US Patent 7432465 Switching device with a disconnection and/or grounding function

A switching device configurable as a grounding device, a disconnecting device, and a combined disconnecting/grounding device is disclosed. The switching device includes an encapsulating housing, a stationary grounding contact fixed to the housing, a stationary disconnector contact fixed to a first conductor, and a moveable contact that is movable along an axis and engagable with the grounding contact and the disconnector contact. A conductor tube is fixed to a second conductor and accommodates the moveable contact. A drive for driving the moveable contact has a retaining element that is movable along the axis and is guided in the conductor tube. The retaining element accommodates two contact tubes. A first contact tube forms a mating contact of a grounding device containing the stationary grounding contact. A second contact tube forms a mating contact of a disconnector containing the disconnector contact.