Rail fastening with tension spring for holding down a track body element

Abstract

In a tension spring (1) for holding down a track element, such as a rail foot of a rail, comprising a U-shaped main section having a U-bend (2), a first leg (3) arranged on one side of the U-bend (2) and a second leg (4) arranged on the other side of the U-bend (2), a hook-shaped retaining section (5) bent inwards and supported on a hold-down device (12) is formed on the first leg (3) and an end section (6) bent towards or away from the retaining section (5) is formed on the second leg (4), wherein the U-bend (2) forms a torsion section so that a holding force can be applied to the track element via the bent end section (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a rail fastening comprising a tension spring for holding down a track element, such as a rail foot of a rail, and a hold-down device that can be attached to a base, in particular a sleeper, ribbed plate or angle guide plate, adjacent to a rail.

[0002] The installation of rails on a track bed is typically carried out using a spring element, usually referred to as a tension spring or clamp, and a suitable clamping element or hold-down device to tension the spring element. This clamping element or hold-down device is usually a screw, which tensions the spring element against the substrate so that it exerts the necessary holding forces via the section resting on the rail foot. This tensioning can be achieved, for example, by connecting the hold-down device directly to the substrate that supports the rail and the fastening system, or by attaching the hold-down device to an additional component, such as a plate, which is then firmly coupled to the respective substrate.

[0003] Commonly used tension springs are those with an "e" shape and those with a "ω" shape. An "e"-shaped tension spring is described, for example, in EP 313325 B1. The "ω" shape is described, for example, in DE 3243895 A1.

[0004] Other devices are known from DE202015106541U1, CA2752835A1 and US5069386A.

[0005] Numerous embodiments of fastening systems with tension springs are known, in which the tension spring can be positioned relative to the rail foot and the anchoring elements not only in a precisely defined final assembly position, but also in a position-secured pre-assembly position. To achieve the pre-assembly position, the tension spring is mounted so that the section intended to hold down the rail foot does not rest on the rail. In this way, railway sleepers can be fitted with tension springs in the pre-assembly position and pre-tensioned at the factory. On the construction site, after the rail has been laid, the tension springs can be moved into the final assembly position with relatively little effort by gently tapping them in from the side. In this final position, the section intended to hold down the rail foot overlaps it and springs down from above.

[0006] A disadvantage of tension springs from the prior art is that they are designed for only one installation direction or method. The installation direction here refers to the direction in which the tension spring, which is usually already pre-tensioned, is pushed onto the rail foot. Most commonly, tension springs are designed for transverse installation, meaning they are pushed on perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail. In contrast, longitudinal installation involves bringing the tension spring into its final assembly position along the longitudinal direction of the rail. Longitudinal installation is advantageous, for example, for securing rails in the area of ​​turnouts, due to limited space.Conventional tension springs are adapted to their predetermined installation direction, particularly with regard to the arrangement of areas of different stiffness, and therefore cannot easily be installed in a different direction, although in most cases a different installation direction is not even possible for geometric reasons.

[0007] Other problems with conventional tension springs include breakage and loosening, resulting in a loss of tension. Loosening occurs particularly with tension springs that are tightened with a screw.

[0008] Tension springs often break when subjected to excessive stress. Conventional rail fastening systems are rarely equipped with overload protection. Overload protection serves to limit the load acting on the tension spring, which is particularly important when the rail is subjected to significant up-and-down movement or tilting relative to the sleeper as it is traversed.

[0009] The present invention therefore aims to improve a tension spring and a corresponding fastening system in such a way as to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, a tension spring is to be created that can be held down or tensioned without screws and that exhibits high elasticity. The tension spring should be universally applicable, especially for holding down rails in open track as well as in the area of ​​turnouts. Finally, installation and removal should be facilitated, and a position-secured pre-assembly position should be enabled.

