Rail fastener and arrangement comprising such a rail fastener

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A rail fastener comprising: an anchoring shaft for securing the rail fastener in a fastening base, the fastening base supporting a rail; a head integrally molded on the anchoring shaft and configured to receive a torque for screwing the anchoring shaft into the fastening base, wherein: a connecting means is located on the head opposite the anchoring shaft, the connecting means comprising a thread, and the head has a surface section annularly surrounding the connecting means as a first abutment surface; a clamping element which engages the thread of the connecting means, the clamping element comprising: a protrusion extending outward to support at least one leg of a rail hold-down spring, and a shaft section with a second abutment surface, the shaft section facing the head and corresponding to the first abutment surface; and at least one securing disk situated between the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface for preventing loosening of the clamping element.

2. The rail fastener of claim 1, wherein the connecting means is a threaded shaft integrally molded on the head opposite the anchoring shaft.

3. The rail fastener of claim 1, wherein the connecting means is a bore furnished with an inside thread created in the head opposite the anchoring shaft.

4. The rail fastener of claim 3, wherein the bore furnished with the inside thread extends through the head into the anchoring shaft.

5. The rail fastener of claim 1, wherein the at least one securing disk which exerts a prestress on the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface is a spring disk.

6. The rail fastener of claim 1, wherein the at least one securing disk which exerts a prestress on the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface is a toothed disk.

7. The rail fastener of claim 1, wherein the at least one securing disk is a pair of securing disks.

8. The rail fastener of claim 1, wherein the at least one securing disk is a wedge securing disk, the wedge securing disk comprising radial ribs which engage the first abutment surface of the head and wedge ribs which engage the second abutment surface of the clamping element, wherein the second abutment surface of the clamping element has complementary wedge ribs which correspond to the wedge ribs of the wedge securing disk.

9. The rail fastener of claim 1, the rail fastener further comprising a twist preventing device, the twist preventing device having at least one surface cooperating with at least one exterior surface of the head to prevent twisting of the head.

10. The rail fastener of claim 9, wherein the twist preventing device has a contact surface for contact with the rail.

11. The rail fastener of claim 9, wherein the twist preventing device has a receptacle for receiving the head in a torque locking manner.

12. The rail fastener of claim 9, wherein the twist preventing device has one or more shapes molded to receive one or more sections of the rail hold-down spring.

13. The rail fastener of claim 11, wherein the receptacle is designed to at least partially cover the head of the rail fastener.

14. A rail fastening arrangement comprising the rail fastener of claim 1, wherein: the fastening base is a railroad tie, the railroad tie having a bore; the anchoring shaft engages and is secured within the bore; and the head of the rail fastener protrudes beyond the bore and is clamped against a top side of the railroad tie.

15. The rail fastening arrangement of claim 14, wherein the railroad tie is a precast concrete component having a dowel, the dowel inserted into the bore to receive the anchoring shaft.

16. The rail fastening arrangement of claim 15, wherein the dowel is a plastic dowel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Additional advantages and embodiments of the invention are derived from the following description with reference to the accompanying figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a rail fastening arrangement in an exploded diagram;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view through the left side of the left portion of the rail fastener of FIG. 1 in an exploded diagram;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the rail fastener from FIG. 2 in its arrangement holding a rail without explosion;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the clamping element of a rail fastener according to another embodiment; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a modified embodiment of the rail fastener of FIG. 3 from the same view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a rail section schematically in a perspective view. A rail 1, which is embodied as a grooved rail in this embodiment, is placed on a railroad tie 2 and carried by the tie. The rail 1 is connected to the railroad tie 2 by means of two rail fastening arrangements 3, 3.1, wherein each rail fastening arrangement 3, 3.1 is arranged on one side of the rail. Thus, the rail 1 is surrounded by the rail fastening arrangement 3, 3.1. The rail 1 has a mounting flange 4 on its end opposite the rail head, this flange protruding on both sides of the rail web 5. The top sides 6, 6.1 of the mounting flange 4 serve as the working surface for securing the rail 1 on the railroad tie 2. The rail fastening arrangements 3, 3.1 are all of the same design here. The rail fastening arrangement 3 is described in greater detail below. The discussion in this regard is equally true for the rail fastening arrangement 3.1.

