Patent ID: 7812696

Claim:
A method for safe operation of a switching device including at least one connectable/disconnectable main contact, a moving contact link, at least one control magnet with a moving armature to act on the contact link during connection and disconnection to close and open the corresponding main contact, and a first switching contact including an ON state and an OFF state corresponding to a closed position and an open position of the armature, the method comprising: producing an electrical drive signal via a second switching contact to initiate a contact breaking-open device, connected in series with the first switching contact and the second switching contact, on at least one of connection and disconnection of the at least one control magnet, the second switching contact not turning on during normal operation of the first switching device; and initiating the contact breaking-open device during faulty operation of the switching device upon the first switching contact remaining in the ON state on connection or disconnection of the control magnet, the first switching contact and the second switching contact passing on the drive signal to initiate the contact breaking-open device.