A positioning and position maintaining device comprises a solenoid having an armature and an electromagnetic holder. The solenoid is arranged to effect positioning of an object upon translation of the armature and the electromagnetic holder is arranged to effect position maintaining in order to maintain the object in the position effected by the solenoid. An apparatus for aircraft autopilot and manual control feel-force control switching comprises an autopilot mechanism and the positioning and position maintaining device. The positioning and position maintaining device is arranged to engage the autopilot mechanism and maintain the engagement thereof. A method of switching between autopilot and manual control in an aircraft is also envisaged.

An electromagnetic device includes: a coil configured to generate a first magnetic flux; a fixed member, a movable member configured to reciprocate to separate from the fixed member by a predetermined gap when a current applied to the coil is stopped and move to the fixed member by an attractive force when the current is applied to the coil; and a permanent magnet configured to generate a second magnetic flux between the respective opposed surfaces of the fixed member and the movable member in the same direction as the first magnetic flux. The permanent magnet is attached to at least one of the fixed member and the movable member such that a magnetized surface of the permanent magnet is opposed and exposed to the opposed surface of the other one of the fixed member and the movable member.

An electromagnetic device includes: a coil configured to generate a first magnetic flux; a fixed member, a movable member configured to reciprocate to separate from the fixed member by a predetermined gap when a current applied to the coil is stopped and move to the fixed member by an attractive force when the current is applied to the coil; and a permanent magnet configured to generate a second magnetic flux between the respective opposed surfaces of the fixed member and the movable member in the same direction as the first magnetic flux. The permanent magnet is attached to at least one of the fixed member and the movable member such that a magnetized surface of the permanent magnet is opposed and exposed to the opposed surface of the other one of the fixed member and the movable member.

An electromagnetic device includes a coil, a fixed member, a movable member configured to reciprocate to separate from the fixed member by a predetermined gap when a current applied to the coil is stopped and move to the fixed member by an attractive force when the current is applied to the coil, and a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is arranged at a position adjacent to the gap and separated from the fixed member and the movable member with a space interposed therebetween. A direction of a second magnetic flux generated by the permanent magnet conforms to a direction of a first magnetic flux generated between the respective opposed surfaces of the fixed member and the movable member when the current is applied to the coil.

An electromagnetic device includes a coil, a fixed member, a movable member configured to reciprocate to separate from the fixed member by a predetermined gap when a current applied to the coil is stopped and move to the fixed member by an attractive force when the current is applied to the coil, and a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is arranged at a position adjacent to the gap and separated from the fixed member and the movable member with a space interposed therebetween. A direction of a second magnetic flux generated by the permanent magnet conforms to a direction of a first magnetic flux generated between the respective opposed surfaces of the fixed member and the movable member when the current is applied to the coil.

The electromagnetic relay includes a contact unit, an electromagnet, an armature unit, and a base. The contact unit includes a fixed contact and a movable spring including a movable contact. The armature unit is movable in accordance with excitation of the electromagnet to allow the movable contact to move between a closed position in contact with the fixed contact and an open position away from the fixed contact. The base holds the contact unit and the electromagnet on a certain surface side. The movable contact is placed between the base and the fixed contact in an arrangement direction in which the base and the electromagnet are arranged. The armature unit includes a press part which causes movement of the movable contact by applying a pressing force to a certain surface facing the fixed contact, of the movable spring.

The electromagnetic relay includes a contact unit, an electromagnet, an armature unit, and a base. The contact unit includes a fixed contact and a movable spring including a movable contact. The armature unit is movable in accordance with excitation of the electromagnet to allow the movable contact to move between a closed position in contact with the fixed contact and an open position away from the fixed contact. The base holds the contact unit and the electromagnet on a certain surface side. The movable contact is placed between the base and the fixed contact in an arrangement direction in which the base and the electromagnet are arranged. The armature unit includes a press part which causes movement of the movable contact by applying a pressing force to a certain surface facing the fixed contact, of the movable spring.

A relay (100) includes: a cavity (11) is defined in a housing (1). A number of stationary contacts (12) are arranged on the housing (1) at intervals and at least partially arranged in the cavity (11). A drive shaft (2) is movable relative to the housing (1) in an axial direction of the drive shaft (2), and an axial end is provided with a support piece (21) at least partially inserted into the cavity (11). A moving contact assembly (3) is matched with the support piece (21) through a sliding structure, so that the moving contact assembly (3) is movable relative to the support piece (21) between a first position contacting the stationary contact (12) and a second position away from the stationary contact (12). An elastic member (5) is arranged between the moving contact assembly (3) and the support piece (21) to apply an elastic force to the moving contact assembly (3) to move toward the first position.

A relay (100) includes: a cavity (11) is defined in a housing (1). A number of stationary contacts (12) are arranged on the housing (1) at intervals and at least partially arranged in the cavity (11). A drive shaft (2) is movable relative to the housing (1) in an axial direction of the drive shaft (2), and an axial end is provided with a support piece (21) at least partially inserted into the cavity (11). A moving contact assembly (3) is matched with the support piece (21) through a sliding structure, so that the moving contact assembly (3) is movable relative to the support piece (21) between a first position contacting the stationary contact (12) and a second position away from the stationary contact (12). An elastic member (5) is arranged between the moving contact assembly (3) and the support piece (21) to apply an elastic force to the moving contact assembly (3) to move toward the first position.

A sliding power contact and method includes a mobile load device connector and a socket. The mobile load device connector includes a non-current power pin having a first length, a current power pin having a second length less than the first length, a neutral pin, and a ground pin. The socket includes a non-current power contact configured to electrically couple with the non-current power pin, a current power contact configured to electrically couple with the current power pin, a neutral contact configured to electrically couple with the neutral pin, and a ground pin configured to electrically couple with the ground pin. An arc suppressor is directly coupled to at least one of the non-current power pin and the non-current power contact, wherein the arc suppressor, the non-current power pin and the non-current power contact form a current path between the current power pin and the current power contact.