FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement in elastic rail clip. More particularly,
this invention relates to an improved elastic rail clip with an anchor fastener at one
end wherein, the said anchor fastener consists of various threaded studs flared
outwardly adapted to lock the clip in position within the insert hole.
10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Rail transport which is managed by central government is one of the most important
modes of transport in India. Indian railway system is a public utility transport and has
grown to be the fourth largest in the World and largest in the Asia. The total railway
15 network covers 115000 Km of track over a route of 65000 Km with 7500 railway
stations.
Because of importance of railway transport in India, large funds are invested every
year to maintain and upgrade the railway system. The most important part of any
20 railway system is railway track, hence the need for the maintenance of railway track
cannot be overlooked. Safety and quality standard are set in every railway system for
track maintenance, which includes inspection, track data collection and possible
renewals.
25 In general, a railway track system consists of rail steel, concrete sleepers and the track
fasteners. The composition of typical rail steel is 0.71C-1.04 Mn usually called C-Mn
rail steel. The second component of the rail track concrete sleeper provides more
stability to the track by its heavy weight. Rubber pad is placed between the rail steel
and the sleeper to provide insulation, absorb vibrations and also increase the
30 coefficient of friction between the rail and the sleeper.
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5 Track fasteners are used as rail-fastening systems to fasten the rail steel to the
concrete sleeper. The fixing of the rail to the sleeper may be done directly or indirectly
with the help of the fastenings, but in the process the fastening is subjected to severe
vertical, lateral and longitudinal forces. The forces, which are predominantly dynamic,
increase rapidly with the increasing loads and speeds. In addition, vibrations are
10 generated by moving loads mainly on account of geometrical irregularities of track and
due to forces set up by the imbalance in the rolling stock. The traditional rigid
fastening, which has to certain extent fulfilled its task for quite some time, is not able
to meet the challenge of heavy dynamic forces effectively and, therefore, works out
loose under the high frequency vibration of the order of 800 to 1000 cycles per second
15 even at a moderate speed of 100 kmph. This type of fastening in fact is unable to hold
the rail to the sleeper firmly and with a constant pressure for a good length of time.
Due to shocks and vibrations caused by moving loads, the rigid fastenings get loose, an
interplay between the components of the track develops, track parameters get
affected and a rigid deterioration of the track starts. There is a need, as such, of a
20 fastening which can safeguard the track parameters and dampen the vibrations.
Elastic fasteners called elastic rail clips (ERC) are modern fasteners, are used to fasten
the rail steel to the concrete sleeper and allow for the dampening of the vibrations.
Different types of elastic rail clips are known, in particular screwed and non-screwed
25 clips.
The function of rail fastening system is to maintain the rail in position under the
normal stress conditions arising from use of the rails and from environmental stress
particularly thermal stresses. Another important function of using rail fastening
30 system is to reduce the rail creep. Rail creep is the tendency of the rail steel to move in
predominant direction of travel of trains on the rail track. Therefore, rail fastening
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5 system not only prevents lateral rail movement but also prevents axial movement or
rail creep.
Numerous attempts in past have been concentrated to reduce the rail creep, this
include increasing the hold down force of the rail clip on the rail flange or by
10 increasing the frictional resistance between the rail steel, the sleeper and the clip. The
rail fastening system reported in the prior art have many disadvantages like they
cannot withstand higher vibrations, cannot hold cyclic, torsional and dynamic stresses
and more lateral forces. The existing rail clips are unable to control the rail creep and
involves high cost of maintenance.
15
Therefore, there is a need for an elastic rail clip that is capable of withstanding higher
vibrations, cyclic, torsional and dynamic stresses and more lateral forces. There is a
need of a rail clip which can efficiently and effectively fasten the rail steel to the
concrete sleeper and allow dampening of the vibrations.
20 The present invention eliminates the problems and disadvantages of pre existing
elastic rail clip which is suitable for modern railway track requirement and quality
standard. It provides a security to railway track in theft prone areas, moreover it also
reduces the risk of accidents which are caused due to the easy stealing of elastic rail
clip. The locking system which is provided in the present invention not only solves the
25 problem of stealing the elastic rail clip, it also stands vibration in the track.
