AU2013201527B2

AU2013201527B2 - Apparatus for use in concrete sleeper manufacture

Info

Publication number: AU2013201527B2
Application number: AU2013201527A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stephen John Cox; Jozef Nevidal
Original assignee: Pandrol Ltd
Current assignee: Pandrol Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-21
Filing date: 2013-03-15
Publication date: 2015-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-15
Also published as: GB201204896D0; AU2013201527A1; JP6173749B2; JP2013194506A; GB2500408A; GB2500408B

Abstract

In the manufacture of concrete railway sleepers a sealing plate (1) able to prevent leakage of concrete from a mould cavity onto a railway rail anchoring device (3) during 5 the manufacturing process is desired. A sealing plate device (1) is configured for use in the manufacture of a concrete railway rail sleeper, in a surface of which sleeper a stem portion (3b) of a railway rail clip anchoring device (3) is to be embedded, the sealing plate device (1) being adapted for use with a sleeper mould (4) for positioning such a railway rail clip anchoring device (3) within a sleeper mould and comprising a plate 10 portion (10) having first and second major faces (11, 12), one of which faces is adapted to provide a first area (14) configured to receive a head portion (3a) of a railway rail clip anchoring device (3) and provided with at least one anchoring device attachment member (16) for attaching the head portion (3a) of the anchoring device (3) to the plate portion (10). According to the present invention the said one major face (11) of the 15 plate portion (10) is also adapted to provide a second area (15) on which there is provided a latching arrangement (170) operable to latch the sealing plate device (1) against a first side of a sleeper mould (4) at an aperture (4a) in the sleeper mould (4) in order to inhibit leakage of concrete between the sealing plate device (1) and the sleeper mould (4) during manufacture of a sleeper, the latching arrangement (170) 20 being actuable by bringing the second area (15) of the plate portion (10) into contact with the first side of the sleeper mould (4) such the first area (14) of the plate portion (10) is within the sleeper mould aperture (4a) and the latching arrangement (170) extends through the sleeper mould aperture (4a). Uj to

