GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY Steel (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. is one of the most reliable manufacturers and suppliers of Type V Elastic Clip Fastener System in China, also supports customized service with low price. Please feel free to buy cheap Type V Elastic Clip Fastener System made in China here from our factory.
What Is the Type V Elastic Clip Fastener System?
The Type V elastic clip fastener system is a bolted, shouldered fastening system that secures the rail foot to the sleeper through spring clips and pre-embedded insulating sleeves. It was developed in China for passenger-dedicated lines on ballasted track, with two specific design goals: improving electrical insulation for track circuits, and allowing fastener resistance to be adjusted on bridge sections.
The word "elastic" describes the working principle. The spring clip generates clamping force through elastic bending and torsion deformation, and the under-rail pad adds a second elastic layer between rail and sleeper. Together they hold the rail firmly in gauge while absorbing impact, damping vibration and reducing dynamic load on the sleeper. This distinguishes the system from rigid fastenings that rely on fixed mechanical contact.
Per Chinese railway engineering references, the system is designed for 60 kg/m rail at 1,435 mm gauge on shouldered prestressed concrete sleepers, with a highest operating speed of 350 km/h on passenger-dedicated lines and 250 km/h on mixed passenger-freight lines.
Components of Type V Clip Fastener System
The complete fastening set consists of the following parts. All metal parts are corrosion-protected, and the non-metal parts are selected for insulation and durability.
| Component | Designation | Material / construction | Function and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring clip (general sections) | W2 | Spring steel (e.g., 60Si2MnA), 14 mm bar | Main clamping element; tightened by the screw spike |
| Spring clip (bridge low-resistance sections) | X3 | Spring steel, 13 mm bar | Lower clamping force; used with composite pad where reduced fastener resistance is required |
| Spring clip (spare, rail joints) | A-type clip | Spring steel | Backup clip at rail joints, per Type I fastening practice |
| Screw spike | S1 | Carbon or alloy steel | Threads into the pre-embedded sleeve; no sulfur anchorage is used |
| Flat washer | - | Carbon steel | Fitted under the screw spike head |
| Gauge baffle | G5 | Glass-fiber reinforced polyamide 66 | Seven sizes, No. 2 to No. 8; No. 4 and No. 6 are used for standard gauge; gauge is adjusted by changing sizes |
| Under-rail pad | RP5 / CRP5 | Rubber; or rubber-stainless steel composite | RP5 for general sections; CRP5 for low-resistance sections |
| Pre-embedded sleeve | D1 | Glass-fiber reinforced polyamide 66 | Cast into the sleeper during manufacture; top face flush with the sleeper bearing surface; provides electrical insulation |
| Height-adjusting pad | TD5 | Polyethylene | Thicknesses 1, 2, 5 and 8 mm; placed between the under-rail pad and the sleeper bearing surface |
Technical Parameters
| Item | Typical value | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Rail | 60 kg/m, 1,435 mm gauge | Design envelope |
| Sleeper | Shouldered prestressed concrete sleeper with pre-embedded sleeves | - |
| W2 clip bar diameter | 14 mm | Per engineering references |
| W2 clip clamping force | ≈ 10 kN per clip | Typical |
| W2 clip spring stroke | ≈ 12 mm | Typical; confirm with drawings |
| W2 clip tightening torque | ≈ 160 N·m | Per assembly instructions |
| X3 clip bar diameter | 13 mm | Per engineering references |
| X3 clip clamping force | ≈ 4.5 kN per clip | Typical (low-clamping-force option) |
| X3 clip spring stroke | ≈ 8 mm | Typical; confirm with drawings |
| X3 clip tightening torque | ≈ 95 N·m | Per assembly instructions |
| Longitudinal resistance per fastening set | W2 + rubber pad: > 9 kN; X3 + composite pad: ≈ 4 kN | Typical; bridge low-resistance configuration |
| Gauge adjustment | ±8 mm | By replacing gauge baffles (No. 2–8) |
| Height adjustment | Up to 10 mm total | Maximum two TD5 pads per rail seat |
| Track-circuit compatibility | Insulating sleeves and nylon gauge baffles isolate rail from sleeper | Design feature |
How Type V Compares with Related Chinese Fastening Systems?
