DESC:Cross references to related applications
The present application relates to and claims priorities from the provisional applications 202141010339 filed on 11 March 2021, and 202141023102 filed on 24 May 2021.
Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to a threadless rail fastening assembly for fastening a rail in a rail seat and more particularly, to an assembly having a clip to fasten a rail to a rail seat and a rail pad provided between the rail and the rail seat to provide damping to the rail.

Background

Generally, a rail fastening assembly is a critical assembly in a rail track structure. The rail track structure may include rails adapted to be seated at rail seats and elastomer pads provided on the rail seats. Usually, rail fasteners, such as clips are provided to fasten the rails on the rail seats. The rail fasteners are adapted to hold the rails in position with respect to the rail seats and transfer forces from the rail to supporting structures, like sleepers, track slabs, plinths, or beams. Further, the rail fasteners may provide required elasticity and attenuate majority of noise and vibrations emanating from rail-wheel interactions. Also, the rail fasteners may resist vertical uplift forces acting on the rails. Generally, the rail fasteners are thoroughly engineered components, especially, the rail fasteners can be steel springs / clips /clamps and elastomeric pads.

Current threadless rail fasteners in use are dominantly either Elastic Rail Clip (ERC) or e-clip type or fasT / Z-Clip type. However, such fasteners may involve one or more limitations, such as the conventional fasteners may have less flexibility and may be prone to vandalism and sub-optimal utilization of components of the fasteners. Also, the conventional fasteners have limitations in the functional performance and maintenance requirements.

Further, the elastomer pads may be provided on the rail seats to absorb/damp some vibrations emanating from the rail-wheel interactions. However, the conventional elastomer pads fail to provide damping against wide range of frequency generated by the rail. Also, such conventional elastomer pads may not provide progressive incremental resistance for the rail dynamic loads acting on the rails.

Accordingly, there remains a need for an assembly provided with clips for fastening a rail in a rail seat. Further, there remains another need for a clip that provides optimal flexibility while fastening a rail in the rail seat. Furthermore, there remains another need for a rail pad provided between a rail and a rail seat to optimally damp the vibrations/frequency emanating from the rail-wheels interactions.

Summary

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention nor intended to determine the scope of the invention.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a rail-fastening clip for fastening a rail with a seat is provided. The clip includes a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion. The first portion includes an insert portion being a threadless fastening portion having a ridge portion adapted to be received in an insert formed in the seat, and a foot portion being a threadless fastening portion having a toe portion adapted to be directly or indirectly in contact with a foot of the rail. Further, the second portion being a first arch portion is angularly connected to the first portion and one end of the second portion is connected to a first end of the first portion. Further, the third portion is formed alongside to the first portion and connected to another end of the second portion. Here, the third portion rests through a heel portion on an insert shoulder of the insert. Furthermore, the fourth portion is connected to an end of the third portion such that the fourth portion in contact to the insert portion of the first portion to provide support or restraint to the third portion and enable the second portion to bear load acting thereon.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an assembly for fastening a rail in a rail seat is disclosed. The assembly includes a clip adapted to couple the rail in the rail seat, and a rail pad provided in between the rail and the rail seat. The rail pad includes a first elastomer provided in contact with a surface of the rail seat, a second elastomer provided in contact with a surface of the rail and a wavy steel part provided in between the first elastomer and the second elastomer.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of The Drawings

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figs. 1A-D illustrate various schematic views of a rail-fastening clip for fastening a rail with a rail seat, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates another schematic view of the clip for fastening the rail with the rail seat, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 3A-C illustrate schematic views of the clip for fastening the rail with the rail seat, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 illustrates another schematic view of the clip clip for fastening the rail with the rail seat, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 5A-D illustrate various schematic views of the clip clip for fastening the rail with the rail seat, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 6A-C illustrate exploded views of an assembly for fastening a in a rail seat, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 illustrates a top view of the assembly of Fig. 6B depicting a position of an insulator;

Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the assembly provided with the clip as depicted in Figs. 3A-C;

Fig.9 illustrates another perspective view of the assembly of Fig. 6C provided with the clip as depicted in Figs. 5A-C;