[0010] To solve this problem, the invention provides a tension spring comprising a U-shaped main section, which has a U-bend, a first leg arranged on one side of the U-bend and a second leg arranged on the other side of the U-bend, wherein a hook-shaped retaining section bent inwards and supported on a hold-down device is formed on the first leg and an end section bent towards or away from the retaining section is formed on the second leg, wherein the U-bend forms a torsion section so that a hold-down force can be applied to the track element via the bent end section.

[0011] By having the tension spring, starting from the basic "U" shape, feature a hook-shaped retaining section on the first leg of the U-shape and an end section bent towards or away from the retaining section on the other leg, an asymmetrical shape is achieved that is easy to manufacture and allows installation in both transverse and longitudinal directions. In both longitudinal and transverse installations, the bent end section forms the part of the tension spring through which the holding force is applied to the track element or the rail foot.

[0012] The inventive design of the tension spring is similar to that of the "e"-shape known from the prior art, with the difference that the end section of the "e"-shape has an additional bend. This bend can be directed towards or away from the retaining section of the tension spring. Preferably, the bend extends towards the retaining section of the tension spring. According to a preferred embodiment, the bent end section extends at an angle of 80-100°, preferably approximately 90°, to the second leg, and this applies both to the design with an end section bent towards the retaining section of the tension spring and to the design with an end section bent away from the retaining section. The advantages of the bent end section become clear in both longitudinal and transverse installations in conjunction with the hold-down device, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0013] The hook-shaped retaining section extending from the first leg of the U-shape serves to be held under tension by a hold-down device when a torsional force is exerted by the bent end section on the torsional section formed by the U-shaped arc of the tension spring. The hook-shaped retaining section is bent inwards, meaning that the hook is bent between the two legs of the U-shape. Preferably, the hook-shaped retaining section forms the end of the tension spring on the side of the first leg, i.e., the free end of the section bent into a hook lies between the two legs of the U-shape.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a hook arc of the retaining section has a substantially 180° bend, such that a free end region of the retaining section runs substantially, at least partially, parallel to the first leg. The expression "substantially 180°" means that the angle is 180°, but can also be between 175° and 185°.

[0015] Preferably, an imaginary extension of the bent end section overlaps the hook arc in a top view. This means that the imaginary extension of the bent end section at least partially overlaps the hook arc in the top view of the tension spring. For transverse installation of the tension spring, this results in the hook arc being positioned above the rail foot in the final assembly position, thus providing overload protection.

[0016] The tension spring conventionally consists of a spring bar and can therefore be manufactured in one piece from a suitable starting material. It is manufactured by repeatedly bending an initially straight spring bar. If, as is preferably intended, the hook-shaped retaining section, the U-bend, and the folded end section are all bent in the same direction, the tension spring can be manufactured in three bending steps. In the first step, the hook-shaped retaining section is bent; in the second step, the U-bend; and in the third step, the folded end section. The three bending steps can also be performed continuously in a single operation if all three bends are in the same direction. The bends can all be made in the same plane, or individual sections can be deflected out of the common plane simultaneously with the bends.

[0017] The cross-section of the tension spring is preferably circular, although other cross-sectional shapes are also conceivable, such as oval, elliptical or the like.

[0018] Due to the relatively simple geometry of the tension spring according to the invention, its mechanical properties can be easily adapted to specific requirements by varying certain geometric parameters while maintaining the basic shape. For example, the length of the second leg of the U-shape, and thus the length of the lever arm acting on the torsion section, determines the stiffness of the tension spring. The tension, tension force, and stiffness can be controlled by selecting the thickness of the spring bar. The radius of the U-bend also controls the tension and stiffness of the tension spring.

[0019] Regarding the holding section, a preferred embodiment provides that the first leg and the holding section lie in the same plane when unloaded. This provides a flat bearing surface for the hold-down device, whereby the tension spring can be held down over a large area by both the holding section and the first leg.

