Method and device for operating a switching device

A device for operating a switching device using at least one electromagnetic drive, the device comprising:

• an excitation coil wound on a coil form within an internal yoke, the excitation coil and the coil form forming a cylindrical opening therein, wherein a portion of the internal yoke extends into the cylindrical opening formed by the excitation coil and the coil form;
• a displaceable armature for opening and closing a main contact of the switching device, the displaceable armature being moveable within the cylindrical opening the armature including a cylindrical pin within the cylindrical opening, the cylindrical pin being connected to a contact bridge;
• an identifying device that identifies a magnetic flux modification in the cylindrical opening when the contact bridge moves between a first position, when a main contact is deactivated, and a second position, when the main contact is activated;
• and
• a restricting device that restricts a solenoid current of the electromagnetic drive to a certain current value in the second position, when the magnetic flux modification exceeds a threshold value
• wherein an error message is output if, after the expiry of a period of time after switching on the solenoid current, a magnetic flux modification is not identified in the electromagnetic drive of the switching device.

A device for operating a switching device using at least one electromagnetic drive, which has a displaceable armature for opening and closing a main contact of the switching device, comprising:

• an excitation coil wound on a coil form, the excitation coil and the coil form forming a cylindrical opening therein;
• an internal yoke within which the excitation coil and the coil formed are arranged, a portion of the internal yoke extending into the cylindrical forming an internal pole therein;
• a cylindrical pin within the cylindrical opening, the cylindrical pin being connected to a contact bridge;
• an identifying device that identifies a magnetic flux modification in the cylindrical opening when the electromagnetic drive moves between a first position, when a main contact is deactivated, and a second position, when the main contact is activated;
• and
• a restricting device that restricts a solenoid current of the electromagnetic drive to a certain current value in the second position, if the at least one device identifies that the magnetic flux modification exceeds a threshold value
• wherein an error message is output if, after the expiry of a period of time after switching on the solenoid current, a magnetic flux modification is not identified in the electromagnetic drive of the switching device.