[0001] The present invention relates to a steel tie for incorporation in a rail track.
[0002] It is known to provide tie plates between the rails and the ties or sleepers of rail
track in order to provide a sacrificial wear surface for the rail. However, known
tie plates are not as easy or convenient to install as is desirable. Usually, they
require the use of separate fasteners such as bolts or spikes for attaching them to
the tie.
[0003] AU-A-73638/74 discloses a metal rail sleeper or tie having an I-sectional configuration
capable of providing rail support and having means for increasing resistance to lateral
movement of the sleeper provided at at least one end of the sleeper and extending
transversely to the longitudinal axis of the sleeper. The tie disclosed in AU-A-73638/74
requires a considerable depth of ballast to engage the tie and resist lateral movement.
[0004] According to the present invention there is provided a steel tie for incorporation
in a rail track, comprising a generally horizontal oblong rectangular plate member
for connection transversely of the rail and having a lower surface for bearing on
ballast and for restraining vertical rail movement and a web member extending generally
vertically on the underside of the plate member and generally parallel to and spaced
inwardly from the longer sides of the plate member, characterised in that the web
member has a free lower end suitable to be embedded in ballast and serving to restrain
longitudinal rail movement.
[0005] An end or ends of the plate member may be bent downwardly to provide restraint against
lateral tie movement, or, in a preferred form, at least one ballast engaging plate
member may be connected to the tie on its underside and facing generally transversely
of the rail for restraining lateral tie movement.
[0006] With the preferred form of tie of the invention, the elements that provide vertical,
longitudinal and lateral restraint respectively have in effect been separated into
three distinct elements each of which can be designed substantially independently
of the others to provide the required motion restraint and other characteristics.
The tie is well adapted to distribute stress and mitigate stress concentrations. A
further advantage is that the structure of the tie lends itself readily to conventional
stress analysis techniques, for example finite element stress analysis so that the
elements and the structure as a whole can be engineered to provide for satisfactory
stress management.
[0007] With the preferred tie of the invention, the horizontal plate member bears on the
ballast and can serve to provide sufficient bearing area to maintain ballast stresses
at desired low levels. The web structure can serve to ensure adequate shear stiffness
for the tie. Preferably, the web structure comprises one or more webs the lower edge
or edges of which is or are thickened or bulbous, since it has been found that this
reduces stress concentrations in the tie. The bent over end or ends of the plate member,
or the ballast engaging plate member or members provide restraint against lateral
buckling of the track under compressive or thermal forces, centripetal train faces
on curves, partial uplift of track between heavy axles or combinations of these. In
the preferred form, the ballast engaging plate member or members are concave on the
side facing forwards or adjacent end ofthe tie to provide increased lateral strength,
and have a portion or portions passing upwardly through the horizontal plate member
and are located relative to the plate member, for example by bending or twisting the
end portions or by using cotter pins or like pins passed through holes in the portions
upstanding above the horizontal plate member. A portion of the ballast engaging plate
member or members is preferably seated in and located in a notch in a lower edge of
a web member. This preferred arrangement provides a simple and highly effective connection
between the ballast engaging plate member or members and the tie. The tie may have
a ballast engaging plate member adjacent each end and, if the end plate members do
not provide sufficient lateral restraint in a given application an intermediate plate
may be provided at a point the preferred location of which may desirably be determined
with the aid of stress analysis.
[0008] The tie of the invention may be used with a resilient tie clip comprising a base
having at least one generally laterally facing abutment surface adapted to engage
a generally laterally facing abutment surface of a tie plate, for resisting lateral
pressure on the clip, an intermediate portion extending upwardly and laterally from
the base and adapted to pass through an opening in a tie plate shoulder, and an end
portion extending laterally from the intermediate portion and downwardly for lodging
resiliently on an upper surface of a rail flange.
[0009] A preferred form of the invention has a tie plate with opposing longitudinal edges,
longitudinally extending shoulders spaced inwardly from such edges adapted to accommodate
a rail flange therebetwen and an opening in each shoulder. This may be used in combination
with a resilient rail clip having an end portion extending inwardly through each opening
and adapted to bear resiliently on an upper side of the flange for restraining the
rail against vertical movement, and a base portion extending outwardly from the opening
and adapted to bear on a bearing surface. Such bearing surface may be a part of the
tie plate or of the rail tie. This combination provides increased stability and greatly
reduces or eliminates risk of rail rollover, to which known plate and clip devices
have been prone, owing to the clip acting as a first order lever with the upper side
of the opening acting as a fulcrum and upward movement of the rail flange being resisted
by the reaction of the bearing surface. Further, upward movement of the rail flange
may be limited by closure of the spacing between the upper side of the rail flange
and the lower edge of the clip and this distance can be made small. As a result rotation
of the base of the rail can be transferred to the tie plate which may be anchored
at a point spaced a distance laterally from the rail, so that the moment of the force
resisting rail rollover is considerably increased.
