TITLE: Electrical switching device and vehicle comprising such a device

The present invention relates to an electrical switching device, as well as a vehicle comprising such an electrical switching device.

Frequently used electrical switching devices comprise two electrical contacts movable relative to each other as well as an actuator configured to move one or the other of the two electrical contacts to open or close an electrical circuit comprising these two contacts. The actuator is generally controlled by a control module which determines the relevance of opening or closing this circuit, for example on a command from a user or further to the occurrence of an electrical fault detected by the control module. control or by a separate module.

The control modules and the actuators are likely, during their operation, to generate heat. In addition, the operation of the electronic components that compose them is affected by the ambient temperature, so that many electrical switching devices are cooled, for example via openings provided in the housing surrounding the electrical switching device, or even by the choice of a positioning of the device in a location naturally crossed by air currents. For example, in vehicles, the air flows generated during movement of the vehicle make it possible to evacuate part of the heat. In some cases, the switching devices are positioned in air-conditioned compartments, for example compartments accommodating travelers.

However, these known cooling methods impose constraints on the positioning or the insulation, in particular electrical, of the switching devices. For example, it is necessary to provide ducts directing the cooling air onto the portions to be cooled of the switching device. Furthermore, the known cooling methods are not always sufficient, in particular when the flow of outside air generated during movement of the vehicle is at a high temperature, for example in hot countries or in summer.

There is therefore a need for an electrical switching device which is more adaptable, in particular in terms of positioning in a vehicle, than the switching devices of the state of the art, while exhibiting good performance.

To this end, an electrical switching device is proposed, in particular for a railway vehicle, comprising a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact movable relative to the first contact, an actuator and a control module suitable for controlling movement of the second contact by the actuator between a first position in which the first and second contacts are electrically connected to each other and a second position in which the first and second contacts are electrically disconnected from each other, the device switching device further comprising a thermoelectric module and a heat sink, the thermoelectric module being interposed between the heat sink and the control module and being configured to generate a heat flow,preferably by Peltier effect, from the control module to the heat sink.

According to particular embodiments, the electrical switching device has one or more of the following characteristics taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations:

- the heat sink forms a casing delimiting an interior volume, the actuator, the control module and the thermoelectric module being received in the interior volume;

- the control module and the thermoelectric module are mounted on an internal wall of the casing;

- the control module comprises a printed circuit board, the thermoelectric module resting jointly against the printed circuit board and against the heat sink;

- the printed circuit board has a first face and a second face, the first face carrying a set of electronic components, the second face carrying a set of conductive tracks connecting the electronic components together, the thermoelectric module being in contact with the second opposite;

- the thermoelectric module comprises a thermoelectric element having a hot face and a cold face, the thermoelectric element being configured to generate the thermal flux from the cold face towards the hot face, the thermoelectric module further comprising a first thermal plate and a second thermal plate, the first thermal plate being clamped between the control module and the thermoelectric element, the second thermal plate being clamped between the heat sink and the thermoelectric element;

- the second thermal plate is made of graphite.

There is also proposed a railway vehicle comprising an electrical switching device as previously defined.

According to particular embodiments, the vehicle has one or more of the following characteristics taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

- the electrical switching device is a high voltage circuit breaker;

- the electrical switching device is fixed to a roof of the railway vehicle, the electrical switching device extending in particular through an opening formed in said roof.

Characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[Fig 1] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an electrical switching device according to the invention, comprising a control module, a thermoelectric module and a heat sink, and

[Fig 2] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the control module, thermoelectric module and heat sink of Figure 1.

An example of electrical switching device 10 is shown in FIG.

The switching device 10 is, in particular, integrated into a vehicle 15 shown partially in FIG. 1. For example, the switching device 10 is fixed to a roof 20 of the vehicle 15. However, embodiments in which the switching device switching 10 is arranged inside the vehicle 15, for example in a passenger compartment, or under a floor of the vehicle 15 are also possible.

According to a variant, the switching device 10 is integrated into a fixed installation such as a building.

The vehicle 15 is, for example, a railway vehicle. As a variant, the vehicle 15 is a motor vehicle, or even a ship or an aircraft.

The switching device 10 comprises a first electrical contact 25, a second electrical contact 30, an actuator 35, a control module 40, a thermoelectric module 45 and a heat sink 50.

