PTC heating cell

A PTC heating cell comprising:

• a cuboid-shaped PTC element, and
• two metallizations that are electrically separated from each other and that are provided on a surface of the PTC element for the introduction of current thereinto,
• wherein the two metallizations are provided as strips formed over an entire longitudinal extension (L) of the cuboid-shaped PTC element on diagonally oppositely disposed surface sections of the cuboid-shaped PTC element,
• wherein a current path between the two metallizations is only oriented diagonally through a thickness of the PTC element,
• wherein a single area portion of each of the oppositely disposed main side surfaces of the cuboid-shaped PTC element that is not provided with the metallization is covered with an insulating layer;
• wherein two contact rails extend in a longitudinal direction of the cuboid-shaped PTC element, each of which is respectively associated with one metallization and each of which is formed to be U-shaped and clamp the cuboid-shaped PTC element, associated metallization, and insulating layers;
• wherein each of the contact rails has a plurality of spring projections that abut against the associated metallization under resilient pretension and abut against a main side surface of the PTC element under resilient pretension;
• and
• wherein a mold coating encapsulates the contact rails and an edge region of the insulating layers and leaves heat-dissipating surfaces of said the cuboid-shaped PTC element free.