[0010] The above noted aspects of the invention are described in more detail hereinafter,
by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig 1 is an isometric view of a first form of tie in accordance with the invention;
Figs 2 and 3 are plan and side view, respectively, of the tie of Fig 1;
Fig 4 is a cross section taken on the line IV-IV in Fig 3;
Fig 5 is an isometric view showing rail fastening means of the tie of Figs 1-3;
Fig 6 shows the shoulder portions and locking pins for the fastening means of Fig
5;
Fig 7 shows a cross section on an enlarged scale taken on the line VII-VII in Fig
3;
Fig 8 is a cross sectional view showing various forms of tie supported on ballast
and illustrating the ballast requirements thereof;
Fig 9 is an isometric view of a preferred form of tie plate in accordance with the
invention;
Figs 10 and 11 are isometric views of a further form of plate in unassembled and assembled
condition, respectively;
Fig 12 is an end view, partly in section showing successive stages in the application
of a plate in accordance with Figs 10 and 11 to a plate member of a tie;
Fig 13 is an isometric view of a preferred form of clip;
Fig 14 is an end view partly in section of preferred forms of tie plate and clip applied
to a plate member of a tie;
Fig 15 is an end view, partly in section, of a preferred form of plate and clip applied
to a wooden tie;
Fig 16 is a partial side view, partially in section showing a further form of tie
plate and clip in accordance with the invention;
Figs 17 and 18 are isometric views of further preferred forms of tie plate in accordance
with the invention;
Fig 19 is a partial view illustrating application of a preferred tie plate to a preferred
form of rail tie;
Fig 20 is an isometric view of a preferred rail tie adapted to receive preferred tie
plates;
Fig 21 is a partial isometric view of a short section of rail engaged by further preferred
forms of tie plate and rail clip;
Fig 22 is an end view partially in section showing a tie having the tie plate and
clip of Fig 21 applied thereto;
Fig 23 is a partially isometric view showing a tie and tie plate and a further preferred
form oftie clip;
Fig 24 is a partial cross section through the tie, plate and clip of Fig 23; and
Fig 25, which appears on the same sheet as Fig 16 is a side view, partly in section,
showing a further modified form of tie plate and clip.
[0011] Referring first to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7, a steel
tie 20 comprises a generally horizontal oblong rectangular plate member 21 which is
for connection transversely of the rails of which a short section of one rail is indicated
at 22 in Figures 1 and 2. Web structure extends generally vertically on the underside
of the plate member 21. In the example of Figures 1 to 7, the web structure comprises
a web member 23 extending substantially centrally between the longer sides of the
plate member 21. Preferably, in order to alleviate strains to which the tie is subjected
in use, the plate member 21 increases in thickness from each longer edge inwardly
toward the web member 23. For example, in one preferred form, the lower side 21a of
the member 21 slopes inwardly downwardly at an angle of about 2°. The lower side of
the member 21 joins with the web member 23 through a smooth arcuate transition portion
21b. Preferably, in order to reduce stresses to which the tie is subjected in use,
the lower edge of the web member 23 is formed with a bulbous portion 24, the edges
of which merge smoothly with the sides of the web member 23, as best seen in Fig.
7.
[0012] In the preferred form of tie shown in the drawings, the horizontal member 21 provides
sufficient bearing area to minimize ballast stress. The web member 23 ensures adequate
shear stiffness whereas the bulbous portion 24 at the base of the web member 23 carries
tensile and compressive stresses arising from bending of the tie.
[0013] To fasten the rails such as rail 22 to the ties, shoulder members 26 are provided.
The shoulder members 26 hold the rail 22 with the aid of conventional clip members,
for example Universal Pandrol clips 26a as shown. As will be appreciated, however,
the structure of the invention is adapted to cooperate with various forms of rail
fastening devices. In the example shown in Figs. 1 to 7, a pair of the shoulder members
is employed on each side of each rail 22. Each shoulder member 26 has two leg portions
that extend through slots formed in the horizontal plate member 21. The leg members
27 anchor beneath the plate member 21 through application of locking pins 28 inserted
through openings 29 in each leg member 27. In the preferred form, to provide for desired
inward cant of the rails 22, cant plates 31 are employed between the shoulder members
26 and the upper side of the horizontal plate member 21. The plates 31 are provided
with slots to receive the leg members 27. It may be noted that cant plates 31 of any
desired degree of tilt may be incorporated into the fastening means. For example,
some railroads use 1:20 cant plates and others 1:40 cant plates. The tie according
to the present invention does not need to be specially deformed to provide for either
type of rail seat cant. The cant plates 31 which are sandwiched between the rails
22 and the plate member 21 also serve as sacrificial wear plates that are considerably
easier and substantially less expensive to replace than an entire tie. If desired,
in order to provide improved distribution of stress through the tie, the cant plates
may be crowned in the direction longitudinal of the rails 22. Such crowning of the
cant plates is indicated somewhat exaggeratedly and schematically by the broken line
32 in Fig. 7. Such crowning may desirably provide for point contact between the inclined
or canted rails 22 and the cant plate 31. Such point loading may improve the distribution
of stress and mitigate stress concentrations.
[0014] The tie 20 may be provided with at least one ballast engaging plate member such as
a member 33 connected to the tie on its underside and facing generally transversely
of the rail 22 for restraining lateral tie movements. To provide for added lateral
strength, the plates 33 are preferably curved, to provide a concavity on the side
facing transversely outwardly towards the end of the tie 20. Each plate member 33
is connected to the tie 20 through a three point securement. The upper end of each
plate member 33 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending end portions 34 passing
through slots 34a formed symmetrically of the medium of the plate member 21 that extends
transversely of the rail, for transferring lateral forces between the portions 34
and the plate member 21. The slots are, accordingly, preferably formed symmetrically
on each side of the web member 23. Cotter pins 36 or like retaining pins may be passed
through holes 35 in the upper end portions 34 to locate the plate members at each
of two upper points adjacent the upper side of the plate member 21. Alternatively,
the end portions 34 extending above the plate member 21 may be bent over or twisted
to locate them relative to the plate member 21. The third retaining point for each
plate member 33 is provided in the examples shown in Figs. 1 to 7 by a notch 37 formed
in the lower side of the bulbous portion 24 of the web member 23. Each plate member
33 is formed with a slot in its upper side, as seen in Figure 7, through which the
web member 23 extends. A portion 39 of the plate member adjacent the lower end of
the slot 38 lodges in the notch 37.
