A method of monitoring a contact force between electrical contacts in a mechanical contactor. The method includes receiving, from a force sensor, a signal including information about a base force sensed by the force sensor between a stationary core and a base; determining a magnitude of the contact force based on the received information; and outputting information based on the determined magnitude to an operator.

A contactor (1) comprising: one or more electric poles (3); for each electric pole, a fixed contact (31) and a corresponding movable contact (32), the one or more movable contacts (32) of said contactor being reversibly movable, along corresponding displacement axes (33) mutually parallel and lying on a common displacement plane (34), between a first position (A), at which said movable contacts are decoupled from the corresponding fixed contacts, and a second position (B), at which said movable contacts are coupled with the corresponding fixed contacts; a movable armature (7) reversibly movable, along a corresponding displacement direction parallel to the displacement axes (33) of said movable contacts, between a third position (C) and a fourth position (D); for each electric pole, a first plunger (8) coupled with said movable armature (7) and with a corresponding movable contact (32), each first plunger extending along a corresponding main longitudinal axis parallel or coinciding with the displacement axis (33) of a corresponding movable contact (32); an electromagnetic actuator (4) comprising a magnetic yoke (41, 42) having a fixed yoke member (41) and a movable yoke member (42), said movable yoke member being reversibly movable, along a corresponding displacement direction parallel to the displacement axes (33) of said movable contacts (32), between a fifth position (E), at which it is decoupled from said fixed yoke member, and a sixth position (F), at which it is coupled with said fixed yoke member, said electromagnetic actuator further comprising a coil (44) wound around said fixed yoke member (41) and adapted to be fed by a coil current (IC) to make said fixed yoke member (41) to magnetically interact with said movable yoke member (42) and generate a force to move said movable yoke member from said fifth position (E) to said sixth position (F) or maintain said movable yoke member in said sixth position (F); one or more opening springs (6) coupled with said fixed yoke member (41) and said movable yoke member (42), said opening springs being adapted to provide a force to move said movable yoke member from said sixth position (F) to said fifth position (E); one or more second plungers (5) coupled with said movable yoke member (42) and said movable armature (7), each second plunger extending along a corresponding main longitudinal axis parallel with the displacement axes (33) of said movable contacts (32).

A contactor (1) comprising: one or more electric poles (3); for each electric pole, a fixed contact (31) and a corresponding movable contact (32), the one or more movable contacts (32) of said contactor being reversibly movable, along corresponding displacement axes (33) mutually parallel and lying on a common displacement plane (34), between a first position (A), at which said movable contacts are decoupled from the corresponding fixed contacts, and a second position (B), at which said movable contacts are coupled with the corresponding fixed contacts; a movable armature (7) reversibly movable, along a corresponding displacement direction parallel to the displacement axes (33) of said movable contacts, between a third position (C) and a fourth position (D); for each electric pole, a first plunger (8) coupled with said movable armature (7) and with a corresponding movable contact (32), each first plunger extending along a corresponding main longitudinal axis parallel or coinciding with the displacement axis (33) of a corresponding movable contact (32); an electromagnetic actuator (4) comprising a magnetic yoke (41, 42) having a fixed yoke member (41) and a movable yoke member (42), said movable yoke member being reversibly movable, along a corresponding displacement direction parallel to the displacement axes (33) of said movable contacts (32), between a fifth position (E), at which it is decoupled from said fixed yoke member, and a sixth position (F), at which it is coupled with said fixed yoke member, said electromagnetic actuator further comprising a coil (44) wound around said fixed yoke member (41) and adapted to be fed by a coil current (IC) to make said fixed yoke member (41) to magnetically interact with said movable yoke member (42) and generate a force to move said movable yoke member from said fifth position (E) to said sixth position (F) or maintain said movable yoke member in said sixth position (F); one or more opening springs (6) coupled with said fixed yoke member (41) and said movable yoke member (42), said opening springs being adapted to provide a force to move said movable yoke member from said sixth position (F) to said fifth position (E); one or more second plungers (5) coupled with said movable yoke member (42) and said movable armature (7), each second plunger extending along a corresponding main longitudinal axis parallel with the displacement axes (33) of said movable contacts (32).