Fig. 10 illustrates a schematic view of the insulator of Fig. 6B;

Fig. 11 illustrates a schematic view of a threadless side post of Fig. 6A;

Fig. 12 illustrates a schematic view of the rail pad of Figs. 6A-C, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 13A-F illustrate various schematic views of a steel part of the rail pad of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 illustrates another schematic view of the rail pad of Figs. 6A-C having two dissimilar elastomer/rubber, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 15 illustrates another schematic view of the rail pad of Figs. 6A-C having same elastomer on both sides of the steel part, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 16 illustrates another schematic view of the rail pad of Figs. 6A-C having a steel mesh as the steel part, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”

The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.

More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there NEEDS to be one or more . . . ” or “one or more element is REQUIRED.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinary skill in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any feature and/or element described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1A-D illustrate various schematic views of a rail-fastening clip 100 for fastening a rail with a rail seat, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Particularly, Figs. 1A-B are perspective views of the rail-fastening clip 100, Fig. 1C is a top view of the rail-fastening clip 100, and Fig. 1D is a side view of the rail-fastening clip 100. The rail-fastening clip 100, hereinafter referred to as clip, is a threadless fastening clip adapted to fasten the rail with the rail seat. The clip 100 includes a first portion 102, a second portion 106, a third portion 110, and a fourth portion 112. In this example, one portion is connected to at least one another portion. As shown in detailed view of Fig. 1B, the first portion 102 includes an insert portion 104A and a foot portion 104B. Here, the insert portion 104A and the foot portion 104B are threadless fastening portions adapted to be connected to the rail seat and a rail foot, respectively.

Particularly, the insert portion 104A is having a ridge portion 104E adapted to be received in an insert formed in the rail seat. In other words, the insert is formed on the rail seat to receive the ridge portion 104E of the insert portion 104A. Further, the foot portion 104B is having a toe portion 104D adapted to be directly or indirectly in contact with a foot of the rail. In one example, the toe portion 104D may be directly in contact with the foot of the rail. In another example, the toe portion 104D may be in contact with an insulator or a side post provided on the foot of the rail, so that the toe portion 104D is indirectly in contact on the foot of the rail. In one example, the first portion 102 is a U-shaped portion, and the insert portion 104A and the foot portion 104B are in parallel with each other. In another example, the insert portion 104A and the foot portion 104B of the first portion 102 are offset to each other.

Further, the second portion 106 is angularly connected to the first portion 102. Here, the second portion 106 is a first arch portion angularly connected to an end of the first portion 102. Particularly, one end of the second portion 106 is connected to a first end 108A of the first portion 102, more particularly, to a first end of the foot portion 104B. Further, the third portion 110 is formed alongside to the first portion 102 and connected to another end of the second portion 106. In one example, third portion 110 is parallel to the insert portion 104A of the first portion 102. In another example, the third portion 110 is offset to the insert portion 104A of the first portion 102.

Further, the fourth portion 112 is connected to an end of the third portion 110 in such a way that the fourth portion 112 is in contact with the insert portion 104A of the first portion 102. In one example, the fourth portion 112 is perpendicularly connected to the end of the third portion 110 so that the fourth portion 112 can be in contact with the insert portion 104A. Here, the fourth portion 112 may provide support/reinforcement to the insert portion 104A of the first portion 102. The third portion 110 may be in contact with a shoulder of the insert when the clip 100 is fastened to the rail. In other words, the third portion 110 may rest on the shoulder of the insert when the clip 100 is fastened to the rail to the rail base.

