Manufacture of top plate for an elastomeric rail fastening assembly

Abstract

A top plate for an elastomeric rail fastening assembly has a downwardly tapering lower wall terminating in an inwardly-directed lip defining a mouth leading into a well. The cavity of the well extends upwardly to provide the interiors of rail-holding mounts between which a bottom flange of a rail may be located. The mounts have open-ended sockets for receiving spring clips used to hold the rail in position between the mounts, and the sockets and well communicate with one another. This form of top plate allows less metal to be used for its construction, requires less dressing after casting, and precisely locates the sockets with respect to one another.

1 - 4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . The manufacture of a top plate for an elastomeric rail fastening assembly or similar device, formed by a casting process using a single core to define a well formed in the underside of the top plate and also sockets of the plate which are to receive rail-holding clips, the core being attached to the interior wall of a mold in which the top plate is cast by way of the mouth of the well prior to passing molten metal into the mold.  
   
   
       6 . A top plate for an elastomeric rail fastening assembly or similar device, formed by a casting process and having a well formed in the underside of the top plate communicating with sockets on the upper surface of the top plate for the reception of rail-holding clips.  
   
   
       7 . A top plate according to  claim 6 , in which the well has a larger horizontal cross-section inside the top plate than the mouth of the well.  
   
   
       8 . A top plate according to  claim 6 , in which the underside of the top plate is provided with a lip extending inwardly beneath the well and defining a, or the, mouth of the well.