What Is A Rail Joint

In ordinary lines, the connection between rails is carried out through clamps and bolts, which is called rail joints. This joint connection parts include clamps, bolts, spring washers and other components. Their main function is to tightly connect the rails and turnouts into a whole at the joint, so as to ensure that they can withstand various forces generated by the wheels when passing through the rail joints, such as impact force, longitudinal force, lateral force, and temperature-added force caused by temperature changes. At the same time, they also need to meet the necessity of rail expansion and contraction in the process of resisting curves and displacements.

Rail joints are an essential part of the connection between rails in ordinary lines. There are many types of connection methods, each of which has its own unique applications and characteristics. These different types of joints not only affect the overall performance of the railway line, but also have a direct impact on the smoothness and safety of train operation. Therefore, when selecting and using rail joints, careful consideration must be made according to actual needs and conditions.

The connection method of rail joints can be divided into two types: suspended type and cushion type according to their relative position with the sleepers. From the perspective of the relative position of the two rail joints, there are two types of connection: relative and staggered. In my country, the relative suspended connection is usually used, that is, the joints of the two rails are aligned left and right, and ensure that they are located between the two joint sleepers at the same time.