AU622245B2

AU622245B2 - Strap for the quick fastening of a railroad rail and tie equipped with such a strap

Info

Publication number: AU622245B2
Application number: AU45769/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gerard Vanotti
Original assignee: Vape SA
Current assignee: Vape SA
Priority date: 1988-12-02
Filing date: 1989-11-30
Publication date: 1992-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-30
Also published as: BR8906290A; AU4576989A; CN1044140A; ATE84090T1; CA2004173C; DD300552A5; JP2704012B2; JPH02200901A; CA2004173A1; HU212894B; CN1020772C; HU896345D0

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the inclination and displacement of a rod material by always applying the vertical directional pressure to abutment members by forming a strap with two support points, and setting the radius of rotation of an intermediate support point sufficiently smaller than the radius of rotation of a main support point. CONSTITUTION: A strap S is formed into a shape wound around a spiral and a vertical part 1 so that a half part of a curve of a bar is formed with an intermediate support point 6 by a bottom part of a spiral part 8 and a main support point 10 is positioned near an end of the bar. Both the support points 6, 10 are positioned opposite to each other in relation to the vertical part 1 with a different distance from the vertical part 1 so that the radius of rotation of the intermediate support point 6 is formed sufficiently smaller than the radius of rotation of the main support point 10. With this structure, vertical directional pressure is always applied to the abutment members 16, 17 so as to prevent the generation of inclination of the bar material and pushing thereof by an edge of holes of the abutment members 16, 17.

Description

S F Ref 114363 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 62

(ORIGINAL)

_43 Class Int Class FOR OFFIC~E USE: Complete Spec ification Lodged: Accepted: Published: ''It *1 4$ t I I

'III

44

I

tII a 4. 4 444 t 44,, 4 I #44 Priority: Related Art: of Applicant: Address for Service: .Ge-r-1 a-t- Reyr--a-tf-RAO4EeTABL.k .s eme'-0-rm R A 0 t 4 a

VIA

D(A ;r e-,e Sna Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney New South Wales, 2000, Australia 44 'I 4 4 I I 44 4 4, 9 4 44 444444 4 4 44444 4 4 4444 4 4 44 44 44 4 4 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Strap for the Equipped With Quick Fastening of a Railroad, Rail and Tie Such a Strap The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing It known to me/us 0O11~ 5845/3 _1 ill I Strap for the quick fastening of a railroad rail and tie equipped with such a strap

ABSTRACT

Fastening strap composed of a, rod having a vertical rectilinear part (20) and a curved part which forms a spring and the end (10) of which grips the flange (25) of the rail to be fastened, after eing tensioned as a result of the rotation of the strap above a ramp the lower end of the rectilinear part being equipped with a heel catching on a retaining surface (36) in the tie. The strap has an intermediate bearing point (6) which, during the rotation of the strap, bears on an abutment (38) or on a bearing surface of a metal sole plate. This intermediate bearing point ensures the stability of the strap during its rotation and in its tensioned position and, if an abutment is used, keeps this abutment in place.

a o *i r Figure 6

SI

E

I

i $Is ft I support 51, a simple pressure on the abutment moving apart elastically the wall 64 which is fastened to the support 51 by snapping.

S The subject of the present invention is a strap for the quick fastening of a railroad rail to ties or stringers made of concrete, wood, plastic or metal, the said strap being composed of a steel or reinforced plastic rod having a vertical rectilinear part terminating in an eccentric heel intended for interacting with a catching means associated with the tie or with a metal sole plate fastened to the tie, an(, a curved part which forms a spring and the end of which is intended to press onto the flange of the rail after the rotation of the rod about its vertical part, during which rotation the said end moves on a ramp intended for tt<,sioning that part of the strap forming a spring and for leading it onto the flange A of the rail.

t t A strap of this type is described in the Patent Application FR 2,608,182. For fastening a rail to a concrete tie tat without a metal pai, the strap is used together with a t. 20 plastic abutment pierced with a hole which the rod of the strap passes through. For fastening a rail to a metal pad, this strap is used without an abutment. In both cases, once the bearing end of the strap has been brought onto the flange of the rail, the tension on th/a strap 25 tends to cause the latter to tilt, so that its rectilinear rod comes to bear against the edge of the hole in the abutment or in the metal pad. Although this torsion is not particularly troublesome where a metal pad is concerned, in contrast it has disadvantages with regard 4 to a strap used with a plastic abutment. To overcome this disadvantage, the upper edge of the hole in the abutment has been reinforced by means of a collar. The abutment nevertheless tends to lift as a result of tilting about its outer edge and, on the other hand, instead of exerting a vertical pressure on the concrete of the tie, it exerts a transverse pressure against the side wall of its receptacle in the concrete. Such a stress on the 2 concrete can cause the concrete to crack. Moreover, the abutment has to withstand compressive and torsional forces which are difficult to control.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

