Switching device

A switching device comprising:

• an electrode housing having an opening;
• a first electrode provided inside the electrode housing;
• and
• a second electrode to fit in the opening of the electrode housing in an insertable and detachable manner such that the second electrode comes into and out of contact with the first electrode inside the electrode housing, wherein
• the electrode housing includes an arc extinguishing member to generate an ablation gas through an arc generated between the first electrode and the second electrode,
• until the first electrode and the second electrode become separated by a certain distance out of contact with each other, a gas including the ablation gas is retained in an enclosed space defined by the first electrode, the second electrode, and the electrode housing,
• when a distance by which the first electrode and the second electrode are separated from each other exceeds the certain distance, the gas in the enclosed space is discharged through a gap defined between the opening and the second electrode moving away from the opening located outside the second electrode, such that the gas is blown onto the arc, and
• the gas in the enclosed space is discharged through the gap between the opening and the second electrode in a direction intersecting an arc generated between the first electrode and the second electrode.