Referring to Fig. 1A, the first portion 102 further includes a second arch portion 202 adapted to be connected between the insert portion 104A and the foot portion 104B at a bends 108B, 108D forming the U-shaped first portion 102. Particularly, the bends 108B, 108D are formed on an end of the insert portion 104A and the foot portion 104B. The second arch portion 202 is connecting the insert portion 104A with the foot portion 104B to form the U-shaped first portion 102 as shown in the detailed view in Fig. 1B. In one example, the insert portion 104A and the foot portion 104B of the first portion 102 and the second arch portion 202 are in a same plane. In another example, the insert portion 104A and the foot portion 104B of the first portion 102 and the second arch portion 202 are in different planes. Here, the second portion 106 and the second arch portion 202 are forming a twin-arch to bear the load acting thereon through the toe portion 104D and the heel portion 104C. Further, the second portion 106 is an angled arch portion positioned over or above the insert portion 104A of the first portion 102. In other words, the second portion 106 being the first arch portion is angled in such a way that the second portion 106 is bent over the insert portion 104A of the first portion 102. As the second portion 106 being an angled portion, the second portion 106 may be positioned in a plane above the first portion 102.

In this example, the heel portion 104C is defined at a point proximal to a connection between the second portion 106 and the third portion 110. Similarly, the toe portion 104D is defined in the foot portion 104B at a point proximal to the bend 108B of the first portion 102. Here, the ridge portion 104E is formed in the insert portion 104A in such a way that the ridge portion 104E is received in a hole formed in the insert (shown in the following figures). Further, the first portion 102 includes a protrusion 204 formed on an end 108C of the insert portion 104A. The protrusion 204 formed on the insert portion 104 is to prevent disengaging of the clip 100 when a longitudinal load from the rail is exerted on the clip 100. Further, the fourth portion 112 includes a slot 114 adapted to receive at least a part of the insert portion 104A of the first portion 102 to provide support or restraint to the third portion 110. In another example, at least part of the fourth portion 112 is in contact to the inert portion 104A of the first portion 102.

Fig. 2 illustrates another schematic view of the clip 100 for fastening the rail with the rail seat, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of brevity, features of the present disclosure that are already described in detail in the description of Figs. 1A-D are not described in detail in the description of Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the first portion 102 may be a V-shaped portion. Particularly, the insert portion 104A of the first portion 102 and the foot portion 104B of the first portion 102 are not parallel to each other. In other words, the insert portion 104A and the foot portion 104B are offset to each other. According to this embodiment, the first arch portion 202 is an angled portion connecting the insert portion 104A with the foot portion 104B at the bends 108B, 108D. As the position of the foot portion 104B is offset with the respect to the insert portion 104A, the toe portion 104D may be formed between the first end 108A of the first portion 102 and the second portion 106.

In one example of the present embodiment, the toe portion 104D may be in contact with the foot of the rail when the clip 100 is fastened to the rail. In another example of the present embodiment, the foot portion 104B may be in contact with the foot of the rail along its length when the clip 100 is fastened to the rail. In one example, the foot portion 104B of the first portion 102 is an angled portion. In such case the insert portion 104A and the foot portion 104B are in different planes. As the insert portion 104B is positioned at an angle with respect to the third portion 110, the second portion 106 may be positioned in such a way that it forms an angled arch connecting the insert portion 104B of the first portion 102 with the third portion 110. It is evident from Fig. 1C that the second portion 106 is angled portion position over the insert portion 104A of the first portion

Figs. 3A-C illustrate schematic views of the clip 100, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In this example, Fig. 3A is a schematic view of the clip 100 and Figs. 3B-C are schematic views of the clip 100 received in an insert 6001. According to the present embodiment, the first portion 102 is provided with the insert portion 104A, and the foot portion 104B having the toe portion 104D. Here, the toe portion 104D is adapted to be in contact with the foot of the rail. For the sake of brevity, features of the present disclosure that are already described in detail in the description of Figs. 1 to 2 are not described in detail in the description of Figs. 3A-BC. As shown in the detailed view in Fig. 3A, the first portion 102 is a U-shaped portion, particularly, the foot portion 104B of the first portion 102 is provided with the second arch portion 202 to form U-shaped first portion 102. In other words, the second arch portion 202 is angularly connected to the foot portion 104B in such a way that the foot portion 104B along with the second arch portion 202 forms the U-shaped first portion 102. In one example, the second arch portion 202 is an angled portion protruding from the plane of the foot portion 104B of the first portion 102.

