GB2437733A

GB2437733A - Bracket for attaching a railway rail to a base plate

Info

Publication number: GB2437733A
Application number: GB0608879A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Stephen Peet
Original assignee: Balfour Beatty PLC
Current assignee: Balfour Beatty PLC
Priority date: 2006-05-05
Filing date: 2006-05-05
Publication date: 2007-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-05
Also published as: GB2437733B; GB0608879D0

Abstract

The bracket 1 comprises a base member for attachment to the base plate 107 and an upstanding member for attachment to the rail 105. An aperture is formed in the base member for use in clamping the bracket to the base plate e.g. a bolt 109. A surface of the base member includes locating portions provided around the aperture, which portions are inclined with respect to each other for use in locating the bracket on the base plate. The base plate 107 has complementary surfaces. The base member locating portions are mutually angled sides of a toroidal recess with a central projection having the aperture. This allows centralisation of the bracket 1 on the base plate 107 and angular alignment of the bracket upstanding member with the rail when fastening to it.

Description

1 2437733

BRACKET

This invention relates to a bracket, and more particularly to a bracket of the type used for attaching a railway rail to a base plate. The invention also provides a railway rail clamping arrangement comprising the bracket.

In conventional railway systems, it is common for the track rails to be mounted to bearers, or sleepers, at discrete points along their length. The bearers are typically formed from reinforced concrete and provide support for the rails under the weight of railway vehicles.

Almost all railway systems also include a number of track assemblies, such as * *. switches and crossings, for enabling railway vehicles to move between different tracks. The rails and other components of these assemblies are mounted on rolled steel base plates, which enables accurate positioning. * ** * S S IS..

A known technique for mounting a rail of a crossing to a base plate comprises : clamping the rail to the base plate using a right angled bracket. Two bolts are * used to clamp the bracket to the base plate and one bolt is used to clamp the S...

*** 20 bracket to the rail. To eliminate any movement of the bracket with respect to the base plate, one or more stops are welded to the base plate to fix the position of the bracket.

According to the invention, there is provided a bracket for attaching a railway rail to a base plate, the bracket comprising a base member for attachment to the base plate and an upstanding member for attachment to the rail, wherein an aperture is formed in the base member for use in clamping the bracket to the base plate, and wherein a surface of the base member includes locating portions provided around the aperture, which portions are inclined with respect to each other for use in locating the bracket on the base plate.

In use, as the bracket and the base plate are clamped together, the inclined locating portions of the bracket engage with corresponding locating portions in a surface of the base plate. In effect, a vertical clamping force is translated into a horizontal locating force, which centralises the locating portions of the bracket with respect to the locating portions of the base plate. In this way, the bracket may be accurately located with respect to the base plate in a horizontal plane.

The surfaces of the bracket and the base plate that include the locating portions may be substantially flat, with the locating portions being inclined at angles in the range2O to 70 to the flat surfaces. The locating portions may be provided on opposite sides of the aperture, and preferably surround the aperture.

The locating portions may be provided in a surface of the base member that * ,. faces away from the upstanding member, i.e. a lower surface. However, embodiments in which locating surfaces in an upper surface of the base * 15 member cooperate with a profiled clamping means are also possible. * S. * * . S...

The aperture is preferably a round hole, and the locating portions preferably together define a substantially ellipsoidal or conical surface. In a most preferred embodiment, the locating portions together define a substantially I...

** 20 toroidal, or "doughnut", shape. Such shapes provide effective locating of the bracket, while at the same time enabling easy removal and/or replacement of the bracket.

The locating portions may be formed as a recess or as a projection in the base member. In a preferred embodiment, the locating portions are formed as a recess and a projection.

In a preferred embodiment, the bracket has only one aperture formed in the base member for use in clamping the bracket to the base plate. In this way, the bracket is able to rotate to assume the correct orientation for clamping the upstanding member to the rail.

The base member and the upstanding member preferably substantially define a right angle. The bracket may be a cast component.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a railway rail clamping arrangement comprising a base plate defining a mounting surface, at least one rail and at least one bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each rail is clamped to the base plate by a respective bracket.

An aperture is preferably formed in the base plate for clamping the bracket to the base plate. A surface of the base plate that faces the bracket preferably includes locating portions provided around the aperture, which portions are shaped to cooperate with the locating portions of the base member for use in : ** locating the bracket on the base plate. S... *SSS * S *SSS

The arrangement may further comprising at least one shim between the ::. bracket and the rail for adjusting a position of the rail with respect to the base *. plate. The arrangement may further comprising at least one bolt for clamping *:*. the or each bracket to the base plate. S...

Since the base plate need not have stops welded to it, it may be a cast component, thereby reducing cost.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a first perspective view of a bracket according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a second perspective view of the bracket shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a partially exploded, perspective view of a first arrangement according to the invention, including the bracket shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows an end view of a second arrangement according to the invention, including the bracket shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a bracket I according to the invention comprises a base member 3 and an upstanding member 5 connected to each other. The base member 3 and the upstanding member 5 are plate-like and together define a right angle. The sides of bracket 1 are reinforced with gussets 7. The bracket 1 is a cast component.

The upstanding member 5 has a substantially flat outer surface (not shown) for clamping to the web of a railway rail (not shown). A surface is also provided for locating a base of the rail. The upstanding member 5 also has a pair of round holes (not shown) formed therein, through which bolts 9 are inserted for clamping to the rail. * **

:::: The base member 3 has a substantially flat lower surface 11 for clamping to a * 15 base plate (not shown). However, part of the lower surface 11 is not flat, as will : .. be described below. The base member 3 is also formed with one centrally S...

located, round hole 13, through which a bolt 15 is inserted for clamping to the *:*. base plate.