[0020] In order to exert a holding force on the rail foot by clamping the retaining section using the hold-down device and the resulting torsional load on the torsional section of the tension spring via the bent end section, it is preferably provided that the second leg, in its unloaded state, is inclined at an acute angle relative to the common plane of the retaining section and the first leg, and preferably lies in an inclined plane spanned by the second leg and a straight line perpendicular to an axis of the first leg, forming a tangent to the U-shaped curve. This means, in particular, that the second leg, viewed from the plane of the retaining section towards the rail foot when the tension spring is installed, extends obliquely downwards. The acute angle can be between 5° and 20°.Tightening the tension spring causes it to bend, such that the aforementioned acute angle decreases from the unloaded state and, in the tightened state, is only 0°–5°. This angle can be reduced to 5–10° in the case of fastening systems with lower holding force. In this tensioned state, a torsional moment acts on the torsional section of the tension spring, specifically about an axis that is normal to the axis of the first leg and tangent to the U-shaped bend.

[0021] The holding force acting on the rail foot from the bent end section and the corresponding counterforce acting on the retaining section of the tension spring from the hold-down spring form a force couple that additionally subjects the torsion section to bending about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the torsional moment, resulting in a corresponding bending about this axis. Due to this bending, the bent end section of the tension spring has a different angle to the bearing surface on the rail foot in the unloaded state than in the loaded state. To ensure that the bent end section is essentially horizontally oriented in the loaded state, thus guaranteeing a suitable bearing surface on the rail foot, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the bent end section is bent upwards in the unloaded state relative to the inclined plane defined above, in which the second leg lies.According to an alternative definition, the bent end section runs at an acute angle to the plane of the support section and the first leg. The angle between the bent end section and said plane can preferably be 2°–8°, more particularly 5°–7°. The angle decreases under load due to the bending moment mentioned and is preferably 0°–1° in the loaded state.

[0022] When the invention refers to an angle between two sections of the tension spring or to a plane in which the sections lie, this refers to the center line of the respective sections, i.e., in the case of a circular cross-section, to the center line or axis passing through the center of the circle.

[0023] The invention relates to a rail fastening comprising a tension spring and a hold-down device that can be attached to a base, in particular a sleeper, ribbed plate or angle guide plate, adjacent to a rail, on which the holding section is supported in the mounted state of the tension spring in such a way that the bent end section can be arranged to resiliently hold down a track element, in particular a rail foot of the rail.

[0024] The tension spring can be tightened without a screw or with the aid of a screw. For the screwless alternative, a preferred embodiment provides that the retainer has or forms a tunnel-shaped recess into which the retaining section of the tension spring can be at least partially inserted.

[0025] When the tension spring is installed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rail, the retaining section of the tension spring can be inserted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rail into the tunnel-shaped recess towards the rail.

[0026] In a design with a tension spring that can be inserted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rail, the tunnel-shaped recess on the side facing the track element, in particular the rail foot, is preferably open, and the hook arc of the tension spring projects from the tunnel-shaped recess in its fully assembled state and overlaps the track element, in particular the rail foot. In this way, the hook arc, when projecting beyond the track element, forms an overload protection device. For this purpose, the hook arc is arranged such that there is a vertical gap between the track element to be held down, in particular the rail foot, and the hook arc of the tension spring. Upward movements of the track element that fall within this vertical gap are absorbed by the bent end section of the tension spring.However, should excessive upward movement occur, the track element to be held down will collide with the hook arch and thus be prevented from rising further without overloading the tension spring within its permissible spring travel.

[0027] In the variant with a tension spring that can be inserted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rail, a pre-assembly position of the tension spring can be easily achieved by initially inserting the tension spring only far enough that it is securely held in the tunnel-shaped recess, but that the hooked section does not yet protrude from the tunnel-shaped recess on the side facing the track element to be held down, and that the bent end section does not yet rest on the track element. Only when assuming the final assembly position is the tension spring advanced further towards the track element until the bent end section presses down onto the track element from above.