(8) The core item of the rail fastening arrangement 3 is a rail fastener 7. The rail fastener 7 of the embodiment shown comprises three modules. The first module is an anchoring module 8 which is manufactured in one piece and comprises an anchoring shaft 9 equipped with a grooved outside thread for engaging in a dowel inserted into a fastening bore in the railroad tie 2. A polygonal head 10 is integrally molded on the anchoring shaft 9. The head 10 protrudes beyond the anchoring shaft 9 and has dimensions such that its diameter is greater than the diameter of the bore created in the railroad tie 2 in which the anchoring shaft 9 engages. A connecting means 11, which is a threaded shaft 11 in this embodiment, is integrally molded on the top side of the head 10. The second anchoring module is implemented by a clamping element 12. In the embodiment shown here, the clamping element 12 is formed by a nut 13, a collar 14 integrally molded on the bottom side thereof for providing a protrusion on which the hold-down spring is in contact with a section, and a sleeve-type shaft section 15, which is in turn integrally molded thereon.

(9) The third anchoring module in the embodiment shown is formed by a pair of wedge securing disks 16, discussed in more detail below.

(10) In addition, a twist preventing device D manufactured as an injection molded plastic part may be included in the rail fastening arrangement 3. The twist preventing device D has a receptacle 18 to receive the head 10. The receptacle 18 is designed as an elongated hole in this embodiment, and the longitudinal axis of the receptacle 18 runs at an acute angle to the longitudinal extent of the rail 1. The inside clearance of the receptacle 18 (transverse width) corresponds to the distance between two surfaces of the head 10 of the rail fastener 7 which are diametrically opposed to the longitudinal axis. Thus, the rail fastener 7 is held in a torque-locking manner when the head 10 engages in the receptacle 18 in the twist preventing device D. The twist preventing device D has a contact surface 19, which follows the longitudinal extent of the exterior of the mounting flange 4. In parallel with the longitudinal extent of the receptacle 18, the railroad tie 2 has a contact surface 20 running vertically at the top. A second contact surface 21 of the twist preventing device D is in contact with the latter. The longitudinal axis of the receptacle 18, which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal extent of the rail 1 as well as the contact surfaces 20, 21 running parallel thereto, serves the purpose of setting up the twist preventing device D with respect to its distance from the rail 1. The twist preventing device D is itself held in a locked manner due to the contact surfaces described above.

(11) A rail hold-down spring 22 of an essentially known type serves to hold the rail 1 on the railroad tie 2. For this purpose, the rail hold-down spring 22 is designed essentially in a U shape, wherein the section connecting the legs is clamped for holding the rail 1 on the side 6 of the mounting flange 4.

(12) The design of the rail fastener 3 with its two anchoring modules 8, 16 and with the clamping element 12 as the third anchoring module is shown in a longitudinal section in FIG. 2. Additional details can be derived here. In FIG. 2, the anchoring module 8 is anchored with its screw shaft 9 in a plastic dowel 23 inserted into the railroad tie 2. This was done before the twist preventing device D was put in place. The anchoring module 8 is screwed in by way of a torque transmitting tool attached to or onto the head 10. The head 10 protrudes beyond the diameter of the bore receiving the dowel 23, as shown clearly in the sectional diagram in FIG. 2. Consequently, the underside of the head 10 is offset with respect to the top side of the railroad tie 2. When the anchoring module 8 is secured in the railroad tie 2, the twist preventing device D is attached. In this diagram, it can also be seen that the contact surfaces 20, 21 working together are inclined with respect to the perpendicular.

(13) Surrounding the root of the connecting means 11, embodied as the threaded shaft 11 here, the top side of the head 10 forms a first abutment surface 24. The abutment surface 24 is designed in the form of a ring.

(14) The clamping element 12 may be designed in the manner of a sleeve, which has an inner passage 25 with an inside thread that is complementary to the thread of the connecting means being a threaded shaft 11 here. A hexagon is integrally molded on the outside in the section of the nut 13. This serves to attach the torque-transmitting tool for tightening the clamping element 12 with respect to the first anchoring module 8 and/or the head 10. The end face of the clamping element 12 facing the anchoring module 8 forms a second annular abutment surface 26, which is flush with the abutment surface 24 of the head 10. The abutment surfaces 24, 26 serve the purpose that the sides of the pair of wedge securing disks 16 facing away from one another can be supported on them. The pair of wedge securing disks, such as the pair of wedge securing disks 16, is known in the art, such as the ones distributed under the brand name HEICO-LOCK from HEICO Befestigungstechnik GmbH, just for an example. The two securing disks 17, 17.1 of the pair of wedge securing disks 16 are arranged relative to one another as intended, i.e., the wedge ribs having the wedge surfaces that provide the securing effect face one another, while the surfaces having radial ribs face away from each other to each face an abutment surface 24 and/or 26. The radial ribs serve to interlock with the respective abutment surface 24 and/or 26. The angle of inclination of the wedge surfaces of the securing disks is greater that the angle of slope of the screw thread of the threaded shaft 11. With the rail fastener 3 installed, the clamping element 12 is clamped with respect to the head 10, with this pair of securing disks 16 inserted in between. This clamping is accomplished with a predetermined torque, the clamping force with which the wedge surfaces that are in contact with one another are also in contact with the wedge securing disks 17, 17.1 for the purpose of preventing loosening as desired. The radial ribs arranged on the sides facing away from one another have a sawtooth design, such that the steeper flank faces away from the respective loosening movement.