The switching device 10 is configured to switch between a first configuration in which the first electrical contact 25 is electrically connected to the second electrical contact 30 and a second configuration in which the first electrical contact 25 is electrically isolated from the second electrical contact 30.

The switching device 10 is, for example, fixed to the roof 20. According to one embodiment, the switching device 10 extends through an opening of the roof 20.

The switching device 10 is, for example, a high voltage circuit breaker capable of ensuring, in the second configuration, insulation between the electrical contacts 25 and 30 when an electrical voltage between the two electrical contacts 25 and 30 is greater than or equal to at 5 kilovolts (kV).

In particular, the electrical contacts 25 and 30 form a vacuum switch interposed between a catenary or a pantograph and an electrical system, in particular a power transformer, of the vehicle 15. In this case, the switching device 10 further comprises, a plate 52 and an enclosure 54.

The plate 52 is for example a metal plate, in particular aluminum. Plate 52 at least partially closes roof opening 20 through which switching device 10 extends. The plate 52 is, for example, supported by the roof 20, in particular fixed to an upper face of the roof 20.

The plate 52 delimits, in particular in a horizontal plane, a passage 55 through which the actuator 35 extends.

The enclosure 54 extends from the plate 52, in particular in a vertical direction of the vehicle 15. The enclosure 54 is capable of electrically isolating the actuator 35 and the contacts 25, 30 from the outside. The enclosure 54 is, for example, cylindrical, or even parallelepipedal.

The enclosure 54 is made of an electrically insulating material. The enclosure 54 includes, for example, a vacuum bulb 60 inside which the first and second electrical contacts 25, 30 are accommodated. In a manner known per se, a vacuum interrupter makes it possible to switch electric currents under high voltages while maintaining a small distance between the contacts 25 and 30, the vacuum then acting as an electrical insulator.

The switching device 10 is, for example, configured to perform the electrical protection of an electrical circuit comprising the contacts 25 and 30, and in particular to switch from the first configuration to the second configuration in the event of detection of the electrical fault. The electrical fault is, for example, a short circuit, an ignition, an overvoltage or an overcurrent.

Alternatively, the switching device 10 is a low voltage circuit breaker, a contactor, or even a switch of any type.

Each of the first contact 25 and the second contact 30 is accommodated in the enclosure 54.

The first contact 25 is, for example, a fixed contact with respect to the roof 20. For example, the first contact 25 is fixed to the enclosure 54.

The second contact 30 is a movable contact between a first position in which the second contact 30 bears against the first contact 25 and a second position in which the second contact 30 is remote from the first contact 25. When the second contact 30 is in the first position, the switching device 10 is in the first configuration, the switching device 10 being in the second configuration when the second contact 30 is in the second position.

The second contact 30 is, for example, movable in translation in a vertical direction of the vehicle 15 between its first and second positions.

Actuator 35 is configured to move second electrical contact 30 between its first and second positions.

The actuator 35 comprises, for example, an actuating member 65 and a drive member 70.

The actuating member 65 is connected to the second contact 30 by the drive member 70, which is for example a rod made of an electrically insulating material, such as a fiberglass-based laminate.

The actuating member 65 is configured to exert on the drive member 70 a first force causing a joint movement of the drive member 70 and the second contact 30, so as to move the second contact 30 between the first and second positions.

Actuator 65 comprises, for example, an electromagnet. However, other types of actuation members 65 can be envisaged.

According to one embodiment, the actuator 35 further comprises a return member such as a spring, capable of exerting on the drive member 70 a second force tending to move the second contact 30 towards its second position. . In this case, the first force tends to move the second contact 30 towards the first position, the second contact 30 then being brought back towards the second position by the return member when the actuating member 65 does not exert the first force. .

As a variant, the actuating member 65 is able to exert a first force tending to move the second contact 30 towards the first position, as well as a second force tending to move the second contact 30 towards its second position.

The control module 40 is configured to control the switching of the switching device 10 between the first and second configurations. In particular, the control module 40 is configured to control a movement of the second contact 30 from the first position to the second position or vice versa.

For example, the control module 40 is configured to generate a first switch command and to transmit the first command to the actuator 35. The control module 40 is further configured to generate a second switch command and to transmit the second command to actuator 35.

The first command is a switching command from the first configuration to the second configuration. The second command is a switching command from the second configuration to the first configuration.