[0028] In both the variant with a tension spring that can be inserted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rail and the variant with a tension spring that can be inserted longitudinally to the rail, it is preferable to provide that the hold-down device has a ramp rising in the insertion direction, on which the bent end section rests slidingly during insertion. This results in the bent end section being continuously pre-tensioned during insertion.

[0029] The ramp preferably comprises a first rising ramp section and a second rising ramp section, with an intermediate section on which the bent end section rests in a pre-assembled position of the tension spring. The intermediate section may, for example, have a recess in which the bent end section of the tension spring can engage to remain in the pre-assembled position.

[0030] In this context, a preferred further development provides that a step is formed at the end of the ramp, over which the bent end section reaches the final assembly position, in which the end section rests on the track body element, in particular the rail foot, with the step forming a rear stop which secures the end section against leaving the final assembly position.

[0031] An overload protection mechanism using a tension spring that can be inserted longitudinally along the rail can be achieved by providing the hold-down device with a stop that, when the tension spring is installed, overlaps the bent end section by a certain distance. Such a stop has the effect of limiting the upward movement of the bent end section.

[0032] The fastening system according to the invention can also be used in the area of ​​a turnout for fixing jaw rails, wherein the hold-down device can be combined or connected to a slide chair on the side of the jaw rail facing the tongue rail, preferably such that the hold-down device forms at least part of the sliding surface for the tongue rail. In this context, one embodiment provides that the fastening system has a slide chair associated with the jaw rail with a sliding surface for a tongue rail, wherein the hold-down device has a further sliding surface that is preferably flush with the sliding surface. Alternatively, the upper surface of the hold-down device can also be arranged lower than the sliding surface of the slide chair.

[0033] Preferably, the additional sliding surface, as well as the sliding chair itself, is extended in the direction of the jaw rail in such a way that the additional sliding surface overlaps the rail foot of the jaw rail by a distance.

[0034] Preferably, the hold-down associated with the sliding chair and the hold-down arranged on the opposite side of the jaw rail can be formed in one piece with a sliding chair plate.

[0035] As already mentioned, an advantage of the tension spring according to the invention lies in its universal applicability. As already mentioned, the tension spring can be fastened not only without screws, but also with a sleeper screw. In this context, the fastening system according to the invention is preferably designed such that the retainer is formed by a fastening screw that can be screwed into the substrate, in particular a sleeper or plate, or by a hook screw with a nut that is hooked into the substrate, in particular a ribbed plate, wherein the shank and / or thread of the screw penetrates a gap between the first leg and the free end region of the retaining section of the tension spring in order to hold the tension spring (1) down in the region of the first leg (3) and the retaining section (5). Pre-assembly is also easily possible with this type of fastening.This can be done by first screwing the tension spring down in the pre-assembly position. Then the rail is inserted, after which the tension spring, still screwed down, is pushed in transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rail. It is not necessary to loosen the screw after inserting the rail and then tighten it again after inserting the tension spring.

[0036] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments schematically illustrated in the drawing. In this drawing, Fig. 1 a perspective view of a tension spring according to the invention, Fig. 2 a top view of the tension spring according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a view according to arrow III of the Fig. 2, Fig. 4 a view according to arrow IV of the Fig. 2 , Fig. 5 a rail fastening using the tension spring according to Fig. 1 , Fig. 6 a detailed view of the Fig. 5 , Fig. 7 a first embodiment of a rail fastening according to the invention using the tension spring according to Fig. 1 , Fig. 8 a detailed view of the Fig. 7 , Fig. 9 a hold-down according to Fig. 7 und 8 in a perspective view, Fig. 10 a side view of the hold-down device according to Fig. 9 , Fig. 11 a second embodiment of a rail fastening according to the invention using the tension spring according to Fig. 1 , Fig. 12 a modified design of the rail fastening Fig. 11 , Fig. 13 a third embodiment of a rail fastening according to the invention using the tension spring according to Fig. 1 , Fig. 14 a training according to Fig. 12 with a modified angled guide plate, Fig. 15 a view of the angle guide plate according to Fig. 14, Fig. 16 a front view of the angle guide plate according to Fig. 14 und Fig. 17 a bottom view of the angle guide plate according to Fig. 14 in an expanded representation.

