Switching device

Abstract

A switching device for low or medium voltage electric power distribution networks, the switching device comprising: at least an electric pole comprising a movable contact and a fixed contact, which are coupleable/decoupleable one to another; a circuit assembly, which comprises a chain of semiconductor devices adapted to switch in an ON state or in an OFF state depending on the voltage applied thereto, the semiconductor devices being electrically connected in series one to another in such a way that a current can flow according to a predefined conduction direction (CD) when the semiconductor devices are in an ON state. The circuit assembly comprises an input terminal, an output terminal and at least an intermediate terminal electrically connected with at least an intermediate electric node positioned between two subsequent semiconductor devices. The input terminal is electrically connected with the fixed contact: the input terminal, the output terminal and the at least an intermediate terminal are electrically coupleable/decoupleable with/from the movable contact when the movable contact reaches different positions during a movement towards/away from the fixed contact in such a way that different groups of semiconductor devices switch in an ON state or in an OFF state at different instants during the movement of the movable contact, depending on the position reached by the movable contact.