The control module 40 is, for example, configured to detect the electrical fault and to generate the first command in the event of detection of the electrical fault. As a variant, the control module 40 is configured to generate the first command following the reception of an instruction from an operator, for example an instruction from a driver of the vehicle 15. As a variant, the control module 40 is configured to generate the first command following receipt of an instruction from a train system such as a fault detection system on board the train.

The control module 40 is, for example, configured to generate the second command following receipt of an instruction from an operator.

As a variant or in addition, the control module 40 is configured to transmit to a remote device, for example a vehicle monitoring module 15, information on a state of the switching device 10. For example, the control module 40 is configured to transmit a message comprising an indicator presenting a first value when the switching device 10 is in the first configuration and presenting a second value different from the first value when the switching device 10 is in the second configuration.

According to another variant, the control module 40 is configured to measure values ​​of a parameter of the switching device 10 and to transmit the measured values ​​to a remote device such as a vehicle monitoring module 15. The parameter is, for example, an electric parameter such as an electric voltage between the contacts 25 and 30, the current passing through the actuator, an intensity of an electric current flowing between the two contacts 25 and 30, or even a thermodynamic parameter such as a temperature of the switching device 10 or a level of humidity in the air.

The control module 40 comprises, for example, at least one printed circuit board 75, a set of electronic components 80 and a cabinet 85.

A single printed circuit board 75 is present in the embodiment visible in FIG. 2, however embodiments in which several printed circuit boards 75 are present are also possible.

Each printed circuit board 75 is configured to support at least a part of the electronic components 80. For example, the printed circuit board 75 has a first face 90 and a second face 95, the electronic components 80 being carried by the first face 90 .

Each of the first face 90 and the second face 95 is, for example, planar.

The second face 95 faces the heat sink 50.

Each printed circuit board 75 is made of an electrically insulating material, in particular a plastic material.

According to one embodiment, the second face 95 carries at least one track made of an electrically conductive material such as gold or copper. For example, the second face 95 carries a set of such tracks.

Each track interconnects at least two electronic components 80. For example, each track is electrically connected to the electronic components 80 through a via connecting the first face 90 to the second face 95 through the printed circuit board 75.

It should be noted that embodiments in which at least one track is carried by the first face 90 are also possible.

The set of components 80 is configured to form, when they are interconnected by the tracks, a module for generating the first command, a module for generating the second command and, optionally, a module for measuring values ​​of each parameter and/or a module for sending a message containing at least one measured value and/or at least one indicator of a configuration of the switching device 10.

For example, component set 80 includes a processor and memory including a set of software instructions. When they are executed on the processor, the software instructions form in particular the module for generating the first command, the module for generating the second command, the module for measuring the values ​​of each parameter and/or the module for transmitting the values ​​of each parameter. 'a message.

As a variant or in addition, the assembly of components 80 comprises a programmable logic circuit, known by the acronym FPGA (from the English “field-programmable gate array”, which means “network of programmable gates in situ”). In particular, the FPGA is configured to form the module for generating the first command, the module for generating the second command, the module for measuring values ​​of each parameter and/or the module for transmitting a message.

According to another variant, the set of components 80 comprises a set of analog components forming the module for generating the first command, the module for generating the second command, the module for measuring values ​​of each parameter and/or the module sending a message.

The box 85 is configured to isolate each printed circuit board 75 and the set of components 80 from the actuator 35. In particular, the box 85 delimits at least

partially a chamber accommodating each printed circuit board 75 and the set of components 80.

The box 85 is, for example, fixed to the heat sink 50. According to the embodiment represented in FIG. 2, the box 85 cooperates with the heat sink 50 to form the chamber. For example, cabinet 85 defines a recess which is closed by heat sink 50 to form the chamber. It should be noted that embodiments in which the chamber is entirely delimited by the box 85, in particular in which a wall of the box 85 is interposed between each printed circuit board 75 and the heat sink 85, are also envisaged.

The thermoelectric module 45 is interposed between the control module 40 and the heat sink 50. In particular, the thermoelectric module 45 is in contact with the control module 40 and with the heat sink 50.

In particular, the thermoelectric module 45 is interposed between each printed circuit board 75 and the heat sink 50, in particular resting against the printed circuit board 45 and against the heat sink 50. For example, the thermoelectric module 45 is in contact with the second face 95 of each printed circuit board 75.