Description

1 APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONCRETE SLEEPER MANUFACTURE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to apparatus for use in the manufacture of concrete railway 5 sleepers and more specifically to a sealing plate able to prevent leakage from a mould cavity during the manufacturing process. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Previously-proposed sleeper manufacturing processes involve supporting one or 10 more rail clip anchoring devices above a concrete sleeper mould so that a stem portion of the anchoring device extends into the mould cavity. One or more mould plates is/are suspended above part of the mould cavity, the or each mould plate having an aperture wherever the stem portion of an anchoring device is to be embedded in the sleeper, the aperture being large enough for at least a head 15 portion of the anchoring device to pass through. A latching mechanism is provided for latching the anchoring device to the mould plate. There are several different designs of latch mechanisms, but they are usually quite complicated and can be expensive. 20 In GB2450731A, as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a sealing plate 100, made of plastics material, is proposed for use when embedding in a sleeper a railway rail clip anchoring device which has no floor. The sealing plate 100 is attached to a head of the anchoring device by means of tabs 101 and serves to prevent concrete leaking through a mould plate aperture onto rail clip 25 engaging surfaces of the anchoring device when the stem of the anchoring device is being embedded in concrete, as well as providing support for a collar applied around the anchoring device subsequently. A front portion of the collar is designed to provide electrical insulation between the anchoring device and an adjoining rail and a rear portion of the collar, which sits on the sealing plate at the 30 rear of the anchoring device, is designed to support the heel portions of a rail fastening clip to be used with the anchoring device. The collar is made of plastics la or other non-conductive material, although the parts which contact the clip may have metal reinforcement. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 5 It is desirable to provide a simplified and less expensive means of latching railway rail clip anchoring devices, including but not limited to the above-described floorless anchoring device and attached sealing plate, to a mould plate during sleeper manufacture. 10 2 In an embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable to provide a sealing plate device configured for use in the manufacture of a concrete railway rail sleeper, in a surface of which sleeper a stem portion of a railway rail clip anchoring device is to be embedded, the sealing plate device being adapted for use with a sleeper mould for 5 positioning such a railway rail clip anchoring device within the sleeper mould and comprising: a plate portion having first and second major faces, one of which faces is adapted to provide a first area configured to receive a head portion of a railway rail clip anchoring device and provided with at least one anchoring device attachment member for attaching the head portion of the anchoring device to the plate portion; wherein the 10 said one major face of the plate portion is also adapted to provide a second area on which there is provided a latching arrangement operable to latch the sealing plate device against a first side of a sleeper mould at an aperture in the sleeper mould in order to inhibit leakage of concrete between the sealing plate device and the sleeper mould during manufacture of a sleeper, the latching arrangement being actuable by 15 bringing the second area of the plate portion into contact with the first side of the sleeper mould such the first area of the plate portion is within the sleeper mould aperture and the latching arrangement extends through the sleeper mould aperture. This provides the benefit to the user that the latching arrangement allows the sealing plate to be positioned over the aperture more easily. Once applied the outer periphery 20 of the second area of the sealing plate sits flush against the first side of the sleeper mould in order to prevent concrete from leaking through the components. In a further embodiment it is desirable to provide a sealing plate device as described above, wherein the latching arrangement comprises three latching components which 25 are spaced from each other. This provides the benefit of having latching components which preferably provide support against more than one edge of the aperture and more preferably, when part of an assembly including the railway rail clip anchoring device, provide support against all edges of the aperture. 30 In a further embodiment it is desirable to provide a sealing plate device, wherein the latching components are connected to the plate portion at locations which are spaced from the periphery of the plate portion. This provides an overlap between the surfaces of the two plates in order to ensure leakage is inhibited effectively. 35 In a further embodiment it is desirable to provide a sealing plate device, wherein each latching component comprises a post, having a base connected to the plate portion, 3 and a latch portion which projects from the post at one side thereof, at a position spaced from the plate portion, so as to extend away from the first area of the plate portion. This provides the benefit of a fixed latching mechanism in order to ensure that the sealing plate and sleeper mould stay flush against each other and a further benefit 5 of latching to a collar device following manufacture, as will be elaborated later. In a further embodiment it is desirable to provide a sealing plate device, wherein the latch portion is located at the top of the post. This may avoid obstruction of other components during manufacture due to the latch portion extending further than 10 necessary. In a further embodiment it is desirable to provide a sealing plate device, wherein an upper face of each latching component has a chamfered upper edge for assisting the passage of the latching component through the sleeper mould aperture. This provides 15 for ease of application of the sealing plate to the sleeper mould, as well as a more ergonomically, user friendly configuration. In a further embodiment it is desirable to provide a sealing plate device, wherein an upper face of each latching component has a rounded top surface for assisting in the 20 positioning of the respective plates during latching. In a further embodiment it is desirable to provide a sealing plate device, wherein the latching arrangement is made of plastics material or another resiliently deformable material. This provides the flexibility required during application whilst maintaining 25 structural rigidity in order to ensure the latching arrangement is effective and provides the desired effect. In a further embodiment it is desirable to provide a sealing plate device as described above, wherein the second area of the plate portion is further provided with a tapered 30 projection spaced from the periphery of the plate portion and having sides which extend from the plate portion to provide an abutment surface, an end of the abutment surface proximal to the plate portion being positioned closer to the periphery of the plate portion than an end of the abutment surface distal from the plate portion. This provides the benefit of encouraging the attached anchoring device forward against the 35 aperture edge in order to position the anchoring device accurately within the sleeper.

