According to one or more embodiments, when a predetermined time has passed after generation of an arc at least either between a movable contact and a fixed contact or between a movable contact and a fixed contact, an arc generated between the movable contact and the fixed contact is extended by a magnetic field generation unit to be longer than an arc generated between the movable contact and the fixed contact.

An overload relay is disclosed in which a single operator coil is controlled for both tripping and resetting. A permanent magnet and a spring make the device bi-stable, so the coil may be unpowered when in the trip and reset states. Energization of the coil overcomes the magnet to allow tripping, while energization in an opposite direction adds to the magnet force to reset the device. An electromagnetic activation path overrides a mechanical activation path for electromagnetic tripping despite attempted manual resetting. The device may be pulse width modulated to reduce power consumption.

A method for closing an actuator in a magnetically actuated switch assembly, where the actuator includes an armature and a winding, and the switch assembly includes a manual actuation device coupled to one end of the armature and a movable terminal in a vacuum interrupter coupled to an opposite end of the armature. The method includes commencing a closing operation of the actuator using the manual actuation device to move the armature towards a closed latch position, detecting that the actuator is being manually closed, and energizing the winding to assist moving the armature to the closed latch position when the armature gets to a predetermined distance from the closed latch position.

The present invention provides a micro tactility-simulating sensing device, including: a chip including a first top surface and a first inductor, wherein the first top surface has wiring through holes configured to allow an external circuit to connect to the first inductor, and the first top surface is a flat surface except the wiring through holes; a magnetic rigid body coupled with the first inductor to allow the first inductor to sense a magnetic flux passing therethrough, and configured to receive a tactile load; and a polymer configured between the chip and the magnetic rigid body to have a characteristic distance therebetween, wherein the characteristic distance and the magnetic flux have a functional relationship. The micro tactility-simulating sensing device of the present invention can effectively increase the magnitude of the measured signal and provide two different ways to read the signal.

The contact device switches between a closed state where a movable contact is in contact with the fixed contact and an open state where the movable contact is apart from the fixed contact as the movable element moves. The bus bar is electrically connected to the fixed contact. A magnetic field generated by a current flowing through the bus bar when the contact device is in the closed state applies, to the movable element, force oriented such that the movable element is maintained at a location where the contact device is in the closed state. In such a positional relationship, the bus bar and the electromagnetic device are disposed.

An electromagnetic relay includes a movable terminal including a movable contact, a fixed terminal including a fixed contact that faces the movable contact, first irons disposed on one of the fixed terminal and the movable terminal, and a second iron disposed on another one of the fixed terminal and the movable terminal such that the second iron at least partially overlaps both of the first irons.

An electromagnetic relay includes an armature, and a movable body configured to move in association with a swing of the armature. The armature includes a support portion opposed to a leg portion of an iron core, a magnetic pole opposed to another leg portion of the iron core, and an arm portion extending to connect the support portion and the magnetic pole. A movable body is attached to the arm portion and provided with a pressure projection for moving movable contacts. The pressure projection is located on a segment connecting the center of gravity of the support portion and the center of gravity of the magnetic pole.

The link member is capable of pressing the contact piece. The link member includes a first pressing portion and a second pressing portion. The first pressing portion is configured to press the first divided piece, and extends in a widthwise direction of the contact piece. The second pressing portion is configured to press the second divided piece, and extends in a lengthwise direction.

A method is for controlling an electromagnetic relay comprising a fixed contact, a movable contact that comes in contact with and separated from the fixed contact, an electromagnet that includes a coil for generating magnetic field, and an actuator that moves the movable contact. The method includes: when separating the movable contact that is in contact with the fixed contact, supplying a first current to the coil to generate a first magnetomotive force that drives the actuator in a direction to move the movable contact toward the fixed contact, supplying a second current to the coil, while the first current is supplied to the coil, to generate a second magnetomotive force that drives the actuator in a direction to move the movable contact away from the fixed contact, and stop supplying the first current while the second current is supplied to the coil.

A contact piece unit includes a terminal, a contact piece, and a contact. The contact piece is connected with the terminal, and disposed at a position facing the terminal. The contact is attached to the contact piece. The terminal includes a connection portion, a body, and a narrow portion. The connection portion is connected with the contact piece. The body extends in a lengthwise direction of the contact piece from the connection portion. The narrow portion has a width smaller than a width of the body and smaller than a width of the contact piece.