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.

Provided is a relay having a relatively small dimension in an alignment direction of contacts, having an easily assembled structure, and capable of extinguishing arcs generated at each contact. The relay comprises: a first terminal having a pair of first contacts; a second terminal having a pair of second contacts which are opposed to the pair of first contacts so as to contact and separate from the respective first contacts; and a first magnet positioned on a side opposed to the pair of first contacts of the first terminal and between the pair of first contacts so that the first magnet does not contact the first terminal, wherein the first magnet is magnetized in a direction along which the pair of first contacts and the pair of second contacts are opposed.

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.

A power contactor having an electromagnetic driving unit, a rotating armature, and a reset element. The rotating armature is switched by the electromagnetic driving unit between an open position and a closed position. The reset element exerts a reset force onto the rotating armature when in the closed position.

An electromagnetic relay including: an electromagnet; a movable spring having a movable contact; a first terminal to which one end of the movable spring is connected; a second terminal having a fixed contact opposite to the movable contact; an actuator that rotates by excitation of the electromagnet, rotates the movable spring, and causes the movable contact to come in contact with the fixed contact or to separate from the fixed contact; a nonmagnetic card to be attached to the actuator; a plurality of magnetic members that sandwich the movable contact and the fixed contact, and apply a magnetic flux to the movable contact and the fixed contact to extend an arc; and a permanent magnet attached between the magnetic members.

At the time of contact between the contacts, the first movable contact comes into contact with the first fixed contact before contact between the second movable contact and the second fixed contact is made. The first movable contact is located on a leading end side of the contact piece with respect to the second movable contact. The first divided piece includes a body and a projection. The body extends in the lengthwise direction. The projection projects in the widthwise direction of the first divided piece from the body. The projection includes a contact portion pressed by the link member.

A relay includes a movable block, a base substrate, and a coil block. The movable block is provided rotatably around a rotational axis of the movable block. The movable block includes a plurality of sliders. The base substrate is disposed opposite the movable block in the rotational axis direction of the movable block, and contacts the sliders. The base substrate includes a plurality of contactors that come into contact with the sliders. The coil block includes a coil that generates electromagnetic force by electric conduction to rotate the movable block with respect to the base substrate. As the movable block rotates, continuity is switched between the sliders and the contactors.

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

At the time of contact between the contacts, the first movable contact comes into contact with the first fixed contact before contact between the second movable contact and the second fixed contact is made. The first movable contact is located on a leading end side of the contact piece with respect to the second movable contact. The first divided piece includes a body and a projection. The body extends in the lengthwise direction. The projection projects in the widthwise direction of the first divided piece from the body. The projection includes a contact portion pressed by the link member.

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.