APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY
No longer just a permanent way to meet rail applications
Alcoa Fastening Systems (AFS) has a long history of servicing critical applications on the UK rail permanent way. In many cases, permanence – in the sense of extended fatigue life, security and vibration resistance – has, indeed, been decisive in the selection of Huck® products. One of AFS’ latest developments, though, now presents high levels of surety combined with the flexibility of assembly and disassembly using conventional hand tools.
the switch and crossing zones of the permanent way. The key benefits are immediately recognisable to any engineer familiar with AFS’ Huck®
S fasteners. The speed and ease of installation of Huck® products increases productivity and reduces labour
costs. Consistent, high clamp force and mechanical strength ensures maximum joint integrity, extending its life and that of associated components. Inspection is a simple visual process to confirm correct installation. In contrast to conventional threaded nuts and bolts, Huck fasteners will not loosen, even under the constant and often extreme vibration experienced in permanent way applications. The benefits to the rail network are
faster patrolling and reduced spanner work for maintenance teams. Permanently tight fasteners also mean reductions in vertical impact loading, subjecting point operating mechanisms to less vibration. This extends operational life and reduces the risk of failure of other components. More recently, the permanence of
AFS’ Huck fasteners has contributed substantially to the UK rail systems fight against a menace that costs an estimated GB£16 million annually and impacts the convenience and safety of rail users and staff. The theft of copper cable is a really serious problem. Searching for a more robust replacement for easily removable standard nuts and bolts used at spider junction boxes, Network Rail engineers carried out a series of rigorous trials in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, leading to the issue of a Certificate of Acceptance authorising the use of Huck fasteners and associated tooling in this application. Conventional threaded fasteners were replaced with Huck C50LR-BR20-12G and C6LB-R12-12G fasteners, attaching cable to both track and junction box. John Rickers, AFS Telford systems development manager, is confident the solution provides a superior upgrade and a significant deterrent to
Ironically, ‘permanence’ has in some applications been a limiting factor for Huck products. Many safety critical rail applications require regular disassembly for maintenance and adjustment, and Huck fasteners’ ‘fit and forget’ strength clearly does not help here. Recent developments at Alcoa Fastening Systems’ headquarters in Waco, Texas, USA, though, present the rail industry with a new Huck product, which successfully combines the security and vibration resistance of a Huckbolt® lockbolt with both rapid and easy assembly and disassembly with standard hand tools. At first sight, Huck 360®
lockbolt looks very much like a
conventional threaded bolt and nut combination. In fact, there are very significant technical and even more significant performance
122 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 89 September 2014
afety critical rail applications for which AFS, and in particular its C50L®
and BobTail® lockbolts and
lockstuds, have provided major advantages over conventional threaded fasteners are to be found in both
thieves. “Stolen cable is not only expensive to replace, but incurs significant labour costs as well as inconveniences rail customers. When a cable is stolen, the area has to be located, isolated, re- jointed and tested, often requiring specialist teams to carry out the repair. Conventional nuts and bolts, unlike Huck fasteners, can be removed relatively quickly. The longer a thief spends attempting to remove fasteners, the higher the probability he will be caught in the act.”
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