DeltaSwitch enhances lifespan of switch blades due to reduction in wear - voestalpine Track Solutions Netherlands B.V.

3 August 2021 |

Turnouts deal with frequent track-train interaction by wheel sets annually. This train-track interaction leads to varying loads on different components inside the turnout, which can cause fatigue, wear or worse. This is undesirable and must be prevented at all times. Fortunately, a solution is now available that prevents such issues: the DeltaSwitch. This lubricant-free switch point roller system not only reduces the wear of the switch blades, it also reduces the wear in the slide plates. And last, but certainly not least, it requires less maintenance and/or adjusting than with other similar lubricant-free switch point roller systems.

The Netherlands as an example for issues with free wheel passage

In the Netherlands, one of the more common issues in turnouts is the free wheel passage. When the moving parts of a turnout are being hit by a train wheel on the inside, they will bounce back and be repeatedly hit by the following sets of wheels of the train. In order to prevent this track-train interaction by wheel flanges, ProRail requires special demands to the size of a turnout. This is what is called the free wheel passage. After a turnout is built inside the tracks, a deviation of the free wheel passage will occur after some time due to intensive use. Since it’s not always clear how this deviation occurs exactly or who the responsible one is for repair costs, these deviations in the free wheel passage are a joint problem for the entire Dutch railway infrastructure.

Safer tracks and significant savings in costs

The repairs of deviations in the free wheel passage are not simple. The extent of relocation is determined by the construction of the turnout. And the reinforcements of the points do not always give the desired effect. Material tensions that arise during track-train interaction can also cause the switch blades to take more time before reaching the required position. By building in the DeltaSwitch, such deviations in the free wheel passage, for example, can be prevented and therefore result in no damage to the turnout. In addition to avoiding failure costs, the application of the DeltaSwitch also results in major time savings. Approximately an hour of installment and adjustment per turnout, unlike other lubrication-free switch point roller systems of which the installment takes longer. You can imagine that for projects where roughly ten to twenty turnouts are built in, this device can save you a great deal of time!

Faster and easy installation

Apart from a safer turnout, the DeltaSwitch also ensures a faster and more precise fine-tuning of these turnout components. The DeltaSwitch is applied underneath the switch blade and, without any special required tools, easily adjusted after it is put in its place. Because the DeltaSwitch lifts the blade relatively high, its adjustment is less critical.

Benefits of the DeltaSwitch

It took approximately four years to develop this system. The DeltaSwitch has been extensively tested inside the tracks and the results are to complete satisfaction. Not only does this product serve as a greaseless construction, it offers many benefits in addition to the issues of free wheel passage. The DeltaSwitch also results in no wear and requires less to no maintenance.

Would you like to know which benefits the DeltaSwitch can bring for your specific turnout? Contact our product manager Daniël Poll Jonker for more information.