[0015] The plates 33 are preferably connected in the ends of the tie 20 at areas where the
stresses applied are very low. A further advantage of the present design is that the
size of the plates 33 can be increased or decreased at will by substituting differently
sized plates for the plates 33 in order to provide greater or smaller ballast-engaging
area or to match the required lateral track stability in a given application.
[0016] Alternatively, instead of providing separate plates 33, an end or both ends of the
plate member 21 may be bent over downwardly to provide restraint against lateral movement.
In such case, the end portion or portions of the web member 23 are cut away, and the
end or ends of the plate member bent down preferably to abut against the cut ends
of the web member 23.
[0017] Where the lateral stability provided by the end plates 33 is not sufficient, one
or more intermediate ballast-engaging plates 41 may be located in the middle span
of the tie 20 to provide extra lateral strength to the tie 20 and to brace the web
member 23 against transverse buckling. The exact location of the intermediate plate
or plates 41 to avoid undesired stress concentrations may be determined by conventional
stress analysis methods. In the example shown, the intermediate plate member 41 is,
similarly to the plate members 33, retained by a three point securement wherein cotter
pins 42 are passed through holes in upper end portions 43 of the plate member 41 upstanding
through slots formed through the horizontal plate member 21 on either side of the
web 23, and a lower portion of the plate 41 is located in a notch 44 formed in the
bulbous portion 24 at the bottom edge of the web 23.
[0018] Figure 8 shows cross-sections of various forms of tie supported on ballast 51 dispqsed
on a ground or grade surface 52. In the case of a wood tie 53, a minimum depth "d"
of ballast 51 is required below the bearing or ballast engaging surface 54. An additional
depth of ballast "a" is required to engage the sides 56 and ends of the tie 53 to
restrain longitudinal and lateral movements, respectively. Similarly, with a known
form of steel tie 57, an additional depth of ballast "a" is required above the bearing
surface 58 to engage surface 59 resisting longitudinal movement and surfaces above
bearing surface 58 resisting lateral movements. With a known trough shape steel tie
61 a smaller additional ballast depth "c" may be required below surface 62 which transmits
part of the downward force to the ballast, but there may be difficulties in introducing
ballast into the cavity of the trough 61. With the preferred form of tie 20 of the
invention it is relatively easy to introduce ballast below the plate member 21, and
the web member 23 and plates 33 resisting longitudinal and lateral movements extend
below the bearing surface 21a so that an additional depth of ballast is not required.
[0019] Fig. 9 shows a tie plate 410 adapted to be formed by conventional rolling and punching
processes from sheet steel stock, or by casting-and comprising two elements 410a and
410b which in use interengage along a line 411.
[0020] Figures 10 to 12 show a similar tie plate 420 which is adapted to be formed by conventional
rolling processes or by conventional casting processes and comprises two elements
420a and 420b similar to elements 410a and 410b, respectively, except for some differences
noted below. As best seen in Figs. 10 and 11 the interengaging portions are similar
on each element and comprise a rectangular longitudinally opening recess 412 and an
oppositely directed longitudinally extending rectangular tongue 413, the tongue 413
of each element 410a and 410b, or 420a and 420b, fitting snugly into the recess 412
of each other element.
[0021] When in the assembled condition shown in Fig. 9 or 19 the plate 410 or 420 has two
longitudinally extending shoulders 414 for receiving, as seen in Figs.14 and 15 a
flange 416 of a rail 417 snugly therebetween.
[0022] A laterally outer longitudinal edge 418 of each element 410a and 410b or 420a and
420b is formed with longitudinally spaced formations for engaging a plate member 419
of a steel tie. Each formation comprises a downwardly extending leg 421 and a projection
422 extending laterally therefrom. In the preferred form as shown, each projection
extends laterally outwardly to facilitate application of the plate elements 410a and
410b, or 420a and 420b, to plate member 419 in the manner indicated in Fig. 12. Each
element 410a, 410b or 420a, 420b is received in a pair of longitudinally spaced slots
formed through the plate member 419 of the steel tie, for example by punching. One
slot 423a and 423b of each pair is seen in the cross-section of Fig. 12. The width
of each slot 423a and 423b is approximately equal to the thickness of the metal of
the legs 421 and projections 422 and its length is approximately the length of each
leg 421 and projection 422, so that these latter fit through the slots 423a and 423b
with a small clearance. As seen in solid lines in Fig. 12 each element 410a, 410b,
or 420a, 420b is applied in an upright position with its projection 422 received in
the slots and is rotated inwardly downwardly as seen in successive stages in broken
lines in Fig. 12 so that in the installed position the portions 412 ana 413 interengage
as seen in Fig. 9 and the projections 422 lodge under the plate 419.
[0023] Preferably, a tie 20, 120, 220, or 320 as described above with reference to Figs.
1 to 8 is modified by punching slots such as the slots 423a and b through its plate
member, so that it is used as plate 419 with the tie plates 410 or 420 as described
above. Other forms of steel tie may be used however with less advantage. For example
BHP steel ties as available from BHP Rail Products (Canada) Ltd., Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada may be used.
[0024] As will be appreciated each edge 418 may have a single leg 421 and projection 422
extending continuously along it or along a portion, for example a central portion,
or may have more than two legs 421 each parallel with a projection 422, engaging corresponding
slots in the plate 419.
[0025] In the installed position, projections 422 resist upward movement of the plate 410
or 420 relative to the plate member 419 of the tie, and the legs 421 resist lateral
and longitudinal movement. Lateral stresses imposed by a rail flange on one shoulder
414 are transmitted through the interengaging formations 412 and 413, so that the
legs 421 on each element 410a and 410b, or 420a and 420b share the lateral loads.
