Electrical contact assembly

An electrical contact assembly comprising:

• a pair of stationary contact arms arranged in a common plane, each having a terminal end portion and a tip end portion;
• a pair of stationary contacts, each disposed at the tip end portions of a respective stationary contact arm;
• a moveable contact arm arranged opposite said stationary contact arms in a second plane, said moveable contact arm having a tip end portion;
• a moveable bridge contact disposed at the tip end portion of said moveable contact arm and facing both of said stationary contacts, wherein upon actuation of said moveable contact arm a current path is closed between said stationary contact arms via said bridge contact;
• and
• a pair of arc runner strips, each extending from opposed lateral edges at the tip end portion of said moveable contact arm and each having a free end projecting toward a facing area of the respective opposing stationary contact arm.

An electromagnetic switch, comprising:

• a coil assembly having a magnetic core, a coil wound around the core, and a frame that holds the coil and core;
• a contact assembly having
• a) a pair of first contact arms arranged in a common plane, each having a terminal end portion and a tip end portion;
• b) a pair of first contacts, each disposed at the tip end portion of a respective first contact arm;
• c) a second contact arm arranged opposite said pair of first contact arms in a second plane, said second contact arm having a tip end portion;
• d) a bridge contact disposed at the tip end portion of said second contact arm and facing both of said first contacts, wherein one of said pair of first contact arms and said second contact arm is moveable and the other one is stationary and upon actuation of said moveable member a current path is closed between said first contact arms via said bridge contact;
• and
• e) a pair of arc runners, each extending from opposed lateral edges at the tip end portion of one of each first contact arm and said second contact arm and each having a free end projecting toward a facing area of the other one of said second contact arm and said first contact arms, respectively;
• and
• means for actuating the moveable contact member upon energization and de-energization of the coil.