According to the example shown in Figure 2, the thermoelectric module 45 is accommodated in the housing 85.

The thermoelectric module 45 is configured to generate a thermal flow F from the control module 40 to the heat sink 50. In particular, the thermoelectric module 45 is configured to transfer heat from the control module 40 to the heat sink 50 In other words, the thermoelectric module 45 is configured to cool the control module 40 and to heat the heat sink 50 accordingly.

The thermoelectric module 45 is configured to generate the heat flux by thermoelectric effect. The thermoelectric module 45 is, in particular, configured to generate the heat flux by Peltier effect.

The Peltier effect consists in particular of the cooling of a junction between the ends of two semiconductor electrodes each having a doping of a type different from the type of doping of the other electrode, cooling which is accompanied by a heating other ends of the electrodes, when an electric current crosses the junction.

The thermoelectric module 45 comprises, for example, a thermoelectric element 100, a first thermal plate 105 and a second thermal plate 110.

The thermoelectric element 100 has a hot face 110 and a cold face 115.

Thermoelectric element 100 is configured to generate thermal flux F. In particular, thermoelectric element 100 is configured to generate thermal flux F from cold face 115 to hot face 110.

The thermoelectric element 100 is configured to generate the heat flux F by Peltier effect.

The thermoelectric element 100 comprises, for example, an envelope and a set of electrodes connected in series in a manner known per se.

Each electrode is accommodated in the envelope.

The hot face 110 and the cold face 115 are external faces of the casing. The hot face 110 and the cold face 115 are, for example, parallel to each other. The cold face 115 is arranged opposite the control module 40, in particular opposite the second face 95 of each printed circuit board 75.

For example, the hot face 110 is a face of a first portion of the envelope, the cold face being a face of a second portion of the envelope.

The casing is made of a thermally conductive material such as a metallic material.

Each electrode is made of a semiconductor material.

Each electrode is, for example, made of a single semiconductor material.

According to one embodiment, at least one electrode comprises a plurality of portions, each portion being made of a semiconductor material different from the other portions of the electrode in question.

Each electrode has a doping. Doping is defined as being the presence, in a material, of impurities providing free charge carriers. Impurities are, for example, atoms of an element that is not naturally present in the material.

When the presence of impurities increases the volume density of holes present in the material compared to the undoped material, the doping is of the p type.

When the presence of impurities increases the volume density of free electrons present in the material compared to the non-doped material, the doping is n-type.

Each electrode has a hot end and a cold end.

The electrodes are connected in series with each other.

The thermoelectric element 100 comprises a power supply suitable for generating an electric current passing successively through all the electrodes.

Advantageously, the control module 40 is suitable for supplying electrical energy to the thermoelectric module 45. An electrical supply cable extends for example between the modules 40 and 45.

The electrodes define a set of junctions. Each junction is formed by the hot ends or by the cold ends of two successive electrodes, these hot ends or cold ends being electrically connected to each other. Thus, the current through the electrode assembly flows from the hot end of one electrode among the two electrodes forming the junction to the hot end of the other electrode forming the junction, or from the cold end of one electrode at the cold end of the other electrode.

The thermoelectric element 100 is configured so that the passage of current generates heating of the hot end of each electrode and cooling of the cold end of each electrode.

In particular, the electrodes are such that two successive electrodes have different types of doping, each type of doping being chosen from n-type doping and p-type doping.

The electrodes are arranged in such a way that the hot end of each electrode is in contact with the first portion of the casing, the cold end being in contact with the second portion of the casing. Thus, when the electric current passes through each electrode, the cold face 115 is cooled by the cold ends of the electrodes and the hot face 110 is heated by the hot ends of the electrodes, thus generating the heat flow F.

The first thermal plate 105 is interposed, in particular tight, between the thermoelectric element 100 and the control module 40. For example, the first thermal plate 105 is in contact with, in particular tight between, the second face 95 and the cold face 115 .

The first thermal plate 105 is configured to ensure good thermal contact between the cold face 115 and the control module 40. In particular, the first thermal plate 105 is configured to allow the propagation of the heat flux F from the control module 40 to to the cold face 115, in particular to increase an intensity of the thermal flow F compared to a case where the cold face 115 would be in contact with the control module 40.