[0026] As noted above, the plate member 21 of the tie 20 varies continuously in thickness
since it tapers from the central web member 23 outwardly to each longer edge. This
is highly advantageous since as a result there is a unique position of tie plate such
as tie plate 410, relative to the plate member 21, at which the thickness of the plate
member 21 matches the height of the legs 421, or, more accurately, the vertical distance
between the lower sides of the elements 410a and 410b and the upper sides of the projections
422. Therefore, when installed, the tie plate such as plate 410 tends to adopt this
unique or equilibrium position and the arrangement increases the stability of the
location of the plate 410 relative to the tie 20 against movement in the direction
extending longitudinally of the rail 417.
[0027] In the example shown in Fig. 9 each shoulder 414 is formed with a longitudinally
horizontally elongated opening 424 for receiving a rail clip as described in more
detail later with reference to Figs. 13 to 15.
[0028] The tie plates 420 of Figs. 10 to 12, however, have channel-like longitudinally extending
recesses 414a which can receive a limb of a conventional rail clip such as a PANDROL
(trademark) rail clip for retaining a rail flange such as flange 416 on the plate
420.
[0029] It may be noted that between the shoulders 414, each plate 410 or 420 provides a
planar upper side 426 which preferably is inclined or canted in the lateral direction
relative to a planar lower side 427, to provide for desired inward cant of the rails
417.
[0030] Fig. 13 shows a rail clip 430 having a longitudinally elongated generally rectangular
base portion 428 with a planar lower side 429. Each end is formed with a downwardly
extending tab 431 which is spaced inwardly from an laterally outer side edge 432 of
the base 428. An intermediate portion 433 inclines laterally inwardly and upwardly
from the base 428 to a transition portion 434 curving downwardly to provide a convex
upper side and an end portion 436 curving upwardly to provide a convex lower side
437.
[0031] Figure 14 shows a two part tie plate 440 similar to that described above in detail
with reference to Figs. 17 to 20 and installable on a tie 419 formed with slots therethrough
in the same manner as described above with reference to Fig. 12. The elements 440a
and 440b in this case are preferably formed by casting.
[0032] Each shoulder 414 is formed with a horizontally longitudinally elongated slot 424
through it. Each slot 424 preferably tapers in width in the laterally inward direction,
as seen in side view in Fig.14, to facilitate inward driving of the end portion 436
of a clip 430 as described above with reference to Fig. 13. At this point it may be
noted that, in the embodiment of Fig. 9, the slot opening 424 formed through each
shoulder 414 tapers in width inwardly again with the object of facilitating or guiding
inward movement of the end 436 of a clip 430.
[0033] In Figs. 9 and 14, the plate 410 or 440 includes planar web members 441 extending
laterally between the shoulders 414 and the longitudinal edges 418 that are punched
or otherwise formed with a pair of openings 442 spaced apart longitudinally to receive
the spaced tabs 431 of the clip 430.
[0034] In use, after installation of the plates 410 or 440 on a tie such as ties 20, 120,
220 or 320 and after laying of rail 417 on the plates, the end portions 436 of the
clips 430 are introduced through the openings 424 and are driven inwardly for example
by pressure or blows applied on the outer edge 432 to the installed position seen
in Fig. 22 wherein the tabs 431 snap into the openings 442 and the lower side of the
end portion 436 of the clip 430 bears on the upper side of the rail flange 416. Preferably
each opening 424 has its length approximately the same as the width of the portion
433 of the clip 430 so that the clip 430 lodges in the tie plate 410 or 440 with little
longitudinal play or clearance.
[0035] In the installed position as seen in Fig. 14, the transition and end portions 434
and 436 are deformed upwardly relative to the intermediate portion 433, the upper
side of which bears on the upper side of the opening 414. The line or area of contact
between the side of the opening 414 and the clip portion 433 acts as a fulcrum with
the result there is a resilient reaction tending to urge the transition and end portions
434 and 436 firmly downwardly to engage the said flange and to urge the base portion
428 downwardly, resulting in the snapping of the tabs 431 into the openings 442 as
the clip 430 is driven inwardly. In use, tabs 431 serve as abutment members the lateral
flanks of which provide oppositely and laterally facing abutment surfaces engaging
the opposing laterally facing sides of the openings 442 and serving to resist lateral
displacement of the clips 430 relative to the tie plate 440.
[0036] In the event of a reaction applied to the rail 417 tending to rotate it about its
longitudinal axis, rotation of the rail is limited by the laterally outer end or toe
of the rail flange A engaging the underside B of the intermediate portion 433 of the
clip 433. Further upward reaction is transferred direct to the shoulder 414, upward
movement of which is resisted by projection 422 engaging the plate 419 of the tie
member. As a result there is a large moment or torque resisting rotation of the rail
417, the length of the arm of which torque is substantially the distance between the
projection 422 and the shoulder 414.
[0037] Further, even in the event that the transition and end portions 434 and 436 are stressed
beyond their elastic limit and become deformed so that they no longer bear resiliently
on the flange 416, the clips 430 are retained positively on the plate 410 or 440 as
a result of the reaction between the clip portion 433 and the opening 414 tending
to urge the tabs 431 downwardly into the openings 442, so that the clips 430 will
continue to resist rail rollover in the manner described above.
[0038] Fig. 15 shows a further example of a tie plate 450, similar to the plate 440 except
it is formed as a single piece, for example by casting, suitable for installation
on a concrete or wooden tie. In this case, the web members 441 extend a distance beyond
the openings 442 and each are provided with openings 443 through which anchor members
444 may pass. Each web member 441 may have a set of, for example, two or three openings
443 spaced longitudinally along the member 441, for receiving conventional fasteners.