There is disclosed herein strap for the quick fastening of a railroad rail to ties made of concrete, wood, plastic or metal, the said strap being composed of a steel or reinforced plastic rod having a straight segment terminating in an eccentric heel intended for interacting with a catching means associated with the tie or with a metal sole plate fastened to the tie, and a curved part which forms a spring and the end of which is intended to press onto a flange of the rail after rotation of the rod about its straight segment, during which rotation the said end moves on a tensioning ramp provided on the tie so as to tension that part of the strap forming a spring and for leading it onto the flange of the rail, wherein the curved part of the rod of the strap has a form both undulated vertically and wound about the straight segment of the rod, in such a way that it has an intermediate bearing point formed .on the bottom of a first undulation and a main bearing point located near the end of the rod, these two bearing points being mutually opposite in 20 relation to the straight segment, but at different distances therefrom, the radius of revolution of the intermediate bearing point being substantially smaller than the radius of revolution of the main bearing point, Since the strap always bears at two mutually opposite points in relation to the rectilinear part of the strap, this part maintains a vertical position. Nhen the strap is used with an abutment, the intermediate bearing of the strap exerts on the abutment a vertical force which results in a favorable compression of the concrete of the tie in the zone absorbing the lateral forces of the rail, The strap accordirg to the Invention can be supplied together with its abutment, to form a device for fastening a rail to a concrete tie.

Another subject of the invention is such a fastening device, characterized 29661 j I tin that the perimeter of the upper face of the abutment is contained between the circle of revolution of the intermediate bearing point and the circle of revolution of the main bearing point.

Another subject of the invention is a concrete railroad tie equipped with such fastening devices, this tie having, for each rail, a recess intended for receiving the rail and two receptacles which are laterally adjacent to this recess and in which the abutments of the fastening devices are seated, the concrete having a ramp extending at least between that edge of the said receptacles opposite the recess intended for the rail and the edge of this recess, these ramps forming the ramps intended for tensioning the straps, and means embedded in the concrete for the retention of the rrlds of the straps.

Another subject of the invention is a stringer made of oa9o concrete, especially reinforced concrete, and equipped 0o 0 o with metal supports in the form of a rectangular bow, to Qo, a° which the abutments made of synthetic material are "O 20 fastened at the workshop or on site.

0ooa Another subject of the invention is a metal sole plate for a railroad tie equippe4 with straps according to :o0 o Claim 1, the rods of which pass through holes provided in the pad and catch on countersinks into which the said holes open, the sole plate having d receptacle intended c: for receiving the rail and, on each side of this receptacle, ramps the extension of which coincides with the flange of the rail, characterized in that the said ramps have the form of a path in an arc of a circle, the mean 30 radius of which is equal to the radius of revolution of the main bearing point of the straps. The start of the ramp can correspond to the point of temporary fastening of the strap to the sole plate.

Furthermore, the fastening strap is advantageously equipped with a profiled piece made of synthetic 3 I 1 I d -I material, serving for plugging that part of the hole used for the passage of the eccentric catching heel of the strap and for guiding its vertical rectilinear part during its rotation.

An exemplary embodiment of the strap and examples of the use of this strap will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawingsj uer,-s; Figure 1 is a first elevation view of the fastening strap.

Figure 2 is a plan view of this same fastening strap.

0 0 0 0* a i 0 0 0 4* I 015 404 a f °ac t6 Figure 3 is a side view of this strap in the direction A of Figure 1, that is to say in a position rotated through 90" in relation to Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an elevation view of a metal sole plate equipped with a 4astening strap according to the invention.

Figure 5 is a plan view of this same metal sole plate.

Figure 6 is a partial sectional view of a concrete tie equipped with a fastening strap according to the invention, according to a first embodiment.

r 1 1 *$00 4 4 04* 20 Figure 7 is a partial plan view of this same concrete tie.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the anchoring socket enwedded in the concrete.