4 An assembly embodying the present invention may comprise the sealing plate device as described above and a sleeper mould with which it is to be used. In a further embodiment it is desirable to provide an assembly as described 5 above, wherein each latch portion of the sealing plate is positioned on the post at a distance from the plate portion substantially equal to the depth of the sleeper mould at the aperture. This serves to provide a flush connection between the two plates. 10 The assembly described above may further comprise a railway rail clip anchoring device. It is further desirable to provide an apparatus comprising a sealing plate device as described above and a railway rail clip anchoring device connected thereto. 15 In a further embodiment it is desirable to provide an apparatus as described above, wherein the apparatus further comprises a collar configured to be placed in contact with the said one major face of the plate portion so as to extend in the second area of the plate portion around the periphery of the anchoring device at a 20 distance from the first area which is substantially the same as, or further from, that of the base of the posts, wherein the height of each latch portion above the plate portion is substantially the same as or greater than the height of the collar above the said plate portion in the vicinity of the latching component. 25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompany drawings, in which: Figure 1 (described above) shows a prior art sealing plate for use with a railway 30 rail clip anchoring device in the manufacture of a concrete railway sleeper; Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of a sealing plate used in the manufacture of a concrete railway sleeper, Figures 2A and 2B showing respective front and rear 5 perspective views of the sealing plate, Figure 2C and 2D showing respective top and bottom views of the sealing plate, Figure 2E showing a side view of the sealing plate and Figure 2F showing a front view of the sealing plate; 5 Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a sealing plate connected to a railway rail anchoring device; Figure 4 shows the sealing plate and anchoring device of Figure 3 attached to a mould plate; 10 Figure 5A shows the sealing plate and anchoring device of Figure 3 with a first type of collar positioned around the anchoring device and a railway rail clip installed in the anchoring device; and Figure 5B shows the sealing plate and anchoring device of Figure 3 with a 15 second type of collar positioned around the anchoring device and a railway rail clip installed in the anchoring device. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A sealing plate embodying the present invention is intended for use in a method 20 of manufacturing a concrete sleeper with a railway rail clip anchoring device having a stem which is to be embedded in the sleeper. The method comprises: (a) attaching the sealing plate to the anchoring device, (b) bringing the sealing plate with the attached anchoring device into contact with a mould plate in the base of a sleeper mould at an aperture in the mould plate such that the sealing 25 plate becomes attached to the mould plate and a head of the anchoring device projects through the aperture and a stem of the anchoring device projects into a sleeper mould cavity, (c) introducing concrete into the cavity so as to cover the stem of the anchoring device and one side of the sealing plate, and (d) when the concrete has set, removing the sleeper from the mould cavity, leaving the sealing 30 plate attached to the surface of the sleeper.

5a Instead of a separate mould plate containing an aperture which may be attached to the sleeper mould, the required aperture may instead be formed directly in the base of the of the sleeper mould itself. In the context of this specification therefore "sleeper mould" is to be construed as including both arrangements. 5 As shown in Figures 2A to 2F, a sealing plate 1 embodying the present invention comprises an approximately rectangular plate (plate portion) 10 with a first major face (top face) 11 and second major face (bottom face) 12. The plate 10 has a front edge 10a, a rear edge 10b opposite to the front edge 10a, and two side 10 edges 10c respectively connecting the front and rear edges 10a, 10b. The front edge 1Oa of the plate 10 has an indented section 13 forming a long, shallow, first recess 13a with a bevelled face for accommodating a head portion 3a of a railway rail clip anchoring 6 device 3, and two narrower, deeper, second recesses 13b extending further into the plate 10 from the recess 13a for accommodating a stem portion 3b of the anchoring device 3. In this embodiment the depths of the first recess 13a and the second recesses 13b are such that the front edge 10a of the plate 10 is approximately aligned 5 with a shelf at the foot of a front face of the anchoring device 3 when the plate 10 is connected to the anchoring device 3, but this is not essential. The first and second recesses 13a, 13b in the plate 10 are shaped to provide a close fit around the head and stem portions of the railway rail clip anchoring device 3, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, so as to inhibit concrete from leaking through at the joins. 