Abstract: An actuator comprising: a fixed part comprising a ferromagnetic yoke and a magnetized assembly mounted on a face of the yoke and extending substantially over the whole dimension of said face parallel to the axis of movement of a moving part, the moving part comprising a ferromagnetic element comprising a first air-gap surface to form a magnetic air-gap of variable thickness and a second air-gap surface parallel to the axis of movement to form a residual magnetic air-gap of constant thickness with a corresponding air-gap surface of the magnetized assembly. an excitation coil. An electric switch apparatus equipped with the actuator.

Abstract: An electronic control device for a switch unit, which includes an electromagnetic actuator having a control coil powered by an excitation current for closing a power electrical circuit. The electronic control device includes a storage unit for storing at least one coil control profile which contains a plurality of values representative of the excitation current as a function of respective points of time. A drive unit is connected to the storage unit, and receives at its input an external close command and controls at its output the excitation current at respective points of time from the receipt of the external close command to follow the plurality of excitation current values of said control profile during the closing of the power circuit. The drive unit operates in open loop mode, without using information relating to the switch unit that includes at least a measurement of an excitation current at the control coil.

Abstract: An actuator comprising: a fixed part comprising a ferromagnetic yoke and a magnetized assembly mounted on a face of the yoke and extending substantially over the whole dimension of said face parallel to the axis of movement of a moving part, the moving part comprising a ferromagnetic element comprising a first air-gap surface to form a magnetic air-gap of variable thickness and a second air-gap surface parallel to the axis of movement to form a residual magnetic air-gap of constant thickness with a corresponding air-gap surface of the magnetized assembly. an excitation coil. An electric switch apparatus equipped with the actuator.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic control device for a switch unit (10), which comprises an electromagnetic actuator having a control coil (15) powered by an excitation current (26) for closing a power electrical circuit. The control device (20) comprises a unit (22) for storing at least one control profile giving a plurality of values of the excitation current varying as a function of time, and a drive unit (21) receiving at its input an external close command (25) and delivering at its output the said excitation current (26) following the said control profile during the closing of the power circuit.