Connector, battery arrangement, fuel cell and method for manufacturing connector

Abstract

The connector (1), in particular a screw or bolt, comprises an actuation region (10), in particular a head, an elastic region (30) and a mounting region (50), the connector (1) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) and a radial direction (R) being in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L), the elastic region (30) being in the longitudinal direction (L) between the actuation region (10) and the mounting region (50), the mounting region (50) having a thread, in particular an internal thread, the elastic region (30) and / or the mounting region (50) being in particular hollow inside, the elastic region (30) having a stiffness-reducing structure (34), in particular in the form of a recess and / or an opening, and / or the elastic region (30) having a lower elasticity due to its shape than the mounting region (50) and / or the actuation region (10), and / or the elastic region having a cumulative spring characteristic.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector, a battery arrangement, a fuel cell and a method of manufacturing the connector.

[0002] Connectors are already known in the art. They are used to connect different components to one another, in particular reversibly. However, a problem is that if the components to be connected expand during operation, as is the case for example in fuel cell or battery arrangements, huge loads can be exerted on the connector or on the components to be connected, or the connector can come loose.

[0003] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a connector which allows even high dynamic or static expansions to be safely absorbed and / or the resulting loads on the connector or connected components to be reduced.

[0004] This problem is solved by a connector according to claim 1, a battery arrangement and / or fuel cell according to claim 14 and a method for manufacturing a connector according to claim 15. Further advantages, features and embodiments are set out in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0005] The present invention relates to a connector, in particular a screw or bolt. Advantageously, the connector comprises an actuation region, in particular a head, an elastic region, and preferably a mounting region, the connector extending in a longitudinal direction, the radial direction being particularly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the elastic region being possible in the longitudinal direction between the actuation region and the mounting region, the mounting region having a thread, in particular an internal thread, and preferably, the elastic region and / or the mounting region being preferably or alternatively hollow and / or having a lower elasticity than the mounting region and / or actuation region, depending on its shape. The connector is used in particular to connect different components to one another, in particular by friction locking. This friction locking connection is preferably related to particularly lateral forces, preferably in the radial direction or parallel to this direction. In order to be able to establish or transmit lateral forces, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, between the connected components, the connector is therefore advantageously designed as a friction locking connector. In particular, the connector has an actuation region. The actuation region is advantageously used to apply an attachment torque to the connector, in particular by friction locking. For this purpose, the actuation area may have actuation surfaces in the form of, in particular, an external hexagon, an internal hexagon, an external or internal hexalobular, a multi-toothed and / or multi-rounded, in each case advantageously for internal and / or external actuation. It is advantageous for the normal to the actuation surface to point in the radial direction. These actuation surfaces may be part of the head, which may in turn form the actuation area. In other words, the actuation area may be formed by or include the head. It is advantageous for the actuation area to be designed so that it forms the tip of the connector in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction is also, in particular, the direction in which the connector has its largest main dimension. For example, the longitudinal direction may therefore, or alternatively, preferably, be the direction in which the length of the connector is measured. The center of gravity of the connector, the elastic area and / or the assembly area may be in the longitudinal direction. In particular, one of the radial directions or the radial direction extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Advantageously, the longitudinal, radial and circumferential directions form a cylindrical coordinate system. In addition to the actuation area, the connector also has a resilient area and / or an assembly area.The mounting area of the connector has threads for forming a connection with other threads, in particular a nut thread.The thread can advantageously be designed as an internal thread to achieve an extremely space-saving configuration. Alternatively or additionally, preferably, the thread of the mounting area can also be an external thread. This particularly facilitates manufacturing. The thread itself can be a metric or imperial thread. Preferably, the mounting area is limited in the longitudinal direction by the tip of the thread. Advantageously, the assembly area forms the tip of the connector in the longitudinal direction. The mounting area, which has and / or is formed by the thread, can limit the connector in the longitudinal direction. To reduce the risk of injury during assembly, the assembly area can be limited in the radial direction by and / or have an outward-facing cylindrical surface. An elastic area is located between the actuation area and the mounting area when viewed in the longitudinal direction. Advantageously, the length of the elastic area in the longitudinal direction is greater than the length of the actuation area and / or the mounting area in the longitudinal direction. The lengths of all areas are measured in the longitudinal direction. Advantageously, the length of the elastic area in the longitudinal direction is greater than the sum of the lengths of the actuation area and the mounting area. Advantageously, at least 30%, preferably at least 60%, and particularly preferably at least 70% of the length of the connector in the longitudinal direction is formed by the elastic region. The elastic region and / or the mounting region are hollow in the interior to form or provide easy mounting and / or gas channels and / or reduced elasticity. Due to its geometry, the elastic region is designed to have lower elasticity than the assembly region, and the elastic region has a deforming structure and / or a stiffness-reducing structure, particularly in the form of a deforming structure. In other words, the geometry of the elastic region is such that this results in a lower elasticity in the mounting region than in the mounting region and / or actuation region. The elasticity itself is particularly equal to the spring stiffness or the gradient of the force path diagram. The measure of elasticity is the elasticity in the longitudinal direction. In particular, this force path diagram or spring stiffness is not non-dimensionalized by geometric parameters. In other words, the elasticity or spring stiffness is therefore not determined by the gradient of the stress-strain diagram, but by the force actually applied to the elastic region compared to the resulting displacement or deformation.The force path diagram thus shows the force that must be applied to separate the mounting area from the actuation area in the longitudinal direction, while absorbing the resulting longitudinal displacement of the actuation area towards the mounting area. Advantageously, the elastic area and the assembly area and / or the elastic area and the actuation area are made of the same material and / or are made of one piece. This allows particularly good mechanical durability to be achieved. Due to the lower elasticity of the elastic area, the loads caused by expansion and / or static expansion of the connected components can be reduced due to the geometry and / or stiffness-reducing structure of the elastic area. In particular, this can reduce the load on the connector and / or on the reinforced or already reinforced components, so that the operational safety and durability of the connector can be improved. A further advantage of such a design is that dynamic loads on the connector are also reduced. The connector according to the invention can in particular also be a fastener and / or vice versa.