In the embodiment represented in FIG. 2, the first thermal plate 105 is configured to ensure good thermal contact between the cold face 115 and the second face 95. In particular, the first thermal plate 105 is configured to allow the propagation of the thermal flow F from the second face 95

up to the cold face 115, in particular to increase an intensity of the heat flux F compared to a case where the cold face 115 would be in contact with the second face 95.

The first thermal plate 105 is, in particular, configured to deform when it is clamped between the control module 40 and the cold face 115, so as to fill irregularities which could be present on the cold face 115 and/or on the surface, in particular the second face 95, of the control module 40.

The second thermal plate 107 is interposed, in particular tight, between the thermoelectric element 100 and the heat sink 40. For example, the second thermal plate 107 is in contact with, in particular tight between, the heat sink 50 and the hot face 110.

The second thermal plate 107 is configured to ensure good thermal contact between the hot face 110 and the heat sink 50. In particular, the second thermal plate 107 is configured to allow the propagation of the heat flux F from the hot face 110 to to the heat sink 50, in particular to increase an intensity of the heat flow F compared to a case where the hot face 110 would be in contact with the heat sink 50.

The first thermal plate 105 is, in particular, configured to deform when it is clamped between the heat sink 50 and the hot face 110, so as to fill irregularities which could be present on the hot face 110 and/or on the surface of the heat sink 40.

The second thermal plate 107 is, for example, made of carbon, in particular of graphite. For example, the second thermal plate 107 comprises a set of layers of graphene superimposed along a direction perpendicular to the hot face 110. The second thermal plate 107 has, for example, a thickness of the order of 200 microns, for example comprised between 180 microns and 220 microns, before being clamped between the thermoelectric element 100 and the heat sink 40.

The heat sink 50 is made at least partially of a metallic material, for example aluminum.

The heat sink 50 forms, for example, a casing delimiting an interior volume Vi. The control module 40, the thermoelectric module 45 and the actuator 35 are at least partially housed in the interior volume Vi. The box is configured to prevent an operator from accessing the actuator 35 and/or the control module 40 from outside the box.

The interior volume Vi is, for example, delimited by the heat sink 50 and by the plate 52. In particular, the interior volume Vi is delimited by the plate 52 in the vertical direction.

The heat sink 50 is, for example, suspended from the roof 20. In particular, the heat sink 50 is fixed to the plate 52, which is itself fixed to the roof 20. The heat sink 50 is, in particular, resting against a underside of plate 52.

The heat sink 50 is for example interposed between the roof 20 or the plate 52 and a ceiling 120 of the vehicle 15, for example a ceiling of a passenger compartment of the vehicle 15.

The thermoelectric module 45 and the control module 40 are, for example, mounted on an internal wall of the heat sink 50. In other words, the thermoelectric module 45 and the control module 40 are fixed, in the internal volume Vi, to heat sink 50.

According to one embodiment, each printed circuit board 75 is fixed, via the first thermal plate 105, to the thermoelectric element 100, the thermoelectric element 100 being fixed to the heat sink 50.

The thermoelectric module 45 is, for example, fixed to a flat face of the heat sink 50.

The heat sink 50 has, for example, a parallelepipedal shape. In particular, the heat sink 50 includes 4 vertical side walls and a horizontal bottom wall.

According to the example shown in Figure 2, the control module 40 and the thermoelectric module 45 are fixed to a side wall of the housing formed by the heat sink 50. For example, the faces 90, 95, 110 and 115 are faces vertical.

The control module 40 and the thermoelectric module 45 are, for example, supported by the heat sink 50, in particular by a side wall to which they are fixed.

According to one embodiment, the heat sink 50 is covered at least partially with a coating having an emissivity strictly greater than the emissivity of the material in which the heat sink 50 is made. The coating then makes it possible to promote the cooling of the heat sink 50 by radiation.

It should be noted that embodiments in which the heat sink 50 does not form a casing are also possible. For example, the switching device 10 comprises a casing delimiting the interior volume Vi, the dissipator

heat coming into contact with the thermoelectric module 45 through a wall of the housing.

In this case, the heat sink 50 is likely to have any shape. For example, the heat sink 50 is a support capable of allowing the casing, the actuator 35, the control module 40, the thermoelectric module 45 and/or the contacts 25, 30 to be fixed to a wall of the vehicle 15.

Alternatively, the heat sink 50 is a radiator fixed to the housing of the switching device 10, or even simply a metal plate.

