Switching device and switch-off method for operating a switching device

1. A switching device, comprising:

a first conventional switching point, a second conventional switching point and a non-conventional switching point together forming a series circuit;

said series circuit configured to intentionally ignite an arc in at least one of the conventional switching points when the conventional switching points are switched off; and

said non-conventional switching point being a thyristor.

2. The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein said non-conventional switching point is located in said series circuit between said first conventional switching point and said second conventional switching point.

3. The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein:

said first conventional switching point and said second conventional switching point are part of a plurality of conventional switching points connected in series; and

said non-conventional switching point divides said plurality of conventional switching points into approximately equal groups of conventional switching points.

4. The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said conventional switching points includes a vacuum switching chamber.

5. A switch-off method for operating a switching device, the method comprising the following steps:

providing the switching device with a first conventional switching point, a second conventional switching point and a non-conventional switching point connected together in a series circuit;

initially switching-off the conventional switching points;

intentionally igniting an arc in at least one of the conventional switching points when the conventional switching points are switched off; and

subsequently switching-off the non-conventional switching point.

6. The switch-off method according to claim 5 , which further comprises maintaining a potential isolation by the non-conventional switching point until the conventional switching points have settled.

7. The switch-off method according to claim 5 , which further comprises extinguishing an arc burning in a conventional switching point by the non-conventional switching point.

8. The switch-off method according to claim 5 , wherein the conventional switching points receive a switch-off impulse simultaneously.

9. The switch-off method according to claim 5 , which further comprises providing the non-conventional switching point as a thyristor.

10. The switch-off method according to claim 5 , wherein the step of intentionally igniting an arc in at least one of the conventional switching points when the conventional switching points are switched off includes intentionally igniting an arc simultaneously in the first conventional switching point and the second conventional switching point when the conventional switching points are switched off.

11. A switching device, comprising:

a first conventional switching point, a second conventional switching point and a single thyristor connected between said first conventional switching point and said second conventional switching point, together forming a series circuit;

said series circuit configured to intentionally ignite an arc in at least one of the conventional switching points when the conventional switching points are switched off.

12. The switching device of claim 11 , wherein said series circuit is configured to intentionally ignite an arc in both said first conventional switching point and said second conventional switching point before switching off said single thyristor.

13. A switch-off method for operating a switching device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a switching device according to claim 1 ;

initially switching-off the conventional switching points;

intentionally igniting an arc in at least one of the conventional switching points when the conventional switching points are switched off; and

subsequently switching-off the single thyristor.