[0037] In Fig. 1 The tension spring 1 according to the invention is shown, comprising a U-shaped main section having a U-bend 2, a first leg 3 arranged on one side of the U-bend 2, and a second leg 4 arranged on the other side of the U-bend 2, wherein a hook-shaped retaining section 5, which can be supported on a retainer, is formed on the first leg 3, and an end section 6, bent towards the retaining section 5, is formed on the second leg 4. The retaining section 5 comprises a free end 7.

[0038] In Fig. 3 It can be seen that the bent end section 6 is slightly inclined upwards in the direction of arrow III, so that there is an acute angle α between the bent end section 6 and the plane of the holding section 5 and the first leg 3.

[0039] In Fig. 4 It can be seen that the second leg 4 forms an acute angle β with the plane of the holding section 5 and the first leg 3.

[0040] Fig. 5 Figure 8 shows a rail 8 which is fastened to a sleeper 11 by means of an intermediate plate 10 arranged on a base plate 9. The fastening is effected on each side of the rail 8 by means of a tension spring 1 as shown. Fig. 1 , which has a tunnel-shaped recess 13 of a hold-down device 12 inserted into it. In the Fig. 5 In the illustrated final assembly position of the tension spring 1, its bent end section 6 presses against the rail foot 16 of the rail 8, optionally with the intermediate arrangement of an insulator. The hold-down device 12 is suitably attached to the plate 10. For example, the plate 10 and the hold-down device 12 are manufactured as a single piece and screwed to the sleeper 11. Alternatively, an anchor can be molded onto the underside of the plate 10, which is embedded in the concrete sleeper 11 during its casting.

[0041] Fig. 6 Figure 1 is an enlarged view of the tension spring 1 inserted into the tunnel-shaped recess 13. It can be seen that the tension spring, with its retaining section 5, was inserted into the tunnel-shaped recess 13 in the direction of arrow 14, i.e., in the longitudinal direction of the rail, so that the bent end section 6 rests on the rail foot 16. When inserted in the direction of arrow 14, the bent end section 6 slides on a ramp 17 rising in the insertion direction 14 until it falls over a step formed at the end of the ramp 17 onto the rail foot 16. Furthermore, a stop 18 is formed on the side of the retainer 12 facing the rail foot 16, extending beyond the bent end section 6 by a distance, and together with the end section 6, it acts as an overload protection device.

[0042] Fig. 7 und 8 show an embodiment of the rail fastening according to the invention, in which the tension spring 1 is inserted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rail, i.e. in the direction of arrow 14, into the tunnel-shaped recess 13 (see Fig. 9 ) of the hold-down device 12 is inserted. When inserted in the direction of arrow 14, the bent end section 6 slides again along the ramp 17 formed on the outside of the hold-down device 12 until the bent end section 6 falls over a step 19 formed at the end of the ramp 17 onto the rail foot 16. An insulator 15 can be arranged between the tension spring 1 and the rail foot. In the Fig. 8 In the final assembly position shown, the retaining section 5 protrudes from the tunnel-shaped recess 13 on the side facing the rail 8 and forms a stop that overlaps the rail foot 16 with optional insulator 15 by a distance, thus forming an overload protection.

[0043] The in Fig 7 und 8 The used hold-down device 12 is in the Fig. 9 und 10 shown in more detail, in which it is particularly evident that the ramp 17 consists of three successive sections in the insertion direction 14. The ramp 17 comprises a first rising ramp section 20 and a second rising ramp section 22 and an intermediate section 21 without a gradient, on which the bent end section 6 of the tension spring 1 rests in a pre-assembly position. Furthermore, it is shown in Fig. 9 und 10 An anchor 31 is visible, with which the hold-down device can be embedded or cast into a concrete sleeper 11 or, for example, a plastic sleeper 11.