Figure 9 shows a complete tie with the rails fastened.

Figure 10 is a partial view of Figure 3, showing the strap equipped with an auxiliary closing and guiding piece.

4 II r Figure 11 is a top view of this same strap part.

Figure 12 is a view in vertical section of the auxiliary piece shown in Figures 10 and 11.

Figure 13 is a partial view, in section according to XIII-XIII of Figure 15, of a concrete stringer equipped with a fastening strap and with a rail, according to a second embodiment.

Figure 14 is a side view in section according to XIV-XIV of Figure Figure 15 is a plan view of the stringer of Figure 13.

Figure 16 is an exploded view of the metal support equipping the stringer of Figures 13 to 15 and of the 0 0O abutment.

Figure 17 shows the same stringer equipped with an o o S 15 abutment of a different form.

P

0:*0 *o The strap illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 is composed of a steel rod of circular cross-section, having a vertical rectilinear part 1 equipped, at its base, with a heel 2 0 directed perpendicularly relative to the axis 3 of this 20 rectilinear part. The steel rod has a form both undulated vertically and wound about the axis 3 of the vertical part. The undulated part is composed of a short rising part 4, rectilinear as seen in horizontal projection (Figure followed by a falling part 5 extending over a little more than a semicircle, as seen in horizontal j Iprojection, a first low point 6 constituting an intermediate bearing point and followed by a rising part 7, first rectilinear, as seen in horizontal projection, and then rounded, at the same time passing via a high point, to fall again in a longer undulation 8 of low curvature, terminating at the bottom of the undulation in a bent part 9 parallel to the part 7, as seen in 5 4 ii horizontal projection, and constituting a main bearing point 10. The bearing points 6 and 10 have flats intended for reducing the wear of both the strap at its bearing points and the parts on which it bears. The bearing points 6 and 8, as seen in plan view, that is to say in the direction of the axis 3 (Figure are mutually opposite diametrically in relation to the middle 11 of the catching heel 2. In this same view, the axis 3 of the rectilinear part is located substantially at the center of the triangle formed by the parts 7 and 8 of the rod and by the straight line connecting the bearing points 6 and 10. It will be seen later that this arrangement directs the forces in a suitable way and ensures that the strap has a high stability. The vertical rectiliner- part 1 can be of greater or lesser length, depending on the type of tie on which it is to be used. It will be seen that the main bearing point 10 and the intermediate bearing point 6 are not at the same level, the bearing point 10 being approximately 1 cm lower than the bearing 20 point 6.

*0t The use of the fastening strap illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 for the fastening of a rail by means of a metal sole plate will now be described with reference to Figures 4 and i a 25 These figures show a metal sole plate 12 having a recess 13 intended for receiving a rail 14, with an elastic pad made of rubiber and two lateral abutments 16 and 17 .aai made of plastic being interposed. The lower face 18 of the metal sole plate 12 is inclined slightly, since it is St", 30 intended to be fastened to a concrete tie having an 1 *inclined plane. For this purpose, the metal sole plate 12 has two oblong holes 18 and 19 intended for receiving tie screws which are preferably screwed into PLASTIRAIL (registered trade mark) anchoring sockets embedded in the concrete. On each side of the recess 9, the sole plate 12 has two plane bearing surfaces 20 and 21 intended for receiving the fastening straps. Only the bearing surface 6 i i need be described in detail, the bearing surface 21 being identical to the bearing surface 20, but arranged upside down in relation to the rail. The bearing surface is plane and horizontal. It has a part of circular contour 22 and a rectilinear part 23 extending along the recess 13. Round the plane part 20 there extends, over a quarter circle, a ramp 24 in the form of a path rising progressively in the direction of the rail 14. The top of this ramp 20 is level with the edge of the flange 25 of the rail. The middle of the plane part 20 is pierced with a hole 26, the form of which matches the form of the profile of the rectilinear part 1 of the strap and of the heel 2, as seen in the plan view of Figure 2, there being the play necessary for the free insertion of the rectilinear part 1 of the strap into this hole 26. The hole 26 opens into a countersink 27 made in the lower face of I the sole plate 12.