Such fasteners may be spike members 446, for example, driven into a wooden tie or
sleeper 447. The openings 443 may also receive studs or other conventional cast in
place anchors of a concrete tie, for example.
[0039] As will be appreciated, the one piece tie plate 450 in combination with the clips
430 tends to resist rail rollover by limiting rotation of the toe A of the rail flange
and transferring such rotational forces to the plate 450, so that the forces are resisted
by the large moment applied by the spike 446 or other fastener spaced laterally outwardly
a considerable distance from the toe A.
[0040] Fig. 16 shows a partial view of a further form of tie plate 460 and clip 470. The
tie plate 460 is adapted to be formed by casting. Laterally outwards of each shoulder
414, the plate 460 is forned with a reaction shoulder 461, on the upper side of which
the base portion 471 of the clip 470 rests. The shoulder 461 may extend longitudinally
a distance somewhat greater than the width of the base portion 461. In this example
the upper side of the reaction shoulder 461 is formed with one or more upstanding
studs 462 which are preferably circular in section and snap into holes 472 formed
in the clip 470 when the clip 470 is driven inward through the opening 424 to bear
on the upper side of the rail flange 416, thereby providing abutment members and openings
providing cooperating lateral abutment surfaces resisting displacement of the clip
470 under lateral pressure.
[0041] The opening 424 in the shoulder in this example does not taper in width but has parallel
upper and lower sides 424a and 424b.
[0042] The plate form clip 470 has an upswept intermediate portion 473 which in the installed
position is deformed resiliently and bears on the upper side 424a of the opening while
a downswept end portion 474 is deformed resiliently and bears resiliently on the upper
side of the rail flange 416.
[0043] As before, rotation of the toe A of the rail 417 is transferred by the clip 470 to
the plate 460. The line on which the portion 473 of the clip 470 bears on the shoulder
414 in this case is inside the opening 424 intermediate its ends with the result that
the bearing area increases with the loading applied to the clip 470 by the rail 417.
[0044] As will be appreciated the plate 460 may be a two-part plate similar to those described
above with reference to Figs. 9 to 12 and 14 or may be a one-piece plate as described
above with reference to Fig. 23.
[0045] Fig. 17 shows a modification of the tie plate 460 formed as a two-part plate having
elements 460a and 460b which unite along a line 411 inclining, for example at 45°,
to the longitudinal direction of the rail. As best seen in Fig. 27, each element 460a
and b has a rectangular stud 476 on its underside which engages in a corresponding
rectangular opening 477 punched in the plate member 21 of tie 20 on installation in
order to increase the stability of location of the plate 460 relative to the tie 20,
and especially resisting lateral forces. It may be noted the tie 20 in Fig. 19 is
modified in that it has a planar lower face 24a on the bulbous or thickened portion
24.
[0046] Fig. 18 shows a further modified two part tie plate 478, wherein each shoulder 414
is at a lateral edge of the respective element 478a or b for use with a tie clip engaging
directly with the tie, such as a tie 20, as seen in Figs. 28 to 31. Further, the elements
478a and b are formed with locating and force-resisting studs 479, circular in this
example, which are of different sizes, and at each rail position on plate member 21
there is a pair of corresponding differently sized openings 481, so that the tie plates
478 can be installed only in a given orientation, usually with each canted surface
426 facing inwardly of the rail track, with a view to avoiding misinstallation.
[0047] Figs. 21 and 22 show the use of the tie plate 478 with a resilient steel plate form
tie clip 482 having a base portion 483 engaging the upper side of the plate member
21, and an intermediate portion 484 curving downwardly and inwardly to an upswept
end portion 486. Inwardly from the base portion 483, the clip includes an inwardly
and downwardly inclining locking portion 487 which in the installed position as seen
in Fig. 22 snaps into an opening or pocket 488 formed in the upper side of the plate
member 21. In installation, the end portion 486 is inserted loosely manually into
the opening 424 and the rear of the intermediate portion 484 is given blows with a
driving tool such as a hammer or slug to drive clip 482 inwardly toward the position
shown in Fig.22. As the end portion 486 is urged upwardly as it rides on the upwardly
inclining surface of the rail flange 416, and the intermediate portion 484 is compressed
more strongly as it progressively enters the opening 424, there is a strong downwardly
compressive reaction at the base 483 and locking portion 487, so that the latter snaps
into the pocket 488 when it reaches the installed position. The clip 482 can be removed
if desired by levering upwardly on the clip between the base portion 483 and locking
portion 487 using a bar like tool.
[0048] Referring to Figs. 23 to 24, a plate-form resilient tie clip 489 is used together
with tie plate 478. The clip has a spiral-section portion 491 of which a bight or
base portion 492 engages the plate member 21 of the tie 20 or other steel tie having
a generally planar upper member. The clip 489 has an upwardly concave intermediate
portion and a downwardly and then upwardly inwardly swept end portion 494. In installation,
the end portion 494 is inserted loosely in the opening 424 and the clip 489 is driven
inwardly with blows from a hammer or like driving tool. As the downwardly swept portion
494a enters the opening 424 there is a strong compressive reaction with the upper
side of the opening 424, so that as the clip 489 is driven inwards it snaps to the
installed position wherein the concave portion 493 is received in the opening 424.
The clip 489 is flexed strongly resiliently by the compressive forces acting at the
lines of contact between the upper side of the opening 424 and the upwardly concave
portion 493 and there is a strong compressive reaction between the base portion 492
and the plate member 21.