10 A first area 14 of the first major face 11 of the plate 10, located substantially centrally in the first major face 11, includes the recesses 13b and extends from the edge of the recess 13a towards, but not up to, the rear edge 1Ob of the plate 10. The first area 14 thus provides a seat area for the anchoring device. 15 The first area 14 further has two tabs forming anchoring device attachment members 16 which are shaped to fit around part of the railway rail clip anchoring device 3 in order to connect the sealing plate 1 to the railway rail clip anchoring device 3 to form an anchoring assembly 2, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 for example. 20 In this example the second major face 12 of the plate 10 is covered with a pattern of ribs forming rebates to assist in fixing the sealing plate 1 to the concrete in the mould, as shown in Figure 2D. 25 A second area 15 of the first major face 11 of the plate 10, which surrounds the first area 14 on all sides except at the front side 10a of the plate 10, comprises the remainder of the first major face 11 beyond the first area 14. In the second area 15 of the plate 10, the plate is provided with a latching arrangement 170 which is operable to latch the sealing plate 1 against a major face of a mould plate 4 in order to inhibit 30 leakage of concrete between the sealing plate 1 and the mould plate 4 during manufacture of the railway sleeper. The latching arrangement 170 is configured so as to be actuable by bringing the second area of the plate 10 into contact with a first side of the mould plate such that the first area of the plate 10 is within the mould plate aperture 4a and the latching arrangement 170 extends through the mould plate 35 aperture 4a. The latching arrangement 170 provided on the sealing plate 1 can hold the anchoring device 3 in position against a mould plate 4 without the need to provide a 7 separate latching mechanism. This configuration allows for quicker and easier assembly which may be more readily automated. The latching arrangement 170 is located at a position on the plate 10 which does not interfere with, nor obstruct, the manufacturing process, or the subsequent placement of fastening components on the 5 sleeper, or hand tools or equipment subsequently used. The latching arrangement 170 comprises one or more latching components. In the embodiments shown the latching arrangement 170 consists of three latching components 17. Alternative latching arrangements 170 may include more or less than 10 three latching components. In the embodiments shown, each latching component 17 comprises a post (post portion) 17b which is attached at the base of the post 17b to the plate 10. In this embodiment the post extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the plate 10, but it may be desirable in other embodiments for the post to lean forwards (away from the first area) by a small angle to the vertical providing it does not 15 then foul the sleeper mould when the anchoring device is introduced into the mould aperture. In this embodiment the latching component 17 further comprises a latching portion (latch portion) 17a which extends away from the post 17b at one side thereof. The latching portion 17a is located on the post 17b at a position spaced from the plate 10 so as to extend away from the first area 14. In this embodiment the latching portion 20 17a is positioned on the post 17b at a distance from the plate 10 substantially equal to the depth of the mould plate 4 at the aperture 4a. As described above the latching components 17 are actuable by bringing the second area 15 of the plate 10 into contact with the first side of the mould plate 4 such that the 25 first area 14 of the plate 10 is within the mould plate aperture 4a and the latching components 17 extend through the mould plate aperture 4a. In this case the latching arrangement 170 is latched in place by a "snap-fit" style action when the latching arrangement is extended through the mould plate aperture. In particular, the latching components 17 are designed and positioned on the plate 10 such that the base of each 30 post 17b will be located within the periphery of the aperture of the mould plate and the latching portion 17a of each component 17 will extend beyond the periphery of the mould plate aperture 4a. To allow the latching portions 17a to pass through the aperture, the post 17b and/or latching portions 17a may be made of resiliently deformable material and/or an upper face 17d of the latching portions 17a may be 35 shaped so as to assist the passage of the/each latching component 17 through the mould plate aperture 4a, for example by being chamfered, tapered, slanted or rounded.

