Patents by Inventor Stephen John Cox

Stephen John Cox has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11753774
    Abstract: An anchoring device for use in retaining a railway rail fastening clip having first and second leg portions and a rail-bearing portion therebetween. The anchoring device includes a base member, an opening in the base member configured to receive a fastening component for fastening the anchoring device to an underlying foundation, and first and second clip-retaining sides extending from said base member with the first clip-retaining side being spaced apart from the second clip-retaining side so as to define a space therebetween for receiving the rail-bearing portion of the clip. Each clip-retaining side comprising upper and lower clip contact walls defining a passageway for receiving one of the leg portions, wherein the leg portions contact the clip contact walls of the respective clip-retaining sides as the clip moves from a wedged position towards an engaged position where the rail-bearing portion of the clip bears on the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: John Phillip Porrill, John David Spencer, Stephen John Cox, Brenton Keast, Steven Harkness, Chris Lea
  • Publication number: 20230001968
    Abstract: Methods of assessing wear of an electrical insulator and rail pad of an assembled rail fastening system utilize data from a 3D scan of the system to derive measurements of the system from which wear of the side post of the electrical insulator, or wear of the rail pad beneath the rail, may be assessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen John Cox, John David Spencer, John Phillip Porrill
  • Patent number: 11248349
    Abstract: A pad for a railway rail fastening assembly, the pad being configured for placement between a rail and an underlying foundation, such as slab track or a sleeper, wherein a cross-section of the pad comprises: a second resilient layer configured to face a railway rail; an intermediate rigid layer; and a first resilient layer configured to face an underlying foundation. The rigid layer is provided between and is integrally formed with the first and second resilient layers. An edge of the pad comprises at least one ear that extends beyond a central region of the pad, the rigid layer extending into the ear with the ear being configured to resist rail roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: Stephen John Cox, Robert John Hamilton
  • Publication number: 20210148057
    Abstract: An anchoring device for use in retaining a railway rail fastening clip having first and second leg portions and a rail-bearing portion therebetween. The anchoring device includes a base member, an opening in the base member configured to receive a fastening component for fastening the anchoring device to an underlying foundation, and first and second clip-retaining sides extending from said base member with the first clip-retaining side being spaced apart from the second clip-retaining side so as to define a space therebetween for receiving the rail-bearing portion of the clip. Each clip-retaining side comprising upper and lower clip contact walls defining a passageway for receiving one of the leg portions, wherein the leg portions contact the clip contact walls of the respective clip-retaining sides as the clip moves from a wedged position towards an engaged position where the rail-bearing portion of the clip bears on the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: John Phillip PORRILL, John David SPENCER, Stephen John COX, Brenton KEAST, Steven HARKNESS, Chris LEA
  • Publication number: 20190242067
    Abstract: An improved screwed fastening system for railway rails is proposed to allow rail fastening clips to be moved onto and off the rail more easily, facilitating track installation and maintenance. One improvement comprises providing in the screwed fastening system a clip guiding device, for guiding the rail fastening clip whilst it is being driven, which has an asymmetrically-located hole for receiving the screw-threaded shank of a screwbolt. Another improvement comprises providing in the screwed fastening system a rail fastening clip and screwbolt assembly which have inter-engaging driving portions. In each case, rotation of the screwbolt in one direction brings about translational movement of the rail bearing portion of the clip away from the screwbolt, and rotation of the screwbolt in the opposite direction brings about translational movement of the rail bearing portion of the clip towards the screwbolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: Stephen John Cox, John David Spencer
  • Publication number: 20190203424
    Abstract: A pad for a railway rail fastening assembly, the pad being configured for placement between a rail and an underlying foundation, such as slab track or a sleeper, wherein a cross-section of the pad comprises: a second resilient layer configured to face a railway rail; an intermediate rigid layer; and a first resilient layer configured to face an underlying foundation. The rigid layer is provided between and is integrally formed with the first and second resilient layers. An edge of the pad comprises at least one ear that extends beyond a central region of the pad, the rigid layer extending into the ear with the ear being configured to resist rail roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: Stephen John Cox, Robert John Hamilton
  • Patent number: 9951479
    Abstract: A rail pad can have a major face forming a railseat portion on which a foot of a railway rail sits when the pad is in use, the railseat portion having opposite side edges to at least part of each of which a respective upstanding portion of the pad can be connected, wherein the pad does not have any part which extends laterally from the railseat portion in a same plane as the railseat portion. The respective upstanding portion can be connected to a projection of the rail pad which extends laterally from the respective upstanding portion such that the projection can be vertically spaced from, and does not overhang, the railseat portion, the projection spaced from ends of the respective upstanding portion such that the projection can be configured to interlock with a corresponding opening in a front part of one of the railway rail clip anchoring devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Gardner, Stephen John Cox
