Electrical connecting element and method for the production thereof

A method of producing and assembling an electrical connecting element, comprising:

• providing an electrically conductive flat material having at least one opening of defined size and/or defined contour;
• inserting an electrically conductive contact bushing into the opening of the electrically conductive flat material, wherein the electrically conductive contact bushing, by an end-face shoulder, abuts a first surface of the electrically conductive flat material;
• making contact with a shaft of the contact bushing on a side facing away from the end-face shoulder, by an electrically conductive union sleeve, which surrounds the shaft at least in portions;
• and
• wherein an outer surface of the shaft comprises a contact surface with steps and an inner surface of the union sleeve comprises a contact surface with steps that correspond to the steps of the contact surface of the shaft, and the method comprises producing a form-locking and force-locking or a permanent connection between the electrically conductive union sleeve and the shaft of the electrically conductive contact bushing upon pushing the union sleeve onto the shaft so that the steps of the corresponding contact surfaces of the shaft and the union sleeve come into contact,
• wherein the union sleeve, by the end-face shoulder, abuts a second surface of the electrically conductive flat material in flat and electrically conductive contact.

An electrical connecting element comprising:

• a flat material comprising a first surface, an opposing second surface, and an opening that extends through a thickness of the flat material, the opening is defined by an inner surface, the flat material is electrically conductive;
• a contact bushing comprising a shaft and a flange, the shaft tapers in a direction extending away from the flange, an outer surface of the shaft comprises steps, and an inner surface of the shaft comprises an internal thread;
• wherein the shaft is received into the opening of the flat material such that a gap is defined between the outer surface of the shaft and the inner surface of the opening, a top surface of the flange contacts the first surface of the flat material;
• a union sleeve comprising an inner surface, a flange, and a ring;
• the inner surface comprises steps that correspond to the steps on the outer surface of the shaft;
• the union sleeve is configured to surround the shaft such that the steps of the inner surface contact the steps on the outer surface of the shaft, the ring extends into and fills the gap defined between the outer surface of the shaft and the inner surface of the opening, a bottom surface of the flange of the union sleeve contacts the second surface of the flat material,
• wherein by pushing the union sleeve onto the shaft, the steps of the corresponding contact surfaces of the shaft and the union sleeve come into contact, and
• wherein an electrical line is configured to be electrically connected to a bottom of the shaft in a region that is adjacent to the flange of the shaft, and electrical current is configured to pass from the electrical line into and through the union sleeve and into the flat material.