8 A lower face of the latch portion 17a provides an abutment face 17c configured to contact the first side of the mould plate 4. In the embodiment shown the angle between the abutment face 17c and adjoining side of the post 17b is 100". Depending 5 on the relative elasticity/rigidity of the posts 17b, a larger or smaller angle may be more appropriate to optimise latching. The top of the post 17b may be rounded in order to assist positioning of the sealing plate 1 during application/installation. This rounded top surface also assists in the 10 reduction of wear of the posts 17b due to the reduction in contact stress during installation, and, as described later, in allowing the sealing plate 1 to be withdrawn from a stack of such plates more readily. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the plate 10 may also have one or more tapered 15 projections 18 located near the periphery of the first major face 11 within the second area 15. Each tapered projection is spaced from the periphery of the plate 10 and has sides which extend from the plate 10 to provide an angled abutment surface 18a. In the embodiments shown the abutment surface 18a is angled at 30 to the vertical. An end of the abutment surface 18a which is proximal to the plate 10 is positioned closer to the 20 periphery of the plate 10 than an end of the abutment surface 18a which is distal from the plate 10. The or each tapered projection 18 is located so that its angled abutment surface 18a abuts an inner (peripheral) face of the aperture 4a in the mould plate 4 as the sealing plate 1 is brought into contact with the mould plate 4, such that the angled abutment surface 18a drives the sealing plate 1, and hence the attached railway rail 25 clip anchoring device 3, forward against the opposite inner face of the mould plate aperture 4a. This provides a snug fit which further assists in producing consistent results when manufacturing. In the configuration shown in Figures 2A to 2F, two tapered projections 18 on either 30 side of a single latching component 17 are located in close proximity towards the rear side 10b of the sealing plate 1. However, alternative configurations are possible. For example, the arrangement could be modified so as to provide two latching components 17 on either side of a single tapered projection 18. Another option might be a single latching component 17 next to a single tapered projection 18. The tapered projections 35 18 may be located further from the latching component 17 which is adjacent to the rear side 1Ob of the plate 10, for example as in the embodiment of Figure 3, where they are 9 located towards the back corners of the plate 10 in order to provide a tighter fit of the components when assembled. It will be understood that other embodiments, including minor alterations which are not shown in the Figures, may also be employed. 5 In the illustrated embodiments the three latching components 17 are spaced from each other in order to provide an optimal latching effect. In the configuration shown in Figure 2 the latching arrangement 17 contains three latching components 17 angled at right angles to one another and positioned so as to latch over three of the respective edge faces of a substantially square-shaped aperture 4a in the mould plate 4. This provides 10 a secure latching between the two plates 1 and 4, which achieves the effect of preventing leakage from between the two respective components. In the arrangements shown in Figures 2 to 5, the latching components 17 are connected to the plate 10 of the sealing plate 1 at locations which are spaced from the 15 periphery of the plate 10. This allows for an overlap of the sealing plate 1 with the mould plate 4, thereby further assisting in ensuring no leakage occurs. In the embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 5, the latching portions 17a are positioned on the posts 17b at a height from the plate 10 which is substantially equal to the depth 20 of the mould plate aperture 4a. This arrangement is used in a configuration where the abutment surfaces 17c of the latch portions 17a are configured so to contact the second side of the mould plate 4 around the mould plate aperture 4a. Although not shown in the Figures, an alternative configuration is described below. 25 In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the peripheral edge of the mould plate aperture 4a is provided with indentations which serve to accommodate the latch portions 17a of the latching components 17, the latching portions 17a of the latching components 17 may be positioned at a distance substantially equal to the distance between the face of the mould plate 4, which sits flush on the sealing plate 1 when 30 assembled, and the nearer inner surface of the indentation, which accommodates the abutment face 17c. This allows for a shortening of the posts 17b and a possible advantage during manufacture of the sleeper that the latching portions 17a are less likely to obstruct any part of the assembly during sleeper manufacture. 35 When the concrete in the sleeper mould has set sufficiently to retain the anchoring device 3 in the desired position, the sleeper is removed from the sleeper mould. In the 10 embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 5 the latching components are sufficiently flexible and resilient so as to allow passage of the sleeper mould past the latching portions 17a when a certain level of force is applied in a direction away from the sealing plate 1. Alternatively, the latching components may consist of a material which allows, or may 5 be configured so as to allow, all (or part) of all (or some) of the latching components to break off during removal of he sleeper from the sleeper mould. After removal of the mould plate 4, a collar 5, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, can be attached to the sealing plate/anchoring device assembly by manoeuvring the opening 10 in the collar over the head 3a of the anchoring device 3 so as to surround the anchoring device 3 and sit on the second area of the plate 10. It is desirable for the collar 5 to be attached to the assembly using the same latching arrangement 170, in a similar manner to the latching connection to the mould plate 4, so preferably the height of the latching portion 17a above the plate 10 is substantially the same as or greater 15 than the height of the collar 5 at positions corresponding to the location of the latching components 17. Depending on the positioning of the latching arrangement 170 relative to the first area 14 and the design of the collar 5, the collar 5 may be provided with throughholes 5a through which the latching components 17 may be inserted and latched/snap fitted (as shown in Figure 5A), or the exterior of the collar 5 may surround 20 the posts 17b of the latching components 17 such that the latching portions 17a engage upper surfaces of the collar 5 (as shown in Figure 5B). An alternative embodiment of the collar 5 may include indentations located on the inner surface of the collar 5 in order to accommodate the latching portions 17a of the latching 25 components, where the latching portions are positioned at a distance from the plate 10 smaller than the height of the collar 5. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5B the tapered projections 18 are located such that the rear portion of the collar abuts the faces of the tapered projections 18 which are 30 opposite the abutment faces 18a. As shown in Figures 3 and 4 an additional projection 19 may be provided on the plate 10 in order to inhibit any tendency for the collar 5 to bow during final assembly of the respective components. 35 11 In the embodiments described above, the final assembly involves attaching a resilient railway rail fastening clip 6 to the head 3a of the anchoring device 3. The clip 6 has a toe portion at the front of the clip which carries an electrical-insulating toe insulator, heel portions at the rear of the clip 6, and legs formed for insertion 5 into the head 3a of the anchoring device 3. When the clip has been driven into the anchoring device 3 so as to cause the clip 6 to deflect into its operative configuration, the toe portion will bear on the foot of an adjacent railway rail and the heel portions of the clip 6 will rest on the upper surface of the collar 5. 10 When a stack of the sealing plates 1 is provided in a factory prior to application to a mould plate 4, for example in a cassette, the posts 17b of the sealing plate 1 serve to support and separate the sealing plate 1 from another sealing plate 1 above it in the stack, such that the bottom sealing plate in the stack can slide off the stack easily when pushed. The tops of the posts 17b can run easily along the 15 ribs provided on the second major face 12 of the plate 10. The latching portion 17a of the latching component 17 is preferably located at the top of the post 17b. Although not limited to this configuration, extension of the post 17b beyond the latching portion 17a may be superfluous. One possible 20 exception to this would be for example if the height of the post 17b served for a specific function such as supporting another component or feature of the assembly. Although the embodiments have been described with reference to a particular 25 type of anchoring device, it is possible to modify the sealing plates described so as to be usable with alternative forms of anchoring devices. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "including," and "having," and variations thereof are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, 30 integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Claims

