The main contact point for changing vehicle direction is concentrated in the front area of the switch blade – at a point where the switch blade is at its weakest. This results in increased wear at the switch point. The rolling contact between wheel and rail leads by plastic deformation of the rail to a ridge of material building up between the tongue and the stock rail, which in time if no maintenance work is undertaken will lead to failure of the switch blade due to cracking. Failing to carry out grinding maintenance – or doing so too late – can quickly lead to switch blade failure. The time available for repairs is often limited to periods of low activity, when work on the network has to be carried out under difficult conditions. Switch blades should therefore be manufactured to be as wear-resistant as possible.

Adapter switches (Ad) from RIECKEN are a good solution. These switches can be easily and quickly replaced during operation, with no need for welding, instead a keyed connection is used to connect the switch blade to the running rail. This connection relies on a force-locking and fitted bolts creating a fixed and durable connection while allowing for quick removal and replacement of tongues. The bolted connection is particularly suitable for connecting heterogeneous materials for the toughest continuous loads.

It is also possible to combine conventionally welded-in switch blades and adapter switches. This is suitable, for example for single-sided points, which are manufactured with only one adapter tongue (curved). RIECKEN manufactures adapter switches (Ad) in different designs and material combinations according to requirements, whereby the switch blades are manufactured from either manganese or bainitic steel:

• Adapter tongues for full depth grooved rail points in flat bed design (FlAd)
• Adapter tongues for shallow depth grooved rail points in drop-bed design
• Adapter tongues for Vignol rail points (FzAd)