An improved rail anchoring spike that includes barbs is used for fastening metal to ties. The spike includes a head having one or more flanges and a stand-off extending axially from the flange(s). The spike includes a shank extending axially from the stand-off to form a tapered tip. The shank is adapted to engage dense material of the tie by a combination of threads and barbs on the shank. The threads are generally parallel and extend over a threaded portion of the shank. The shank includes a plurality of barbs positioned in a lower half of the threaded portion. Each barb is positioned between a pair of threads. Each barb is configured to minimize damage to fibers of the tie during installation of the spike as the fibers relax behind, and engage with, a barbed end. This prevents movement of the spike over time despite deterioration of the tie.

A rail fastener (7) comprises an anchoring shaft (9) for fixing the rail fastener (7) in a fastening base, for instance a sleeper (2) which bears the rail (1), and a head (10) which is integrally formed on the anchoring shaft (9) and equipped with means for receiving a torque for the purpose of screwing the anchoring shaft (9) into the fastening base. The rail fastener (7) is distinguished in thata threaded shaft (11) is integrally formed on the head (10) on the side thereof opposite to the anchoring shaft (9) or a bore equipped with an internal thread is made in the head (10) and/or the anchoring shaft (9) integrally formed thereon from the side thereof opposite to the anchoring shaft (9), the head (7) has a surface portion as a first abutment surface (24) annularly surrounding the threaded shaft (11) or the threaded bore, the rail fastener (7) has a clamping element (12) seated on the threaded shaft (11) or engaging in the internal thread of the head (10) and/or of the anchoring shaft (9) and meshing with the respective thread, which clamping element has an outwardly projecting projection for supporting on at least one leg of a rail hold-down spring (22) and a shaft portion (15) integrally formed thereon in the direction of the head (10), which shaft portion has a second abutment surface (26) directed towards the head (10) and corresponding with the first abutment surface (24) andbetween the two abutment surfaces (24, 26) there is situated a securing disc or a securing disc arrangement (16) which is supported on the abutment surfaces (24, 26) to prevent the clamping element (12) from loosening.

A rail fastener (7) comprises an anchoring shaft (9) for fixing the rail fastener (7) in a fastening base, for instance a sleeper (2) which bears the rail (1), and a head (10) which is integrally formed on the anchoring shaft (9) and equipped with means for receiving a torque for the purpose of screwing the anchoring shaft (9) into the fastening base. The rail fastener (7) is distinguished in thata threaded shaft (11) is integrally formed on the head (10) on the side thereof opposite to the anchoring shaft (9) or a bore equipped with an internal thread is made in the head (10) and/or the anchoring shaft (9) integrally formed thereon from the side thereof opposite to the anchoring shaft (9), the head (7) has a surface portion as a first abutment surface (24) annularly surrounding the threaded shaft (11) or the threaded bore, the rail fastener (7) has a clamping element (12) seated on the threaded shaft (11) or engaging in the internal thread of the head (10) and/or of the anchoring shaft (9) and meshing with the respective thread, which clamping element has an outwardly projecting projection for supporting on at least one leg of a rail hold-down spring (22) and a shaft portion (15) integrally formed thereon in the direction of the head (10), which shaft portion has a second abutment surface (26) directed towards the head (10) and corresponding with the first abutment surface (24) andbetween the two abutment surfaces (24, 26) there is situated a securing disc or a securing disc arrangement (16) which is supported on the abutment surfaces (24, 26) to prevent the clamping element (12) from loosening.

An assembly is disclosed. The assembly can comprise a sensor comprising external threads. The assembly can further comprise a flexible mount for mounting the sensor to a support. The flexible mount can threadably engage the external threads of the sensor. Additionally, the flexible mount can comprise a spring-loaded casing and/or an elastomeric sleeve and/or nut, for example. The sensor can extend through the support and can be configured to float and/or shift relative to the support. The flexible mount can be positioned on one side of the support.

An assembly is disclosed. The assembly can comprise a sensor comprising external threads. The assembly can further comprise a flexible mount for mounting the sensor to a support. The flexible mount can threadably engage the external threads of the sensor. Additionally, the flexible mount can comprise a spring-loaded casing and/or an elastomeric sleeve and/or nut, for example. The sensor can extend through the support and can be configured to float and/or shift relative to the support. The flexible mount can be positioned on one side of the support.

A track processing machine, in particular an impact wrench machine for track processing, contains at least one handle for manually guiding the track processing machine, a first structural unit with a processing head, which can be driven in rotation for track processing about an axis of rotation, a second structural unit, and a linking unit for mechanically connecting the first structural unit to the second structural unit and for reducing a longitudinal dimension of the track processing machine along the axis of rotation.

A track processing machine, in particular an impact wrench machine for track processing, contains at least one handle for manually guiding the track processing machine, a first structural unit with a processing head, which can be driven in rotation for track processing about an axis of rotation, a second structural unit, and a linking unit for mechanically connecting the first structural unit to the second structural unit and for reducing a longitudinal dimension of the track processing machine along the axis of rotation.

An improved rail anchoring spike that includes barbs is used for fastening metal to ties. The spike includes a head having one or more flanges and a stand-off extending axially from the flange(s). The spike includes a shank extending axially from the stand-off to form a tapered tip. The shank is adapted to engage dense material of the tie by a combination of threads and barbs on the shank. The threads are generally parallel and extend over a threaded portion of the shank. The shank includes a plurality of barbs positioned in a lower half of the threaded portion. Each barb is positioned between a pair of threads. Each barb is configured to minimize damage to fibers of the tie during installation of the spike as the fibers relax behind, and engage with, a barbed end. This prevents movement of the spike over time despite deterioration of the tie.

An improved rail anchoring spike that includes barbs is used for fastening metal to ties. The spike includes a head having one or more flanges and a stand-off extending axially from the flange(s). The spike includes a shank extending axially from the stand-off to form a tapered tip. The shank is adapted to engage dense material of the tie by a combination of threads and barbs on the shank. The threads are generally parallel and extend over a threaded portion of the shank. The shank includes a plurality of barbs positioned in a lower half of the threaded portion. Each barb is positioned between a pair of threads. Each barb is configured to minimize damage to fibers of the tie during installation of the spike as the fibers relax behind, and engage with, a barbed end. This prevents movement of the spike over time despite deterioration of the tie.

A rail fastener sealing system comprises a dowel having a substantially cylindrical elongated body and a dowel passage configured to receive a fastener that secures a rail to a rail tie. The sealing system further includes a seal positioned on an end of the dowel. The seal includes a flexible body having a central passage extending through the flexible body and a lip extending circumferentially around an opening of the central passage. The lip of the seal is disposed adjacent the end of the dowel and at least a portion of the flexible body of the seal is positioned within the dowel passage.