Insulating anti-corrosive rail clamp integrally made of polymeric composition

Abstract

The invention relates to a rail clamp for fastening rail equipment, said rail clamp being integrally composed of a polymeric composition produced by pultrusion or molding, vacuum molding or compression molding. It has high mechanical strength. It is anticorrosive and insulating and is preferably composed of a resin and reinforcing fibers and/or a thermoplastic. It is advantageously formed as a one piece structure. The rail clamp is especially used to fasten rails to base slabs and has economic advantages compared to the rail clamps known in the art, which are made of steel coated with rubber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rail clamp for fastening railway equipment, said rail clamp being anticorrosive, insulating and integrally composed of a polymeric composition made by pultrusion, molding, casting, filament winding, compression molding or winding. 
     
     
         2 . The rail clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein it is formed in one piece. 
     
     
         3 . The rail clamp according to  claim 2 , wherein the polymeric composition is a composite comprising:
 a synthetic resin; and   reinforcing fibers.   
     
     
         4 . The rail clamp according to  claim 3 , wherein the resin is chosen from epoxies, polyesters, vinyl esters and urethanes. 
     
     
         5 . The rail clamp according to  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing fibers are chosen from glass, aramid, ceramic, filamented cardboard, sisal, cotton, flax or hemp. 
     
     
         6 . The rail clamp according  claim 5 , wherein the reinforcing fibers are shaped as roving or mat. 
     
     
         7 . The rail clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric composition comprises a polymer chosen from polyesters, polyacetal homopolymers and polycarbonates. 
     
     
         8 . The rail clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein it is provided with a hole to allow passage of a fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The rail clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein it has a Barcol hardness from about 40 to about 50. 
     
     
         10 . The rail clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein it has an electrical resistance, according to the ASTM D-229 norm, higher than 7 Ohm/cm×1010. 
     
     
         11 . The rail clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein it has a modulus of elasticity between 200,000 psi and 10,000,000 psi. 
     
     
         12 . The rail clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein it has a tensile strength, according to the ASTM D-638 norm, between 7,000 psi and 120,000 psi. 
     
     
         13 . The rail clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein it has a compression strength, according to the ASTM D 695 norm, between 12,000 psi and 70,000 psi. 
     
     
         14 . The rail clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein it has a shearing strength of at least 2,000 psi. 
     
     
         15 . The rail clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein it has a thermal expansion coefficient of at most 10×10 −6  In/In/° F. 
     
     
         16 . The rail clamp according to  claim 1 , wherein it has a dielectric constant, according to the ASTM D150 norm at 60 Hz, between 4 and 8. 
     
     
         17 . A railway system comprising:
 a rail having an upper section and a lower section;   at least one rail road saddle for supporting the lower section of the rail;   at least one rail clamp as defined in  claim 1 , the rail clamp having a surface, the surface being for contacting the lower section of the rail and the rail clamp being fastened to the saddle to allow a pressure of the surface against the lower section of the rail to prevent substantial displacement of the rail.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one rail clamp comprises a first plurality of rail clamps and a second plurality of rail clamps, the first plurality of rail clamps being placed on a first lateral side of the rail and the second plurality of rail clamps being placed on a second lateral side of the rail. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein each rail clamp of the first plurality of rail clamps is offset from a corresponding rail clamp of the second plurality of rail clamps. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the rail road saddle is anticorrosive, insulating and integrally composed of a second polymeric composition made by pultrusion, molding, casting, filament winding or winding.