Switching device with a disconnection and/or grounding function

A switching device configurable to have disconnection and grounding functions, comprising:

• an encapsulating housing filled with insulating gas;
• a stationary grounding contact fixed to the housing;
• a stationary disconnector contact fixed to a first current conductor, to which a high voltage is applicable;
• a moveable contact element movable along an axis and engagable with at least one of the grounding contact and the disconnector contact;
• a conductor tube fixed to a second current conductor, to which a high voltage is applicable, said conductor tube accommodating the moveable contact element so as to form a current transfer point;
• and
• a drive, which is guided through the housing and drives the moveable contact element with force, wherein:
• a) the drive has a retaining element movable along the axis and is guided in the conductor tube, and
• b) the retaining element accommodates two contact tubes, of which a first contact tube forms a mating contact of a grounding device containing the stationary grounding contact, and a second contact tube forms a mating contact of a disconnector containing the disconnector contact,
• and wherein the switching device is configurable as purely a grounding device, purely a disconnecting device, and a combined disconnecting/grounding device,
• a) said switching device being configured as the grounding device when the contact element contains only the first contact tube,
• b) said switching device being configured as the disconnecting device when the contact element contains only the second contact tube, and
• c) said switching device being configured as the disconnecting/grounding device when the contact element contains the first contact tube and the second contact tube.