Electromagnetic switching device

An electromagnetic switchgear unit, comprising:

• two fixed contact elements;
• two fixed contacts individually fastened on the two fixed contact elements;
• a movable contact element including two movable contacts, the two movable contacts being brought into and out of a connection with the two fixed contacts;
• a contact compression spring acting upon the moveable contact element;
• a first electromagnetic drive arrangement including a first armature and a coil, the first electromagnetic drive arrangement providing a rapid circuit breaking and being connected in series with one of the two fixed contact elements;
• a second electromagnetic drive arrangement including a second armature, the second electromagnetic drive arrangement switching a load current on and off;
• a contact bridge carrier having a longitudinal axis, the movable contact element being held on the contact bridge carrier by the contact compression spring, the contact bridge carrier being displaceable in the longitudinal axis relative to the second armature;
• and
• a second compression spring acting on the contact bridge carrier, a motion of the second armature being transmitted, via the second compression spring to the contact bridge carrier for contact opening, wherein when the first electromagnetic drive arrangement responds, a motion of the first armature is transferred to the contact bridge carrier so that the contact compression spring is compressed, in a first phase, to increase a contact pressure, and energy stored in the second compression spring is used to press the contact bridge carrier, in a second phase, into a direction which causes the contact opening.