The 
locating members 73 are each formed in a lower face thereof with a slot 
75, extending parallel to the first plate 71, for receiving the wall 57 of 
the anchoring device 5 when the insulator is in use, thereby preventing 
the insulator 7 from moving in a horizontal direction during use but 
allowing the insulator to be removed from the anchoring device 5, for 
example for replacement due to wear, by being lifted in a vertical 
direction. Extending from the bottom of a face of each insulator locating 
member 73 remote from the first plate 71 is a locating foot 76 having an 
inclined upper surface. When the insulator 7 is located on an anchoring 
device 5 and a clip 1 is fully installed in that device 5, the lower 
tapered surface 19b at the free end of each outer leg of the clip rests on 
the upper surface of the locating foot 76 so as to prevent lifting of the 
insulator 7 to an undesirable extent during use. Connecting one side of 
the upper surface of the locating foot 76 to the insulator locating member 
73 is a wall 77. 
Another form of shoulder insulator 7 is shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. 
An embodiment of the insulator 7 intended for use with an anchoring device 
5 as described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C or 5A to 5C has: a first 
plate 71 which is 119 mm long, 20 mm high at its central part and 26 mm 
high at the remainder, being 8 mm thick; a second part 72 which is 55 mm 
long, 15.5 mm wide and 6 mm thick; an insulator locating member 73 which 
is 21.5 mm long, 26 mm high and 19.5 mm wide; a recess 74 which is 10.5 mm 
wide; a slot 75 which is 20 mm high, 8.5 mm wide and 13 mm long, there 
being a thickness of material of about 8 mm forming two of the three 
vertical walls of the slot; and a locating foot 76 which is 3.5 mm thick 
at its thinnest point, having an upper surface inclined at an angle of 
16.degree. to the horizontal, the locating foot being 15.5 mm long, 8.5 mm 
wide and having a lower surface which is 2 mm above the lowermost point of 
the first plate 71. 
The toe insulator 6 of FIG. 1 will now be described in more detail with 
reference to FIGS. 9A to 9C. Similar toe insulators are shown in FIGS. 10A 
to 10C and FIGS. 11A and 11B. Each of the toe insulators 6 shown in FIGS. 
9A to 9C, 10A to 10C, and 11A and 11B, comprises a body 60 made of a block 
of insulating material having a main face, which is uppermost when the toe 
insulator 6 is being carried by a clip 1 in use, which is formed with a 
channel 61 shaped so as to receive the fourth portion 14 of the clip 1 and 
adjoining parts of the third and fifth portions 13 and 15 of the clip. The 
underside of the body 60 is rounded and shaped so as to ease movement of a 
clip carrying the toe insulator 6 onto and off a rail, and also to reduce, 
where possible, the amount of material needed to make the insulator 6, the 
thickness of the material being greatest at those parts which underlie the 
channel 61. Overhanging the channel 61 at the parts which receive the 
third and fifth portions 13 and 15 of the clip 1 when in use are resilient 
projections 62 which deform when the clip is pressed against them so as to 
allow the clip to enter the channel, but act also as to retain the toe 
insulator 6 on the clip 1 in normal use. 
In the toe insulator 6 of FIGS. 9A to 9C, the material 63 bounded by the 
inner wall of the channel 61 is reduced in height as compared to the 
material forming the outer boundaries of the channel such that it forms a 
comparatively low protrusion which is inclined such that its height above 
the lowermost point of the channel 61 decreases to zero at the part 
between the third and fifth portions 13 and 15 of the clip 1. For added 
stability of the toe insulator 6 on the clip the body 60 is formed so as 
to have a tab 64. 
The toe insulator of FIGS. 10A to 10C differs from that of FIGS. 9A to 9C 
primarily in that the part 63a, defined by the channel 61 between the 
parts which accept the third and fifth portions 13 and 15 of the clip 1, 
has an upper surface at the same level as the uppermost point of the 
material forming the outer boundary of the channel 61, and, instead of the 
tab 64, extends out beyond the ends of the channel 61 so as to add 
stability to the insulator 6. To save material, the underside of the part 
63a is formed with a recess 65. In addition to the underside of the body 
60, the corners of the upper main face are also rounded off, approximately 
following the curvature of the channel 61 in that region. 
