Railways: surface track – Fastenings – Clamps
Patent
1996-09-05
1998-10-13
Morano, S. Joseph
Railways: surface track
Fastenings
Clamps
E01B 930
Patent
active
058200215
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to resilient rail fastening systems to engage the lower flange of a rail to bias the rail into contact with a sleeper or bearer.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,083 are resilient fastening systems to secure rails to their sleepers or bearers. In particular there is disclosed an insert which engages the base plate upon which the rail rests. The insert engages a resilient clip which is resiliently deformed so as to bear down on the lower flange of the rail. This insert and clip are also usable with steel sleepers or bearers thereby eliminating the use of the base plate.
In FIG. 1 of the above discussed US patent there is a particular resilient clip disclosed. The resilient clip is of a "U-shaped" configuration having, "forked" extremities which pass around the shank of the insert. The lower fork engages the rail while the upper fork engages the head of the insert. These particular clips have the disadvantage that they are easily removed. They are therefore prone to vandalism and theft and can be dislodged by dragging train gear, along with track maintenance machines e.g. ballast regulators and tampers.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is disclosed herein a resilient clip to engage an insert or stud of a resilient fastening system for a rail, said clip being formed of metal strip so as to have two end extremities, and wherein at least one extremity is bifurcated so as to have a recess extending longitudinally from one of said extremities, said recess being defined between two longitudinally extending edges, with at least one of the longitudinal edges being provided with an abutment surface facing longitudinally away from said one extremity, which abutment surface is to engage the insert to inhibit removal of the clip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a blank to be formed into a clip for a resilient fastening system;
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of an alternative construction for the blank of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a rail insert and a still further clip.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a blank 10 formed of metal strip, the blank 10 is preferably formed from spring steel. The strip 10 is bent centrally about a transverse axis to a "U-shaped" configuration as disclosed in the above mentioned US patent. The extremities 11 and 12 of the strip 13 are bifurcated so as to provide recesses 14 and 15. The recesses 14 and 15 are defined between longitudinally extending edges 16 and 17, and 18 and 19. The recesses 14 and 15 extend longitudinally inwardly from end edges 20 and 21 of the strip 13.
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the extremity 11 is adapted to be above the extremity 12, with the extremity 11 also being adapted to engage the head of the insert or stud. The extremity 12 engages the bottom flange (foot) of the rail. Also in this embodiment, the portion 22 of the recess 14 is adapted to have the shank of the insert passed through it, with the portion 23 of the recess 14 enabling movement of the shank into and out of the portion 22.
Also in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the longitudinal edges 16 and 17 are each provided with a step 24 providing an abutment surface 25 which inhibits movement of the shank from the portion 22 toward the end edge 20. The edges 16 and 17 converge toward the steps 24. More particularly, the abutment surfaces 25 engage the shank to inhibit removal of the clip 10. It should be appreciated that only one abutment surface 25 is needed. However two abutment surfaces 25 are more effective.
In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the edges 18 and 19 are provided with the steps 24 and abutment surfaces 25. Ag
REFERENCES:
patent: 2944739 (1960-07-01), Schwinn
patent: 3021076 (1962-02-01), Finch
patent: 3972110 (1976-08-01), Sasena
patent: 4801083 (1989-01-01), Arteaga et al.
patent: 4801084 (1989-01-01), Rex
patent: 5016816 (1991-05-01), Lanham
patent: 5566882 (1996-10-01), Brown et al.
Laughner, Vallory H., et al. "Handbook of Fasteners . . . " First edition, 1956 by McGraw-Hill Book Co., see p. 424, fig. 12.2
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