[0044] In Fig. 11 A modified embodiment is shown in which the tension spring 1 is tensioned by a retainer designed as a fastening screw 25. The fastening screw 25 is hooked onto the rib 24 as a hook screw or screwed into the threshold 11 in such a way that its screw shank or thread passes through a gap between the first leg 3 and the free end region 7 of the retaining section 5 of the tension spring 1. The gap between the first leg 3 and the free end region 7 of the retaining section 5 is slot-shaped, so that the tension spring 1 can be positioned between a pre-assembly position and the position shown in the figure. Fig. 12 The rail support 10 can be moved to the final assembly position shown. In the illustrated design, the rail support 10 is designed as a ribbed plate, the ribs 24 of which define the position of the rail foot 16 of the rail 8 on the sleeper 11.

[0045] In the modified training according to Fig. 12 The fastening system on both sides of the rail 8 comprises an angle guide plate 26, which engages in a groove 27 of the sleeper 11 with a rib formed on the underside.

[0046] Fig. 13 Figure 1 shows the use of a rail fastening according to the invention in the area of ​​a turnout, which has a stock rail 8 and a tongue rail 28 that can be moved between a retracted and a retracted position. The tongue rail 28 slides with its rail foot on a slider 29, wherein the hold-down device 12 has a further sliding surface on its upper side that is flush with the sliding surface of the slider 29. The hold-down devices 12 arranged on both sides of the stock rail 8 can be formed integrally with a base plate 30.

[0047] The training according to Fig. 14 essentially corresponds to the training according to Fig. 12 , whereby the angle guide plate 26 is designed in two parts. The angle guide plate 26 consists, as shown in the Fig. 15 und 17 As can be seen, the assembly consists of a first part 32 facing away from the rail and a second part 33 facing the rail. The first part 32 carries a rib 34 which, in the installed state, engages in the groove 27, the rib 34 preferably having a trapezoidal cross-section and at least one guide surface 38. The first and second parts 32, 33 are guided along guide surfaces 38, 39 which are inclined to the longitudinal direction of the rail. Fig. 17 ) are slidable against each other to allow adjustment to the respective track gauge. The second part 33 further comprises a plate-shaped support element 41 on which the tension spring 1 rests and which overlaps the upper surface of the first element 32. As in Fig. 17 As can be seen, the plate-shaped support element 41 has at least one inclined guide groove 40 on its underside, into which guide pins or the like (not shown) formed on the upper side of the first element 32 engage to hold the two parts 32, 33 together, particularly in the unloaded state. It is further evident that the second part 33, in particular the plate-shaped support element 41, has a through-hole 35, which is penetrated by the screw 25 when the tension spring 1 is installed. The through-hole 35 is designed as an elongated hole perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail. For lateral guidance of the tension spring 1, the second part 33, in particular the plate-shaped support element 41, has two walls 37 that extend in the insertion direction 14 of the tension spring 1. The projection 36, which is arranged between the first leg 3 and the free end 7 of the retaining section 5 of the tension spring 1, also serves to guide the tension spring 1.

[0048] The tension spring 1 can be positioned between the in Fig. 14 The tension spring 1 can be moved between the illustrated final assembly position and a pre-assembly position (not shown) in which it does not extend beyond the rail foot. The design is such that screw 25 does not need to be loosened to move the tension spring 1 from the pre-assembly position to the final assembly position. This movement can be accomplished, for example, using a lever-like tool.