In an input device in which an electromagnetic force generated by applying current to a coil acts on an operation knob as a reaction force of an operation force, a repulsion magnet is disposed at one of a coil side yoke, a first yoke, or a second yoke to generate a repulsive force to a first magnet or a second magnet so as to offset the resultant of a first attraction force of the first magnet to the coil side yoke or the first yoke and a second attraction force of the second magnet to the coil side yoke or the second yoke.

In an input device in which an electromagnetic force generated by applying current to a coil acts on an operation knob as a reaction force of an operation force, a repulsion magnet is disposed at one of a coil side yoke, a first yoke, or a second yoke to generate a repulsive force to a first magnet or a second magnet so as to offset the resultant of a first attraction force of the first magnet to the coil side yoke or the first yoke and a second attraction force of the second magnet to the coil side yoke or the second yoke.

The contact device includes a main contact mechanism that includes a pair of main fixed contacts and a main movable contact elastically supported by a movable shaft and disposed to be contactable with and separable from the pair of main fixed contacts, an auxiliary contact mechanism that includes a pair of auxiliary fixed contacts and auxiliary movable contacts disposed in an auxiliary contact holding member connected to the movable shaft so as to be contactable with and separable from the pair of auxiliary fixed contacts, and a contact housing portion that houses the main contact mechanism and the auxiliary contact mechanism. The movable shaft has a main contact support portion supporting the main movable contact and an auxiliary contact support portion supporting the auxiliary contact holding member. The main contact support portion and the auxiliary contact support portion are connected to each other via the auxiliary contact holding member.

The contact device includes a main contact mechanism that includes a pair of main fixed contacts and a main movable contact elastically supported by a movable shaft and disposed to be contactable with and separable from the pair of main fixed contacts, an auxiliary contact mechanism that includes a pair of auxiliary fixed contacts and auxiliary movable contacts disposed in an auxiliary contact holding member connected to the movable shaft so as to be contactable with and separable from the pair of auxiliary fixed contacts, and a contact housing portion that houses the main contact mechanism and the auxiliary contact mechanism. The movable shaft has a main contact support portion supporting the main movable contact and an auxiliary contact support portion supporting the auxiliary contact holding member. The main contact support portion and the auxiliary contact support portion are connected to each other via the auxiliary contact holding member.

A movable member is configured to switch, by rotation, between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the movable member presses a plurality of first movable contact pieces to bring first contacts into contact with first substrate side contact points. When the movable member is in the second state, the first contacts are separated from the first substrate side contact points. A coil block includes a coil and causes the movable member to rotate by electromagnetic force generated by energization of the coil. A rotation axis of the movable member is parallel to an axis of the coil. The plurality of first substrate side contact points is arranged side by side in an axial direction of the coil on a first base substrate. The plurality of first movable contact pieces is arranged side by side in the axial direction.

A movable member is configured to switch, by rotation, between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the movable member presses a plurality of first movable contact pieces to bring first contacts into contact with first substrate side contact points. When the movable member is in the second state, the first contacts are separated from the first substrate side contact points. A coil block includes a coil and causes the movable member to rotate by electromagnetic force generated by energization of the coil. A rotation axis of the movable member is parallel to an axis of the coil. The plurality of first substrate side contact points is arranged side by side in an axial direction of the coil on a first base substrate. The plurality of first movable contact pieces is arranged side by side in the axial direction.

An electromagnetic device includes: a coil; a spool having a body, around which the coil is wound, and first and second guard portions provided at both ends of the body, the spool being provided with a through hole in the body, which is opened in the first and second guard portions; an iron core inserted in the through hole; and a yoke being in contact with the second guard portion and fixed with a coupler of the iron core which protrudes from a second-guard-portion-side opening. At least one movement regulator configured to regulate movement of the coil is provided in the body.