Switch device and method for operating a switch device

A switch device for controlling an electrical energy flux from an energy source to a load, comprising:

• n phase conductor inputs for electrically connecting to the energy source;
• n phase conductor outputs for electrically connecting to the load;
• n phase conductor current paths which, within the switch device, electrically connect said n phase conductor inputs to said n phase conductor outputs in a bijective arrangement;
• n switching elements, wherein one of said n switching elements is respectively arranged in said n phase conductor current paths and enables a switching of a current flow in said phase conductor current paths;
• and
• n overvoltage limiting elements, each connected in parallel with one of said n switching elements, with one of said overvoltage limiting elements being respectively assigned to each said switching element;
• a control unit for actuating said switching elements;
• and
• short-circuiting switches connected for actuation by said control unit and are arranged such that, in a current-conducting state thereof, said short-circuiting switches connect said n phase conductor outputs electrically conductively a) to one another and/or b) to a ground conductor or a neutral conductor of the energy source.

A method for operating a switch device for controlling an electrical energy flux from an energy source to a load,

• wherein n phase conductor current paths, in each of which a parallel-connected arrangement of a switching element and an overvoltage limiting element is arranged, within the switch device, electrically connect n phase conductor inputs of the switch device, which inputs are appropriate for electrically connecting to the energy source, to n phase conductor outputs of the switch device, which outputs are appropriate for electrically connecting to the load, in a bijective arrangement,
• the method comprising the following steps:
• actuating the switching elements, causing the switching elements to assume a current-conducting state and to enable a current flow via the respective current path;
• interrupting the current flow in the current paths, wherein the switching elements are actuated to execute a switchover to a non-conducting circuit state thereof;
• and
• subsequent to the switchover of the switching elements to the non-conducting state, actuating short-circuiting switches of the switch device to execute a switchover to a current-conducting circuit state, wherein short-circuiting switches are arranged in the switch device such that, in the current-conducting circuit state thereof, the short-circuiting switches connect the n phase conductor outputs of the switch device electrically conductively a) to one another and/or b) to a ground conductor or a neutral conductor of the energy source.