[0049] It may be noted that in the event of upward rotation of the toe A of the rail flange
416, the clip 489 functions as a first class or first order lever wherein the clip
489 pivots about its point or area of contact with the upper side of the opening 424
which acts as a fulcrum, so that the upward force exerted by the toe A on the end
portion 494 is counterbalanced by the upward reaction of the plate member 21 on the
base portion. The same first order lever action also occurs with the clips 430 of
Figs. 13 to 15, 470 of Fig. 16 and 482 of Figs. 21 and 22, wherein the area of contact
between the clip and the upper side of the opening 424 acts as a fulcrum. The stresses
exerted on the clip in this first order lever action can be made much less than are
possible with second or third order lever arrangements as occur with known rail tie
clips.
[0050] In a further modification, instead of having a clip such as the clip 430, 470, 482
or 489 pass through an opening, such as the opening 424, in the shoulder such as shoulder
414, of the tie plate as in the embodiments shown in Figs. 11 and 14 to 24, the shoulder,
as seen in Figure 33, may be formed to be generally T-shape, as indicated at 414a
as viewed laterally from the side of the tie plate 440a, with the upright of the T
connected to the tie plate. The end portion of the clip 430a that engages on the rail
flange is in such case formed with a slot extending longitudinally inwardly from the
end of the clip 430a, so that, when the clip 430a is driven inwardly, the upright
of the T 414a enters progressively into the slot, and the upper side of the clip on
either side of the slot engages on the underside of the adjacent horizontal limb of
the T in the same manner that the above mentioned clips engage on the upper side of
the opening 414.
[0051] The T members 414a need not be disposed laterally opposite one another centrally
of the plate 440a and may be longitudinally offset from one another. Similarly, the
openings 424 in the embodiments of Figs.9 and 14 to 24 may be longitudinally offset
from one another along the tie plate, and the shoulder portions 414 may be of a length
somewhat less than the length of the tie plate.
1. A steel tie (20) for incorporation in a rail track, comprising:
a generally horizontal oblong rectangular plate member (21) for connection transversely
of the rail (22) and having:
a lower surface for bearing on ballast and for restraining vertical rail movement;
and a web member (23) extending generally vertically on the underside of the plate
member (21) and generally parallel to and spaced inwardly from the longer sides of
the plate member (21);
characterised in that the web member has a free lower end (24) suitable to be embedded
in ballast and serving to restrain longitudinal rail movement.
2. A tie (20) according to claim 1 wherein the web member (23) extends substantially
centrally of the horizontal plate member (21).
3. A tie (20) according to claim 1 or 2 having at least one ballast engaging plate members
(33,41) connected to the tie (20) on its underside and facing generally transversely
of the rail (22) for restraining lateral tie movement.
4. A tie (20) according to claim 3 having a ballast engaging plate member (33) adjacent
each end of the tie (20).
5. A tie (20) according to claim 3 or 4 wherein at least one ballast engaging plate member
(33) is curved to provide a concavity on the side facing transversely outwardly towards
the end of the tie (20).
6. A tie (20) according to any of claims 3 to 5 having a ballast engaging plate member
at an intermediate region of the tie.
7. A tie (20) according to any of claims 3 to 6 wherein the or each ballast engaging
plate member (33,41) is separately formed from the rectangular plate member (21) and
web member (23) and is connected to the tie (20) on its underside and is detachably
connected to said tie (20).
8. A tie (20) according to any of claims 3 to 7 wherein the or each ballast engaging
plate member (33, 41) has at least one upper end portion (34,43) passing through an
opening (34a) in the horizontal plate member (21).
9. A tie (20) according to claim 8 wherein the upper end portion (34,43) is provided
with means (36) adapted to resist withdrawal of the upper end portion (34,43) from
said opening (34a).
10. A tie (20) according to any of claims 3 or 9 wherein the web member (23) extends through
a slot (38) in the upper side of the or each ballast engaging plate member (33,41).
11. A tie (20) according to claim 10 wherein the lower edge of the web member (23) is
notched (37) adjacent the or each ballast engaging plate member and a portion of the
ballast engaging plate member adjacent the lower end of the slot (38) lodges in the
notch (37).
12. A tie (20) according to any preceding claim wherein the lower end portion of the web
member (23) is of increased thickness as compared with an upper portion of the web.
13. A tie (20) according to claim 12 wherein the web member (23) has a bulbous lower edge
(24).
14. A tie (20) according to any preceding claim in combination with means for fastening
a rail relative to the horizontal plate member (21) comprising a pair of shoulder
members (414) for abutting opposite sides of the rail (22) respectively, and each
shoulder member (414) having at least one hook-in leg (421) for passing through an
aperture (442) in the horizontal plate member (21) of the tie and for engaging with
the lower side of the horizontal plate member (21).
15. A tie according to claim 14 wherein each hook-in leg (421) has a laterally extending
portion for engaging the lower side of the horizontal plate member (21).
16. A tie according to claim 14 or 15 wherein each shoulder member (414) has an abutment
portion upstanding therefrom having an opening (424) therethrough providing a downwardly
facing abutment surface for reaction with a rail clip (430).
17. A tie according to claim 16 wherein said abutment portion is box-form and said opening
(424) therethrough is bounded by a continuous upper wall (424a) providing said downwardly
facing abutment surface.
18. A tie according to claim 16 or 17 wherein a lower side of said opening comprises an
upwardly laterally inwardly inclining ramp portion (424b).
19. A tie according to any of claims 16 to 18 wherein each shoulder member (414) has a
seating portion (461) extending laterally outwardly from the abutment portion and
having a lower side bearing on the plate member and an upper side formed with a pit
for locating a rail clip (430).