«c *0 The fastening strap is installed in the position represented by dot-and-dash lines, that is to say in a posi- 20 tion rotated thirough 180* about the axis 3 in relation to the position represented by unbroken lines. In this position, the catching heel 2 can be introduced freely into the hole 26. The main bearing point 10 is in a position 10' outside the ramp 24, and the catching heel o 25 2 is very slightly below the countersink 27. As a result of a slight rotation of the strap, simultaneously the main bearing point 10 of the strap is brought onto the Sramp 24 and the heel 2 of the strap is brought up against oT 6 the countersink 27. As a result of an additional slight rotation of the strap, the latter is given a slight jtension sufficient to fasten the strap temporarily to the S metal sole plate 12. This position is designated by The metal sole plate can thus be supplied equipped with the fastening straps, the straps being held sufficiently for transport and placing on the track. Once the metal sole plate is fastened to the tie and the rail 14 placed in its receptacle, each of the fastening straps is driven in rotation, in such a way that its main bearing point 7 ii ,i i moves along the ramp 24, the mean radius of which is equal to the radius of revolution of the bearing point about the axis 3. As regards the intermediate bearing point 6, this moves on the horizontal pline surface The bearing point 10 finally comes to bear on the flange of the rail, at the same time exerting a pressure of the order of 10 to 12 kN. Furthermore, the strap bears on the bearing surface 20 of the sole plate by means of its intermediate bearing point 6, thereby exerting a vertical pull on the catching heel 2 via the rectilinear part 1 of the strap. The countersink 27 extends approximately over a semicircle, in such a way that the heel comes up against the e7d of this countersink, thus limiting the rotation of the fastening strap. It is possible to provide a notch in the countersink 27, so that the catching heel 22 is locked in this countersink, thereby preventing the removal of the strap, once the rail has been fastened. In the right-hand portion of Figure 'rii a some parts corresponding to the left-hand portion have been designated by the same references accompanied by the e 00, sign The arc of rotation of the strap between the installation position and the rail-fastening position need not necessi arily be 180", but can be less than or more than 1800.

i i ,i ij

E

The use of a fastening strap according to the invention for fastening a rail to a concrete tie 28 without a metal sole plate will now be described by means of Figures 6 and 7 This concrete tie can be made completely of concrete or be composed of two concrete blocks connected by means of a metal rod, as illustrated in Figure 9.

Figures 6 and 7 show only part of the tie, that is to say the part corresponding to a rail. For each of the rails, the tie 28 has a recess 29 intended for receiving the rail. On each side of this recess 29, the tie 28 has two ramps 30 and 31 descending away from the recess 29. On each side of the recess 29, the tie 28 also possesses two rectangular receptacles 32 and 33, the bottom of which is 8 *4r, 4 44s 4* 4 4 44.

4tc S*4 44 4r 44 4p a *4 4~ at the same level as the bottom of the recess 29 and which communicate with this recess. Two profiled sockets 34 made of synthetic material and surrounded by metal are embedded in the concrete. These sockets have the same composition and the same external form as the PLASTIRAIL (registered trade mark) sockets serving for the fastening of the tie screws and described in the French Patent Appi a No. These sockets 34, at their base, have a widening 35 forming a countersink 36 intended for performing the same function as the countersink 27 of the metal sole plate. The socket 34 is shown in perspective in Figure 8. Above the widening 35, the socket has a profile 37 matching the profile of the catching heel 2 of the fastening strap. In this embodiment, the fastening strap has a rectilinear part 1 substantially longer than the strap illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, so as to be capable of catching at the bottom of the socket 34. Of course, the sockets 34 open out into the bottom of the receptacles 32 and 33. The 20 fastening strap is mounted together with an abutment 38, made of synthetic material, inserted between the curved part of the strap and the concrete. This abutment 38 has the form of a rectangular parallelepiped extended laterally by a bearing surface 39 which is in the form of an arc of a circle and which extends the plane upper face of the abutment and engages on the bottom of the receptacle 32 in a stepped manner. The general form of the abutment 38 corresponds to the form of the receptacle 32 in which this abutment is seated. The abutment 38 has a profiled 30 hole 40 allowing the passage of the catching heel 2 of the strap. The perimeter of the abutment 38 is contained between the circle of revolution of the intermediate bearing point 6 and the circle of revolution of the main bearing point 10, in such a way that this main bearing point 10 is always outside the abutment.

