US3796369A

US3796369A - Rail fastening devices

Info

Publication number: US3796369A
Application number: US00254856A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Faville
Original assignee: Kins Developments Ltd
Current assignee: Kins Developments Ltd
Priority date: 1972-05-19
Filing date: 1972-05-19
Publication date: 1974-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-12

Abstract

A device for use in securing a rail to a supporting means having a portion overlying and engaging the rail flange and a second portion overlying a supporting surface. The second portion has at least one engagement portion for engaging in the supporting surface and is adapted to be secured to supporting surface whereby rotational movement of the device is resisted.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Faville Mar. 12, 1974 [5 RAIL FASTENING DEVICES 2,134,750 11/1938 Clark 238/349 2,161,259 6/1939 Lindsay 238/349 [75] Londmi 2,257,923 10/1941 Verplanck 238/283 England 2,252,515 8/1941 Landis 238/283 [73] Assignee: Kins Development Limited, Surrey,

- E l d Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch [22] F'led: May 1972 Attorney, Agent, or FirmBrisebois & Kruger [21] Appl. No.: 254,856

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. 238/349, 238/283 A vi for use in securing a rail to a supporting [51] Int. Cl E0lb 9/30 m n having a portion overlying and engaging the rail [58] Field of Search"; 238/349, 310, 283, 338, fl nge nd a second portion overlying a supporting 238/342, 340, 350, 343 surface. The second portion has at least one engagement portion for engaging in the supporting surface [56] Refer Cit d and is adapted to be secured to supporting surface UNITED STATES A whereby rotational movement of the device is resisted. 3,552,649 l/l97l Burwell 238/349 9 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDIAR 12 I914 31796" 369 sum 1 or 3 FIG. 4.

RAIL FASTENING DEVICES This invention relates to improvement in the mounting of rails on supporting means; the supporting means being for example a girder or gantry.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for use in securing a rail for wheeled machinery or rolling stock to a supporting means comprising a first portion for overlying and engaging a portion of the rail and a second portion for overlying the supporting means, characterised in that the second portion has a surface for facing a surface of the supporting means and at least one engagement portion extending from that surface for engaging in the surface of the supporting means, said second portion being adapted to be secured to said supporting means, whereby when the device is secured to the supporting means rotational movement of the device is resisted.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described,

by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

-FIG. 1 shows a rear elevation of one embodiment of a device for holding a rail relative to a supporting means, when unstressed;

FIG. 2 shows part of a side view of the device of FIG. 1 when unstressed;

FIG. 3 shows a rear elevation of the device of FIG. 1 when stressed;

FIG. 4 shows part of a side of the device of FIG. 1 when stressed;

FIG. 5 shows a side elevation of a second embodiment of a device for holding a rail relative to a supporting means;

FIGS. 6 A, and 6 B show the device of FIG. 5 in plane and end elevation, respectively,

FIGS. 7 A, and 7 B show in plane and side elevation, respectively, a third embodiment for a device for holding a rail relative to a supporting means;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show a section of FIG. 6 A, showing one system for testing the rail mounting by the present invention;

FIGS. 9 A, and 9 B show a second system for testing rail mounting; and

FIGS. 10 A, and 10 B show a third system for testing the rail mountings.

The device of FIGS. 1 to 4 is formed by a generally rectangular plate 1 of high grade spring steel, e.g., carbon steel. One edge (front edge) of the plate is planar and, in use is arranged to overlie and press down on the flange of the rail. Intermediate the front and rear edges there is a single aperture spaced centrally of the sides, for receiving a bolt on which a nut is screwed by which the plate is attached to the rail supporting structure, the bolt being welded to the supporting structure. The corner portions 3, 4 of the rear edge are bent downwards out of the plane of the plate, the plate being thus effectively bowed upwards so that, when the sheet is bolted down, these pointed corners dig into the surface of the supporting structure to locate the plate against rotational movement. Correct tensioning of the bolt is obtained by providing the plate with a depressed portion or dimple 2 at its rear edge'portion. When the plate is unstressedthe lower surface of the dimple 2 lies above the plane including the ends of the comers 3, 4. When the bolt is correctly tensioned the lower surface of the dimple 2 comes into contact with the surface of the supporting structure.

The above described device has the particular advantage in that only one bolt is required to attach it to the supporting structure, rotational movement of the plate around the bolt being prevented by the positive engagement of two portions 3, 4 of the plate in the surface of the supporting structure.

A number of these devices are secured to the supporting structure at intervals along the length of the rail and on either side of the rail.

However, the device of FIGS. 5, 6A and 68 also is formed by generally rectangular plate 10 of high grade spring steel. This is arranged to overlie and press down on the flange 15 of a rail. The device is located on a bolt 16 by nut 17, the bolt being welded to the supporting structure 18. The

corner portions

13, 14 of the rear portion of the plate are bent downwards out of the plane of the plate along lines 10a, extending between 'the rear and adjacent side edges thereof such that the corners dig into structure 18 to-locate the plate against rotational movement. Correct tensioning of the bolt is obtained by providing a member or pack 19 of resiliently deformable material, inserted between the flange and the device at its front edge. The plate is provided with one or more apertures 20 into which the pack 19 is deformed on tensioning of the bolt; the correct tensioning being obtained when the effective volume of the aperture is changed by a predetermined amount as hereinafter described.