Further, the insert portion 104A includes a first bent portion 302 and a second bent portion 304. The first bent portion 302 is connected to the third end 108C of the first portion 102 and the second bent portion 304 is connected to the first end 108A of the first portion 102. Here, the insert portion 104A is adapted to be received in a hole 6002 formed in the insert 6001 and the insert 6001 is formed on the rail seat. As shown in Fig. 3B, at least a portion of the first and second bent portions 302, 304 is adapted to be received in the insert 6001 formed in the rail seat. Further, the second bent portion 304 includes a slot 306 to receive at least a portion of the first bent portion 302. Particularly, the slot 306 is formed at a portion of the second bent portion 304, which is received in the hole 6002 formed in the insert 6001. In another example, the slot 306 may be formed on the first bent portion 302 adapted to receive a portion of the second bent portion 304. Further, at least a portion 308 of the first portion 102 is adapted to be directly or indirectly in contact on an insert shoulder 310 of the insert 6001 formed in the rail seat. As described above, the toe portion 104D of the foot portion 104B is adapted to be coupled/contacted with the rail foot, and the insert portion 104A of the first portion 102 is received in the insert 6001, so that the clip 100 can couple the rail with the rail seat. Further, the shape of the clip 100 makes sure uniform distribution of force along entire length of the clip 100, which makes the clip 100 is most effective and provide better damping when it fastened to the rail and the rail seat.

Fig. 4 illustrates another schematic view of the clip 100, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, the second arch portion 202 of the clip 100 is bent towards the heel portion, instead of the toe portion of the clip 100. Further, the fourth portion 112 may be an angled portion connecting from the third portion 110 to the insert portion 104A. Here, the fourth portion 112 may be positioned over the insert portion 104A as shown in Fig.4. Further, the fourth portion 112 may be interlocked with the insert portion 10A and the second arch portion 202.

Figs. 5A-D illustrate various schematic views of the clip 100, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. According to the present invention, the clip 100 is a threadless T-clip/Z-clip. Particularly, the Z-clip is shown in Fig. 5D. The clip 100, according to this embodiment, may include a pair of first bent portions 2003, a pair of second bent portions 2005, a third bent portion 2006, a pair of contact toe portions 2004, and a reaction hinge portion 2007. Here, the contact toe portions 2004 may be in contact with the rail foot of the rail and the second bent portion 2005 may positioned above the insert. Further, the hinge portion 2007 may be in contact with a threadless side post provided on the insert. Further, the first bent portions 2003 may be a twisted portion having open ends and faces of the open ends are perpendicular to the rail when the clip 100 coupled between the insert and the rail.

Further, the second bent portions 2005 may be sit on the rail foot, thereby the preload provided by the clip 100 is transferred to the rail. As a result, the rail is firmly fixed on the rail seat. Further, the first bent portions 2003, the second bent portions 2005 and the third bent portions 2006 are adapted to be bent for uniform distribution of bending stress and twisting stress due to pretension and uplift force from the rail. In such case, the third bent portion 2006 may undergo the bending stress, whereas the second bent portion 2005 may take torsion. Further, the hinge portion 2007 may rest on the threadless side post and provide a reaction point for the T / Z-Clip to transfer loads from the rail to the threadless side post. Further, the shape of clip 100 enables uniform distribution of force along entire length of the clip, which makes this clip 100 most effective and provides better damping.

Figs. 6A-C illustrate exploded views of an assembly 400 for fastening a rail 1001 in a rail seat 7001, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the assembly 400 is a rail assembly having various elements. The assembly 400 includes a rail pad 5001 and the clip 100 as described in the previous embodiments. For the sake brevity and clarity, features of the clip 100 that are described in detail in the description of Figs. 1A to 5C are not described in detail in the description of Figs. 6A-C. The assembly 400 generally includes the rail 1001, the clip 100, at least one threadless side post 3001, at least one central bush 4001, a rail pad 5001 and at least one insert 6001 as shown in Fig. 6A. In another embodiment, the assembly 400 may be provided with an insulator 1200 instead of the threadless side post 3001 as shown in Fig. 6B. In another embodiment, the assembly 400 may be provided with the clip 100 as disclosed in Figs. 5A-C. Such assembly 400 is shown in Fig. 6C as an exploded view.