30
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-discussed
disadvantages inherent to the conventional rail clips.
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5 Another object of this invention is to provide an improved elastic rail clip with an
extended fastener at one end.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide an elastic rail clip with fastener,
where the fastener consist of threaded stud flared outwardly adapted to lock the clip
10 in position in the insert hole.
15
Yet another object of this invention is to provide an elastic rail clip that is capable of
withstanding higher vibrations, cyclic, torsional and dynamic stresses and more lateral
forces.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide an elastic rail clip locking mechanism
that prevents stealing in theft prone area.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an elastic rail clip that sustains static
20 and dynamic cyclic stresses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement in elastic rail clip. More particularly,
25 this invention relates to an improved elastic rail clip with a fastener at one end
wherein, the said fastener consists of various threaded stud flared outwardly adapted
to lock the clip in position within the insert.
In one aspect, the present invention aims at an elastic rail clip for fixing rail steel that
30 includes, a head arch having a front extended end which is further having various
threaded studs and an anchor fastener thereof for locking clip with the flange of the
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5 rail. A first front arch extending in one piece from the head arch and upwardly curved
in an oblique direction, a first toe extending in one piece from the first front arch and
having a bottom thereof contacting a top of a flange of a rail, a second front
arch extending in one piece from the first toe and upwardly curved in an oblique
direction, and a second toe extending in one piece from the second front arch and
10 having a top of a front end of thereof contacting front extended end of the head arch.
The extended end of the head is extended with plurality of cuts through center of
anchor fastener. The said cut anchor fastener consists of various threaded stud flared
outwardly inserted into an insert shoulder of a base plate to lock the clip in position on
the insert hole.
15 In another aspect, the present invention is providing a rail clip manufactured in the
form of a hole drilled through the end of the clip which can be easily and cheaply
produced by undercutting and drilling. The extended cut anchor fastener section of
the rail clip is in the horizontal plane and adapted to lock the clip in position on the
flange of the rail. This design enables an improved locking mechanism of rail clip with
20 the flange of the rail
In another aspect, the present invention provides an anchor fastener consisting of
various threaded stud flared outwardly which are preferably arranged to achieve the
permanent retention of such shape by the rail clip end by oil hardening and tempering
the clip. The centre of the cuts are preferably arranged to lock inwardly to guide the
25 clip into the correct position and also to enable insertion of a portion of the clip into
the slots. The undercut hole on the extended end of the clip is produced in one step
clip drilling and undercutting. The undercut hole geometry and depth is standardized
by means of the gauge.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention
30 will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed
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5 description, which, taken in conjunction with the drawings, discloses preferred
embodiments of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
10 The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following
detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the
accompanying drawings.
FIG.l is a perspective view illustrating an elastic clip in accordance with the present
15 invention.
20
FIG.2 is a perspective view illustrating machined end of the clip.
FIG.3 is a perspective view illustrating hole drilled through centre of pin.
FIG.4 is a perspective view illustrating the diagonal saw ends.
FIG.S is a perspective view illustrating the modification in the shape of the head of the
device, using tapered pin, so as to achieve permanently outwardly flared shape after
25 using appropriate tempering and hardening techniques.
FIG.6 is perspective views illustrating a rail fixed using an elastic clip for fixing a railway
rail according to an embodiment of the present invention.
30 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present
invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be
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5 understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional
changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the present
invention.
As shown in Fig.1, an elastic clip 1 with anchor fastener includes a head arch 2 having a
front extended end 3 having threaded studs 4 and an anchor fastener hole 5 thereof
10 for locking clip with the flange 11 of the rail 12. A first front arch 6 extending in one
piece from the head arch 2 and upwardly curved in an oblique direction, a first
toe 7 extending in one piece from the first front arch 6 and having a bottom thereof
contacting a top of a flange 11 of a rail 12, a second front arch 8 extending in one
piece from the first toe 7 and upwardly curved in an oblique direction, and the heel
15 9 extending in one piece from the second front arch 8 and having a top of a front end
of thereof contacting front extended end 3 of the head arch 2.