The fastening strap equipped with its abutment 38 is first introduced into the socket 34 in the position represented by dot-and-dash lines 10', that is to say 9i, i i i ii r0 04 44 4 4 *4 4 p 4 4* *x 4 4: 0 I in a position rotated through 180° in relation to the position represented by unbroken lines. In this position, the main bearing point 10' is 1 or 2 mm from the surface of the concrete on the ramp 30. As a result of a slight rotation of the strap in the clockwise direction, the heel 2 of the strap engages under the countersink 36. As a result of an additional slight rotation, the main bearing point 10' rises sli~itly on the ramp 30, the effect of which is to exert some tension on the strap, this tension ensuring the temporary fastening of the strap to the concrete tie. This temporary fastening position is, for example, the position 10". The tie can therefore be equipped with the fastening straps at the factory. To fasten the rail 14, it is sufficient to continue rotating the strap. During this rotation, the main bearing point 10 rises progressively on the ramp B9, of the concrete, the end of which is level with the flange 25 of the rail. The main bearing point 10 comes to *o s 'bear under tension on the flange 25 with a pressure of 20 the order of 10 to 12 kN. The rotation of the abutment is a limited by the form of the widening 35 of the socket 34 O which forms a stop limiting the rotation of the catching heel 2. During the rotation of the strap, the intermediate bearing point 6 slides on the horizontal surface of the abutment 38, at the same time keeping the rectt$ tilinear part 1 of the strap in a vertical position. The S strap exerts no lateral pressure on the hole 40 in the S' abutment 38. In the final position, the intermediate bearing point 6 grips the bearing surface 39 of the abutment against the concrete. The compression of the concrete in this zone is expedient becaugo the concrete can thus better withstand the transverse fo4$M attributable to thO lateral pressure exerted by the rail via the abutment 38, The socket 34 can, of course, also be provided with a locking notch for the heel 2 of the strap, if it is desirable that the latter be unremovable.

10 The complete tie 28 is illustrated in Figure 9. A composite concrete/steel tie has been represented by dotand-dash lines. The tie iG equipped with four straps 1.

It is supplied equipped with these straps, the temporary fastening of which is sufficient to keep the assembly in place during transport and putting on the track.

The hole 26 in the metal sole plate and the hole 40 in the abutment 38 allows sand and dirt to penetrate.

Figures 10 to 12 show a means of plugging this hole, whilst at the same time ensuring a better guidance of the vertical part 1 of the strap during its rotation. Figures and 11 illustrate a part of the strap shown in Figures 1 to 3. Fastened to the vertical part 1 between the heel 2 and the first curved part 4 of the strap is a plastic plug 41 which fills the vertical space between the heel 2 and the part 4 and the profile of which fills the 9 i profile of the hole 26. This plug 41 is equipped with two j! curved arms 42 and 43, by means of which the plug 41 is ii fastened by gripping to the cylindrical part 1 of the strap. The plug 41 is preferably slightly larger than the hole 26 and hollow, as shown by the cross-section illustrated in Figure 12, so as to have a transverse elasticity in order to pl.ug the hole 26 more effectively.

In Figure 10, dot-and-dash lines also represent the level of the surface 20 of the metal sole plate. When the strap is being introduced into the hole 26, the plug 41 is engaged into this hole 26 together with the rectilinear Spart of the strape the assembly as a whole occapying the entire cross-section of the hole 26. During the rotation P 30 of the strap, the plug 41 remains in place, serving as a guide for the part I of the strap. Figure 11 shows the strap after some rotation of the latter in relation to the plug 41 retained in the hole 26.

The strap illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and in Figures 13 to 17 can, of course, be equipped with a plug similar to the plug 41 and differing from this only in its length.

11 44qq o s o 4,* Q 09.

p o p .4 4 i

I

404944 4 4 The form of the undulations of the strap and the form 6f its heel and of the holes for the passage of this heel can, of course, differ from the forms shown.

The abutment 38 could be larger and have a ramp similar to the ramp 24 for the main bearing point 10 of the strap.

The rails are soretimes laid on stringers or ties made of prestressed concrete. The manufacture of stringers or ties made of prestressed concrete does not allow the presence of recesses, such as the recesses provided in the ties illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. In this case, it is expedient to resort to another solution for fastening the abutments made of synthetic material. Figures 13 to 16 illustrate such a solution. Anchored in the prestres- 15 sec-.concrete stringer or tie 50, the surface of which is smooth, are metal supports 51 in the form of a bow of rectangular profile, the lower ends of which are bent to ensurb an anchorage in the concrete. An abutment 52 made of synthetic material is mounted on each of the bows 51.

