Provided is a contact device including a first contact, a second contact that is movable relative to the first contact and is brought into contact with or separated from the first contact, a first body part including the first contact, a second body part including the second contact, and a yoke arranged adjacent to at least one of the first body part or the second body part. At least a part of the yoke is arranged along magnetic flux generated by a current flowing through one body part of the first body part and the second body part that is adjacent to the yoke, in a region where the first body part and the second body part overlap each other when viewed along an axis in which the first contact and the second contact move relative to each other while the first contact and the second contact are in contact with each other.

A method for determining contact thickness change in a contactor includes sensing a first displacement distance moved by an armature of the contactor from a reference location to a first transition point during a switch-off operation of the contactor at a first contactor life reference time when movable contacts and fixed contacts of the contactor define a first contact thickness. The method further includes sensing a second displacement distance moved by the armature from the reference location to a second transition point during a switch-off operation at a second contactor life reference time that is after the first contactor life reference time when the movable and fixed contacts define a second contact thickness that is less than the first contact thickness. The first displacement distance and the second displacement distance are used to determine a contact thickness change between the first contact thickness and the second contact thickness. A contactor adapted to implement the method is also disclosed.

A method for determining contact thickness change in a contactor includes sensing a first displacement distance moved by an armature of the contactor from a reference location to a first transition point during a switch-off operation of the contactor at a first contactor life reference time when movable contacts and fixed contacts of the contactor define a first contact thickness. The method further includes sensing a second displacement distance moved by the armature from the reference location to a second transition point during a switch-off operation at a second contactor life reference time that is after the first contactor life reference time when the movable and fixed contacts define a second contact thickness that is less than the first contact thickness. The first displacement distance and the second displacement distance are used to determine a contact thickness change between the first contact thickness and the second contact thickness. A contactor adapted to implement the method is also disclosed.

A contact device includes a fixed contact, a movable contact, a housing, and an arc extinguishing member. The movable contact moves between a closed position where the movable contact contacts the fixed contact and an open position where the movable contact is separate from fixed contact. The housing houses the fixed contact and the movable contact. The arc extinguishing member is disposed in the housing and discharges an arc extinguishing gas. The arc extinguishing member is disposed facing a gap between the fixed contact and the movable contact when the movable contact is in the open position. The arc extinguishing member has a shape that tapers toward the gap.

A circuit interrupting safety device (CISD) interrupts the flow of current through a pair of lines extending between a source of power and a load. The CISD includes a column reset assembly functioning as a circuit breaker and a contact actuator, a relay circuit including a solenoid, and a fault detecting circuit packaged in a circuit assembly. The solenoid includes a solenoid pin in an extended state when the CISD is reset and a non-extended state when the CISD is tripped.

A circuit interrupting safety device (CISD) interrupts the flow of current through a pair of lines extending between a source of power and a load. The CISD includes a column reset assembly functioning as a circuit breaker and a contact actuator, a relay circuit including a solenoid, and a fault detecting circuit packaged in a circuit assembly. The solenoid includes a solenoid pin in an extended state when the CISD is reset and a non-extended state when the CISD is tripped.

An electromagnetic relay includes a base, a contact block, an electromagnet block, a permanent magnet, and a rigid member. The base is insulating. The contact block is placed on the base. The electromagnet block is placed on the base at a space from the contact block. The permanent magnet generates a magnetic field in the contact block. The rigid member is made of a magnetic material having a higher rigidity than the base, is incorporated in the base, and suppresses a magnetic flux leakage of the permanent magnet.

An electromagnetic relay includes a base, a contact block, an electromagnet block, a permanent magnet, and a rigid member. The base is insulating. The contact block is placed on the base. The electromagnet block is placed on the base at a space from the contact block. The permanent magnet generates a magnetic field in the contact block. The rigid member is made of a magnetic material having a higher rigidity than the base, is incorporated in the base, and suppresses a magnetic flux leakage of the permanent magnet.

An armature for an electromagnetic actuator, the armature including an armature body, at least one electrically conductive member configured for cooperation with a magnetic field generator of an electromagnetic actuator, and a connection end configured for connection of the armature to an apparatus operable by an electromagnetic actuator. The armature body also having a cellular structure. The armature may form part of an electromagnetic actuator, which in turn may be a component in a switch device. The armature may be manufactured by an additive manufacturing process.

A relay includes a movable contact piece having a first movable contact and a second movable contact, a first fixed terminal having a first fixed contact, a second fixed terminal having a second fixed contact, a drive device configured to move the movable contact piece, and the wall portion disposed inside the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact in a longitudinal direction. At least a part of the wall portion is disposed at a position beyond the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact toward the movable contact piece in a moving direction of the movable contact piece. The movable contact piece has a shape so as to avoid the wall portion in a contact state where the first movable contact is in contact with the first fixed contact and the second movable contact is in contact with the second fixed contact.