Referring to Fig. 6A, the rail 1001 is an I-shaped rail having a foot 1002 to engage with the foot portion 104B of the clip 100 and a base portion 1003. Further, the rail pad 5001 is provided between the rail 1001 and the rail seat 7001. More particularly, the rail pad 5001 is provided between the base portion 1003 of the rail 1001 and the rail seat 7001. Generally, a rail track has a pair of rails, and each rail requires a pair of clips to fasten the rail into the rail seat.

Here, threadless side post 3001 is an engineered plastic component which adjusts lateral position of the rail 1001, transfers a lateral load and distributes rail rotation forces to the insert 6001. Also, the threadless side post 3001 provides an insulation between the clip 100 and the insert 6001 and provides liner adjustments. Further, the threadless side post 3001 may guide the clip 100 to position the heel portion 104C on the insert 6001. Also, the threadless side post 3001 may act as a through guide while fastening the clip 100 between the rail 1001 and the insert 6001. The threadless side post 3001 includes a groove portion 3002 and a channel 3003. Here, the groove portion 3002 rests on the insert 6001 to receive the third portion 110 of the clip 100 and the channel 3003 is adapted to receive the insert portion 104A of the clip 100 when the clip 100 is fastened between the rail 1001 and the insert 6001.

Further, the central bush 4001 is provided in-line to the hole 6002 of the insert 6001. The central bush 4001 is to receive the insert 104A of the clip 100 when the clip 100 is fastened between the rail 1001 and the insert 6001. In this example, the central bush 4001 is inserted into the insert 6001 and hold the end of the clip 100 at a required position. Also, the central bush 4001 provides an insulation between the clip 100 and the insert 6001. In this example, the central bush 4001 is provided with an eccentric hole that provides vertical adjustments to the clip 100 when the clip 100 is fastened to the rail 1001.

Referring to Fig. 6B, according to this embodiment, the insulator 1200 is provided in the assembly 400 instead of the threadless post. The insulator 1200 is provided in between the clip 100 and the foot 1002 of the rail 1001 to provide insulation to the clip 100. In one example, the insulator 1200 is made of a plastic material that provides insulation to the clip 100. Referring to Fig. 10, the insulator 1200 includes a resting portion 1201 and horn portions 1203. The resting portion 1201 is provided between the foot portion 104B of the clip 100 and the foot 1002 of the rail 1001 and the horn portions 1203 are adapted to lock with the insulator 1200 with the insert 6001 to prevent longitudinal movements of the insulator 1200 with respect to the insert 6001.

Fig. 7 illustrates a top view of the assembly 400 of Fig. 6B depicting the position of the insulator 1200. Further, the assembly 400 shown in Fig. 7 may be provided with the clip 100 as depicted in Figs. 1A-D. Also, Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the assembly 400 provided with the clip 100 as depicted in Figs. 3A-C. Furthermore, Fig. 9 illustrates another perspective view of the assembly 400 of Fig. 6C provided with the clip 100 as depicted in Figs. 5A-C. As evident from Fig. 7, the resting portion 1201 is position between the foot portion 104B of the clip 100 and the foot 1002 of the rail 1001. As described above, the foot portion 104B of the clip 100 may be indirectly in contact with the foot 1002 of the rail 1001 through the insulator 1200.

Referring to Figs. 6A-C, the rail pad 5001 is provided in between the rail 1001 and the rail seat 7001 to damping against wide range of frequency generated by the rail 1001. More particularly, the rail pad 5001 is provided in between the base portion 1003 of the rail 1001 and the rail seat 7001. In one example, the rail pad 5001 is made of two elastomers coupled together. In another example, the rail pad 5001 is made of single elastomer. Construction and features of the rail pad 5001 are explained with respect to the forthcoming figures.

Fig. 10 illustrates a schematic view of the insulator 1200 of Fig. 6B. As explained above, the resting portion 1201 is provided between the foot portion 104B of the clip 100 and the foot 1002 of the rail 1001 and the horn portions 1203 are adapted to lock with the insulator 1200 with the insert 6001 to prevent longitudinal movements of the insulator 1200 with respect to the insert 6001.

