Rail elastic clip is used to fasten the rails to the underlying base plate together with the concrete sleeper. Usually rail clips are made of forged spring steel which is produced by hot forging process. Because of the uniform microstructure of forged clips, it is considered to be better than other metal forming process.

Technical specifications of elastic rail clips

Technical requirements of elastic clip fastening system

An ideal elastic fastening system should be able to meet the following requirements:

Elastic clip fastening system should provide sufficient elasticity to absorb the vibrations and shocks caused by moving loads.

Elastic clip fastening should have adequate toe load which should not reduce under service.

Elastic clip fastening should be of "fit and forget" type to require least maintenance.

Elastic clip fastening should be of the type that it can be used and re-used without losing its properties.

Elastic clip fastening should have as few parts as possible, which are easy to be manufactured, laid and maintained.

Elastic clip fastening should be of the type that it cannot be taken out and as such is free from sabotage or theft.

Elastic clip fastening should be of universal type so that it can be used on wooden, steel or concrete sleepers.

The last and most important point is elastic clip fastening should be cheap and have long service life.

Elastic rail clip, is a standard type of elastic fastening. It is a "fit and forget" type of fastening and very little attention is required to maintain the same.
The toe load is quite adequate to ensure that there is no relative movement between rail tracks and rail sleepers. On the construction of elastic fastening system, elastic clips could be driven with the help of an ordinary 4 pound hammer and requires no special tools. In order to ensure the correct toe load, elastic rail clips should be driven to such an extent that the outer leg of the clip flush with the outer face of the C.I. insert.
Elastic rail clip can be fixed on wooden, steel, cast iron and concrete sleepers with the help of base plate and with some other ancillary fittings, elastic rail clips are widely used with concrete sleepers.
For railway lines with concrete sleepers, malleable cast iron inserts are inserted directly into the sleepers during the manufacturing. Elastic rail clips are fixed in the holes of the C.l. insert. A 4.5 mm thick grooved rubber pad has been provided under the rail seat to, make it double elastic. Insulated liners have also been provided for the purpose of insulation.