As shown in Fig.1, the elastic clip 1 in accordance with the present invention having a
structure in which the head arch 2, front extended end 3, the first front arch 6, the
20 first toe 7, the second front arch 8, and the heel 9 are formed in one piece. The front
extended end 3 is inserted into the insert shoulder 10 of the liner 13 of the pre
stressed concrete sleeper 14.
As shown in Figs.2 & 3, a fastener hole 5 is drilled at the front extended end 3 of the
25 head arch 2 through the machine drilling process. The centre of the cuts are preferably
arranged to lock inwardly to guide the clip into the correct position and also to enable
insertion of a portion of the clip 1 into the slots. The undercut hole 5 on the extended
end 3 of the clip 1 is produced in one step clip drilling and undercutting. The undercut
hole 5 geometry and depth is standardized by means of the gauge.
30
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5 As shown in Figs.4 & 5, two diagonal cuts made into the extended end using
appropriately thick saw blade. Various threaded studs 4 flared outwardly by using
tapered pin 15 which are preferably arranged to achieve the permanent retention of
such shape by the rail dip end by oil hardening and tempering the clip 1.
10 As shown in Fig.6, the perspective views illustrating a· rail12 fixed using an elastic dip
for fixing a railway rait 12 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
For installation of the rail12 of the elastic clip 1 for fixing a railway rail, the extended
end 3 of the head arch 2 of the elastic clip 1 is inserted into the insert shoulder 10
15 embedded in the pre stressed concrete Sleeper 14.
Thus, threaded studs 4 extend and are locked at that position and an elastic force is
applied to the first toe 7 in a state where the elastic clip 1 is installed in the insert
shoulder 10 to allow the top of the flange 11 of the rail12 to be pushed down.
20 Accordingly, the rail12 can be firmly fixed underneath liner 13.
It should be noted that the remaining structure and locking mechanism of the rail
clip is similar to that existing in prior arts and as such no further description shall be
given.
25 It should be understood that the embodiments described above are merely exemplary
and that modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the
present invention. For example, the rail clip of the present invention is shown in
accordance with the current standard of railway system. However, the rail clip may be
modified in any desired shape and configuration. Additionally, one or more of the rail
30 clip described above may alternatively include a different structure, or any other
structure.
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5 It is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to just the
preferred embodiment disclosed, but that the invention described herein is capable of
numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from
the scope of the claims hereafter.

CLAIMS
I Claim:
1. An elastic rail clip with anchor fastener comprising:
a) a head arch (2);
b) a first front arch (6);
c) a toe (7); and
d) a second front arch (8)
wherein:
the said head arch (2) having a front extended end (3) having threaded studs (4) and an
anchor fastener head (5) thereof for locking the rail clip (1) with the hole of the insert
shoulder (10), whose body is embedded in the concrete sleeper (14); and
the entire structure of the said rail clip (1) in which the head arch (2), front extended end
(3), the first front arch (6), the toe (7), the second front arch (8), and the heel (9) are
formed in one piece.
2. The elastic rail clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said front extended end (3) is
inserted into the insert shoulder (10) of the concrete sleeper (14).
3. The elastic rail clip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said front extended end (3) is drilled
to undercut a fastener head (5) through the machine drilling process.
4. The elastic rail clip as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said fastener head (5) undercuts are
preferably arranged to lock inwardly to guide the clip into the correct position and also to
enable insertion of a portion of the clip (1) into the slots.
11
5. The elastic rail dip as daimed in daim 1, wherein the said threaded studs (4) are flared
outwardly to adiieve the permanent retention of sud) shape by the rail dip (1) end by oil
hardening and tempering the dip.
6. The elastic rail dip as claimed in daim 2, wherein the said fastener head (5) and the said
threaded studs (4) are symmetric.
7. The elastic rail dip as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said fastener hole (5) has a slant
angle of the threaded studs (4) portion and the insertion portion is at an angle in the
compressed state.
8. An elastic rail dip as substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings and the foregoing description.