The invention is about a bi-stable relay consisting of a supporting structure carrying at least one set of electrical contacts, a U-shaped magnetic core being fixed to the supporting structure, electrical winding around the said core, and an armature provided with means to pivot around a rotation axis and where the said armature comprises a frame supporting two springs, at least one contact bridge, one or more permanent magnets, and two flux guides characterized in that

- the flux guides are symmetrically or almost symmetrically arranged with respect to the rotation axis

- the flux guides and the magnetic core feature a planar layout

- the major plane of the flux guides is positioned perpendicular to the major plane of the magnetic core

- the flux guides and the magnetic core are made from one or more laminations being stacked together

- the center of mass of the frame is approximately located on the rotation axis.

A problem is to achieve a reduction in size of a latching relay by enabling a use of a small electromagnet.

A latching relay includes a substantially U-shaped fixed iron core, around an intermediate portion of which an exciting coil is wound, having a magnetic pole piece at each end; movable iron pieces which sandwich a permanent magnet in a central portion between two bar-like iron pieces spaced apart from and disposed in parallel with each other, and are integrally held and fixed by a holder made from an insulating resin; and a switchable electrical contact portion, wherein the fixed iron core and movable iron pieces are disposed opposite each other so that the magnetic pole pieces, one on each side of the fixed iron core, are inserted in a space between the two bar-like iron pieces so as to be spaced apart from corresponding end portions of the magnetic pole pieces, the movable iron pieces are supported so as to be pivotable in a direction in which the two bar-like iron pieces are aligned, the movable iron pieces are linked to the electrical contact portion, and thus, a switching of the electrical contact portion is carried out by the movable iron pieces.

A contactor comprising: a stationary casing (12, 14, 16) bearing at least two fixed contacts (162), at least one mobile contact (144) co-operating with the fixed contacts (162), and at least one electromagnetic control device (142) coupled to a respective mobile contact (144), and wherein said electromagnetic control device (142) is configured for pushing the mobile contact (162) selectively into an operative first position or into an operative second position, and mechanical means (242-254) designed to interrupt the electrical connection between the fixed contacts (162).

In particular, when the mobile contact (144) is in the operative first position, the mobile contact (144) and the fixed contacts (162) are connected electrically, and when the mobile contact (144) is in the operative second position, the mobile contact (144) and the fixed contacts (162) are disconnected.

The contactor further comprises a sensor (1468) for detecting actuation of the mechanical means (24, 242-254) before these interrupt the electrical connection between the fixed contacts (162), and a control device (1462, 1466, 1470) configured for driving the electromagnetic control device (142) in such a way that the mobile contact (144) is pushed into the operative second position when the sensor (1468) indicates that the mechanical means (24, 242-254) have been operated.

Bei einer bistabilen magnetischen Anordnung, die ein erstes und ein zweites magnetisches Glied enthält, von denen eines gegen das andere und/oder gegen ein ortsfestes Montage- bzw. Gehäuseteil beweglich gelagert ist, wobei die Bewegung für die Betätigung einer mechanischen oder elektrischen Schaltvorrichtung unter dem Einfluß eines veränderbaren Magnetfeldes herbeiführbar ist, besteht das erste magnetische Glied aus einer Spule (5) mit einem permanent-magnetischen Kern (3), die an eine Stromquelle umschaltbarer Polarität anschließbar ist, das zweite aus einem Permanentmagnetstück oder einem Paar (13, 14) davon, wobei dessen (deren) Koerzitiv-Feldstärke größer ist als diejenige des Werkstoffs des Spulenkerns und die Polfläche(n) parallel zu Polfläche(n) (16,17) des Spulenkerns und ihr (ihnen) gegenüber liegt (liegen), die Magnetachsen also praktisch identisch sind. Ein Führungsstück bzw. ein Halte- und/oder Verbindungsstück (6) sowie ein Betätigungsteil (21) für die Schaltvorrichtung, dem ersten und/oder dem zweiten Glied zugeordnet, sind aus nichtmagnetischem Werkstoff, z.B. Kunststoff, gefertigt.