Clamping spring for holding down a track body element

Abstract

A tension spring for holding down a track body element, such as a rail foot of a rail, including a U-shaped main section which has a U-bend, a first leg arranged on one side of the U-bend and a second leg arranged on the other side of the U-bend, wherein a hook-shaped inwardly bent holding section which can be braced against a hold-down device is formed on the first leg and an end section bent towards or away from the holding section is formed on the second leg, wherein the U-bend forms a torsion section so that a hold-down force can be applied to the track body element via the bent end section.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A tension spring for holding down a track body element, comprising:
 a U-shaped main section which has a U-bend, a first leg being arranged on one side of the U-bend and a second leg being arranged on the other side of the U-bend;   wherein a hook-shaped inwardly bent holding section configured to be braced against a hold-down device is formed on the first leg and an end section bent towards or away from the holding section is formed on the second leg;   wherein the U-bend forms a torsion section so that a hold-down force is configured to be applied to the track body element via a bent end section;   wherein the holding section has a free end portion connected to the first leg via a hook bend and arranged between the first leg and the second leg; and   wherein the free end portion of the holding section, as viewed in the direction of a longitudinal extension of the free end portion, covers the U-bend at least partially.   
     
     
         44 . The tension spring according to  claim 43 , wherein the bent end section extends at an angle of 80-100° to the second leg. 
     
     
         45 . The tension spring according to  claim 43 , wherein the first leg and the free end portion of the holding section in the unloaded state provide a planar bearing surface or lie with their respective center axes in a center plane. 
     
     
         46 . The tension spring according to  claim 45 , wherein the center plane runs parallel to the planar bearing surface. 
     
     
         47 . The tension spring according to  claim 43 , wherein the hook bend of the holding section has a substantially 180° bend so that the free end portion of the holding section runs substantially parallel to the first leg at least in sections. 
     
     
         48 . The tension spring according to  claim 43 , wherein an imaginary extension of the bent end section overlaps the hook bend in a plan view. 
     
     
         49 . The tension spring according to  claim 45 , wherein the bent end section in the unloaded state has a normal distance to the center plane or to the planar bearing surface. 
     
     
         50 . The tension spring according to  claim 49 , wherein the bent end section defines, in the unloaded state, the maximum overall height of the tension spring measured normal to the center plane or to the planar bearing surface. 
     
     
         51 . The tension spring according to  claim 45 , wherein the second leg in the unloaded state has a normal distance from the center plane or from the planar bearing surface which increases continuously in the direction towards the bent end section. 
     
     
         52 . The tension spring according to  claim 51 , wherein the second leg in the unloaded state runs at an acute angle inclined relative to the center plane or to the planar bearing surface. 
     
     
         53 . The tension spring according to  claim 45 , wherein the bent end section has a bearing surface for bearing on the track body element which, in the unloaded state, extends upwardly at an acute angle relative to the center plane or to the planar bearing surface. 
     
     
         54 . The tension spring according to  claim 43 , wherein, on the side of the free end portion facing the second leg, a gap is arranged between the bent end section and the free end portion of the holding section, as seen in a longitudinal extension of the free end portion and in a plan view. 
     
     
         55 . The tension spring according to  claim 43 , wherein the holding section of the tension spring is configured to be pushed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rail into a tunnel-shaped recess of the hold-down device towards the rail. 
     
     
         56 . The tension spring according to  claim 55 , wherein the hook bend engages over the rail foot in a final assembly position of the tension spring. 
     
     
         57 . The tension spring according to  claim 43 , wherein:
 between the first leg and the free end portion of the holding section a free space is provided which is configured to be penetrated by a screw shank of a fastening screw forming the hold-down device and in which the fastening screw is configured to be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the first leg; and   the screw shank of the fastening screw has a diameter which is larger than the diameter of a wire forming the tension spring in the holding section.   
     
     
         58 . A rail fastening device comprising:
 a tension spring for holding down a track body element, the tension spring comprising:
 a U-shaped main section which has a U-bend, a first leg being arranged on one side of the U-bend and a second leg being arranged on the other side of the U-bend; 
 wherein a hook-shaped inwardly bent holding section configured to be braced against a hold-down device is formed on the first leg and an end section bent towards or away from the holding section is formed on the second leg; 
 wherein the U-bend forms a torsion section so that a hold-down force is configured to be applied to the track body element via a bent end section; 
 wherein the holding section has a free end portion connected to the first leg via a hook bend and arranged between the first leg and the second leg; and 
 wherein the free end portion of the holding section, as viewed in the direction of a longitudinal extension of the free end portion, covers the U-bend at least partially; and 
   a hold-down device configured to be fastened adjacent to a rail on a base, a ribbed plate, or an angle guide plate, and against which the holding section is braced in a mounted state of the tension spring so that the bent end section is configured to be arranged resiliently holding down a track body element.   
     
     
         59 . The rail fastening device according to  claim 58 , wherein, in the mounted state of the tension spring, the hold-down device at least partially engages over both a free end portion of the holding section and the first leg. 
     
     
         60 . The rail fastening device according to  claim 58 , wherein the hold-down device has or forms a tunnel-shaped recess into which the holding section of the tension spring can be at least partially inserted, and the hook bend in a final assembly position of the tension spring projects out of the tunnel-shaped recess and engages over the track body element. 
     
     
         61 . The rail fastening device according to  claim 58 , wherein the hold-down device is formed by a fastening screw which can be screwed into the base, or by a hook bolt with nut which is suspended in the base, the at least one of the screw shank and a thread of which passes through a free space between the first leg and the free end portion of the holding section of the tension spring in order to hold down the tension spring in the region of the holding section. 
     
     
         62 . The rail fastening device according to  claim 61 , wherein the tension spring is displaceable, with the bent end section in a tightened state of the hold-down device between a pre-assembly position and a final assembly position.