Clamping means and sleeper assembly

Abstract: A rail ( 1 ) in a railway is generally secured to a sleeper (5) with the aid of a clamping plate and screw joint. Attachment is achieved with the aid of several loose parts. The invention avoids loose parts. The sleeper (5) is permanently provided with an outwardly directed flange (10) which is pivotable about a shaft (6) located perpendicular to the upper side of the sleeper (5). The flange (10) can be pivoted into and out of contact with the foot (4) of the rail ( 1 ).

Description: The present invention relates to a clamping means and sleeper assembly according to the preamble of claim 1. In the US-A-3 018 967 is disclosed such an assembly, the object of which is to facilitate attaching rails to a sleeper and also to facilitate the removal of a rail from a sleeper. According to the patent a clamping means is used having a tongue which is pivotably journalled on a sleeper in such a manner that the clamping means can be pivoted into contact against a rail foot and out of contact with said foot. The object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of improved design. This object is achieved by an assembly according to claim 1. Further advantageous features are defined by the dependent claims. The use of a pivotable clamping means enables extremely simple attachment of a rail to a sleeper and requires only one tool which can turn the clamping means about its axis. Thus, apart from the actual turning tool, there are no loose parts whatsoever. If a rail is to be replaced the clamping means need only be turned from its contact position, thus making replacement extremely easy. Instead of using a tool to turn the clamping means a unit can be utilized on rails already laid, said unit being displaced along the rail, thereby turning the clamping means to abutment with the rail foot or turning it out of contact with the rail foot. In the present invention, the spring may consist of a helical spring or some other spring device like a rolled laminated spring standing on edge, cup springs, ring springs or Archimedes springs arranged about the axis of oscillation of the clamping means. The spring itself is so dimensioned that when the clamping means is in contact with the foot of the rail, a pressure is obtained which is sufficient to retain the rail in position when it is used for traffic and at fluctuations in temperature. The temperature in winter may be -50°C and in summer it may be over 40°C. The lower end of the spring may be extended so that it is in contact with the flange or tongue of the clamping means. The clamping means may cooperate with a snap device so that when the clamping means is in operating position, i.e. in contact with the foot of the rail the snap device will come into operation. In all other positions the snap device will be out of operation. The clamping means may be arranged on a plate secured on the upper side of a sleeper. The axis of oscillation of the clamping means may also be secured inside the sleeper itself, either by means of a tapping arrangement or by grouting. According to the latter alternative, the sleeper itself is made of concrete. Further advantageous characteristics of the present invention are revealed in the appended claims. The invention will be described in more detail in connection with the accompanying four sheets of drawings in which Fig 1 shows a rail on a sleeper and a clamping means anchored to the sleeper, Fig 2 and 3 show the clamping means in two different positions, and Fig 4 shows a different arrangement for securing the clamping means to a sleeper. Fig 1 shows a rail 1 with head 2, web 3 and foot 4. The foot rests on a sleeper 5. The sleeper is made of concrete and has a shaft 6 grouted into it, the shaft being provided with cavities 7. The function of the cavities is to fix the position of the shaft 6 in the sleeper when the concrete has solidified. The lower end of the shaft may be optionally desired provided the shaft 6 is permanently secured when the concrete has set. A unit 9 is applied about the shaft 6, suitably resting on a plate shown in Fig 4 and designated 15. Said plate 15 is suitably permanently joined to the shaft 6. The unit 9 is provided with an aperture enabling it to be pivoted about the shaft 6. The unit 9 is provided with a radially outwardly directed tongue or flange 10. When rotated about the shaft 6 the tongue of the clamping means can either be brought into contact with the foot 4 of the rail or disengaged therefrom. A helical spring 11 is provided in the clamping means. One end of said spring 11 is abutting against the unit 9. The other end of the helical spring acts on a plate 12 riveted to the shaft 6 which limits its upward movement. Reference sign 13 designates the head of a screw or rivet. The lower end 14 of the spring is pulled out and is in contact with the tongue, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The spring 11 is dimensioned so as to achieve a pressure on the tongue 10 that is sufficient to retain the rail when it is subjected to the stresses caused by traffic and also by temperature fluctuations. Figures 2 and 3 show the clamping means in operation with its tongue in contact with the rail foot and with the tongue out of its retaining position. The actual unit 9 and sleeper 5 may be so designed that when the unit assumes the position shown in Fig 2, the snap device will come into operation thereby positioning the unit correctly to carry out its retaining function. It is clear from the drawings that the unit 9 can be turned to an unlimited extent about its axis 6. The unit 9 with parts 6-8 and 10-13 is normally in the form of a prefabricated unit and is therefore easy to apply on a sleeper. If a clamping means is damaged only the head of the screw or rivet need be ground off. Damaged parts can then easily be replaced and a new head welded on. Fig 4 shows a unit which functions in exactly the same manner as that illustrated in the previous figures but which differs in that the axis 6 is a tubular shaft secured to a plate 15 attached to the sleeper 5 by means of a screw joint 16. The shaft 6 may comprise a pipe with a screw running through it and penetrating into the sleeper 5 below, thereby securing the clamping means to the sleeper. A threaded sleeve can be grouted into the sleeper 5 if it is made of concrete. As is clear from the above, no loose parts whatsoever are required to secure a rail 1 to a sleeper. The only measure required is to turn the unit 9 into or out of abutment with the rail foot 4. It should be evident that it is possible to displace a unit along rails already laid. The unit may then be designed so that when it passes a unit 9 it either turns this to achieve contact with the rail foot or to disengage it from the rail foot.

Claims: A clamping means and sleeper assembly comprising a clamping means for attaching a rail to a sleeper or crosstie (5) in a railway track, said clamping means comprising a unit (9) permanently secured to a cooperating sleeper and pivotably journalled about a shaft (6) located substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of said sleeper, said unit (9) being provided with an outwardly directed tongue or flange (10) which can be brought into and out of contact with the foot (4) of the rail to press said foot against the upper side of said sleeper, said tongue or flange being influenced by a spring force, characterised in that said unit (9) is influenced by a spring (11), for instance a helical spring, a laminated spring, a cup spring, a ring spring or an Archimedes spring, arranged about said shaft (6), one end of the spring (11) abutting against the unit (9) and the other end abutting against a surface (12) at the upper end of the shaft (6). A clamping means as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the spring force (11) is such that satisfactory clamping effect is obtained when the tongue (10) abuts the foot (4) and when the rail (1) is trafficated. A clamping means as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that one end of the shaft (6) forming the axis of oscillation of the unit (9) is grouted or bolted into the cooperating sleeper (5). A clamping means as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that one end of the said axis of oscillation (6) is secured to a plate (15) permanently applied on the sleeper (5) by means of a screw joint (16), for instance. A clamping means as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a snap device is arranged for the unit (9), said snap device coming into operation when the tongue (10) is in contact with the foot (4) of the rail.

Inventors: AQUELIUS MATS, SEEGER GERHARD, AQUELIUS, MATS, SEEGER, GERHARD
Applicants: SEEGER GERHARD, SEEGER, GERHARD
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E01B9
IPC codes: E01B9