Fig. 11 illustrates a schematic view of the threadless side post 3001 of Fig. 6A. As described above, threadless side post 3001 is an engineered plastic component which adjusts lateral position of the rail 1001, transfers a lateral load and distributes rail rotation forces to the insert 6001. Also, the threadless side post 3001 provides an insulation between the clip 100 and the insert 6001 and provides liner adjustments.

Fig. 12 illustrates a schematic view of the rail pad 5001 of Figs. 6A-C. As described, the rail pad 5001 is made of elastomers. In this example, the rail pad 5001 includes a first elastomer 5002, a second elastomer 5002 and a steel part 5006. The first elastomer 5003 is provided in contact with a surface of the rail seat 7001 and the second elastomer 5002 is provided in contact with a surface of the rail 1001. Further, the steel part 5006 being a wavy steel is provided in between the first elastomer 5003 and the second elastomer 5002. Further, the first elastomer 5003 has two surfaces, one surface being in contact with the rail seat 7001 and another surface being in contact to the steel part 5006. Particularly, the first elastomer 5003 includes a first surface adapted to be in contact with the rail seat 7001 and a second surface adapted to be in contact with the steel part 5006. Further, the first surface of the first elastomer 5003 may be provided with a plurality of the lateral grooves 5004 to increase resilience of the rail pad 5001.

Similarly, the second elastomer 5003 has two surface, one surface being in contact with the base portion 1003 of the rail 1001 and another surface being in contact to the steel part 5006. In another example, the surface of the second elastomer 5002 contacting the base portion 1003 may be provided with the lateral groove 5004 to increase resilience between the rail pad 5001 and the rail 1001. In one example, the first elastomer 5003 and the second elastomer 5002 are made of same material. In another example, the first elastomer 5003 and the second elastomer 5002 are made of different materials.

Referring to Fig. 12, the rail pad 5001 comprises a pair of elongated members 5005 formed on the lateral sides of the rail pad 5001. Particularly, the elongated members 5005 are formed on the lateral sides of the first elastomer 5003 and the second elastomer 5002. Here, the lateral sides of the first elastomer 5003 and the second elastomer 5002 are the sides running parallel along the running direction of the rail 1001. In other words, the lateral sides of the first elastomer 5003 and the second elastomer 5002 are the sides facing the insert 6001. Further, the elongated members 5005 are adapted to be in contact with the insert 6001 formed in the rail seat 7001 to prevent displacement of the rail pad 5001 or to lock the rail pad 5001 with the insert 6001.

Further, at least one of the first elastomer 5003, the second elastomer 5003 and the steel part 5006 is having a wavy profile. In one example, the steel part 5006 is a wavy profiled part, whereas the first elastomer 5003 and the second elastomer 5003 are flat surfaces. In another example, the first elastomer 5003, the second elastomer 5003 and the steel part 5006 are having a wavy profile. Construction and different combination of the wavy profile in the rail pad 5001 are described with respect to the forthcoming figures.

Figs. 13A-F illustrate various schematic views of the steel part 5006 of the rail pad 5001 of Fig. 12. Fig. 13A illustrates a schematic view of the steel part 5006 having the wavy profile. As the steel part 5006 is of a wavy spring steel, the profile is provided with crests and troughs. Further, the steel part 5006 includes a plurality of holes 5010 formed through the crests and troughs of the wavy profile to enhance connection between the steel part 5006 and both the first and second elastomers 5003, 5004. Further, Fig. 13B illustrate a schematic view of the flat steel part 5006. In this example, the steel part 5006 is a flat surface part having a plurality of protruded arches 5012 to enhance connection between the steel part 5006 and both the first and second elastomers 5003, 5004. The protruded arches 5012 may be provided on both sides of the steel part 5006. In another example, the protruded arches 5012 may be formed on a side of the steel part 5006.

Fig. 13C illustrates another schematic view of the steel part 5006 having the wavy profile. Here, the steel part 5006 is provided with crest and trough ridges forming the wavy profile. Fig. 13D illustrates another schematic view of the steel part 5006 having a grilled wavy profile. Here, the steel part 5007 is made of a network of steel elements forming a mesh.

