A SWITCHING DEVICE

A switching device (1) for low or medium voltage electric power distribution networks, said switching device comprising one or more electric poles (2), each electric pole comprising:- an insulating housing (3) extending along a longitudinal axis (100) and fixed to a main support structure (1A) of said switching device;- a first pole terminal (16) and a second pole terminal (17) electrically connectable with a corresponding phase conductor (101A) of an electric power source (101) and with a corresponding load conductor (102A) of an electric load (102), respectively;- a movable contact (4) and a fixed contact (5), which are electrically coupleable or decoupleable one with or from another upon a movement of said movable contact towards or away from said fixed contact, said fixed contact being electrically connected with said first pole terminal, said movable contact being electrically connectable with said second pole terminal;- a movable circuit assembly (6) including a plurality of semiconductor devices (60) adapted to switch in a conduction state or in an interdiction state depending on the voltage applied thereto, said semiconductor devices being electrically connected in series one to another in such a way that a current (ILOAD) can flow according to a predefined conduction direction (CD) when said semiconductor devices are in a conduction state, said movable circuit assembly comprising first and second assembly terminals (61, 62) for said plurality of semiconductor devices (60).Said movable circuit assembly (6) is operatively coupled with said movable contact (4) and moves together with said movable contact during a movement of said movable contact towards or away from said fixed contact (5), said semiconductor devices switching in a conduction on state or in an interdiction state depending on the position (P1, P2, P3) of said movable contact.