(15) FIG. 3 shows the rail fastener 3 in the arrangement of its individual parts pressing the rail hold-down spring 22 against the top side 6 of the mounting flange 4 of the rail 1 as intended. As already described with regard to FIG. 2, the anchoring module 8 was anchored in the railroad tie 2. Then the pair of wedge securing disks 16 was first placed on the threaded shaft 11, wherein the wedge securing disk 17.1 was in contact with the abutment surface 24 with its side having the radial ribs. Then the hold-down spring 22 was inserted and the clamping element 12 was threaded onto the threaded shaft 11. Using a suitable tool, the clamping element 12 is screwed down and clamped with respect to the head 10 of the anchoring module 8which is held in a twist preventing manner by the twist-locking element Dwith the clamping force required for clamping the two securing disks 17, 17.1. Since the anchoring module 8 and/or the head 10 is held in a twist preventing manner, this clamping force is not introduced into the anchoring shaft 9 and the dowel 23. Meanwhile, inexpensive plastic dowels, which need not be able to withstand the significantly higher clamping forces for clamping the securing disks 17, 17.1 against one another, can be used for anchoring the anchoring module 8 as intended. Thus, a functional separation between the anchoring of the rail fastener in the railroad tie and for applying the required clamping force for holding down the hold-down spring is effectively achieved, while simultaneously providing a particularly effective means of preventing loosening, embodied as an intermediate pair of wedge securing disks 16 here.

(16) FIG. 4 shows a clamping element 12.1 according to another embodiment. The abutment surface 26.1 of the clamping element 12.1 is formed by a wedge rib arrangement as described in the embodiment above as part of the wedge securing disk 17. In such a design, only one wedge securing disk is inserted between the clamping element 12.1 and the head of the anchoring module 8. The disk is inserted in an orientation such that the wedge surfaces and wedge ribs that are complementary to the abutment surface 26.1 of the clamping element 12.1 face the clamping element 12.1.

(17) In a modified embodiment, FIG. 5 shows a rail fastening arrangement 3.2 similar to that already described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Therefore, the preceding discussion about the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 also applies accordingly to the rail fastening arrangement 3.2 of the embodiment of FIG. 5, unless the contrary is indicated below.

(18) In the rail fastening arrangement 3.2, the twist preventing device D is in cooperation with the head 10.1, such that the clamping force acting on the hold-down spring 22.1 also acts on the head 10.1 because the head 10.1 is supported on its top side by twist preventing device D. FIG. 5 shows one possible embodiment of the implementation of such a concept. To this end, the head 10.1 has a peripheral shoulder 27 with a contact surface facing away from the anchoring shaft 9.1. The twist preventing device D is designed to be complementary to the head 10.1. It has a complementary shoulder 28 facing in the direction of the shoulder 27. With this design, a slight gap (not visible in FIG. 5) is provided between the bottom side of the twist preventing device D and the top side of the railroad tie 2.1. In this embodiment, the clamping force acting on the hold-down spring 22.1 thus acts on the top side of the twist preventing device D due to the clamping of the clamping element 12.2 with respect to the head 10.1, with the pair of securing disks 16.1 in between as a result of the support of the hold-down spring 22.1, and also acts on the head 10.1 due to the arrangement of the contact of the shoulders 27, 28 described above. The clamping force for clamping the clamping element 12.2 with respect to the head 10.1 via the hold-down spring 22.1 therefore also causes a twist locking effect on the head 10.1, which is nevertheless clamped with respect to the top side of the railroad tie 2.1. This serves to relieve the load of forces acting on the dowel 23.1 via the anchoring shaft 10.1. Such a rail fastener can therefore also be used when the anchoring shaft is merely cast in the fastening base, for example, such as with an epoxy resin.