Solenoid switches

A solenoid switch comprising a body, a solenoid coil carried by the body, a fixed electrical contact carried by the body, a solenoid armature movable relative to the coil, a movable electrical contact carried by said armature, and movable therewith in response to energisation of said coil, in a direction to engage said fixed contact, resilient means carried by said armature, and acting on said movable contact to urge said movable contact to a rest position relative to said armature, a sleeve slidably receiving said armature, said sleeve being movable relative to said coil with said armature, said sleeve being coupled to said armature by way of said resilient means for movement with the armature in the contact engagement direction, and, a delay unit operatively associated with said sleeve, said delay unit slowing movement of said sleeve in the contact engaging direction, whereby, when said coil is energised, said sleeve and said armature move against the action of the delay unit in the contact engaging direction, and are slowed in their movement by the delay unit, whereas when said movable contact engages said fixed contact said armature moves relative to said sleeve and said movable contact against the action of said resilient means thereby rapidly increasing the contact pressure between said movable contact and said fixed contact.