  • Patent number: 9903074
    Abstract: A railway rail anchoring device (12) for fastening a railway rail (16) to an underlying foundation (18), the anchoring device comprising a protrusion (28), the anchoring device protrusion being configured to cooperate with a corresponding recess (36) provided in a receiving portion associated with the underlying foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventor: Stephen John Cox
  • Publication number: 20170226701
    Abstract: A rail pad can have a major face forming a railseat portion on which a foot of a railway rail sits when the pad is in use, the railseat portion having opposite side edges to at least part of each of which a respective upstanding portion of the pad can be connected, wherein the pad does not have any part which extends laterally from the railseat portion in a same plane as the railseat portion. The respective upstanding portion can be connected to a projection of the rail pad which extends laterally from the respective upstanding portion such that the projection can be vertically spaced from, and does not overhang, the railseat portion, the projection spaced from ends of the respective upstanding portion such that the projection can be configured to interlock with a corresponding opening in a front part of one of the railway rail clip anchoring devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Gardner, Stephen John Cox
  • Patent number: 9562330
    Abstract: A resilient railway rail fastening clip (3) has successive first to seventh portions (31 to 37), where in a non-operative configuration, the first and seventh portions (31, 37) form leg portions lying in a first plane (P), the second and sixth portions extend substantially away from and above the first plane (P), at least parts of the third and fifth portions (33, 35) extend towards and above the first plane (P) with their longitudinal axes lying substantially in a second plane (R) that intersects the first plane (P) at a first acute angle ?, and the fourth portion (34) extends substantially in or below the first plane (P) with its longitudinal axis lying substantially in a third plane (Q) that intersects the first plane (P) at a second acute angle ?, where 0°<?<?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Gardner, Stephen John Cox
  • Patent number: 9340929
    Abstract: An anchoring device for use in a railway rail fastening assembly which employs a resilient railway rail fastening clip to fasten a railway rail, comprises a body having a front portion which is configured to provide a first load bearing surface extending alongside the rail foot when the device is in use, and first and second side faces respectively located on opposite sides of the body and configured to extend transversely away from the first portion. The device comprises first and second projecting portions, the first projecting portion extending outwardly from the first side face of the body and providing a first additional load bearing surface which is set back from the first load bearing surface, and the second projecting portion extending outwardly from the second side face of the body and providing a second additional load bearing surface which is set back from the first load bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen John Cox, David Christopher Herron
  • Patent number: 9315947
    Abstract: In a railway rail fastening clip 1 for fastening a railway rail to an underlying rail foundation, which clip 1 is formed of an elongate plate shaped such that a central region 11 of the plate has in profile the form of a letter C, a first end region of the plate extending from one side of the central region 11 of the plate to form a substantially planar base portion 12 of the clip for engaging a rail fastening anchoring device secured to the rail foundation and a second end region of the plate extending from the opposite side of the central region 11 of the plate to form a toe portion 13 of the clip for bearing on a foot of the railway rail, such that in profile the second end region extends further than the first end region, the toe portion of the clip is provided with a throughhole 14 which is arranged such that, when the clip is in its operative configuration, part or all of the throughhole 14 lies above the foot of the rail, the throughhole being configured to receive a corresponding spigot 25 of a toe in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: PANDROL LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen John Cox, Christopher Gardner, Frank H. Coats, Louis M. Notarianni
  • Publication number: 20150376843
    Abstract: A railway rail anchoring device (12) for fastening a railway rail (16) to an underlying foundation (18), the anchoring device comprising a protrusion (28), the anchoring device protrusion being configured to cooperate with a corresponding recess (36) provided in a receiving portion associated with the underlying foundation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventor: Stephen John COX
  • Publication number: 20150176223
