SWITCHING DEVICE SUITABLE FOR DIRECT-CURRENT OPERATION

A switching device having a housing; a first and second contact, at least one of the contacts movable, both in contact when switched-on and not in contact when switched-off; an arc driver assembly producing a magnetic field at least in the area of the contact pair; a first arc conducting assembly which produces an arc between the contacts in a first current direction conducted to a first quenching apparatus for quenching the arc; and a second arc conducting assembly which produces an arc between the contacts with a second current direction opposite the first current direction conducted to a second quenching apparatus, the two arc conducting assemblies each comprising at least two conducting plates, of which at least a first is immovably in the housing and a second is connected at least partially rigidly to a bridge assembly and is movably arranged in the housing.