Connecting element for a contact line, contact line, and method for producing a contact line

The invention relates to a connecting element (18) for connecting two busbars (4, 5) of a contact line (1), comprising an elongated main part (19) with insert ends (21, 12') lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction (L) of the main part for plugging into elongated cavities (16) of the busbars (4, 5). The invention also relates to such a contact line (1) and to a method for connecting two busbars (4, 5) of such a contact line (1). The aim of the invention is to provide such a connecting element which can be produced easily and inexpensively and which can be easily assembled in situ and allows a quick and simple connection of conductor strands of a contact line. This is achieved using a connecting element in which the main part (19) has connecting depressions (25, 25') on at least one longitudinal face of said main part for crimping to at least one lateral wall (14, 14') of the busbars (4, 5), a contact line (1) comprising such a connecting element (18), and a method with the following steps: a) plugging the connecting element (18) into respective elongated cavities (16) of the two busbars (4, 5) to be connected, b) aligning the pressing bars (32) of a crimping tool (27, 28, 29) relative to corresponding connecting depressions (25, 25') of the connecting element (18), and c) inserting lateral walls (14, 14') of the busbars (4, 5) into the connecting depressions (25, 25') and thus plastically deforming said walls using the pressing bars (32).