In parallel with the profile of the bow 51, this abutment 52 likewise has a bow-shaped profile, as shown in Figure 16. More specifically, the abutment has a plane upper face 53, a relatively thick side 54 serving as a centering abutment for the rail 14, and two thinner lateral 25 sides 55 to 56 serving for retaining the abutment on the bow 51, the side 56 being equipped with a heel 57, the upper face of which is in the form of a ramp 58 rising towards the part 54. A horizontal wall 59 starting from the part 54 extends between the walls 55 and 56. The distance between the wall 59 and the part 53 of the abutment corresponds to the thickness of the bar forming the bow 51. The stop 52 is slipped laterally onto the bow 51 in the direction of the arrow of Figur 16, the bow engaging between the par, 53 and the wall 59 and between the walls 55 and 56. The abutment 52 is provided with a profiled hole 60 coinciding with a hole 61 of the same profile in the bow 51, for the passage of the strap. The 4 4 4; 9 12 I upper portion of the part 54 of the abutment has a chaiZufer 62. When the abutment 52 is mounted on its support 51, the sides 55 and 56 and the heel 57 are in contact with the stringer 50. The abiutment 52 is first equipped with a strap identical to the 6traps of the preceding figures. As before, the main bearing point of the strap is brought onto the start of the ramp 58 in order to fasten the strap temporarily. After the rail 14 has been installed between these abutments, this being made easier by the chamfers 62, the strap is driven in rotation in such a way that the main bearing point rises on the ramp 58 to the height of the flange and the rail 14. As in the preceding embodiments, the perimeter of the upper face 53 of the abutment is contained between 15 the circle of revolution of the intermediate bearing point 6 and the circle of revolution of the main bearing i point r «By providing abutments having different thicknesses in the region of the part 54, it is possible, if the ap- I 20 propriate thickness is selected, to wedge the rail I perfectly in the lateral direction.

I I Moreover, the thin wall 59 has the effect of insulating the strap electrically from the metal support 51.

Ii The abutment described above need not necessarily be mounted upon its metal support 51 before the laying of the rail. Figure 17 illustrates an alternative embodiment j| allowing the insulating abutment to be fastened after the laying of the rail. Since the abutment is a wearing part, its replacement can thus be carried out without moving the rail. The abutment 63 differs from the abutment 52 in that the wall 59 is replaced by a rim 64 parallel to the part 54' corresponding to the part 54, this rim 64 terminating in a hook-shaped extra thickness 65 having a chamfer 66. The wall 64 is not connected to the side walls corresponding to the walls 55 and 56 of Figure 16.

The abutment 63 is installed vertically on the metal 13 s- 1 r 1i support 51, a simple pressure on the abutment moving apart elastically the wall 64 which is fastened to the support 51 by snapping.

The abutment 63 is advantageously equipped with a flexible tongue 66 extending laterally from the part 54'. As emerges from the drawing, this tongue 66 is intended to rest on the flange of the rail 14. It is attached to the abutment somewhat high up, in such a way that it can follow the flange of the rail in its descending movement when it is being fastened by means of the strap. The tongue 66 is finally gripped between the flange of the rail and the main bearing point 10 of the strap, The tongue 66 protects the flange of the rail agains't a S punching effect as a result of the friction of the strap I 15 and insulates the metal strap electrically from the rail.

The part 54' vf the abutment possesses, in its lower part, a chamfer 67 intended to make it easier to introduce this part 54' between the support 51 and the flange of the rail.

I 20 In a simplified embodiment, the support 51 and thd ,abutment 52 could be produced in one piece from a ductile material, such as cast iron, graphite cast iron, alloy or composite material. The abutment so obtained takes the form of a piece anchored in the concrete and having a S 25 bow-shaped part located above the concrete and intended for the fastening of a strap, such as the strap desc- Sribed.

