CONNECTING ELEMENT FOR A CONTACT LINE, CONTACT LINE, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A CONTACT LINE

A connecting element for connecting two busbars of a contact line, having an elongated main part with insert ends lying opposite one another in the longitudinal direction of the main part for plugging into elongated cavities of the busbars. Also disclosed are such a contact line and a method for connecting two busbars of such a contact line. The aim 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 has connecting depressions on at least one longitudinal face of the main part for crimping to at least one lateral wall of the busbars, a contact line having such a connecting element, and a method with the following steps: plugging the connecting element into respective elongated cavities of the two busbars to be connected; aligning the pressing bars of a crimping tool relative to corresponding connecting depressions of the connecting element; and inserting lateral walls of the busbars into the connecting depressions and thus plastically deforming the walls using the pressing bars.