Rail insulators

Abstract

Improved shoulder insulator for a rail seat assembly which enables the rail seat to be pre assembled at the rail tie fabrication plant into a preloaded position where a rail can be laid on the tie on site. On site the rail clips can be moved to the loaded position after the rail is placed in position. The rail seat includes a concrete rail tie; a pair of rail clip support shoulders cast in place in said rail tie each said shoulder having a rail face between its external sides; a pair of shoulder insulators each shaped to lie against the rail face of the rail shoulder; a pair of rail clips each having a base section adapted to seat within the rail clip support shoulder and a toe section adapted to seat on the rail base, the toe section comprising a pair of bifurcated arms extending from said base section and being bent in a curve so that the toes lie adjacent but beyond the base; a pair of toe insulators each adapted to fit about the toe of the rail clip to insulate the clip from the rail base; the arrangement being such that when the rail clip is in the preloaded position the toe insulator and the toe of the clips do not project beyond the face of the shoulder insulator so that a rail can be laid between the rail shoulders and their associated insulators. The shoulder insulator is shaped to lie against the rail face of the rail shoulder level with the gate of the shoulder and abutting the location flange and incorporating side arms that slip over the external retention rib of the shoulders which is dimensioned so that when the shoulder insulator top is pulled toward the rail and lifted up, the side arms clear the retention clips and the top edge of the shoulder insulator post clears the front of the toe insulator

1 . A railroad tie and rail seat assembly for supporting a rail which includes 
 a) a concrete rail tie    b) a pair of rail clip support shoulders cast in place in said rail tie each said shoulder having a rail face between its external sides, a clip gateway through said rail face, a rail clip ramp leading from the rear of the shoulder and terminating in the clip gateway at substantially the level of the top of the rail base and an external vertical retention rib on each side of the shoulder;    c) a rail pad seated on said rail tie between said support shoulders    d) a pair of shoulder insulators each shaped to lie against the rail face of the rail shoulder level with the gate and abutting the location flange and incorporating side arms that slip over the external retention rib of the shoulders;    e) a pair of rail clips each having a base section adapted to seat within the rail clip support shoulder and a toe section adapted to seat on the rail base, the toe section comprising a pair of bifurcated arms extending from said base section and being bent in a curve so that the toes lie adjacent but beyond the clip base    f) a pair of toe insulators each adapted to fit about the toes of the rail clips to insulate the clips from the rail base    g) the arrangement being such that the rail clip has a first stable position in the shoulder where the front of the toe insulators do not project beyond the face of the shoulder insulator so that a rail can be laid between the rail shoulders and their associated insulators and a second stable position where the toe insulator and the toes of the rail clip lie on the rail base.    
   
   
       2 . A rail seat assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in which the shoulder incorporates an insulator retention rib on the rail face of the shoulder on each side of the clip gateway.  
   
   
       3 . A shoulder insulator for use in the tie assembly of  claim 1  shaped to lie against the rail face of the rail shoulder level with the gate of the shoulder and abutting the location flange and incorporating side arms that slip over the external retention rib of the shoulders which is dimensioned so that when the shoulder insulator top is pulled toward the rail and lifted up, the side arms clear the retention clips and the top edge of the shoulder insulator post clears the front of the toe insulator.  
   
   
       4 . A shoulder insulator as claimed in  claim 3  in which the side arms are resiliently biassed against the sides of the support shoulder.  
   
   
       5 . A shoulder insulator as claimed in  claim 4  in which an up turned flap is provided on the end of the side arm to act as a ratchet on the surface of the support shoulder.  
   
   
       6 . A support shoulder for use in the railroad tie and rail seat assembly of  claim 1  having a rail face between its external sides, a clip gateway through said rail face, a rail clip ramp leading from the rear of the shoulder and terminating in the clip gateway at substantially the level of the top of the rail base and an external vertical retention rib on each side.  
   
   
       7 . A support shoulder as claimed in  claim 6  which incorporates an insulator retention rib on the rail face of the shoulder on each side of the clip gateway.  
   
   
       8 . A railroad tie and rail seat assembly for supporting a rail which includes 
 a) a concrete rail tie    b) a pair of rail clip support shoulders cast in place in said rail tie each said shoulder having a rail face between its external sides, a clip gateway through said rail face, a rail clip ramp leading from the rear of the shoulder and terminating in the clip gateway at substantially the level of the top of the rail base and an external horizontal retention rib on the rail face on each side of the clip gateway;    c) a rail pad seated on said rail tie between said support shoulders    d) a pair of rail clips each having a base section adapted to seat within the rail clip support shoulder and a toe section adapted to seat on the rail base, the toe section comprising a pair of bifurcated arms extending from said base section and being bent in a curve so that the toes lie adjacent but beyond the clip base    e) a pair of rail insulators each having a shoulder portion that lies between the rail base and the rail face of the rail shoulder and a rail portion that lies between the rail and the toes of the rail clips to insulate the clips from the rail base    f) the rail insulators incorporate gate ribs that define a clip gateway corresponding to the clip gateway of the support shoulder and said gate ribs abut the horizontal retention ribs on the rail face of said support shoulder to prevent bending of the rail insulators.    
   
   
       9 . A support shoulder for use in the railroad tie and rail seat assembly of  claim 8  having a rail face between its external sides, a clip gateway through said rail face, a rail clip ramp leading from the rear of the shoulder and terminating in the clip gateway at substantially the level of the top of the rail base and an external horizontal retention rib on the rail face on each side of the clip gateway.