Switching device and switching arrangement

A switching device, comprising:

• a first fixed contact;
• a second fixed contact;
• a contact bridge;
• a first movable contact and a second movable contact that are arranged at the contact bridge;
• a first terminal contact on which the first fixed contact is mounted;
• and
• a second terminal contact on which the second fixed contact is mounted,
• wherein the first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in a switched-on state of the switching device,
• wherein the first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is free of contact with the second movable contact in a switched-off state of the switching device,
• wherein a path of a load current that flows through the contact bridge between the first movable contact and the second movable contact in the switched-on state extends in a first plane,
• wherein a movement of the contact bridge between the switched-on state and the switched-off state has a direction that is perpendicular to the first plane,
• wherein a main body of the contact bridge is, in the first plane, S-shaped, zig-zag shaped, Z-shaped, C-shaped, made of two connected semicircles along the first plane, or shaped with two curves in opposite directions along the first plane,
• wherein the path of the load current that flows through the contact bridge between the first movable contact and the second movable contact in the switched-on state has at least one path in the first plane comprising an S-shaped path, a zig-zag path, a Z-shaped path, a C-shape, a path comprising two connected semicircles along the first plane, or a path twice curved in opposite directions along the first plane,
• wherein a main direction of the first terminal contact is parallel to a main direction of the second terminal contact,
• wherein a straight line running between the first movable contact and the second movable contact is across the main direction of the first terminal contact, and
• wherein the load current, which flows through the first terminal contact, flows through a first arc, which is generated between the first fixed contact and the first movable contact at a transition between the switched-on state and the switched-off state of the switching device, flows through a first outer part of the contact bridge, and flows towards at least one of a first pair of arc runners associated with the first part of the contact bridge, has a U-form.

A switching device, comprising:

• a first fixed contact;
• a second fixed contact;
• a contact bridge;
• a first movable contact and a second movable contact that are arranged at the contact bridge;
• a first terminal contact on which the first fixed contact is mounted;
• and
• a second terminal contact on which the second fixed contact is mounted,
• wherein the first fixed contact is configured to be in contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is configured to be in contact with the second movable contact in a switched-on state of the switching device,
• wherein the first fixed contact is configured to be free of contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is configured to be free of contact with the second movable contact in a switched-off state of the switching device,
• wherein the contact bridge comprises a main body that is configured to provide a path for a load current that flows through the contact bridge between the first movable contact and the second movable contact in the switched-on state, the path and the contact bridge extending laterally and longitudinally in a first plane,
• wherein the contact bridge is configured to move between the switched-on state and the switched-off state in a movement direction that is perpendicular to the first plane,
• wherein the main body comprises a first extent that extends, in the first plane, away at least partially in a first direction from a first portion of the main body to a second portion of the main body, a second extent that extends, in the first plane, away at least partially in a second direction from the second portion to a third portion of the main body, the second direction being opposite to the first direction, and a third extent that extends, in the first plane, away at least partially in the first direction from the third portion to a fourth portion of the main body, and
• wherein the first movable contact is arranged on the first portion of the main body, the second moveable contact is arranged on the fourth portion of the main body, and the first portion is, in the first plane, laterally and longitudinally spaced apart from the fourth portion.