[0006] Advantageously, the elastic region has one or more deformation structures that undergo bending and / or torsion when the actuation region is displaced in the longitudinal direction relative to the mounting region. The deformation structures are, in particular, spiral or beam segments, and can be achieved, for example, by introducing recesses and / or openings or other stiffness-reducing structures into the elastic region, in particular in the radial direction. These deformation structures are therefore, in particular, not recesses, but material regions that are mechanically stressed by the change in length of the elastic region in the longitudinal direction, in particular by the displacement of the mounting region in the longitudinal direction relative to the actuation region. This mechanical stress on the deformation structures is, in particular, or includes, bending and / or torsional loads. This stress type is, in particular, the dominant stress type, and therefore, in particular, the stress type that generates at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, and particularly preferably at least 70% of the equivalent stress, in particular when applying the shape change hypothesis (von Mises) and / or the principal normal stress hypothesis (Rankine). In particular, this can increase the achievable degree of reversible deformation of the deformation structure, and ultimately the elasticity of the elastic region can be reduced. In other words, by using a deformation structure that undergoes bending and / or torsion when the actuation region is longitudinally displaced relative to the mounting region, the spring stiffness of the elastic region, which can be synonymous with its elasticity, can therefore be reduced. This allows a particularly advantageous design of the elastic region to be achieved.

[0007] Advantageously, the elastic region is designed to have a degressive spring characteristic. In other words, the elasticity or spring stiffness of the elastic region may become less elastic or decrease with increasing longitudinal distance of the actuation region relative to the mounting region, with respect to the displacement of the actuation region relative to the mounting region. In particular, this allows the dynamic load to be further reduced as the connected components expand, or allows the resulting (static) load to increase less. Advantageously, the spring characteristic is degressive in the elastic region. In other words, the degressive spring characteristic is achieved "before" irreversible deformation occurs. In particular, this may minimize or reduce permanent stress relaxation and / or mechanical overstress of the connected components and / or connectors.

[0008] Advantageously, the elastic region has one or more stiffness-reducing structures, in particular recesses and / or openings, which create or limit the deformation structure. In other words, recesses and / or other stiffness-reducing structures adjacent to the deformation structure may be formed in the elastic region, in particular in the radial direction. In particular, these recesses may be designed in such a way that they allow fluid to pass from the surrounding region through the recesses or openings into the inner hollow region or into the entire hollow inner elastic region. In other words, the opening or openings may be designed in such a way that they extend from the outside into the hollow interior of the elastic region.

[0009] The internal hollow region of the connector may in particular be formed by a central recess extending in the longitudinal direction from the assembly region to the elastic region or even to the actuation region. By providing such a central recess, fluid flow may therefore also occur between the individual regions of the connector in the longitudinal direction.