Thanks to the invention, the thermoelectric module 45 makes it possible to effectively cool the control module 40 and therefore to increase its service life, while having small dimensions. The thermoelectric module 45 therefore does not require a significant adaptation of the layout of the switching device. This is particularly true when the heat sink 50 forms the housing delimiting the interior volume Vi, since in this case the thermoelectric module 45 is likely to be easily added to existing switching devices, provided that the housings of these existing devices are metallic.

When the thermoelectric module 45 bears against the printed circuit board, the heat transfer between the control module 40 and the heat sink 50 is particularly efficient. The second face 95, which does not include the components 80, is therefore relatively flat, which allows good thermal contact with the thermoelectric module 45. The thermal plates 105 and 107 allow, here again, to improve the heat transfer and therefore the cooling of the control module 40.

A graphite thermal plate 107 is very effective in transferring heat, in particular between the hot face 110 and the heat sink 50, since the hot face 110 is flat and the heat sink 50 is easily adapted to have a flat face. In this case, graphite is very suitable for forming a good thermal interface between these flat faces.

Such a switching device 10 is particularly suitable for being carried in a vehicle, where the relatively small space available makes it difficult to use other cooling methods with sufficient efficiency. In particular, high voltage circuit breakers are frequently used in applications where the available space is limited, or where electrical insulation issues make it difficult to use certain cooling methods.

In particular, when the switching device 10 is fixed to a roof 20 of the vehicle 15, the solar radiation which strikes the roof 20 or the plate 52 is likely to raise the temperature of the control module 40 to levels too high to be

effectively cooled by known methods, in particular by a flow of outside air. This is particularly the case when the vehicle 15 is traveling in a hot country or in summer, since the outside air is then at too high a temperature to effectively cool the control module 40.

When the control module 40 and the thermoelectric module 45 are fixed to a side wall of the casing formed by the heat sink 50, the arrangement of the elements in the interior volume Vi is facilitated.

CLAIMS

1. Electrical switching device (10), in particular for a railway vehicle (15), comprising a first electrical contact (25), a second electrical contact (30) movable relative to the first contact (25), an actuator (35) and a control module (40) capable of controlling movement of the second contact (30) by the actuator (35) between a first position in which the first and second contacts (25, 30) are electrically connected to each other another and a second position in which the first and second contacts (25, 30) are electrically disconnected from each other,

the switching device (10) being characterized in that it further comprises a thermoelectric module (45) and a heat sink (50), the thermoelectric module (45) being interposed between the heat sink (50) and the control module (40) and being configured to generate a thermal flow (F), preferably by Peltier effect, from the control module (40) to the heat sink (50).

2. Electrical switching device according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink (50) forms a housing defining an interior volume (Vi), the actuator (35), the control module (40) and the thermoelectric module (45 ) being received in the interior volume (Vi).

3. Electrical switching device according to claim 2, in which the control module (40) and the thermoelectric module (45) are mounted on an internal wall of the housing (50).

4. Electrical switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the control module (40) comprises a printed circuit board (75), the thermoelectric module (45) bearing together against the printed circuit board. (75) and against the heat sink (50).

5. Electrical switching device according to the preceding claim, wherein the printed circuit board (75) has a first face (90) and a second face (95), the first face (90) carrying a set of electronic components (80 ), the second face (95) carrying a set of conductive tracks connecting the electronic components (80) to one another, the thermoelectric module (45) being in contact with the second face (95).

6. Electrical switching device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the thermoelectric module (45) comprises a thermoelectric element (100) having a hot face (110) and a cold face (115), the thermoelectric element ( 100) being configured to generate the heat flux (F) from the cold face (115) to the hot face (110), the thermoelectric module (45) further comprising a first thermal plate (105) and a second thermal plate (107), the first thermal plate (105) being clamped between the control module (40) and the thermoelectric element (100), the second thermal plate (107) being clamped between the heat sink (50) and the thermoelectric (100).

7. Electrical switching device according to the preceding claim, wherein the second thermal plate (107) is made of graphite.

8. Railway vehicle (15) comprising an electrical switching device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. Rail vehicle according to the preceding claim, wherein the electrical switching device (10) is a high voltage circuit breaker.

10. Railway vehicle according to the preceding claim, in which the electrical switching device (10) is fixed to a roof (20) of the railway vehicle (15), the electrical switching device (10) extending in particular through an opening arranged in said roof (20).