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What is a Nabla Clip?
What is a Nabla Clip?
A Nabla clip, also known as a Nabla blade, is a specific type of spring steel clip used in the Nabla rail fastening system to secure railway tracks. The blade's unique, wavy shape generates a strong clamping force to hold the rail to the sleeper or baseplate, ensuring track stability and providing elasticity to absorb vibration.
The Nabla blade is just one component of the full Nabla fastening system, which also includes a baseplate, high-strength bolts, nuts, and an insulator or support pad.
Properties of Nabla Railway Clips
Properties of Nabla Railway Clips
Nabla railway clips are made from high-strength spring steel like 60Si2MnA with a hardness of 42-47 HRC and a fatigue life of at least 3 million cycles. They provide high clamping force and lateral stability, can be customized for different rail types, and feature a key design element in their highly insulating nylon (PA66) insulators. The complete system also includes components of screw spikes, washers, and nuts, which are also made from durable materials and have specific mechanical properties.
Mechanical and material properties
Mechanical and material properties
Clip material: Typically made from alloy spring steel such as 60Si2MnA or 60Si2CrA.
Hardness: The clip's hardness is between 42-47 HRC.
Fatigue life: Designed to withstand at least 3 million cycles without breaking, ensuring long-term durability.
Clamping force: Provides high and consistent clamping force to prevent rail roll and deformation.
Lateral resistance: Offers strong resistance to lateral forces due to its high mechanical strength and design.
Thickness: Available in 4mm or 4.5mm thickness.
Insulator properties
Insulator properties
Material: Made from reinforced Nylon 66 (PA66).
Electrical insulation: Provides high electrical insulation resistance, which can be enhanced in specific models like the NABLA Evolution system.
Physical properties: Density ranges from 1.3g/cm3 to 1.45 g/cm3, tensile strength is ≥170 MPa is ≥170 MPa, and bending strength is ≥250 MPa.
Why Nabla Clip fastening system is chosen?
Why Nabla Clip fastening system is chosen?
The Nabla clip fastening system is chosen for its ease of installation and maintenance, high performance and durability, and versatility. Its unique Nabla blade shape creates a stable clamping force, making it suitable for a wide range of applications including high-speed and urban rail systems.
Key reasons for choosing the Nabla clip system:
Key reasons for choosing the Nabla clip system:
Simple and fast installation: The system is designed for quick and easy installation, which saves time and labor costs.
Low maintenance: Its durability and wear-resistant components result in lower maintenance overheads over the lifespan of the track.
High performance and durability: The system is built to last, with high mechanical strength and resistance to vibration and lateral forces from passing trains.
Versatility: It can be used for various types of tracks, including ballasted and slab tracks, and is compatible with different rail types like grooved and vignole rails.
Superior insulation: The Nabla system provides high electrical insulation, which is crucial for certain applications like tramways and areas with tight curves.
Reliability: The design, especially the special shape of the Nabla blade, generates a stable toe load that ensures the rail stays firmly in place, contributing to overall track stability and safety.
Other component properties
Other component properties
Screw spikes: Made from 35# steel (grade 5.6) with various finishes and are bendable at 30 degrees without cracking.
Spring washers: Made from ML08Al steel and are used to protect the screw spike's threads.
How Nabla clip is made?
How Nabla clip is made?
The production of Nabla railway clips involves shearing spring steel bars, heating them to a forging temperature, and then hot forging them into the clip's shape. After forming, the clips undergo hardening through quenching, followed by tempering to achieve the necessary toughness. Finally, the finished products are inspected for quality and packed for distribution.
Step-by-step production process
Step-by-step production process
Raw material preparation: Premium spring steel, such as 60Si2MnA or 60Si2CrA, is selected as the raw material.
Shearing: The steel bars are automatically cut to the required length for each clip.
Heating: The cut steel bars are heated in an induction furnace to a specific forging temperature, typically around 950−1000°C
Forming: The hot steel is transferred to a powerful press, where it is forged into the Nabla clip's shape through a series of three-point bending and stamping operations.
Hardening (Quenching): The forged clips are then quenched by passing them through a quenching tank, usually at a temperature around 800°C.
Tempering: After quenching, the clips are cooled and then tempered, a process of heating to a lower temperature (e.g., 350°C) and slowly cooling to achieve the desired toughness and spring properties.
Coating: Dipping, baking, electrostatic spraying,etc.
Inspection: The finished clips are thoroughly inspected for dimensional accuracy, hardness, and any defects.
Packaging: Finally, the inspected clips are packaged, often in woven bags or as per customer specifications.
Manufacturer Of Nabla Railway Clip
Manufacturer Of Nabla Railway Clip
Kunshan Signum Machinery Technology Co.,Ltd is able to manufacture railway clips according to customers' requirements or drawing with competitive price.
Contact Us
Direct Line:+86 512 50353196
Whatsapp:+86 158 6266 4803
Email: admin@rail-fastening.com
Web: www.rail-fastening.com
Address: 120 Tongjing Road, Lujia Town, Kunshan, Jiangsu 215331, China
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