How do Rail Clips ensure railway operational safety?
Rail clips ensure safety by securely fastening rails to sleepers to prevent movement, maintain track alignment, and absorb shock from passing trains. This prevents derailments and ensures a stable, reliable connection for smooth and safe train operation. They also help manage the expansion and contraction of rails due to temperature changes, a process known as thermal expansion.
Key safety functions of rail clips
- Maintain track stability: By clamping the rail to the sleeper, clips prevent the rails from shifting laterally or longitudinally. This is crucial for high-speed and heavy-load railways where any misalignment could lead to accidents.
- Ensure track alignment: They keep the rail in its correct position, which is vital for maintaining the proper track gauge for safe and efficient train movement.
- Absorb impact and vibration: Clips are designed to absorb shock and vibration generated by the wheels on the tracks. This reduces stress on the entire track structure, prolonging the lifespan of the infrastructure and creating a smoother ride.
- Accommodate thermal expansion: They allow for some movement as rails expand and contract with temperature changes, preventing stress buildup that could damage the track.
- Prevent derailment: By maintaining the integrity of the track, clips prevent potential derailment risks caused by shifting rails, heavy loads, or harsh weather conditions.
Types of rail clip
- According to specific situation and habit, various countries adopts different standard of rail clips to apply for development of railway. Typically, the Pandrol series of rail clip is the most famous brand among rail clip types. PR- clip, E-clip are widely separated to America, Canada, India and other countries.
| Types and Specification of E Clip Fasteners | ||||
| Item | E Clip Fasteners | |||
| Chemical Composition | 60Si2MnA | 60Si2CrA | 55Si2Mn | 38Si7 |
| C:0.56-0.64, Mn:060-0.90, Si:1.50-2.00, Cr:≤0.35, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.40-0.70, Si:1.40-1.80, Cr:0.70-1.00 P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 |
C:0.52-0.60, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.50-2.00, Cr:≤0.35 P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 |
C:0.35-0.42, Mn:0.50-0.80, Si:1.50-1.80, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | |
| Hardness | 44-48 HRC | |||
| Fatigue Life | 3-5 million cycles without breaking | |||
| Surface | Plain Oiled, Oxygen Black, Zinc Plated, Hot Dip Galvanized, Dacro coating, Color Painting | |||
| Standard | UIC, AREMA, BS, RDSO, DIN, JIS, ISCR, VALEC, GOSTR- EASC, GB/T or other upon requirements | |||
| Package | Moven Bag, Pallet | |||
| Delivery | Depends on order | |||
| Model | Diameter | Material | Under Pressure | HRC | Weight |
| E1609 | Ø 16mm | 60Si2MnA | ≥950kg | 44-48 | 0.43kg/pc |
| E1809 | Ø 20mm | 60Si2MnA | ≥950kg | 44-48 | 0.61kg/pc |
| E1813 | Ø 18mm | 60Si2MnA | ≥950kg | 44-48 | 0.62kg/pc |
| E2001 | Ø 20mm | 60Si2MnA | ≥950kg | 44-48 | 0.80kg/pc |
| E2009 | Ø 20mm | 60Si2MnA | ≥950kg | 44-48 | 0.80kg/pc |
| E2039 | Ø 20mm | 60Si2MnA | ≥950kg | 44-48 | 0.80kg/pc |
| E2007 | Ø 20mm | 60Si2MnA | ≥950kg | 44-48 | 0.80kg/pc |
| E2055 | Ø 20mm | 60Si2MnA | ≥950kg | 44-48 | 0.80kg/pc |
| E2056 | Ø 20mm | 60Si2MnA | ≥950kg | 44-48 | 0.80kg/pc |
| E2063 | Ø 20mm | 60Si2MnA | ≥950kg | 44-48 | 0.80kg/pc |
- In German, HM-type rail fastening system is very popular, it adopts SKL-clip. Based on the good effect, it is applied to a lot of countries and regions.
| SKL Rail clip specification | |
| Name | SKL tension clamp |
| Material | 60Si2MnA 60Si2CrA 55Si2Mn 38Si7 |
| Hardness | 42-47HRC |
| Fatigue Life | for Dia.18 is 3 millions cycles without breaking |
| for Dia.20 is 5 millions cycles without breaking | |
| Surface | plain (oiled), Oxide black, color painting or according to customer requirement |
| Standard | DIN17221, BS970, GB/T1222 |
- Dutch DE type railway fastening system and FIST rail fastening system all adopt rail clips, they all have good application.
- Japan and France adopts clips as rail fastening system, Nabla rail fastening system and 102 type fastening system are hot on the market.
As an OEM & OBM manufacturer, GNEE RAIL is capable of not only producing a wide range of internationally common types of rail clips, such as W Tension Clamp, e-Clip, Fast-Clip, SKL Tension Clamp, Nabla Blade, etc., but also customizing products tailored to our customers' specific requirements.
