Contacts of a relay may glue together during operation. This state may be measured and a controller may issue a pulse width-modulated signal at a certain duty cycle and frequency in order to vibrate the relay contacts to make them open again. Once this is the case, the process is stopped. This process may be repeated a certain number of times, and if successfully degluing is not possible, a notification may be generated. Also after a certain number of degluing cycles, a signal may be generated to indicate replacement of the relay.

An exemplary contactor assembly includes, among other things, a movable contact that transitions relative to a plurality of stationary contacts back and forth between a closed position and an open position. The movable contact contacts at least one of the stationary contacts with an initial contact surface and then a final contact surface when the movable contact is in the closed position. An exemplary contactor transitioning method includes, among other things, changing areas of contact between a movable contact and a plurality of stationary contacts when the movable contact is in a closed position with the plurality of stationary contacts.

A system (100) and method is provided that facilitates functional safety monitoring of relay contacts. The system may include a contactless sensor circuit (108) that includes: an output signal antenna (110) positioned in the contactless sensor circuit to extend between at least two contacts (116, 118) of a relay (120); and first and second input signal antennas (112, 114) positioned in the contactless sensor circuit respectively adjacent the at least two contacts of the relay, such that the output signal antenna and the at least two contacts of the relay are positioned between the first and second input signal antennas. The system may also include a processor (102) configured to cause the output signal antenna to output a wireless signal (122) capable of being received by the first and second input signal antennas while the processor monitors wireless signals received by the first and second input signals antennas. The processor may be configured to determine that the relay has a fault based on the wireless signals received by the first and second input signal antennas, and responsive thereto output at least one communication (126) indicative of a fault with the relay being detected.

The disclosure relates to an electromagnetic switch, comprising: an armature; a slider configured to manually move to actuate the armature; and a deformable force transfer element positioned between the slider and the armature, wherein the slider is configured to be pressed against the deformable force transfer element to actuate the armature with a press force, and wherein the deformable force transfer element is configured to deform when a press force threshold value is exceeded to limit a transferable force from the slider onto the armature.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a switchgear including: a fixed electrode which is disposed inside a cabinet; a movable electrode which is provided corresponding to the fixed electrode and rotates between a first position which comes in contact with the fixed electrode and a second position which is separated from the fixed electrode; a pedal which is disposed on the outside of the cabinet and guided in the vertical direction along a guide hole formed long in the cabinet in the vertical direction; a connecting rod which is rotatably connected to the pedal; and a hammer which is connected to the connecting rod and rotates together with the connecting rod to strike the movable electrode positioned at the first position.

A removable switching element for switching an electric current for an electrical switching device includes a housing; first and second fixed electrical conductors; a mobile electrical conductor that can be moved between a first position, in which the mobile electrical conductor electrically connects the first and second fixed electrical conductors; and a second position, in which the mobile electrical conductor is electrically isolated from the first and second fixed electrical conductors. The housing includes two windows passing therethrough, one being located facing an area of contact between the mobile conductor and the first fixed electrical conductor and the other being located facing an area of contact between the mobile conductor and the second fixed electrical conductor.

A thermomagnetic trip assembly includes a thermal trip, a magnetic trip, and first and second actuation levers. The thermal trip includes a bimetal strip that is capable of deforming in order to actuate the first actuation lever. The magnetic trip includes a movable armature, a fixed armature and an electrical conductor. The movable armature is capable of moving in order to actuate the second actuation lever. The electrical conductor and the bimetal strip are electrically connected in series with one another between first and second connection terminals of the trip assembly. The movable armature is connected to the first connection terminal, the fixed armature is connected to the second connection terminal, and the respective contact areas of the fixed armature and of the movable armature are made of electrically conductive materials that exhibit a low degree of mutual weldability.

Switch device including a switch and a bypass mechanism and a method of manually operating the switch. The switch includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a contact member configured to be in a first position and a second position and to form a connection between the first terminal and the second terminal when in the first position or in the second position, and a control unit configured to facilitate a transition of the contact member and to retain the contact member at the first position or at the second position in the absence of an external force. The bypass mechanism includes at least one moveable member having a first surface configured to contact the contact member at a first angle that is acute or obtuse. Energy generation and/or storage systems contain the switch device, and methods of controlling connection of these systems to a power grid and/or a load.

An electrical switch includes a fixed contact member and a plurality of movable contact fingers that pivot into and out of engagement with the fixed contact member. The electrical switch also includes a fixed magnetic member and a plurality of U-shaped magnetic members housing the plurality of movable contact fingers. Upon occurrence of a fault condition, each of the plurality of U-shaped magnetic members is magnetically pulled towards the fixed magnetic member, without contacting the fixed magnetic member, such that each of the plurality of movable contact fingers is held in engagement with the fixed contact member.

The present invention relates to the field of heavy duty relays with electromagnetic, pneumatic or other mechanical means of actuation. In particular the invention relates to a relay or contactor which addresses the problem of contact welds formed during actuation of the relay. In one aspect the invention provides an electrical relay comprising a contact bridge portion carrying at least two spaced apart electrical contact surfaces, a terminal portion comprising at least two corresponding spaced apart electrical contact surfaces, and an actuating mechanism for selectively bringing the electrical contact surfaces of the bridge portion into electrical contact.