Active switch

Claim 1

An active switch for the interaction area of tracks with horizontal wheel running surfaces and with substantially vertical transverse guide web means, arranged to project on both sides, for mechanically transversely guided vehicles, comprising an intersection area of a track bifurcation coming from a common track or a track junction entering a commom track, the transverse guide web means which delimit the intersection area of the tracks on the outside being immovable and running throughout the intersection area without interruption, further comprising a single switch tongue means being the only adjustable vehicle guiding switch member and being pivotable about a fixed bearing at the branch point of the intersection and a free end of the switch tongue means pointing in the direction toward the common track, and said switch tongue means being elastically bendable by lateral guide devices of a vehicle and having an approximately constant bending stiffness along its length, and fixed abutment means within the area of intersection between the wheel running surfaces, said abutment means determining the contour of the switch tongue means when pressed thereagainst in its respective end position, wherein, within the intersection area of the track extending from the branch point to a point where the free end of the tongue means comes in contact with the transverse guide web means of the common track, the full vertical extent of guide elements on both sides of the vehicle come in contact with either the transverse guide web means or the switch tongue means respectively.