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 connecting structure between lead-out pins of auxiliary stationary contacts and a yoke plate of a DC relay, includes a yoke plate and a plurality of auxiliary stationary contact lead-out terminal assemblies mounted on the yoke plate; each auxiliary stationary contact lead-out terminal assembly includes a lead-out pins, a glass material body and a kovar alloy part; the lead-out terminal, the glass material body and the kovar alloy part are connected into a whole by sintering, and the lead-out terminal and the kovar alloy part are insulated from each other by glass material; the auxiliary stationary contact lead-out terminal assembly is welded and fixed to the yoke plate through the kovar alloy part.

A contactor includes a pair of fixed contacts, a movable contact element configured to contact the pair of fixed contacts and to be separated from the pair of fixed contacts, a movable shaft configured to move in an axial direction as to cause the movable contact element to contact the pair of fixed contacts and to be separated from the pair of fixed contacts, and a partition-wall component disposed opposite to the pair of fixed contacts with respect to the movable contact element. The first partition-wall component includes a partition wall provided around the movable shaft. The first partition wall is configured to move synchronously with at least one of the movable contact element and the movable shaft.

A contactor includes a pair of fixed contacts, a movable contact element configured to contact the pair of fixed contacts and to be separated from the pair of fixed contacts, a movable shaft configured to move in an axial direction as to cause the movable contact element to contact the pair of fixed contacts and to be separated from the pair of fixed contacts, and a partition-wall component disposed opposite to the pair of fixed contacts with respect to the movable contact element. The first partition-wall component includes a partition wall provided around the movable shaft. The first partition wall is configured to move synchronously with at least one of the movable contact element and the movable shaft.

An electromagnetic relay includes a fixed contact, a movable contact corresponding to the fixed contact, a movable element that retains the movable contact and moves in a contacting direction and a separating direction relative to the fixed contact, an axial core coupled to the movable element, a movable core coupled to the axial core to move in the contacting direction and the separating direction relative to a movement of the axial core, a driving part that drives the movable core in the contacting direction, an urging part that exerts force to the axial core in the separating direction, and a constraining part that constrains the relative movement of the axial core in the separating direction.

An electromagnetic relay includes a fixed contact, a movable contact corresponding to the fixed contact, a movable element that retains the movable contact and moves in a contacting direction and a separating direction relative to the fixed contact, an axial core coupled to the movable element, a movable core coupled to the axial core to move in the contacting direction and the separating direction relative to a movement of the axial core, a driving part that drives the movable core in the contacting direction, an urging part that exerts force to the axial core in the separating direction, and a constraining part that constrains the relative movement of the axial core in the separating direction.

A method for determining the operating status of a MV switching device (1), which comprises one or more electric poles, each comprising a movable contact and a fixed, contact adapted to be coupled or uncoupled during the switching operations of said switching device, and an electromagnetic actuator comprising a magnetic core, a test coil wound around said magnetic core and a movable plunger operatively coupled to the movable contact of each electric pole. The method comprises: providing a test signal (ST) to said test coil for an observation period of time (T.sub.O), said test signal having a waveform adapted to excite said magnetic core; obtaining measuring data (V.sub.M, I.sub.M) indicative of the voltage at the terminals of said test coil and of the current circulating along said test coil during said observation period of time; calculating observation data (R.sub.N, I.sub.M) indicative of the electric behaviour of said test coil at the end of said observation period of time on the base of said measuring data; selecting at least a transformation function (F.sub.1, F.sub.2) indicative of the electromagnetic behaviour of said electromagnetic actuator; and calculating first estimation data (P, T) indicative of the operating status of said electromagnetic actuator on the base of said observation data (R.sub.N, L.sub.N) by using said transformation function, said first estimation data comprising, a first estimation value (P) indicative of the position of the movable plunger of said electromagnetic actuator.

A method for determining the operating status of a MV switching device (1), which comprises one or more electric poles, each comprising a movable contact and a fixed, contact adapted to be coupled or uncoupled during the switching operations of said switching device, and an electromagnetic actuator comprising a magnetic core, a test coil wound around said magnetic core and a movable plunger operatively coupled to the movable contact of each electric pole. The method comprises: providing a test signal (ST) to said test coil for an observation period of time (T.sub.O), said test signal having a waveform adapted to excite said magnetic core; obtaining measuring data (V.sub.M, I.sub.M) indicative of the voltage at the terminals of said test coil and of the current circulating along said test coil during said observation period of time; calculating observation data (R.sub.N, I.sub.M) indicative of the electric behaviour of said test coil at the end of said observation period of time on the base of said measuring data; selecting at least a transformation function (F.sub.1, F.sub.2) indicative of the electromagnetic behaviour of said electromagnetic actuator; and calculating first estimation data (P, T) indicative of the operating status of said electromagnetic actuator on the base of said observation data (R.sub.N, L.sub.N) by using said transformation function, said first estimation data comprising, a first estimation value (P) indicative of the position of the movable plunger of said electromagnetic actuator.

An electromagnetic relay includes a contactor including a fixed contact and a movable contact, and an electromagnet device for moving the movable contact. The electromagnet device includes a coil generating a first magnetic flux by energization, a tubular body including a permanent magnet generating a second magnetic flux in a direction identical to a direction of the first magnetic flux and having a hollow extending in a center axis direction, a movable element disposed in the hollow of the tubular body and reciprocating in the center axis direction, and a yoke forming a magnetic circuit passing together with the movable element and the tubular body. The magnetic circuit allows at least one of the first and second magnetic fluxes to pass through the magnetic circuit. The electromagnet device is configured to, when the coil is energized, move the movable contact to a first position by attracting the movable element with the first magnetic flux and the second magnetic flux. The electromagnet device is configured to, when energization of the coil is suspended, move the movable contact to a second position different from the first position. This electromagnetic relay is easily designed and reduces power consumption at a low cost.