1. A sealing plate device configured for use in the manufacture of a concrete railway rail sleeper, in a surface of which sleeper a stem portion of a railway rail clip anchoring 5 device is to be embedded, the sealing plate device being adapted for use with a sleeper mould for positioning such a railway rail clip anchoring device within the sleeper mould and comprising: a plate portion having first and second major faces, one of which faces is adapted to provide a first area configured to receive a head portion of a 10 railway rail clip anchoring device and provided with at least one anchoring device attachment member for attaching the head portion of the anchoring device to the plate portion; wherein the said one major face of the plate portion is also adapted to provide a second area on which there is provided a latching arrangement 15 operable to latch the sealing plate device against a first side of a sleeper mould at an aperture in the sleeper mould in order to inhibit leakage of concrete between the sealing plate device and the sleeper mould during manufacture of a sleeper, the latching arrangement being actuable by bringing the second area of the plate portion into contact with the first side of the sleeper mould such the 20 first area of the plate portion is within the sleeper mould aperture and the latching arrangement extends through the sleeper mould aperture.

2. The sealing plate device according to claim 1, wherein the latching arrangement comprises three latching components which are spaced from each other. 25

3. The sealing plate device according to claim 2, wherein the latching components are connected to the plate portion at locations which are spaced from the periphery of the plate portion. 30

4. The sealing plate device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each latching component comprises a post, having a base connected to the plate portion, and a latch portion which projects from the post at one side thereof, at a position spaced from the plate portion, so as to extend away from the first area of the plate portion. 35

5. The sealing plate device according to claim 4, wherein the latch portion is located at the top of the post. 13

6. The sealing plate device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein an upper face of each latching component has a chamfered upper edge for assisting the 5 passage of the latching component through the sleeper mould aperture.

7. The sealing plate device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein an upper face of each latching component has a rounded top surface for assisting in the positioning of the respective plates during latching. 10

8. The sealing plate device according to any preceding claim, wherein the latching arrangement is made of plastics material.

9. The sealing plate device according to any preceding claim, wherein the latching 15 arrangement is made of a resiliently deformable material.

10. The sealing plate device according to any preceding claim, wherein the second area of the plate portion is further provided with a tapered projection spaced from the periphery of the plate portion and having sides which extend from the plate portion to 20 provide an abutment surface, an end of the abutment surface proximal to the plate portion being positioned closer to the periphery of the plate portion than an end of the abutment surface distal from the plate portion.

11. An assembly comprising the sealing plate device of any preceding claim and a 25 sleeper mould with which it is to be used.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sealing plate device is a sealing plate device according to claim 4 or 5 or any one of claims 6 to 10 when read as appended to claim 4 or 5, and each latch portion thereof is positioned on the post at a 30 distance from the plate portion substantially equal to the depth of the sleeper mould at the aperture.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 or 12 and further comprising a railway rail clip anchoring device. 35 14

14. Apparatus comprising a sealing plate device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 and a railway rail clip anchoring device connected thereto.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sealing plate device is a sealing plate device according to any one of claims 2 to 10, and the apparatus 5 further comprises a collar configured to be placed in contact with the said one major face of the plate portion so as to extend in the second area of the plate portion around the periphery of the anchoring device at a distance from the first area which is substantially the same as, or further from, that of the base of the posts, wherein the height of each latch portion above the plate portion is 10 substantially the same as or greater than the height of the collar above the said plate portion in the vicinity of the latching component.

16. A sealing plate device configured for use in the manufacture of a concrete railway rail sleeper substantially as herein described with reference to figures 2 to 5b. 15 PANDROL LIMITED WATERMARK PATENT AND TRADE MARKS ATTORNEYS P37231AU00