Claims

1. Rail fastening comprising a tension spring (1) for holding down a track body element, such as for example a rail foot of a rail, and a hold-down device (12) which can be fastened adjacent to a rail (8) on a base, in particular a sleeper (11), ribbed plate or angle guide plate, wherein the tension spring (1) comprises a U-shaped main section which comprises a U-bend (2), a first leg (3) arranged on one side of the U-bend (2) and a second leg (4) arranged on the other side of the U-bend (2), wherein a hook-shaped, inwardly bent holding section (5), which can be supported on the hold-down device, is formed on the first leg (3), and an end section (6), bent towards or away from the holding section (5), is formed on the second leg (4), wherein the U-bend (2) forms a torsion section such that a hold-down force can be applied to the track body element via the bent end section (6), wherein in the mounted state of the tension spring (1) the holding section (5) is supported on the hold-down device (12) in such a way that during installation transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rail the bent end section (6) can be arranged to resiliently hold down the track body element, in particular a rail foot (16) of the rail.

2. Rail fastening according to claim 1, characterised in that the bent end section (6) extends at an angle of 80-100°, preferably approximately 90°, relative to the second leg (4).

3. Rail fastening according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a hook bend of the holding section (5) has a bend of substantially 180°, such that a free end region (7) of the holding section (5) extends substantially at least in sections parallel to the first leg (3).

4. Rail fastening according to claim 3, characterised in that an imaginary extension of the bent end section (6) overlaps the hook bend in a top view.

5. Rail fastening according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the first leg (3) and the holding section (5) lie in the same plane in the unloaded state.

6. Rail fastening according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the second leg (4) extends, in the unloaded state, inclined at an acute angle relative to the common plane of the holding section (5) and the first leg (3), and preferably lies in an inclined plane which is spanned by the second leg (4) and a straight line, normal to the axis of the first leg (3), which forms a tangent to the U-bend (2).

7. Rail fastening according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that in the unloaded state the second leg (4) and the bent end section (6) lie in the inclined plane, or that the bent end section (6) is bent upward relative to the inclined plane.

8. Rail fastening according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the hold-down device (12) comprises or forms a tunnel-shaped recess (13) into which the holding section (5) of the tension spring (1) can be at least partially inserted, wherein the holding section (5) of the tension spring (1) can be inserted into the tunnel-shaped recess (13) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rail towards the rail.

9. Rail fastening according to claim 8, characterised in that the tunnel-shaped recess (13) is open on the side facing the track body element, in particular the rail foot (16), and that in the mounted state of the tension spring (1) the hook bend projects out of the tunnel-shaped recess (13) and overlaps the track body element, in particular the rail foot (16).

10. Rail fastening according to claim 8, characterised in that the hold-down device (12) comprises a ramp (17) rising in the insertion direction (14), on which the bent end section (6) rests in a sliding manner when the holding section (5) is inserted into the tunnel-shaped recess (13).

11. Rail fastening according to claim 10, characterised in that the ramp (17) comprises a first rising ramp section (20) and a second rising ramp section (22), and an intermediate section (21) located therebetween, on which the bent end section (6) rests in a pre-assembly position of the tension spring (1).

12. Rail fastening according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that a step (19) is formed at the end of the ramp (17), over which the bent end section (6) passes into the final assembly position, in which the end section (6) rests on the track body element, in particular the rail foot (16), wherein the step (19) forms a rearward stop which secures the bent end section (6) against leaving the final assembly position.

13. Rail fastening according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a slide chair (29) assigned to a rail (8) formed as a stock rail, the slide chair comprising a sliding surface for a switch rail (28), wherein a hold-down device (12) is connected to the slide chair and preferably comprises a further sliding surface flush with the sliding surface of the slide chair.

14. Rail fastening according to claim 13, characterised in that the further sliding surface overlaps the rail foot (16) of the stock rail (8) at a distance.

15. Rail fastening according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the hold-down device is formed by a fastening screw (25) which can be screwed into the base, in particular a sleeper (11) or plate (10, 26), or by a hook screw with nut engaged in a base, in particular a ribbed plate, wherein the shank and / or thread of the screw passes through a clearance between the first leg (3) and the free end region (7) of the holding section (5) of the tension spring (1) in order to hold down the tension spring (1) in the region of the first leg (3) and the holding section (5).

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