[0010] Advantageously, the stiffness-reducing structure, in particular in the form of a recess or recesses, connects the outer wall of the elastic region to the inner wall of the elastic region, the outer wall of which adjoins it on the outside, in particular in the positive radial direction, and the inner wall of which adjoins it on the inside, in particular in the longitudinal direction. In particular, this inner wall may adjoin and / or partially form a central recess. This, as already explained, allows a particularly effective and direct fluid flow from the periphery into the hollow interior of the elastic region.

[0011] Advantageously, at least one stiffness-reducing structure, in particular in the form of a recess, is designed so that its projection in the longitudinal direction is self-contained. In other words, at least one recess can be formed in such a way that, when this recess is projected onto a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the projection is self-contained and thus forms a ring around the longitudinal direction. This allows a particularly high degree of elasticity reduction to be achieved, resulting in particularly advantageous elastic regions. Advantageously, however, the ends of the recess that overlap or form a projection that is self-contained are located at different heights in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the recess, which may in particular be an opening, is only self-contained at the projection, not when viewed in the longitudinal direction. In particular, this can prevent a sudden weakening of the connector.

[0012] Advantageously, the elastic region has one or more spiral depressions and / or stiffness-reducing structures, in particular openings, so that the elastic region has one or more spiral and / or multiple deformation structures. By providing stiffness-reducing structures, which may in particular be spiral depressions and / or openings, it is possible to achieve a particularly effective method of loading the deformation structure with respect to torsion. By providing a torsion-subjected deformation structure, a particularly high degree of reversible deformation capacity can be provided. By providing a spiral deformation structure, particularly good torsional loading can be achieved. As already mentioned, several helices can also be provided, so that multiple deformation structures can be present in a spiral. In other words, multiple spiral deformation structures can be designed in a manner similar to multiple screws.

[0013] Advantageously, the deformation structure, in particular the spiral, has a material thickness in the longitudinal direction and a radial thickness in the radial direction, which may also be referred to as the radial thickness, the ratio of the material thickness to the radial thickness being in the range of 0.8 to 1.2, preferably in the range of 0.9 to 1.1, and particularly preferably in the range of 0.97 to 1.03. The material thickness is thus the average and / or maximum or minimum material thickness of the deformation structure measured in the longitudinal direction. The radial thickness of the deformation structure is particularly the material thickness or material thickness in the radial direction. Advantageously, the ratio of the material thickness to the radial thickness is in the range of 0.8 to 1.2. This makes manufacturing particularly easy. However, if the material thickness is in the range of 0.9 to 1.1, a particularly advantageous stress distribution can be achieved. On the other hand, if the ratio is in the range of 0.97 to 1.03, an approximately uniform stress distribution can be achieved at all ends.

[0014] Advantageously, at least one recess and / or stiffness-reducing structure, preferably several recesses and / or stiffness-reducing structures, should have a slotted hole shape. Preferably, the recess or at least one, preferably at least several, and particularly preferably all recesses or stiffness-reducing structures having a slotted hole shape, are formed as openings. A recess / stiffness-reducing structure is considered to have a slotted hole shape, especially if it has a larger dimension in its main extension direction than perpendicular thereto. In other words, if the length of the opening in the circumferential direction is greater than the length of the opening in the longitudinal direction, a slotted hole recess or slotted opening may therefore be present. In particular, the length of the opening and / or recess in the radial direction is not important. In other words, only the contour that the recess and / or opening leaves on the outer wall of the elastic region determines whether it has a slotted hole shape. It is advantageous for the slotted opening or slotted recess to be larger in the circumferential direction than in the longitudinal direction. Advantageously, the extension in the circumferential direction, for defining a slotted shape, is at least 10%, preferably at least 20% and particularly preferably at least 30% greater than in the longitudinal direction. Advantageously, the tip region of the slotted opening or slotted recess is formed by rounding, which can reduce the material stress increase or stress increase factor.

[0015] Preferably, the projections of the slotted recesses or stiffness-reducing structures form closed circles in the longitudinal direction, in particular in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the projections of the elongated slotted recesses, which may in particular be apertures, can be formed such that when viewed in the longitudinal direction they overlap so as to form complete circles or self-contained rings, in particular with the centre of gravity of this ring in the longitudinal direction and / or the ring encircling the longitudinal direction. This allows a particularly advantageous reduction in the elasticity of the elastic region to be achieved.