The toe insulator 6 of FIGS. 11A and 11B differs from that of FIGS. 9A to 
9C in that a part 63b, bounded by the parts of the channel 61 which 
receive the third and fifth portions of the clip 13 and 15, has an upper 
surface which is at the same level as the material bounding the outer wall 
of the channel 61 and extends beyond the main part of the body 60 so as to 
form an elongate tab 64a, the upper surface of the tab being slightly 
rounded and the lower surface of the tab being more rounded, and the 
thickness of the tab 64a decreasing both laterally and longitudinally as 
one progresses away from the main part of the body 60. 
A modified form of the insulator shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C is shown in 
FIGS. 12A to 12C. One difference between the two insulators is that the 
insulator of FIGS. 12A to 12C has a less rounded underside, thereby 
reducing the amount of material required for the insulator. In addition, 
the channel 61 extends further around each side of the part 63a. 
Furthermore, the free edges 62a of the projections 62 are chamfered so as 
to permit easier fitting of the clip. 
An alternative form of toe insulator, which could be used with the clip of 
FIGS. 2A to 2E or 3A to 3E will now be described with reference to FIGS. 
13A to 13E. The toe insulator 600 has a body 601 formed of insulating 
material shaped so as to provide a recess 602 for receiving the fourth 
portion 14 of the clip 1 such that the fourth portion 14 is completely 
encapsulated. The insulator 600 is held on the fourth portion 14 of the 
clip 1 by means of a elongate projection 603 which projects from the 
ceiling of the recess 602 and engages with the clip 1 to facilitate 
fitting of the toe insulator 600 onto the fourth portion 14 of the clip. 
The sides of the toe insulator 600 are provided with slits 604, 
cooperating with holes 605 at one end thereof, running from the opening 
606 of the recess 602 approximately two thirds of the length of the side 
face of the insulator 600, which slits allow the opening 606 to be 
enlarged slightly as the insulator is fitted onto the fourth portion 14 of 
the clip 1. The recess 602 is shaped so as to match the outer periphery of 
the fourth portion 14 of the clip 1, the opening 606 thereto being shaped 
substantially like a stadium race track. The thickness of material of the 
insulator at the part which will be uppermost when it is in use is 
substantially uniform, but the part of the insulator which will be 
lowermost when the clip is in use, i.e. which will bear on the rail, 
increases steadily proceeding away from the end of the insulator adjacent 
to the opening 606. 
An embodiment of the toe insulator 6 of FIGS. 9A to 9C for use with a clip 
1 as described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2E has: a body 60 which is 55 
mm wide and 50 mm long excluding the tab 64, which is 22 mm wide, 3 mm 
thick and 20.5 mm long, the body 60 being 22.5 mm high overall in the 
region of the parts 62, and 19 mm high overall in the region around the 
channel 61, there being a maximum thickness of material of about 7.5 mm 
around the channel 61, and the underside of the body 60 being inclined 
with respect to the underside of the tab 64 by an angle .beta. of 
12.degree.; a channel 61 having an outer periphery with radius of 
curvature of 24 and an internal radius of curvature of 7.5; a part 63 
which has a maximum height of 4 mm above the lowermost point of the 
channel; and parts 62 which start 28 mm back from the front of the body 60 
and are 42.5 mm apart. 
An embodiment of the toe insulator 6 of FIGS. 10A to 10C for use with a 
clip 1 as described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2E is similarly 
dimensioned with respect to corresponding parts as the insulator described 
above, but has a part 63a which is 55 mm long and 17 mm wide, with a slot 
65 which is 49 mm long and 10 mm wide. 
An embodiment of the toe insulator 6 of FIGS. 11A and 11B for use with a 
clip 1 as described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2E has: a body 60 which 
is 55 mm wide and 44 mm long, the part 64a extending beyond the body 60 a 
distance 40 mm, the overall height of the insulator being 19 mm at the 
front and 24 mm at the rear, and the underside of the body being inclined 
at an angle .beta. of 12.degree.; and a part 64a which is 18 mm wide at 
its widest part and 14 mm at its narrowest, having an upper surface with a 
radius of curvature of 25 and a lower surface with a radius of curvature 
of 17 which is inclined at a part close to the body 60 at an angle .gamma. 
of 32.degree.. 
