An electrical relay (2) includes an electromagnetic drive system for providing bi-directional drive. The electrical relay (2) includes a first a coil (212) and a second coil (213). A current is supplied to the coils (212) and (213) in opposite directions. The two coils (212) and (213) can be used to accelerate the armature in either direction in relation to the two contacts. This can be used to drive the armature to either one of the contacts and to accelerate and decelerate the armature during a single transit. In the latter regard, the armature can be accelerated and decelerated to shorten the transit time, reduce bounce, reduce wear on the contacts, and allow for different contact material options.

An electromagnetic relay includes a fixed contact holder, a moving contact holder, an electromagnetic device, and a magnet. The fixed contact holder extends in a predetermined direction and is provided with a fixed contact. The moving contact holder also extends in the predetermined direction, and is provided with a moving contact. The magnet is arranged perpendicularly to an opening/closing direction of the fixed contact and the moving contact. A stretch space in which an arc generated between the fixed contact and the moving contact is stretched is provided, in the predetermined direction, beyond respective tips of the fixed contact holder and the moving contact holder. The stretch space also faces a surface of the fixed contact holder and a surface of the moving contact holder.

An electromagnetic switch for a starting device of an internal combustion engine may include a coil carrier, a coil winding, and a piston. The coil carrier may have a carrier wall which encloses a cavity. The coil winding may have a coil wire wound on a side of the carrier wall facing away from the cavity which provides a magnetic field within the cavity. The piston may be axially adjustable in the cavity. The piston may be disposed in a passive position and may be adjusted axially in a direction of a core. In the passive position, the piston and the core may define an axial gap therebetween in the cavity. The coil wire may have a first winding section and a second winding section wound in opposing directions. At least one winding of the second winding section may axially overlap the axial gap.

An electromagnetic switch for a starting device of an internal combustion engine may include a coil carrier, a coil winding, and a piston. The coil carrier may have a carrier wall which encloses a cavity. The coil winding may have a coil wire wound on a side of the carrier wall facing away from the cavity which provides a magnetic field within the cavity. The piston may be axially adjustable in the cavity. The piston may be disposed in a passive position and may be adjusted axially in a direction of a core. In the passive position, the piston and the core may define an axial gap therebetween in the cavity. The coil wire may have a first winding section and a second winding section wound in opposing directions. At least one winding of the second winding section may axially overlap the axial gap.

An electromagnetic switch for a starting device of an internal combustion engine may include a coil carrier having a carrier wall enclosing a cavity, a coil winding, a piston, and a ferromagnetic bypass body. During operation, the coil winding may provide a magnetic field within the cavity. The piston may be disposed in a passive position and may be adjusted axially in a direction of a core. The coil winding may have a coil wire which may be wound around the carrier wall in a first winding direction and an opposing second winding direction. The ferromagnetic bypass body may surround the cavity and may be arranged radially between the cavity and the coil winding. In the passive position of the piston, the bypass body may axially overlap the axial gap. At least one winding of the second winding section may axially overlap the bypass body.

An electromagnetic switch for a starting device of an internal combustion engine may include a coil carrier having a carrier wall enclosing a cavity, a coil winding, a piston, and a ferromagnetic bypass body. During operation, the coil winding may provide a magnetic field within the cavity. The piston may be disposed in a passive position and may be adjusted axially in a direction of a core. The coil winding may have a coil wire which may be wound around the carrier wall in a first winding direction and an opposing second winding direction. The ferromagnetic bypass body may surround the cavity and may be arranged radially between the cavity and the coil winding. In the passive position of the piston, the bypass body may axially overlap the axial gap. At least one winding of the second winding section may axially overlap the bypass body.

An electromagnetic relay has a contact device and an electromagnet device. An electromagnetic relay has stators which are a pair of rod-like members, and a mover. The mover may face the side of the stator. A housing supports the stator and accommodates the mover. A yoke is fixed to the housing so as to face the movable facing surface and contains a soft magnetic material.

An electromagnetic device includes a coil, a fixed iron core, a movable iron core configured to reciprocate to separate from the fixed iron core by a predetermined gap when a current applied to the coil is stopped and move to the fixed iron core by an attractive force when the current is applied to the coil, and a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is arranged so that the permanent magnet is opposed to the gap in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction and separated from the fixed iron core and the movable iron core with a space interposed therebetween. A direction of a second magnetic flux generated by the permanent magnet conforms to a direction of the first magnetic flux between opposed surfaces of the fixed iron core and the movable iron core.

In an embodiment a switching device includes at least one fixed contact, a contact bridge and a upper yoke element in a switching chamber, wherein the upper yoke element is attached to the switching chamber, wherein the upper yoke element has a recess on a lower side facing the contact bridge, and wherein the contact bridge projects at least partially into the recess in an switched-on state of the switching device.

An electromagnetic relay includes an electromagnet unit, an armature supported so as to be pivotable relative to a yoke by a hinge spring, a contact including a first contact and a second contact, which can switch, in accordance with pivoting of the armature, between a closed contact state and an open contact state, an elastic member which elastically deforms in accordance with pivoting of the armature, and applies a contact force between the first contact and the second contact in the closed contact state, and a magnet which generates an attractive force for retaining the armature in an open contact position corresponding to the open contact state, wherein the armature is retained in the open contact position by a resultant force of a restoring force applied to the armature by the hinge springe, and the attractive force of the magnet.