Title of Invention

"A WEAR-COMPENSATING RAIL JOINT SHIM"

Abstract A Wear-compensatingx rail joint shim comprises a plate having two flanges, respectively an apron flange 3, to lie between the rail web and the fish-plate, and a taper plane flange 6, to lie between the underside of the rail head and the fish-plate, wherein the shim is provided at the outer edge of the taper plane flange 6 with a projecting tab or tabsNo8 the or each tab being preformed so as lie tightly against another part of the joint, the tabs for example being shaped to overlie the top outer edge 9 of a fish plate 5.
Full Text The present invention relates to a wear-compensating rail joint shim.
Such a shim may be a full-length shim, which is tapered in thickness from its mid-length towards its ends and a pair which span the opposed ends of the rails, one on each side of the joint. Alternatively, half-length shims may be used in pairs at each side of a joint.
Our United Kingdom Patent Specification No. 2 057 540 B discloses a shim of this known type, but wherein the shim is provided at the outer edge of the taper plane flange with
a projecting tab or tabs extending for only a minor proportion of the length of the shim and
•- . } located at or on either side of the point of balance of the shim, the or each tab being capable
of being bent over after assembly in a joint to lie tightly against another part of the joint. A difficulty with installing shims of this type is that the shim has to be held in position manually whilst the joint is being tightened and the tab then bent over after assembly so as to lie tightly against another part of the joint for location of the shim in the joint. Such assembly, routinely, requires two operatives to assemble the joint.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a wear-compensating rail joint shim that can locate in a rail joint during assembly.
According to the present invention, a wear-compensating rail joint shim comprises a plate having two flanges, respectively an apron flange, to lie between the rail web and the fish-plate, and a taper plane flange, to lie between the underside of the rail head and the fishplate, wherein the shim is provided at the outer edge of the taper plane flange with a projecting tab or tabs, the or each tab being preformed so as lie tightly against another part of the joint.
The advantages of a shim with preformed tab include:-
location of the shim within the joint before final assembly thereof, this saves one operative with both safety and cost benefits and permits use with a greater range of rail sizes,
a greater choice of material for the shim, the material used does not have to be capable of being bent in situ but only of being pre-formed in original manufacture. Accordingly, there is provided a wear-compensating rail joint shim
comprising a plate having two flanges, rcopccti¥oly an apron flange, to
lie between the rail web and the fish-plate, and a taper plane flange, to
lie between the underside of the rail head and the fish-plateres pectivsely
\)'
diverge from the plane of the taper plane flange and lie tightly against ano.
wherein the shim is provided at the outer edge of the taper plane flange
with aprojecting tab each tab being pre-formed to
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS.
The above and .other features of the present invention are illustrated, by way of example, in the Drawings; wherein:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tapered thickness shim according to the
present invention;
Fig. 2 is a transverse section through a rail joint showing shims of the
invention in place; ;
Figs. 3-5 are perspective views of alternative embodiments of the invention.
Wear-compensating tapered thickness shims for worn rail joints are well known and are, for example, disclosed in United Kingdom Patent Specification No. 499,013. The shims of the present invention are essentially the same as those described in our aforementioned United Kingdom Patent Specification No. 2 057 540 save for the pre-formed tabs. Consequently the description of United Kingdom Patent Specification No. 2 057 540 is specifically incorporated herein.
In accordance with the present invention the taper plane flange 6 of each shim A or B, figure 1, is provided with a pre-formed, down-turned tab or tabs 8, preferably made integrally with the flange 6, which makes an included angle of approximately 90° with the flange 6; the tabs each being shaped to overlie the top outer edge 9 of a fish-plate 5.During repair of a worn rail joint, the boltslO would be unscrewed, to free the fishplates 5 and permit the apron flanges 3 of shims A and B to be slid over and behind the fishplates, under the rail head 7 to lie against the rail web 4 with the down-turned tabs 8 fitting
over the top outer edge 9 of the respective fish-plate 5. The shims are thus held and accurately located in the rail joint before it is retightened.
Figure 3 shows a full length shim designed to span a worn rail joint. A central cut out 11 is provided, leaving a relatively thin bridge of material 12, formed from the apron flange 3, joining the two halves of the shim. The bridge 12 is sufficiently flexible to allow the taper plane flanges to conform to the adjacent surfaces of the rail head and fish plate. Further, the bridge 12 may be readily broken to form two half shims similar to those shown in figure 1. This is useful where, for example, shims of differing thickness are required on either side of the joint. The apron flange 3 is provided with cut outs 13 to accommodate the inner joint bolts. As the shim is securely held on the fish plate by the apron flange 3 and preformed tabs 8 during joint assembly, without relying on the bolts for support, the cut outs 13 may be made larger than is conventional, allowing the shim to fit a wider range of rail types and sizes. For longer shims further apron flange cut outs, denoted by the dotted lines 14, may be provided to accommodate outer joint bolts.
The shims of figures 4 and 5 are similar to that of figure 3, with modifications as follows. In figure 4 two pairs of tabs 8 are provided, at the extremities of the taper plane flange 6 and at either side of the cut out 11, in place of tabs at the approximate balance points of each half of the shim. In figure 5 the tabs 8 extend the entire length of the taper plane flange 6 on either side of the cut out 11.
Unlike previous designs of shim, only one operative is needed to repair a joint as the shim does not need to be held in position whilst the joint is tightened. Also the additional step of bending down a tab is obviated. The down-turned tabs enable very accurate and consistent location of shims and less elastic (bendable) materials can be used, for example plastics, with or without reinforcement or filler materials.





WE CLAIM :
1. A wear-compensating rail joint shim comprising a plate having
two flanges, respectively an apron flange, to lie between the rail
web and the fish-plate, and a taper plane flange, to lie between
the underside of the rail head and the fish-plate, wherein the
shim is provided at the outer edge of the taper plane flange with
a projection tab or tabs, the or each tab being pre-formed so as
to diverge from the plane of the taper plane flange and lie tightly
against another part of the rail joint.
2. A wear-compensating rail joint shim as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the or each tab is pre-formed to overlie the top outer
edge of a fish plate.
3. A wear-compensating rail joint shim substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.



Documents:

1816-del-1998-abstract.pdf

1816-del-1998-claims.pdf

1816-del-1998-correspondence-others.pdf

1816-del-1998-correspondence-po.pdf

1816-del-1998-description (complete).pdf

1816-del-1998-drawings.pdf

1816-del-1998-form-1.pdf

1816-del-1998-form-13.pdf

1816-del-1998-form-19.pdf

1816-del-1998-form-2.pdf

1816-del-1998-form-3.pdf

1816-del-1998-form-4.pdf

1816-del-1998-form-6.pdf

1816-del-1998-gpa.pdf

1816-del-1998-petition-137.pdf

1816-del-1998-petition-138.pdf

abstract.jpg


Patent Number 214587
Indian Patent Application Number 1816/DEL/1998
PG Journal Number 09/2008
Publication Date 29-Feb-2008
Grant Date 13-Feb-2008
Date of Filing 29-Jun-1998
Name of Patentee R. BANCE AND COMPANY LIMITED
Applicant Address COCKCROW HILL HOUSE, ST. MARY'S ROAD, SURBITON, SURREY KT6 5HE, ENGLAND.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 ROGER BANCE C/O R. BANCE AND COMPANY LIMITED, COCKCROW HILL HOUSE, ST. MARY'S ROAD, SURBITON, SURREY KT6 5HE U.K
PCT International Classification Number E01B11/02
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 9713844.0 1997-06-30 U.K.