A preferred form of the insulator 600 shown in FIGS. 13A to 13E for use 
with a clip as described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C has: an opening 
606 which is 48 mm wide and 16 mm high, there being 4 mm of material above 
the recess, and a minimum of 4 mm of material and a maximum of 8 mm of 
material beneath the recess; sides formed with the slots 604 which are 2 
mm thick, the slit being 25 mm long; a recess 602 which is 40 mm deep, 
there being 4 mm of material at the end of the recess; and a projection 
603 which is formed 10 mm from the opening 606 of the recess 602. 
Installation of the clip 1 into an anchoring device 5 as shown in FIG. 1 
will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 14A to 14C (the toe 
insulator 6 that would normally be carried by the clip 1 being omitted for 
clarity in these Figures). 
FIG. 14A shows the clip in an initial position, as it is when it is about 
to be driven into the device 5, with the fourth portion of the clip 1 
resting (via a toe insulator 6, not shown) on the base member 51 of the 
anchoring device 5 and the outer legs of the clip 1 just inside the 
passageways 53 of the anchoring device 5 such that part of the lower 
surface of the outer legs rests on the portion 53d of the anchoring device 
5, the face 18a of the detent 18 which is closest to the free end of the 
outer leg is in contact with the second face 53b" of the projection 53b, 
and the upper tapered surface 19a of the outer leg is partly in contact 
with the sloping part 53a of the roof of the passageway 53. In this 
position the clip is only partially deflected, for example only 2 mm out 
of a total deflection of 12 mm. 
When the clip is driven into an intermediate position, as shown in FIG. 
14B, in which the face of the detent 18b is brought into contact with the 
first face 53b' of the projection 53b, the outer legs are deflected 
downwardly a little more, bringing the second and sixth portions 12 and 16 
of the clip 1 upwardly. In this position, the fourth portion of the clip 
rests above part of the side post insulator 7, thereby preventing upward 
movement of that insulator. If the insulator is shaped such that it holds 
down the rail pad 4, then in this position the clip also serves to retain 
the rail pad through the insulator. Thus, it is envisaged that the clip, 
insulator, and preferably also the pad, could be installed on a sleeper 
provided with an anchoring device 5 in the sleeper factory before being 
taken to site. 
FIG. 14C shows the clip as it appears when it has been driven from the 
intermediate position shown in FIG. 14B into a final position where the 
fourth portion 14 (normally carrying a toe insulator 6) of the clip 1 
bears on the rail 2. As the clip is driven horizontally, the sloping roof 
of the passageway in contact with the upper tapered surface 19a of the 
outer leg urges the outer leg downwardly, thereby deflecting the clip. In 
the final position of the clip, the detent 18 in the clip 1 is engaged by 
the second projection 53c of the anchoring device 5 and the free ends of 
the outer legs overlie the locating feet 76 of the side post insulator 7 
so that upward movement of the insulator 7 is further restricted. The clip 
is fully deflected in this position, the fourth portion of the clip lying 
in a plane which is substantially parallel to the plane containing the 
first and seventh portions of the clip and the second and sixth portions 
12 and 16 of the clip being at their highest point. 
When the clip is in its initial position, the insulator is free to move 
upwardly, so, if replacement of the insulator 7 is required, this may be 
achieved by driving the clip 1 back into its initial position, without the 
need to remove the clip 1 completely from the anchoring device 5. 
As the second and sixth portions 12 and 16 of the clip are, in the initial 
position of the clip, close to the surface of the sleeper, a potential 
problem of rail foot entrapment, that could occur when a rail is being 
lifted from its typical initial position alongside the rear of the 
anchoring device onto the rail pad 4, can be avoided. This shape of clip, 
in which the outer legs are deflected downwardly in relation to the inner 
legs, also allows the overall height of the shoulder to be reduced, 
thereby permitting it to be lighter and cheaper. Desirably, when a clip 1 
is installed in an anchoring device 5 there is a clearance of about 5 mm 
between the bottom of the toe insulator 6 and the base member 51 of the 
anchoring device 5 so as to ensure that if the height of the rail is 
reduced owing to wear of the rail pad beneath it the clip will not be 
prevented from bearing sufficiently on the rail by the base member 51 of 
the anchoring device 5.