Track circuit mechanical joint integrity checker

An electrically insulating mechanical joint checker for mechanical joints connecting rails of subsequent track segments of a railway line, each track segment forming part of a track circuit, comprising:

• a signal transmitting unit and a receiving unit operatively coupled to each track segment for transmitting and respectively receiving train presence detection signals within said track segment and/or transmitting and respectively receiving communication signals between a train and the track segment,
• wherein said signal transmitting unit and receiving unit are configured to respectively transmit and receive an additional joint insulation integrity signal associated to each track segment to detect failure of insulation of said mechanical joints,
• wherein said signal transmitting unit and receiving unit are configured to respectively transmit and receive said joint insulation integrity signal related to the said track segment, which is different at least in respect to a joint insulation integrity signal relating to an adjacent track segment in parameters uniquely identifying the joint insulation integrity signal of each track segment,
• wherein said signal transmitting unit comprises a signal generation unit generating and transmitting said joint insulation integrity signal, and said signal receiving unit comprises an analyzing unit comparing a received joint insulation integrity signal with the joint insulation integrity signal that identifies the track segment,
• wherein said transmitting unit comprises a timing system that activates the signal generation unit according to a predetermined timing rule,
• wherein said signal transmitting unit and said receiving unit provide said train presence detection signals and said communication signals as a wave having an amplitude maximum value and an amplitude minimum value, and
• wherein said generation unit is activated by said timing system during a time interval of amplitude minimum value.