What important role do E Type Rail Elastic Clips play in the E-type rail fastening system?
The E-type rail elastic clip plays a central role in the E-type rail fastening system, with functions extending far beyond simple mechanical connection.
| Item included | Quantity | Material | Size | Remark |
| E clip | 2 | 60Si2MnA, 60Si2CrA | Dia. 16mm,18mm or 20mm (E1809, E2006,E2007,E2009,etc | Hardness: 44-48HRC |
| Toe Load: Dia.16mm: 500-700kgf; Dia.18mm:750-900kgf; Dia.20mm:1100-1400kgf | ||||
| Fatigue life: 5 millions cycles without breaking | ||||
| Standard: DIN17221, BS970, GB/T1222 | ||||
| Shoulder | 2 | QT500-7, QT450-10 | For UIC54, UIC60, 115RE, BS80lbs, BS100lbs, 50kg rail, 60kg rail, etc. | Note: Hardness of E-clip is 44-48HRC; Toe Load for E-clip is 500-700kgf (Dia.16mm); 750-900kgf(Dia.18mm); 1100-1400kgf(Dia.20mm); Fatigue life of E-clip is 5 millions cycles without breaking DIN17221, BS970, GB/T1222 qualified E-clip |
| Rail pad | 1 | HDPE, rubber or EVA | ||
| Insulator | 2 | Reinforced Nylon 66 (PA66) |
As the "beating heart" of the system, the clip utilizes the unique elastic deformation capability of spring steel to continuously apply 8-12 kN of vertical pressure to the rail. This dynamic restraint mechanism securely locks the rail onto the sleeper or baseplate. When train wheels pass with axle loads of several tens of tons, the clip absorbs impact energy through precisely controlled elastic deformation, converting severe vibrations into low-frequency, gentle oscillations. Measurements show this buffering effect can reduce the vibration intensity transmitted to sleepers by over 30%.
Railway E clips Specifications
| Type | E clip (e1809, e2006,e2007,e2009,etc) | |||
| Skl clip (skl1,skl3,skl12,skl14) | ||||
| Or the type by customers' drawings | ||||
| 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 |
| Hardness | For e clip: 44-48HRCFor skl clip: 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 | |||
| Standard refers | DIN17221, BS970, GB/T1222 | |||
In maintaining track geometry, E-type clips demonstrate exceptional performance. The three-dimensional restraining force generated by their unique symmetrical design effectively resists longitudinal creep and lateral displacement of the rail, ensuring gauge precision is controlled within a ±1 mm range. This stable geometry retention capability is particularly crucial for high-speed train operation safety. When train speeds exceed 200 km/h, the constant clamping force provided by the clips becomes a vital safeguard against dynamic track deformation.
Temperature adaptability is another intelligent feature of E-type clips. Rails expand and contract significantly with ambient temperature changes. The elastic design of the clips allows limited longitudinal expansion and contraction of the rail, safely releasing accumulated internal thermal stress. This characteristic fundamentally prevents track buckling incidents under extreme weather conditions.
Simultaneously, in modern electrified railways, the combination of clips and insulation components also serves to prevent leakage current, ensuring the proper functioning of signaling systems.
The E-type clips supplied by GNEE RAIL, through precise heat treatment processes, maintain stable elastic performance throughout long-term use. Our clips retain over 85% of their initial clamping force even after 5 million load cycles. This durability directly translates to longer maintenance intervals and lower total lifecycle costs, making E-type clips an indispensable key component in modern track systems.
