Method of attaching rail clip anchoring device to a railway rail support

Abstract

In a method of attaching a steel railway rail support (baseplate or sleeper) ( 2 ) to a ductile iron rail clip anchoring device ( 1 ) a boss ( 11 ), extending from the bottom of a body ( 10 ) of the anchoring device ( 1 ), is inserted into a hole ( 20 ) passing through the support ( 2 ) at a location on its surface ( 2 a ) at which the anchoring device ( 1 ) is to be attached until the anchoring device body ( 10 ) abuts the support surface ( 2 a ). The steel around the hole ( 20 ) in a region on the support surface ( 2 b ) opposite to that on which the. anchoring device body ( 10 ) is located is compressed while the anchoring device ( 1 ) is held in place, so that the compressed steel flows plastically against the boss ( 11 ) within the hole ( 12 ), until the force applied to the boss ( 11 ) brings about elongation thereof, whereby the boss ( 11 ) undergoes an elastic set which clamps the boss ( 11 ) to the support ( 2 ).

1 . A method of attaching a steel railway rail support to a ductile iron rail clip anchoring device, which method comprises: 
 inserting a boss, protruding from the bottom of a body of the anchoring device, into a hole passing through the support at a location on its surface at which the anchoring device is to be attached until the anchoring device body abuts the support surface; and    compressing the steel around the hole in a region on the support surface opposite to that on which the anchoring device body is located, while the anchoring device is held in place, so that the compressed steel flows plastically against the boss within the hole, until the force thereby applied to the boss brings about elongation thereof, whereby the boss undergoes an elastic set which clamps the boss to the support..    
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the boss is provided with at least one recess in its flank and the compressed steel also flows plastically into the said recess.  
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the recess comprises a single non-helical groove extending around the boss.  
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the flank of the boss is provided with a plurality of recesses, each comprising a non-helical groove extending around the boss.  
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of compressing the steel around the hole is performed by applying a penetrating tool, having a working face of a desired shape, to the surface of the support opposite to that on which the anchoring device body is located until the tool has entered the support surface for a desired distance.  
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the said penetrating tool is shaped to allow the said elongation of the boss.  
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the step of inserting the boss into the hole in the support is performed by supporting the anchoring device so that the boss extends upwardly and then lowering the support such that the boss passes through the hole.  
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support is provided with two such holes and the method is carried out simultaneously with respect to both holes thereby to attach two anchoring devices to the support.  
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the said hole or holes are punched into the steel support.  
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the said railway rail support is a railway sleeper.  
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the said railway rail support is a railway rail baseplate.  
   
   
       12 . A rail clip anchoring device, for use with the method of  claim 1 , which device has an anchoring device body and, protruding from the bottom of that body, a boss provided with at least one recess in its flank, the recess comprising a single non-helical groove extending around the boss.  
   
   
       13 . A device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the flank of the boss is provided with a plurality of such recesses.  
   
   
       14 . A device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the profile of the or each groove is substantially that of a buttress thread.  
   
   
       15 . A device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the or each recess is provided adjacent a free end of the boss.  
   
   
       16 . A railway rail fastening assembly comprising a steel railway rail support, having two holes therethrough, and two ductile iron rail clip anchoring devices, each anchoring device having an anchoring device body and, protruding from the bottom of that body, a boss which extends into a respective one of the said holes in the support, the boss of each anchoring device having an elastic set whereby the boss is clamped to the support, wherein the boss of at least one of the anchoring devices has at least one recess provided in its flank, the recess comprising a single non-helical groove extending around the boss.  
   
   
       17 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the flank of the boss is provided with a plurality of such recesses.  
   
   
       18 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the profile of the or each groove is substantially that of a buttress thread.  
   
   
       19 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the or each recess is provided adjacent a free end of the boss.  
   
   
       20 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the said railway rail support is a railway sleeper.  
   
   
       21 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the said railway rail support is a railway rail baseplate.