Figs. 13E-F illustrate other schematic views of the steel part 5006 having wavy and flat profiles having cavities. Referring to Fig. 13E, the steel part 5006 is the wavy profiled part having cavities 5014 and holes 5016 formed on both surfaces of the steel part 5006. Referring to Fig. 13F, the steel part 5006 is a flat profiled part having the cavities 5014 and the holes 5016 formed on both surfaces of the steel part 5006.

Fig. 14 illustrates another schematic view of the rail pad 5001 of Figs. 6A-C having two dissimilar elastomer/rubber, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first elastomer 5003 and the second elastomer 5002 are of different materials. Further, the first elastomer 5003 is having a wavy profile on both surfaces of the first elastomer 5003, and the second elastomer 5002 is having the wavy profile on the second surface of the first elastomer 5003 and a flat profile/surface on the first surface of the first elastomer 5003. Further, the wavy profiles of the first elastomer 5003 and the second elastomer 5002 is complementary to the wavy profile of the steel part 5006.

Fig. 15 illustrates another schematic view of the rail pad 5001 of Figs. 6A-C having same elastomer on both sides of the steel part 5006, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first elastomer and the second elastomer are commonly referred to as an elastomer 5003, as both the first and second elastomers are of same material. Here, the elastomer 5003 is having flat surface/profile on both surfaces, and the steel part 5006 is of the wavy profile or corrugated profile.

Fig. 16 illustrates another schematic view of the rail pad 5001 of Figs. 6A-C having a steel mesh as the steel part 5006, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figs. 13D and 12, the steel part 5006 is made of the steel mesh provided in between the first elastomer 5003 and the second elastomer 5002. In this example, the surface of the second elastomer 5002 facing the steel part 5006 is of the wavy profile and the surface of the second elastomer 5002 facing away from the steel part 5006 is a flat surface as shown in Fig. 16. Further, both surfaces of the first elastomer 5003 is a flat surface. In another example, the surface of the first elastomer 5003 facing the steel part 5006 is of the wavy profile and the surface of the first elastomer 5003 facing away from the steel part 5006 is a flat surface.

Here, the rail pad 5001 is a composite elastomer/rubber pad having the soft elastomers. Further, elastomers having same material with the steel part provides double resilient to the rail pads 5001. In case the elastomer is having different material and stiffness, the elastomer along with the steel part provides triple resilient to the rail pads. Further, laterals grooves in the elastomers 5002, 5004 are in a lateral transverse direction to the rail 1001 to have effective utilization of the rail pad 5001 for different frequency damping. As described, wavy formed spring steel part 5006 in combination with the elastomers may provide effective damping against wide range of frequency generated by the rail Also, it provides progressive incremental resistance for the rail dynamic loads.

While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.
,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A rail-fastening clip (100) for fastening a rail with a seat, comprising:
a first portion (102) including:
an insert portion (104A) being a threadless fastening portion having a ridge portion (104E) adapted to be received in an insert formed in the seat; and
a foot portion (104B) being a threadless fastening portion having a toe portion (104D) adapted to be directly or indirectly in contact with a foot of the rail;
a second portion (106) being a first arch portion angularly connected to the first portion (102), wherein one end of the second portion (106) is connected to a first end (108A) of the first portion (102);
a third portion (110) formed alongside to the first portion (102) and connected to another end of the second portion (106), wherein the third portion (110) rests through a heel portion (104C) on an insert shoulder of the insert; and
a fourth portion (112) connected to an end of the third portion (110) such that the fourth portion (112) in contact to the insert portion (104A) of the first portion (102) to provide support or restraint to the third portion (110) and enable the second portion (106) to bear load acting thereon.

2. The rail-fastening clip (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion (102) comprising a second arch portion (202) adapted to be connected between the insert portion (104A) and the foot portion (104B) at a bends (108B, 108D) forming a U-shaped first portion (102).

3. The rail-fastening clip (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fourth portion (112) comprises a slot (114) adapted to receive at least a part of the insert portion (104A) of the first portion (102) to provide support or restraint to the third portion (110), wherein the second portion (106), and the second arch portion (202) are forming a twin-arch to bear the load acting thereon through the toe portion (104D) and the heel portion (104C).

