Abstract text

An electromagnetic relay includes a housing having an accommodating space therein, a magnet coil in the accommodating space to generate electromagnetic force when energized, a moving contact disposed in the accommodating space and driven by the coil, a fixed contact in the accommodating space, the moving contact engaged with or disengaged from the fixed contact as a result of whether the moving contact is driven or not, a breathing hole formed in the housing to communicate between the accommodating space and an exterior space of the housing, and a flame propagation route along which a flame of flammable gas ignited by arc generated between the moving contact and the fixed contact propagates toward the breathing hole. The route includes a flame extinguishment clearance that is set to have such a gap size that the flame is extinguished when passing through the clearance.