Compared with the Type II system (TB/T 3065-2020)
The Type II system anchors its screw spikes with sulfur. The Type V system replaces sulfur anchorage with pre-embedded insulating sleeves, which improves insulation performance for track circuits. In addition, the gauge baffle presses only the side edge of the rail foot instead of buckling under it, which allows a shorter screw spike and reduces the eccentric force on the bolt.
Compared with the Type IV system (TB/T 3395.2-2015)
The Type IV system is a boltless, shoulderless fastening for ballasted track laid on shoulderless sleepers. The Type V system is bolted and shouldered: the sleeper shoulders add lateral restraint, which helps control rail displacement in curved or heavy-load sections and reduces deviation of track geometry parameters.
Compared with ballastless-track systems
Type V is designed for ballasted track only. Ballastless track uses WJ-series systems such as WJ-8, specified in TB/T 3395.5-2015. The choice between Type V and a WJ-series system depends on the track form, not on the product itself.
Applications
- Passenger-dedicated high-speed lines with ballasted track, operating up to 350 km/h.
- Mixed passenger-freight lines with design speeds up to 250 km/h.
- Bridge sections requiring low fastener resistance, using the X3 clip with composite pad configuration.
- Sections with track circuits, where the insulating sleeve and nylon components maintain electrical isolation between rail and sleeper.
- New construction and maintenance replacement on shouldered prestressed concrete sleepers with 60 kg/m rail at 1,435 mm gauge.
- Height correction during track surfacing work, using TD5 pads up to 10 mm total.
Installation and Maintenance Notes
- Clean the sleeper bearing surface and remove the protective cap from the pre-embedded sleeve before assembly.
- Place the under-rail pad at the centre of the bearing surface so that its lugs engage the surface.
- Lay the rail, then install the gauge baffles between the lugs of the pad; the baffles must not press on the pad.
- Fit the spring clip, pass the screw spike with flat washer through it, coat the thread with rail-approved protective grease and drive it into the sleeve. Tighten until the front jaw of the clip contacts the rail foot: about 160 N·m for the W2 clip and 95 N·m for the X3 clip.
- For height correction, lift the rail and insert TD5 pads under the under-rail pad. Total pad thickness must not exceed 10 mm, and no more than two pads may be used at one rail seat.
- During operation, re-tighten fasteners after early pad settlement, remove all height-adjusting pads before tamping with heavy maintenance machines, and keep the sleeves free of dirt and water.
FAQ
Q: What does "elastic" mean in the Type V elastic clip fastener system?
A: It means the rail is clamped through the elastic deformation of the spring clip, assisted by an elastic under-rail pad. The clip generates clamping force by bending and torsion, which keeps the rail in place while absorbing impact and damping vibration.
Q: Which standard governs the Type V fastening system?
A: The Chinese railway industry standard TB/T 3395.3-2015, High-Speed Railway Fastenings, Part 3: Type V Fastening System. It is part of the TB/T 3395 series covering high-speed railway fastenings.
Q: Which rail and sleeper types does it fit?
A: It is designed for 60 kg/m rail at 1,435 mm gauge on shouldered prestressed concrete sleepers with pre-embedded insulating sleeves.
Q: How much can gauge and rail height be adjusted?
A: Gauge can be adjusted within ±8 mm by changing gauge baffle sizes (No. 2 to No. 8). Rail height can be raised by up to 10 mm using TD5 height-adjusting pads, with a maximum of two pads at one rail seat.
Q: Can the Type V system be used on ballastless track?
A: No. Type V is a ballasted-track system for shouldered sleepers. Ballastless track requires WJ-series systems such as WJ-8, specified in TB/T 3395.5-2015.
Q: Why is the X3 clip used on bridges?
A: The X3 clip has a lower clamping force and is paired with a composite under-rail pad, reducing longitudinal resistance to about 4 kN per fastening set. This limits the forces transferred to bridge structures and allows fastener resistance to be adjusted where required.
Hot Tags: Type V Elastic Clip Fastener System, China Type V Elastic Clip Fastener System manufacturers, suppliers, factory, E clip Fastening System, Railway Sleepers, KPO Clamp Rail Fastening System, J9 Heyback Spring Clip, 9 Types Of Rail Fastenings System, J8 Heyback Spring Clip
