Relay equipped with on/off contact detection mechanism

Abstract

This is to provide a high-capacity relay equipped with an ON/OFF contact detection mechanism that detects “ON/OFF” (opened or closed) state of the relay for safety requirements, which eliminates time lag of the contact detection and has small restrictions in terms of space and installation structure for equipping the contact detection mechanism. In one embodiment, the relay comprises: (1) a plunger actuator that actuates a plunger shaft so as to switch its axial position; (2) an ON/OFF contact section that accommodates an ON/OFF actuating-end portion of the plunger shaft and comprises a movable contact, which is connected to the ON/OFF actuating-end portion in a manner not to be displaced in axial direction, and a stationary contact, to and from which the movable contact is contacted and separated; and (3) an ON/OFF contact detector that accommodates another end portion of the plunger shaft, performs ON/OFF action in response to switching of axial position of the plunger shaft, and output a signal of the ON/OFF action.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.