Patent ID: 8390408

Claim:
An electromagnetic switch, comprising: switch contacts connected in an electrical circuit, said electrical circuit configured to supply current to an electrical load when said switch contacts are in a closed state, and a solenoid comprising a coil and a plunger, said plunger configured to be drawn along an axial direction into said coil by a magnetic force produced by passing a current through said coil, said switch contacts comprising a movable contact, a first stationary contact and a second stationary contact, said movable contact configured to be axially displaced by said plunger when said current magnetic force is produced, from a first axial position wherein said movable contact is separated from each of said first stationary contacts to a second axial position wherein said movable contact is held in contact with each of said stationary contacts to thereby establish said closed state, wherein: said electromagnetic switch comprises one or more contact displacement limiting members having electrical insulation properties, each of said contact displacement limiting members disposed directly opposite a contact-opposite side face of one of said stationary contacts, said contact-opposite face being located on an opposite side of said stationary contact from a contact face thereof, and said contact face being contacted by said movable contact when said closed condition is established, said contact displacement limiting members serve to limit an extent of said axial-direction displacement of said movable contact, under a condition whereby a degree of wear of at least one of said stationary contacts has caused axial-direction end faces of said contact displacement limiting members to become exposed to said movable contact, said axial-direction end faces of said contact displacement limiting members are disposed in contact with said contact-opposite side faces of said stationary contact, and said contact-opposite side faces are formed with recesses configured to accommodate respective ones of said axial-direction end faces of said contact displacement limiting members.