Rail clip

A flat bar elastic rail clip in which the flat bar is turned back on itself so that one portion is longer than the other. The flat bar incorporates an opening in both portions to accommodate a rail spike that is held in the rail tie. This type of spike is usually used in combination with a concrete tie and a guide plate that seats on the rail seat of the tie. The combination of a shaped flat bar clip which is capable of providing both rail clamping and rollover protection configurations in combination with a guide plate and spike.

PRIORITY

Priority is claimed as a national stage application, under 35 U.S.C. § 371, to international patent application No. PCT/US2016/026183, filed Apr. 6, 2106, which claims priority to Australian patent application 2015901236, filed Apr. 7, 2015. The disclosures of the aforementioned priority applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

This invention relates to a rail clip that may be used for both rollover protection and rail clamping.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Traditionally, only the round bar clip can be used with screw spike type concrete tie.

These spikes are usually used on the rail ties used for rail joints.

Round bar clips in torsion, are prone to breakage under constant vibration.

Furthermore, the high contact stress between the round bar clip rear arch and the supporting guide plate can cause premature localized plate wear.

For zero longitudinal restraint, the concrete tie assembly requires that the clip does not exert any clamping force on the rail but must provide rail roll over protection. For this function, a different type of round bar clip must be used.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,115,153 discloses a rail joint fastener that requires no bolts through the rail.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,021,954 discloses a flat bar fastener in combination with a spike mounted rail chair.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,658,245 discloses a fastener for a rail joint that uses a custom rail plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,912 discloses a round bar clip with a spike mounted rail plate.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,874,527 discloses a flat bar clip used in a slide chair assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,052,068 discloses a guide plate and round bar clip assembly.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rail clip that may be used for both rollover protection and rail clamping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To this end the present invention provides a flat bar elastic rail clip in which the flat bar is turned back on itself so that one portion is longer than the other. The flat bar incorporates an opening in both portions to accommodate a rail spike that is held in the rail tie. This type of spike is usually used in combination with a concrete tie and a guide plate that seats on the rail seat of the tie.

The combination of a shaped flat bar clip which is capable of providing both rail clamping and rollover protection configurations in combination with a guide plate and spike.

This invention provides an alternative fastener to the round bar clip with screw spike type concrete ties. The shaped flat bar clip is capable of providing both rail clamping and rollover protection configurations. The flat bar clip has a much larger contact area with the supporting guide plate and less likely to wear out plate prematurely. It may also be used for both rollover protection and rail clamping. Normally, this clip provides a nominal clamping force when used with an insulated joint bar assembly.

The same clip can be flipped over to provide only roll over protection in the zero longitudinal restraint configuration.

The clip shorter prong to longer prong ratio is approximately 83%, the two prongs are parallel to each other in the compressed state.

The clip of this invention is also easy to manufacture, resulting in substantial cost saving.

This invention also provides a guide plate to support the clip, which has clip holding recess, an anti-rotation feature, and screw over-drive protection feature.

FIG. 1shows the complete fastening system assembled in a rail seat section of the concrete tie5. The rail4is supported in the bottom by the resilient rail pad18, supported on the sides by the guide plate2. The rail base is guarded by the flat bar clip1which is held down by the screw spike3. The clip rear arch12is supported by guide plate2which rests against the concrete tie5.FIG. 1illustrates the clip in the zero longitudinal restraint configuration, required on the rail bridges. The fastening assembly in this mode only provides roll over protection and no clamping force.

FIG. 2shows the insulated rail joint assembly. The joint bar7is used at the rail joint location. The clip1is flipped so the longer prong8clamps on the rail base. The clip1is also held down by the screw spike3and supported by the guide plate6. In this mode the clip applies a clamping force on the rail base.

The clip1has a rear resting surface11, and bending arch12.

FIG. 4shows the guide plate2or6, which has screw spike overdrive protection stand13, clip anti rotation shoulder14. The guide plate also has a clip prong support recess15, and clip rear arch support wall16. The guide plates may have different recesses15depending on whether the clip1is in rollover protection mode as shown inFIG. 1or in clamping mode as shown inFIG. 2

FIG. 5shows the concrete tie and rail pad assembly. The concrete tie5has two plastic inserts19which are cast in the concrete, and rail pad18which supports the rail. The plastic inserts include holes for the spikes3. The rail tie includes grooves or slots for the curved rear edges of the guide plates as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2

From the above those skilled in the art will realise that this invention provides a dual use clip that replaces two separate clips. This has advantages in terms of cost and inventory management.

Those skilled in the art will also realise that this invention can be implemented in embodiments other than those described without departing from the core teachings of this invention.