The device of FIGS. 7A and 7B is different to that of FIGS. 1 and 5 in that it is formed of a generally pentagonal plate 31 of high grade steel. In use, the front edge 31a is arranged to overlie and press down on the flange of the rail, while a single rear corner 31b is bent downwards out of the plane of the plate. Thus, the comer 3lb will dig into the surface of the supporting structure to locate the device against rotational movement when the plate is bolted down by a tensioning bolt passing through aperture 35. As with the device of FIG. 5, a member or pack of resiliently deformable material is positioned between the plate and the rail flange, and correct tensioning is determined by displacement of the pack into an aperture in the plate. One form of tensioning system is depicted in FIGS. 8A and 8B, in which a member or pack 19 or resiliently deformable material is inserted between the rail flange l5 and the plate 10 of the device. That of the plate which overlies the flange of the rail is provided with an aperture 20 into which part of the pack 19 intrudes to a greater or lesser extent when the clip is bolted down to the structure supporting the rail, for example a gantry or girder, dependent on the bolt tension. A gauge which, as shown, comprises two

parts

42, 43 is provided having

protruberances

42a, 43a of different lengths which are shaped to fit into the aperture 20. In operation if the protruberance 43a of gauge 43 fits completely into the aperture 20 then the bolt 26 is too loose. If the pack intrudes into the aperture to the extent that the protruberance 42a of gauge 42 exactly fits into the aperture with the adjacent surface of the gauge 42 in contact with the upper surface of the clip then the tensioning is correct. The bolt has been too greatly tensioned if the gauge 42 does not fit completely into the aperture 20.

In a second system, shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the pack 19a is provided with a shaped recess 44 which, when the plate 10a is bolted down on flange 15a, is compressed and distorted. If the bolt is correctly tensioned a gauge 45 will just fit into the distorted recess.

In a third system shown in FIGS. A and 10B, the pack 19b is narrower than the plate 10b. If the tensioning of the plate is correct a portion 46a of gauge 46 will fit into the gap between the plate 10b and flange b. If the portion 46b of gauge 46 fits into the gap or portion 46a does not fit into the gap the tension is too small or too great. As an alternative the extent of deformation of the pack 19b can be determined by measuring the extent to which it bulges into the gap.

The pack is made of an elastomeric material, for example, an oil resistance fairly hard rubber such as neoprene.

I claim:

1. A construction comprising a rail for wheeled machinery or rolling stock, supporting means for the rail, said rail being mounted on said supporting means by a spring plate secured to the supporting means and holding the rail relative thereto, the spring plate comprising a first portion overlying and engaging a portion of said rail and a second portion overlying the supporting means, the second portion having a surface facing said supporting means and at least one engagement portion extending from said surface and engaging in the surface of the supporting means, said second portion being secured to said supporting means, whereby rotational movement of the spring plate is resisted, a resiliently deformable member between said first portion of the first member and said portion of the rail, said spring plate being secured to the supporting means by securing means adjustable to vary the force with which said spring plate holds the rail relative to the supporting means, one of the spring plate and resiliently deformable member having an aperture the volume of which is changed on deformation of the resiliently deformable member whereby the extent of deformation of the second member can be determined to determine the force.

2. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second portion has two spaced engagement portions, a connection securing said second portion to said supporting means intermediate said engagement portions.

3. A construction as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second portion is generally planar, said engagement portions being bent out of the plane of the second portion, and said second portion being provided with a further portion extending out of the plane of said second portion and contacting the supporting means.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second portion has a single engagement portion and is secured to the supporting means by a single connection intermediate that engagement portion and an edge of the first portion remote from that engagement portion. 5. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first portion of the spring plate is provided with an aperture into which the resiliently deformable member intrudes to an extent dependent on said force the extent of intrusion being determinable.

6. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resiliently deformable member is provided -with a shaped recess whose shape is deformed to an extent dependent on said force, the extent of deformation of the shape being determinable. v

7. A construction according to claim 1 wherein said resiliently deformable member is made of oil-resistant elastomeric material.

8. A method of mounting a rail ona supporting means comprising the steps of positioning the rail on the supporting means, placing a first member to'overlie a portion of the rail, positioning a second resiliently deformable member between said first member and said portion of the rail, securing the first member to the supporting means so that the first member exerts a force on said rail to deform the deformable member and hold the rail relative to the supporting member, and further including the step of measuring the extent of said deformation of the second deformable member to determine said force by measuring the extent of intrusion of the second member into an aperture in the portion of the first member overlying the second member, said force being adjustable to give'a predetermined deformation of the second defonnable member.

9. A method of mounting a rail on a supporting means comprising the steps of positioning the rail on the supporting means, placing a first member to overlie a portion of the rail, positioning a second resiliently deformable member between said first member and said portion of the rail, securing the first member to the supporting means so that the first member exerts a force on said rail to deform the deformable member and hold the rail relative to the supporting member, and further including the step of measuring the extent of said deformation of the second deformable member to determine said force by measuring the extent of deformation of the shape of a shaped recess in the second member, said force being adjustable to give a predetermined deformation of the second deformable member.

Claims

4. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second portion has a single engagement portion and is secured to the supporting means by a single connection intermediate that engagement portion and an edge of the first portion remote from that engagement portion.

5. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first portion of the spring plate is provided with an aperture into which the resiliently deformable member intrudes to an extent dependent on said force the extent of intrusion being determinable.

6. A construction as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resiliently deformable member is provided with a shaped recess whose shape is deformed to an extent dependent on said force, the extent of deformation of the shape being determinable.

8. A method of mounting a rail on a supporting means comprising the steps of positioning the rail on the supporting means, placing a first member to overlie a portion of the rail, positioning a second resiliently deformable member between said first member and said portion of the rail, securing the first member to the supporting means so that the first member exerts a force on said rail to deform the deformable member and hold the rail relative to the supporting member, and further including the step of measuring the extent of said deformation of the second deformable member to determine said force by measuring the extent of intrusion of the second member into an aperture in the portion of the first member overlying the second member, said force being adjustable to give a predetermined deformation of the second deformable member.