RECESSED CONCRETE RAIL SEAT ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A low maintenance rail seat has recess in the concrete tie and an abrasion plate that covers the floor of the recess and its sides parallel to the rail base. The abrasion plate includes ribs which seat in additional recesses in the tie to retard longitudinal movement. The anti-abrasion assembly preferably has four flanges which wrap around the top of concrete tie to prevent dust particles from entering and abrading the concrete rail seat. These flanges also wrap around the support shoulder for additional resistance to longitudinal movement. The components are designed to provide 8.5 of lateral support along the side of the rail base while the traditional e clip fastener provides only 3 of lateral support. The interlock feature between the anti-abrasion assembly and the concrete tie also minimizes relative movement between abrasion plate and concrete tie, which results in less concrete surface abrasion.

Claims

1. A rail seat comprising: a rail tie; a rail anti-abrasion plate; an elastic rail clip; and a rail clip support shoulder; wherein the rail tie has a recessed rail seat with additional recesses to accommodate ribs on the lower surface of said anti-abrasion plate, said ribs being configured to seat in the additional recesses and provide a wider lateral support for the rail and retard longitudinal movement.

2. A rail seat a claimed in claim 1 wherein said shoulder has a front rib which sits flush with the recessed rail seat to allow the anti-abrasion plate and the rail tie to provide lateral full bearing to the rail.

3. A rail seat as claimed in claim 2 wherein the shoulder has a rectangular recess which interlocks with the anti-abrasion plate to hold it in place before and during track installation.

4. A rail seat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the anti-abrasion plate has four flanges which wrap around the top of the rail tie to prevent dust particles from entering and abrading the recessed rail seat.

5. A rail seat as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flanges also wrap around the support shoulder for additional resistance to longitudinal movement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] A preferred embodiment of the invention will be descried with reference to the drawings in which

[0017] FIG. 1 shows the complete fastening system assembled in a rail seat;

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the concrete tie with a cast in shoulder;

[0019] FIG. 3 shows the anti-abrasion plate assembly pre-assembled in the concrete tie;

[0020] FIG. 4 shows the preferred shoulder of this invention;

[0021] FIG. 5 shows the anti-abrasion plate of this invention;

[0022] FIG. 6 shows the heavy duty toe insulator.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows the complete fastening system assembled in a rail seat section of the concrete tie 8. The rail 3 is supported in the bottom by the rail pad 7 and the anti-abrasion plate 6, supported on the sides by the anti-abrasion plate's side post 18.

[0024] The rail base is clamped on top by the heavy duty insulator liner 4 and steel insert 5, the clamping force is provided by clip 2. The clip is supported by shoulder 1 which is cast in the concrete tie 8.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows the concrete tie 8 with cast in shoulder 1. The shoulder 1 has a rectangular slot 9 which interlocks with anti-abrasion plate lip 15 and holds the anti-abrasion plate assembly in the rail seat prior to track installation. The concrete tie rail seat 12 has deep channels 10 and side wall 11 to support the anti-abrasion plate assembly in the vertical, longitudinal, and lateral direction.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the anti-abrasion plate assembly pre-assembled in the concrete tie before track installation. The anti-abrasion plate assembly is held captive in the rail seat before rail laying, eliminate the need for manual pad placement.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the newly designed shoulder 1. This shoulder has a rectangular slot 9 to hold the anti-abrasion plate lip 15, front rib 13 which is positioned flush with the concrete rail seat 12. The distance from the rib 13 to the top of the shoulder tunnel 14 is 44.5 mm, five times the distance from the clip heel surface 19 to the top of the tunnel 14. This unique geometry allows the anti-abrasion assembly to sit low in the concrete rail seat and provide the full lateral bearing length of 8.5.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows the anti-abrasion plate assembly. The anti-abrasion plate 6 has the bottom rib 16 which fits in the concrete rail seat recess 10, and side post wall 18 which supports the rail laterally and rests against concrete rail seat wall 11.

[0029] FIG. 6 shows the heavy duty toe insulator. The steel insert 5 is snapped into the plastic liner 4. The thickness from the bottom of the insulator to the top is 20 mm, this dimension allows the clip to deflect and provide proper clamping force.

[0030] From the above it can be seen that the present invention provides an arrangement that reduces the need for maintenance. Testing of these ties to AREMA wear and abrasion standards show that they perform well under load. The full bearing aspects of the seat allows for reduced pressure on the components and they last much longer than conventional elastic fasteners. The rail roads can continue to use their conventional equipment to install, remove and maintain these ties without having to order specialty tools or change their standard operation procedures.

[0031] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that this invention may be implemented in embodiments other than those described without departing from the core teaching of the invention.