1. Stahlschwelle (20) zum Einbau in eine Eisenbahnschiene, die folgendes umfaßt:
ein allgemein horizontales längliches rechteckiges Plattenglied (21) zur Verbindung
quer zur Schiene (22), das folgendes aufweist:
eine untere Oberfläche zum Aufliegen auf Bettungsmaterial und zum Einschränken vertikaler
Schienenbewegung;
und ein Stegglied (23), das sich allgemein vertikal auf der Unterseite des Plattenglieds
(21) und allgemein parallel zu den längeren Seiten des Plattenglieds (21) und nach
innen davon beabstandet erstreckt;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Stegglied ein freies unteres Ende (24) aufweist,
das dazu geeignet ist, im Bettungsmaterial eingebettet zu werden, und das dazu dient,
eine Schienenbewegung in Längsrichtung einzuschränken.
2. Schwelle (20) nach Anspruch 1, bei der sich das Stegglied (23) relativ zum horizontalen
Plattenglied (21) im wesentlichen mittig erstreckt.
3. Schwelle (20) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, die zur Einschränkung einer seitlichen Schwellenbewegung
mindestens ein in das Bettungsmaterial eingreifendes Plattenglied (33, 41) aufweist,
das an der Unterseite der Schwelle (20) mit der Schwelle (20) verbunden ist und allgemein
in eine Richtung quer zur Schiene (22) weist.
4. Schwelle (20) nach Anspruch 3, die angrenzend an jedes Ende der Schwelle (20) ein
in das Bettungsmaterial eingreifendes Plattenglied (33) aufweist.
5. Schwelle (20) nach Anspruch 3 oder 4, bei der mindestens ein in das Bettungsmaterial
eingreifendes Plattenglied (33) gekrümmt ist, um auf der Seite, die in Querrichtung
nach außen auf das Ende der Schwelle (20) zu weist, eine Konkavität bereitzustellen.
6. Schwelle (20) nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 5, die ein in das Bettungsmaterial eingreifendes
Plattenglied in einem zwischenliegenden Bereich der Schwelle aufweist.
7. Schwelle (20) nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 6, bei der das bzw. jedes in das Bettungsmaterial
eingreifende Plattenglied (33, 41) getrennt von dem rechteckigen Plattenglied (21)
und dem Stegglied (23) gebildet ist und auf der Unterseite der Schwelle (20) mit der
Schwelle (20) verbunden ist und abnehmbar mit der Schwelle (20) verbunden ist.
8. Schwelle (20) nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 7, bei der das bzw. jedes in das Bettungsmaterial
eingreifende Plattenglied (33, 41) mindestens einen oberen Endabschnitt (34, 43) aufweist,
der durch eine Öffnung (34a) im horizontalen Plattenglied (21) geht.
9. Schwelle (20) nach Anspruch 8, bei der der obere Endabschnitt (34, 43) mit einem Mittel
(36) versehen ist, das dazu angepaßt ist, dem Zurückziehen des oberen Endabschnitts
(34, 43) aus der Öffnung (34a) Widerstand entgegenzusetzen.
10. Schwelle (20) nach einem der Ansprüche 3 bis 9, bei der sich das Stegglied (23) durch
einen Schlitz (38) in der oberen Seite des bzw. jedes in das Bettungsmaterial eingreifenden
Plattenglieds (33, 41) erstreckt.
11. Schwelle (20) nach Anspruch 10, bei der die untere Kante des Stegglieds (23) angrenzend
an das bzw. jedes in das Bettungsmaterial eingreifende Plattenglied eingekerbt (37)
ist und ein Abschnitt des in das Bettungsmaterial eingreifenden Plattenglieds angrenzend
an das untere Ende des Schlitzes (38) in der Kerbe (37) steckt.
12. Schwelle (20) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei der der untere Endabschnitt
des Stegglieds (23) verglichen mit einem oberen Abschnitt des Stegs eine vergrößerte
Dicke aufweist.
13. Schwelle (20) nach Anspruch 12, bei der das Stegglied (23) einen bauchigen unteren
Rand (24) aufweist.
14. Schwelle (20) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche in Kombination mit einem Mittel
zum Befestigen einer Schiene relativ zum horizontalen Plattenglied (21), welches ein
Paar Schulterglieder (414) zum Anstoßen an gegenüberliegende Seiten der jeweiligen
Schiene (22) umfaßt, wobei jedes Schulterglied (414) mindestens einen Einhakeschenkel
(421) zum Durchgang durch eine Öffnung (442) im horizontalen Plattenglied (21) der
Schwelle und zum Eingreifen in die untere Seite des horizontalen Plattenglieds (21)
aufweist.
15. Schwelle nach Anspruch 14, bei der jeder Einhakeschenkel (421) einen sich seitlich
erstreckenden Abschnitt zum Eingreifen in die untere Seite des horizontalen Plattenglieds
(21) aufweist.
16. Schwelle nach Anspruch 14 oder 15, bei der jedes Schulterglied (414) einen Anstoßabschnitt
aufweist, der davon hochsteht und eine Öffnung (424) dadurch aufweist, die eine nach
unten weisende Anstoßoberfläche zur Rückwirkung auf eine Klemmplatte (430) bereitstellt.
17. Schwelle nach Anspruch 16, bei der der Anstoßabschnitt kastenförmig ist und die Öffnung
(424) dadurch von einer ununterbrochenen oberen Wand (424a) begrenzt wird, die die
genannte nach unten weisende Anstoßoberfläche bereitstellt.
18. Schwelle nach Anspruch 16 oder 17, bei der eine untere Seite der genannten Öffnung
einen nach oben, seitlich und nach innen geneigten Rampenabschnitt (424b) umfaßt.
