Rail clip is a component of railway fastening systems. It is used to fix the railroad track to the underlying baseplate and sleepers. The clamping force by rail clips helps to maintain the gauge and prevent the rail from moving in the vertical and horizontal direction relative to the sleeper. One extensively used type of rail clip is an elastic rail clip made of hot-pressed spring steel. Its energy produced at elastic deformation can alleviate the vibration and shock when trains move.
Specification of Elastic rail clip
Elastic rail clip specifications focus on material (high-quality spring steel like 60Si2Mn), mechanical properties (high yield strength, fatigue life), dimensions (bar diameter 12-20mm), hardness (40-48 HRC), and performance (toe load 850-1100kgf+), with specific standards (like IRS T-31) defining chemical composition, manufacturing (heat treatment), testing (deflection, crack detection), marking, and packaging for various clip types (E-type, SKL) to ensure rail track integrity.
The rail elastic clip is used for fastening the rails and the tie plate on concrete sleeper. Using the material of forged spring steel, our rail clips are produced by hot forging process. GNEE RAIL can develop and produce various kinds of rail clips such as E-type(E1609, E1809, E1817, E2007, E2009, E2055, etc), SKL tension clips (SKL1, SKL3, SKL12, SKL14, SKL75, etc), PR series, Nabla clips, D type rail clip, Fast clip, gauge lock clip, Deenik clip as well as other standard and non-standard clips can be customized by drawings or samples.
| Rail Clip Type | Rail Clip Specification | Material | |||||||
| E Clip | E1609 | E1809 | E1817 | E2001 | E2006 | E2009 | E2055 | E2056 | 60Si2Mn, 60Si2CrA, 50Si7 |
| SKL Clip | SKL1 | SKL2 | SKL3 | SKL12 | SKL14 | SKL75 | |||
| W Clip | Deenik Clip | Fast Clips | Russia Clips | China Clips | |||||
| Crane Rail Clip | Gantrail Clips | Q235, | |||||||
| KPO1 | KPO3 | KPO6 | KPO9 | 9116, 9120, 9216, 9220,etc | Gantrex Clips | Q345 | |||
| Available with various types of shoulder assemblies. Other configurations available upon request. | |||||||||
What is the material of rail clip?
Rail clips, especially elastic ones, are primarily made from high-quality spring steel, such as grades like 60Si2Mn, 60Si2Cr, or 38Si7, chosen for their exceptional elasticity, strength, and fatigue resistance, forged and heat-treated for durability in securing rails to sleepers.
| Material | 60Si2MnA | 60Si2CrA | 55Si2Mn | 38Si7 |
| Chemical composition(%) | C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.60-2.00, 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 |
What is the stiffness of a rail tension clip?
The stiffness of a rail tension clip varies significantly by type, but generally falls in the range of 50 kN/mm to 100 kN/mm for the system (clip + pad) or around 40-80 kN/mm for the clip node, depending on materials and design, with some systems offering adjustable stiffness via the rubber pad (e.g., 50-500 kN/mm) for different track needs like ballast or ballastless tracks, balancing holding force with vibration dampening.
What is the function of a rail spring clip in a railway?
A rail spring clip (or elastic rail clip) fastens rails to sleepers, preventing movement, absorbing shocks/vibrations, and allowing for thermal expansion, ensuring track integrity, alignment, and safety by holding the rail securely while resisting forces from passing trains, making the track durable and reliable.
Key Functions:
- Secures Rail to Sleeper: Creates a strong, reliable connection, keeping the rail firmly attached to the railway sleeper (tie).
- Prevents Movement: Stops the rail from shifting longitudinally (creep) or laterally, maintaining correct track gauge (distance between rails) for safe passage of trains.
- Absorbs Shock & Vibration: Its elastic design acts as a shock absorber, dampening impacts from train wheels, reducing noise, and lessening stress on track components.
- Accommodates Expansion: Allows rails to expand and contract with temperature changes, preventing warping and damage.
- Provides Elasticity: Offers a consistent clamping force over time, resisting fatigue, corrosion, and high impact loads.
GNEE RAIL offer an extensive range of rail clips with optimum quality, these rail clips are designed with high precision and made up of premium grade spring steel. GNEE has been the largest and most competitive production base of rail clip in China after more than 18 years' rail clip producing experience, and have qualification to tender nationally large and medium scaled rail projects. What's more, our rail clip can be customized according to clients' requirements.
