Rakväxel

Rakväxel, literally "straight switch" in Swedish, is a term used in several technical fields to denote a switch or cross-connect that preserves a straight path or alignment. The word combines rak (straight, direct) and växel (switch, exchange, gearing). Because Swedish technical vocabulary varies by sector, rakväxel does not have a single universal definition in English-language sources.

In railway engineering, rakväxel describes a turnout or railway switch designed to deliver trains onto the straight track with minimal deviation. It contrasts with diverging turnouts that route trains onto diverging tracks. Such switches are integral to yards and mainline routes and are operated by mechanical or electro-mechanical systems, with attention to reliability and smoothness of transition.

In electrical engineering and telecommunications, rakväxel can refer to a rack-mounted switching system or cross-connect used to connect circuits or lines within an equipment rack. This usage emphasizes modularity and ease of maintenance common in data centers, telephony, and industrial control rooms. The term is less common in English-language literature, where terms such as rack switch, patch panel, or cross-connect are more widely used.

Usage and meaning vary by country and industry, and rakväxel may appear primarily in Swedish-language documents or older technical materials. For readers encountering the term, the surrounding context—railway operations or electronic/telecommunications infrastructure—typically clarifies which sense is intended. See also Växel, Turnout (railway), Cross-connect, Patch panel.