Patent ID: 7134632

Claim:
A non-powered apparatus for mechanically detecting a trailed switch incident in railroad track switching equipment, comprising: an electrical contact within an associated track signaling circuit, said electrical contact having a first position in which said track circuit is not shunted and a second position in which said associated track circuit is shunted; and a non-powered mechanical actuator holding said electrical contact in said first position while an associated point rail remains within a first predetermined distance of an associated stock rail, said mechanical actuator being further moving said electrical contact to said second position upon movement of said associated point rail by said first predetermined distance away from said associated stock rail, said actuator being a rocking member arranged on a first pivot axis, and a pivoting member being arranged on a different pivot axis; wherein, said pivoting member controls a movement of the rocking member wherein said mechanical actuator remains stationary and leaves said electrical contact in said second position until said associated point rail moves away from said associated stock rail by a second predetermined distance in addition to said first predetermined distance.