SWITCHING DEVICE AND VOLTAGE LIMITING DEVICE COMPRISING A SWITCHING DEVICE

The invention relates to a switching device, in particular for a voltage limiting device, which has a first fixed switching contact (14) that is electrically connected to a first device connection (8), a second fixed switching contact (15) that is electrically connected to a second device connection (9), and a movable switching contact (16). Furthermore, the invention relates to a voltage limiting device that has such a switching device (5). The first and second fixed switching contacts (14, 15) of the switching device are arranged side by side in such a manner that their contact surfaces (14A, 15A) point in the same direction. The movable switching contact (16) can be moved between a closed position, in which the first and second fixed switching contacts (14, 15) are electrically connected to one another, and an open position, in which the first and second fixed switching contacts (14, 15) are separated from one another. The first and second fixed switching contacts (14, 15) and the movable switching contact (16) form an arrangement of electrical conductors that are arranged substantially parallel to one another. At least one of the fixed switching contacts (14, 15) has an elongated contact surface that extends in the current flow direction (A). On the fixed conductors (14, 15) and the movable conductor (16) act electrodynamic forces that are directed in such a manner that the conductors attract one another, that is, the switching contacts tend to close.