Patent ID: 9659722
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: H01H

Claim:
1. A switching device for connecting and disconnecting a power line to and from, respectively, at least an associated electrical load, comprising: at least one phase of the switching device having a housing that includes a movable contact configured to be coupled to and separated from a corresponding fixed contact, wherein the at least one phase of the switching device comprises: an electrically semiconducting assembly having an insulating support operatively associated with a plurality of semiconductor devices, wherein said plurality of semiconductor devices are connected in series and are electrically connected to said fixed contact and to said movable contact during a portion of the movement of said movable contact, and wherein said semiconducting assembly is configured to be installed into said housing such that said plurality of said semiconductor devices completely surround all sides of at least a portion of at least one of said fixed contact and said movable contact when coupled to the fixed contact.