19. Schwelle nach einem der Ansprüche 16 bis 18, bei der jedes Schulterglied (414) einen
Sitzabschnitt (461) aufweist, der sich vom Anstoßabschnitt aus seitlich nach außen
erstreckt und eine untere am Plattenglied anliegende Seite sowie eine obere Seite
aufweist, die mit einer Vertiefung zum Plazieren einer Klemmplatte (430) ausgebildet
ist.
1. Traverse en acier (20) destinée à être incorporée dans une voie ferrée, comprenant
:
un élément de plaque de forme rectangulaire oblongue généralement horizontal (21)
destiné à être connecté transversalement au rail (22) et comportant :
une surface inférieure destinée à prendre appui sur un ballast et à limiter le déplacement
vertical du rail ; et
un élément d'âme (23) s'étendant de façon générale verticalement sur le côté inférieur
de l'élément de plaque (21) ainsi que de façon générale parallèlement aux côtés plus
longs de l'élément de plaque (21) et selon un espacement vers l'intérieur par rapport
à ceux-ci,
caractérisée en ce que l'élément d'âme comporte une extrémité inférieure libre (24)
adaptée pour être noyée dans le ballast et servant à limiter le déplacement longitudinal
du rail.
2. Traverse (20) selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle l'élément d'âme (23) s'étend
sensiblement centralement par rapport à l'élément de plaque horizontal (21).
3. Traverse (20) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, comportant au moins un élément de plaque
de coopération avec le ballast (33, 41) connecté à la traverse (20) sur son côté inférieur
et orienté de façon générale transversalement au rail (22) pour limiter le déplacement
latéral de la traverse.
4. Traverse (20) selon la revendication 3, comportant un élément de plaque de coopération
avec le ballast (33) adjacent à chaque extrémité de la traverse (20).
5. Traverse (20) selon la revendication 3 ou 4, dans laquelle au moins un élément de
plaque de coopération avec le ballast (33) est incurvé pour constituer une concavité
sur le côté orienté transversalement vers l'extérieur en direction de l'extrémité
de la traverse (20).
6. Traverse (20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 5, comportant un élément
de plaque de coopération avec le ballast au niveau d'une région intermédiaire de la
traverse.
7. Traverse (20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 6, dans laquelle l'élément
ou chaque élément de plaque de coopération avec le ballast (33, 41) est formé séparément
de l'élément de plaque rectangulaire (21) et de l'élément d'âme (23) et est connecté
à la traverse (20) sur son côté inférieur et est connecté de façon amovible à ladite
traverse (20).
8. Traverse (20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 à 7, dans laquelle l'élément
ou chaque élément de plaque de coopération avec le ballast (33, 41) comporte au moins
une partie d'extrémité supérieure (34, 43) qui passe au travers d'une ouverture (34a)
ménagée dans l'élément de plaque horizontal (21).
9. Traverse (20) selon la revendication 8, dans laquelle la partie d'extrémité supérieure
(34, 43) est munie d'un moyen (36) adapté pour résister au retrait de la partie d'extrémité
supérieure (34, 43) hors de ladite ouverture (34a).
10. Traverse (20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 3 ou 9, dans laquelle l'élément
d'âme (23) s'étend au travers d'une fente (38) ménagée dans le côté supérieur de l'élément
ou de chaque élément de plaque de coopération avec le ballast (33, 41).
11. Traverse (20) selon la revendication 10, dans laquelle le bord inférieur de l'élément
d'âme (23) est muni d'une encoche (37) adjacente à l'élément ou à chaque élément de
plaque de coopération avec le ballast et une partie de l'élément de plaque de coopération
avec le ballast adjacente à l'extrémité inférieure de la fente (38) est logée dans
l'encoche (37).
12. Traverse (20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle
la partie d'extrémité inférieure de l'élément d'âme (23) est d'une épaisseur augmentée
par comparaison avec une partie supérieure de l'âme.
13. Traverse (20) selon la revendication 12, dans laquelle l'élément d'âme (23) comporte
un bord inférieur renflé (24).
14. Traverse (20) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes en combinaison
avec un moyen pour fixer un rail par rapport à l'élément de plaque horizontal (21)
comprenant deux éléments d'épaulement (414) pour venir respectivement en butée contre
des côtés opposés du rail (22) et chaque élément d'épaulement (414) comportant au
moins un jambage en crochet (421) pour passer au travers d'une ouverture (442) ménagée
dans l'élément de plaque horizontal (21) de la traverse et pour coopérer avec le côté
inférieur de l'élément de plaque horizontal (21).
15. Traverse selon la revendication 14, dans laquelle chaque jambage en crochet (421)
comporte une partie s'étendant latéralement pour coopérer avec le côté inférieur de
l'élément de plaque horizontal (21).
16. Traverse selon la revendication 14 ou 15, dans laquelle chaque élément d'épaulement
(414) comporte une partie de butée s'étendant vers le haut depuis comportant une ouverture
(424) la traversant qui constitue une surface de butée orientée vers le bas pour une
réaction avec un crapaud (430).
17. Traverse selon la revendication 16, dans laquelle ladite partie de butée est en forme
de boîte et ladite ouverture (424) la traversant est délimitée par une paroi supérieure
continue (424a) constituant ladite surface de butée orientée vers le bas.
18. Traverse selon la revendication 16 ou 17, dans laquelle un côté inférieur de ladite
ouverture comprend une partie de rampe s'inclinant vers l'intérieur latéralement vers
le haut (424b).
19. Traverse selon l'une quelconque des revendications 16 à 18, dans laquelle chaque élément
d'épaulement (414) comporte une partie d'assise (461) s'étendant latéralement vers
l'extérieur depuis la partie de butée et comportant un côté inférieur qui prend appui
sur l'élément de plaque et un côté supérieur formé de manière à être muni d'un évidement
pour positionner un crapaud (430).