14

Claims

1. Strap for the quick fastening of a railroad rail to ties made of concrete, wood, plastic or metal, the said strap being composed of a steel or reinforced plastic rod having a straight segment terminating in an eccentric heel intended for interacting with a catching means associated with the tie or with a metal sole plate fastened to the tie, and a curved part which forms a spring and the end of which is intended to press onto a flange of the rail after rotation of the rod about its straight segment, during which rotation the said end moves on a tensioning ramp provided on the tie so as to tension that part of the strap forming a spring and for leading it onto the flange of the rail, wherein the curved part of the rod of the strap has a form both undulated vertically and wound about the straight segment of the rod, in such a way that it has an intermediate bearing point formed on the bottom of a first 15 undulation and a main bearing point located near the end of the rod, these two bearing points being mutually opposite in relation to the Q °straight segment, but at different distances therefrom, the radius of m Qorevolution of the intermediate bearing point being substantially smaller than the radius of revolution of the main bearing point. boo

2. The tastening strap of Claim 1, wherein as seen in the direction of the axis of the straight segment, the bearing points are mutually opposite diametrically in relation to the middle of the 9 eccentric heel.

3. The fastening strap of Claim 1 or Claim 2, being further equ!ipped with a profiled piece made of synthetic material and equipped with two curved arms, by means of which it is fastened by gripping to the straight segment, above the said eccentric heel, the profile of this piece coinciding with the profile of the strap at the height of its catching heel.

4. The fastening strap of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein at least at the main bearing point, a flat forming a bearing surface is provided.

Device for fastening a rail to a concrete tie, comprising a strap according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 and a centering abutment having a lower face and an upper face and a hole through which the straight segment of the strap passes, wherein the perimeter of the upper face of the abutment is contained between the circle of revolution of the 16 intermediate bearing point and the circle of revolution of the main bearing point.

6. The device of Claim 5, wherein the lower and upper faces of the abutment are plane and parallel.

7. The device of Claim 6, wherein the abutment posscsses, on one side, a bearing surface intended to be gripped between the intermediate bearing point of the strap and the concrete.

8. The device of Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the abutment is made of synthetic material.

9. In combination, the fastening strap of Claim 3 and an abutment made of insulating material fastened to an intermediate support extending upwardly from the tie.

The fastening strap of Claim 4, wherein the intermediate support is in the form of an inverted U-shaped bow of rectangular profile.

11. The fastening device according to Claim 10, wherein the abutment of a general rectangular form has a profile such that the abutment is engageable or plugable laterally onto the support.

12. The fastening device of Claim 10, wherein the abutment has a profile allowing it to be fastened to the support by vertical snapping. 20

13. The fastening device of Claim 12, wherein the abutment is S. equipped with a lateral tongue intended to be gripped between the rail and the main bearing point of the strap.

14. A concrete railroad tie equipped with fastening devices according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the tie has, for each 25 rail, a recess intended for receiving the rail and two receptacles which are laterally adjacerit to this recess and in which the abutments of the J,..eo fastening devices are seated, the concrete having a ramp extending at least between that edge of the said receptacles opposite the recess Intended for the rail and the edge of this recess, these ramps forming 30 the ramps intended for tensioning the straps, and means embedded in the concrete for the retention of the straps, these means being the catching means. Tie according to Claim 14, characterized in that the means for the retention of the straps are composed of sockets made of synthetic material and having a profile for anchoring In the concrete.

Y. Tl/29661 N4S L I -i r~- 17

16. Concrete railroad stringer or tie, equipped with abutments made of ductile material, anchored in the concrete and having a bow-shaped part located above the concrete having fastened thereto the strap of any one of Claims 1 to 4.

17. The railroad stringer or tie of Claim 16, wherein the abutments are made of synthetic material.

18. Metal sole plate for a railroad tie equipped with straps according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, the vertical rectilinear part of which passes through a hole provided in the sole plate and catches on a countersink into which the said hole opens, the sole plate having a receptacle intended for receiving the rail and, on each side of this receptacle, ramps the extension of which coincides with the flange of the rail, characterized in that the said ramps have the form of a path in an arc of a circle, the mean radius of which is equal to the radius of 15 revolution of the main bearing point of the straps.

19. Metal sole plate according to Claim 18, characterized in that the surface on the inside of the ramp in the form of an arc of a circle ,o is plane and horizontal, at least in the region of the upper end of the ramp.

A fastening strap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. o

21. A device for fastening a rail to a concrete tie, substantially as hereinbefore described wlth reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A concrete railroad stringer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this THIRTEENTH day of DECEMBER 1991 i Etablissements VAPE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON TA/29661 j -4 0?