Switch for a grooved guide track

A switch for a grooved guide track including principle route, a direct route and a deviated route, each including a groove defined between facing flanks of a pair of spaced rails and for receipt of a roller of a vehicle to guide the direction of travel of the vehicle, said switch being operable to selectively align the principle route of the guide track with either of the direct or deviated routes thereof, said switch comprising:

• two fixed stock rails having first ends to be aligned with the spaced rails of the principle route and second ends to be aligned with respective rails of the direct route and the deviated route;
• two partially movable switchblades positioned between said two stock rails and having respective heel ends to be fixed in alignment with respective rails of the direct route and the deviated route and respective point ends directed toward said first ends of said two stock rails and capable of simultaneous movement due to flexure of said switchblades toward alternate of said stock rails, thereby defining alternate switch grooves extending from between said first ends of said stock rails to between respective pairs of said second ends of said stock rails and said heel ends of said switchblades;
• a single end plate having mounted thereon said first ends of said stock rails for support thereof in a position to be aligned with the spaced rails of the principle route;
• a double end plate having mounted thereon said second ends of said stock rails and said heel ends of said switchblades for support of said pairs thereof in respective positions to be aligned with the spaced rails of the direct route and the deviated route;
• respective spacers mounted between said first ends of said stock rails and between said second end of said stock rail and said heel end of said switchblade of each of said pairs thereof for maintaining spacings therebetween to ensure that said switch grooves correspond to the grooves of the principle, direct and deviated routes;
• sole plates for supporting said stock rails and said switchblades at positions thereof other than said single and double end plates;
• at least one inner stop mounted on a said sole plate and positioned between said switchblades adjacent said heel ends thereof;
• outer stops mounted on respective said stock rails at positions to be abutted by said switchblades adjacent said point ends thereof;
• and
• said two stock rails, said two switchblades, said single end plate, said double end plate, said spacers, said sole plates, said at least one inner stop and said outer stops comprising separately produced and formed elements assembled together in operative relationship.