    Abstract: A resilient railway rail fastening clip (3) has successive first to seventh portions (31 to 37) where, when the clip (3) is in a non-operative configuration, the first and seventh portions (31, 37) of the clip (3) form leg portions which lie in a first plane (P), the second and sixth portions extend substantially away from and above the first plane (P), at least parts of the third and fifth portions (33, 35) extend towards and above the first plane (P) such that the longitudinal axes of the third and fifth portions (33, 35) lie substantially in a second plane (R), different from the said first plane (P), which second plane (R) intersects the first plane (P) at a first acute angle ?, and the fourth portion (34) extends substantially in or below the said first plane (P) such that the longitudinal axis of the fourth portion (34) lies substantially in a third plane (Q) which is different to the said second plane (R) and intersects the said first plane (P) at a second acute angle ?, where 0°??<?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher Gardner, Stephen John Cox
  • Patent number: 8905322
    Abstract: A railway rail pad (1), for use beneath a railway rail in a rail fastening assembly as cushioning and/or electrical insulation, has first and second major faces (2, 3), the first face (2) having a rail seat portion (20) on which a foot of a railway rail sits when the pad (1) is in use, and side members (4A, 4B) attached to and extending from two opposite edges of the first face (2) of the pad (1). The side members (4A, 4B) are arranged so as to be located on respective opposite sides of the railway rail when the pad (1) is in use such that the rail seat portion (20) of the pad (1) lies between respective inwardly-facing wall faces (41A, 41B) of the said side members (4A, 4B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: Stephen John Cox, Robert John Hamilton, Christopher Gardner
  • Patent number: 8888012
    Abstract: An electrical insulator for use with a rail fastening clip comprises a contact member providing on one side a substantially flat rail contact surface for contacting a foot of a rail and on the opposing side a clip contact surface for contacting a rail bearing surface of a bearing portion of the clip, the insulator also having retaining means for retaining the insulator on the clip in such a way as to allow rotation of the insulator about a longitudinal axis of the bearing portion of the clip. The insulator has stop portions for limiting such rotation about the longitudinal axis of the bearing portion of the clip to a desired extent. The clip contact surface of the insulator is convex, in a vertical plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bearing portion of the clip, such that, when the insulator is attached to a clip having a flat rail bearing surface, a contact region between the flat rail bearing surface of the clip and the clip contact surface of the insulator is linear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: Stephen John Cox, Robert John Hamilton, Christopher Gardner
  • Patent number: 8833671
    Abstract: Railway rail fastening apparatus, for suspending a railway rail at discrete locations along its length above a rail foundation, comprises two rail suspending assemblies located when in use one on each side of the rail. Each assembly comprises an elastic member for supporting the head of the rail on one side thereof and a bracket for applying a lateral clamping force to the elastic member. The rail suspending assembly on one side of the rail is located such that the center line of the assembly is offset with respect to that of the rail suspending assembly on the other side of the rail by x mm along the longitudinal axis of the rail, where x is 50?x>0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: Stephen John Cox, Andrew Garwood, Keith Poole
  • Patent number: 8763923
    Abstract: A railway rail fastening apparatus has a baseplate for receiving a railway rail to be fastened thereto and baseplate securing elements for securing the baseplate to a baseplate seat area of a concrete railway foundation. The baseplate securing elements carry first and second fastening assemblies configured for location on the concrete rail foundation on opposite sides of the baseplate seat area. Each of the first and second fastening assemblies including fixing member having a first part that extends from the baseplate member for retention within the concrete rail foundation. Only the fixing member of one fastening assembly includes a screw-threaded fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: Stephen John Cox, John Phillip Porrill, Anthony Adedipe, Nicholas Lloyd
  • Patent number: 8684280
    Abstract: A concrete railway rail foundation wherein an uppermost face of the foundation comprises a rail seat area for supporting a railway rail extending in a first direction across the rail seat area, two anchoring device seating regions located on either side of the rail seat area for accommodating respective anchoring devices, and, on each side of an anchoring device seating region, an upstanding portion having a height substantially the same as or higher than that of an anchoring device and a depth, in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, which is substantially the same as or deeper than that of the anchoring device is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Pandrol Limited
    Inventor: Stephen John Cox
  • Publication number: 20140061323
    Abstract: An anchoring device for use in a railway rail fastening assembly which employs a resilient railway rail fastening clip to fasten a railway rail, comprises a body having a front portion, which is configured to provide a first load bearing surface extending alongside the rail foot when the device is in use, and first and second side faces, respectively located on opposite sides of the body and configured to extend transversely away from the first portion. The device comprises first and second projecting portions, the first projecting portion extending outwardly from the first side face of the body and providing a first additional load bearing surface which is set back from the first load bearing surface, and the second projecting portion extending outwardly from the second side face of the body and providing a second additional load bearing surface which is set back from the first load bearing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Pandrol Limited
    Inventors: Stephen John Cox, David Christopher Herron