4. The rail-fastening clip (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first portion (102) comprising a protrusion (204) formed on an end (108C) of the insert portion (104A) to prevent disengaging of the clip (100) when a longitudinal load from the rail is exerted on the clip (100).

5. The rail-fastening clip (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second portion (106) is an angled arch portion positioned over or above the insert portion (104A) of the first portion (102).

6. The rail-fastening clip (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
the first portion (102) including the foot portion (104B) having the toe portion (104D) adapted to be in contact to the foot of the rail, and the insert portion (104A) comprising:
a first bent portion (302) connected to the third end (108C) of the first portion (102), wherein at least a portion of the first bent portion (302) is adapted to be received in the insert formed in the seat; and
a second bent portion (304) connected to the first end (108A) of the first portion (102) and adapted to be received in the insert formed in the seat, wherein the second bent portion (304) comprises a slot (306) to receive at least a portion of the first bent portion (302).

7. The rail-fastening clip (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first portion (102) comprises a second arch portion (202) angularly connected to the foot portion (104B) to form a U-shaped first portion.

8. The rail-fastening clip (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least a portion (308) of the first portion (102) is adapted to be in contact directly or indirectly on an insert shoulder (310) of the insert (6001) formed in the seat.

9. An assembly (400) for fastening a rail in a rail seat, comprising:
a clip (100) as claimed in claim 1 to 8 and adapted to couple the rail (1001) in the rail seat (7001); and
a rail pad (5001) provided in between the rail (1001) and the rail seat (7001), wherein the rail pad (5001) comprises:
a first elastomer (5003) provided in contact with a surface of the rail seat (7001);
a second elastomer (5002) provided in contact with a surface of the rail (1001); and
a wavy steel part (5006) provided in between the first elastomer (5003) and the second elastomer (5002).

10. The assembly (400) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first elastomer (5003) comprises a first surface adapted to be in contact with the rail seat (7001) and a second surface adapted to be in contact with the steel part (5006), wherein the first surface of the first elastomer (5003) comprises a plurality of lateral grooves (5004) to increase resilience of the rail pad (5001).

11. The assembly (400) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first elastomer (5003), and the second elastomer (5002) are made of either same material or different materials.

12. The assembly (400) as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a pair of elongated members (5005) formed on the lateral sides of the rail pad (5001) and adapted to be in contact with an insert (6001) formed in the rail seat (7001).

13. The assembly (400) as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of the first elastomer (5003), the second elastomer (5002) and the steel part (5006) having a wavy profile.

14. The assembly (400) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second surface of the first elastomer (5003) is of wavy profile and the first surface of the first elastomer (5003) is a flat surface.

15. The assembly (400) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the surface of the second elastomer (5002) facing the steel part (5006) is of wavy profile and the surface of the second elastomer (5002) facing away from the steel part (5006) is of a flat surface.

16. The assembly (400) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the wavy profiled steel part (5006) comprises a plurality of holes (5010) formed through crest and trough of the wavy profile.

17. The assembly (400) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the steel part (5006) is provided with a plurality of protruded arches (5012) formed on both sides of the steel part (5006) to increase connection between the steel part (5006) and both the first and second elastomers (5003, 5002).

18. The assembly (400) as claimed in claim 9, comprising:
at least one threadless side post (3001) provided alongside of the rail, wherein the threadless side post (3001) comprising a groove portion (3002) rests on the insert to receive the third portion (110) and a channel (3003) adapted to receive the insert portion (104A); and
at least one central bush (4001) provided in the insert (6001) and adapted to receive the insert portion (104A).

19. The assembly (400) as claimed in claim 9, comprising an insulator (1200) provided in between the clip (100) and the foot of the rail to provide an insulation to the clip (100), wherein the insulator (1200) comprises a resting portion (1201) provided between the foot portion (104B) of the clip (100) and the foot of the rail (1001), and horn portions (1203) adapted to lock the insulator (1200) with the insert (6001) to prevent longitudinal movements of the insulator (1200).