As mentioned above, part of the lower surface 11 of the base member 3 is not flat. In particular, the lower surface 11 includes locating portions in the form of a toroidal shaped recess 17. An inside of the toroidal recess 17 is deeper than an outside, so that the locating portions effectively project out of the lower surface 11 adjacent the hole 13.

The recess 17 surrounds the round hole 13, and provides locating surfaces inclined at an angle relative to the flat surface and also inclined at an angle relative to each other.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, an arrangement 101 according to the invention is shown in exploded and assembled form, respectively. The arrangement 101 comprises the bracket I shown in Figures 1 and 2, and like reference signs are therefore used to indicate like features.

As well as the bracket 1, the arrangement 101 comprises a base plate 103 and a railway rail 105.

The base plate 103 has a round hole 109 formed therein, through which a bolt is inserted for clamping to the bracket 1. The base plate 103 has a substantially flat upper surface 107. However, like the lower surface 11 of the base member 3 of the bracket 1, the upper surface 107 of the base plate 103 includes locating portions. The locating portions of the base plate 103 are in the form of a toroidal shaped projection 111 formed around the hole 109.

The toroidal shaped projection 111 of the base plate 103 is shaped to precisely * ** cooperate with the recess 17 of the bracket 1. An inside of the toroidal ::::: projection 111 is shallower than an outside, so that the locating portions are effectively recessed in the base plate 103 adjacent the hole 109. * ** * S S

As shown in Figure 4, the bracket I attaches the rail 105 to the base plate 103 and bolts 9, 15 provide the clamping force. A single bolt 9 is used to clamp the *..: bracket Ito the base plate 103 and two bolts 15 are used to clamp the bracket *SS* e*'* 20 ltotheraill05.

In use, to assemble the arrangement 101, the base member 3 of the bracket 1 is first placed against the base plate 103, with the locating portions of both parts 1, 103 being positioned so that they are in contact with each other.

Typically, the base plate 103 will be secured to the ground via other structural elements, so that its upper surface is horizontal.

Next a threaded bolt 15 is inserted through the holes 13, 109 in the base member 3 of the bracket 1 and the base plate 103 and a threaded nut is tightened on to the end of the bolt 15. As the nut is tightened, the bracket I and the base plate 103 are urged together, and the locating portions cooperate together to translate the vertical clamping force into a horizontal locating force.

This horizontal force centralises the locating portions of the bracket I with respect to the locating portions of the base plate 103.

Once the bracket I has been accurately clamped to the base plate 103, the rail 105 is placed against the upstanding member 5 of the bracket 1. Threaded bolts 9 are then inserted through holes (not shown) in the web of the rail 105 and through holes in the bracket I and threaded nuts are tightened on to the ends of the bolts 9. As the bolts are tightened, the upstanding member 5 is rotated about the bolt 15 in the base plate 103 into parallel alignment with the rail 105.

If necessary, in cases of great misalignment between the rail 103 and the * ** upstanding member 5 of the bracket 1, the nut tightened on the bolt 15 in the base plate 103 can be loosened to allow unrestricted rotation of the upstanding member5. * ** * S * I...

The invention thus provides an bracket I and an arrangement 101 using which *. : a rail 105 can be easily and accurately clamped to a base plate 103. Accurate * alignment of the bracket I with both the base plate 103 and the rail 105 are S...

.*** 20 provided for.

Specific embodiments of the invention have been described above in detail.

However, it will be apparent to the skilled person that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

For example, in the described embodiments, bolts are used to clamp the bracket to the base plate and to the rail. However, in alternative embodiments, the clamping force may be provided by other known means. The means of clamping the bracket to the rail may in particular be boltless.

Various materials and manufacturing processes are suitable for the described embodiments, which will be immediately apparent to the skilled person.

It is also envisaged that the bracket according to the invention could be used for attaching other track equipment to a base plate, such as check rails. * ** * S I I... S... * S I... * S. * S * *5I* S.. *I S

S S S * S. S...

I S *.S.

Claims

Claims 1. A bracket for attaching a railway rail to a base plate, the

bracket comprising a base member for attachment to the base plate and an upstanding member for attachment to the rail, wherein an aperture is formed in the base member for use in clamping the bracket to the base plate, and wherein a surface of the base member includes locating portions provided around the aperture, which portions are inclined with respect to each other for use in locating the bracket on the base plate.

2. A bracket according to claim 1, wherein the locating portions are provided in a surface of the base member that faces away from the upstanding : ** member. 0.*

3. A bracket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the aperture is a round hole I...

4. A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein the locating portions together define a substantially ellipsoidal or conical shape.

5. A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein the locating portions together define a substantially toroidal shape.

6. A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein the locating portions are formed as both a recess and a projection in the base member.

7. A bracket according to any preceding claim having only one aperture formed in the base member for use in clamping the bracket to the base plate.

8. A bracket as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base member and the upstanding member substantially define a right angle.

9 A bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein a pair of apertures are formed in the upstanding member for use in clamping the rail to the bracket.

10. A railway rail clamping arrangement comprising a base plate defining a mounting surface, at least one rail and at least one bracket according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each rail is clamped to the base plate by a respective bracket.

II. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein an aperture is formed in the base plate for clamping the bracket to the base plate, and wherein a surface of the base plate that faces the bracket includes locating portions provided around the aperture, which portions are shaped to cooperate with the locating portions of the base member for use in locating the bracket on the base plate. 1* 1

12. An arrangement according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising at least . : one shim between the bracket and the rail for adjusting a position of the rail with respect to the base plate. 20

13. An arrangement according to any of claims 10 to 12, further comprising at least one bolt for clamping the or each bracket to the base plate.

14. An arrangement according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the base plate is a cast component.

15. A bracket for attaching a railway rail to a base plate or a railway rail clamping arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.