[0016] Preferably, at least one slotted recess and / or stiffness-reducing structure has a variable width in the longitudinal direction. The width is in particular the distance between opposing walls in the longitudinal direction. In particular, the slotted opening or slotted recess is oriented so that it extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In other words, the main direction of extension is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, thus with projection in the radial direction. A variable width in the longitudinal direction means that a defined stress distribution can be achieved. Advantageously, the width of the slotted opening or recess decreases towards the center of the opening or recess. In other words, the width of the recess can first decrease from one extremity of the opening or recess to the other extremity of the recess, and then increase again when the centers between the extremities of the recess are crossed. This can anticipate occurring mechanical stresses in a particularly advantageous way. In other words, it can be used to achieve a design that is particularly well adapted to stresses.

[0017] Advantageously, the deformation structure, in particular the deformation structure arranged between two slotted openings, has a material thickness, in particular a maximum material thickness in the longitudinal direction, and a material thickness, in particular a maximum material thickness in the radial direction, which may be described as a radial thickness as described above, with the ratio of the material thickness to the radial thickness being in the range of 0.7 to 1.3, preferably in the range of 0.85 to 1.15, and particularly preferably in the range of 0.9 to 1.1. As described above, the material thickness is the average and / or maximum or minimum material thickness of the deformation structure, in particular measured in the longitudinal direction. The radial thickness of the deformation structure, in particular the material thickness or material thickness in the radial direction, as described above. Advantageously, the ratio of the material thickness to the radial thickness is in the range of 0.7 to 1.3. This allows for particularly cost-effective production, in particular when the deformation structure is limited in the longitudinal direction at least partially by the slotted openings. On the other hand, particularly low local stress concentrations can be achieved when the material thickness is in the range of 0.85 to 1.15, especially when the deformation structure is limited in the longitudinal direction at least partially by slotted openings, while particularly good elastic gains can be achieved when the ratio is in the range of 0.9 to 1.1.

[0018] Advantageously, the ratio of the average or maximum height of the openings, especially slotted openings, in the longitudinal direction to the diameter of the elastic region is in the range of 0.045 to 0.125, preferably in the range of 0.055 to 0.0834, and particularly preferably in the range of 0.06 to 0.75. The average or maximum height of the openings in the longitudinal direction is the width of the opening in the longitudinal direction, especially the width between two opposing walls in the longitudinal direction. Meanwhile, the average height is the average height of the opening in the longitudinal direction between one end and the other end in the direction of the opening. Meanwhile, the diameter of the elastic region is the diameter of the smallest possible circle lying in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and exactly surrounding the elastic region. When the ratio is in the range of 0.045 to 0.125, particularly effective reduction in elasticity can be achieved. Meanwhile, when the ratio is in the range of 0.055 to 0.0834, this makes production particularly easy.

[0019] Advantageously, the connector is designed as a one-piece unit. A one-piece design means, in particular, that the materials of the connector are joined together in a single original molding process. In other words, the connector can be further processed after this initial molding process, in particular by separation or division processes such as laser cutting and / or screw cutting and / or milling or turning, but no additional elements are added to the connector, for example, by welding. Advantageously, however, only the actuation area, the elastic area, and the assembly area are formed as a one-piece unit. Alternatively or additionally, preferably, the connector can also result from joining additional components to one another by material bonding, in particular by material bonding of the actuation area to the elastic area and the assembly area. In addition, additional elements can also be attached to the connector with this bonded connection, so that, ultimately, the result is a connector with an actuation area, an elastic area, and an attachment area joined together by material bonding, but the additional elements can be attached to the connector by friction locking and / or form locking and / or material bonding. Material bonding is advantageous, in particular in terms of production costs. On the other hand, the integrated design of the actuation area and assembly area with connectors and / or elastic areas results in a particularly mechanically advantageous design.

[0020] Advantageously, the working area is hollow, in particular hollow inside. In particular, this allows fluid to flow through the elastic area and / or through the mounting area into the hollow area of the working area. This means that the connectors described herein can be used particularly advantageously in fuel cells. In particular, hollow means that the entire working area can be hollow in the longitudinal direction.

[0021] Advantageously, the working area has a gas connection, which makes it particularly easy to achieve a gas flow from and / or to the working area, in particular the gas connection may have or take the form of a gas-tight thread and / or hose connection.

[0022] Advantageously, there is a central recess that extends longitudinally from the actuation region beyond the elastic region and may reach the mounting region. Advantageously, this central recess extends from an end of the mounting region to one end of the actuation region. In other words, the central recess may extend longitudinally through the connector, particularly to provide for fluid flow through the connector. Advantageously, this central recess has a constant diameter in the actuation region, the elastic region, and / or the mounting region. This allows for particularly simple and cost-effective manufacture, which also has advantageous mechanical properties.

[0023] Advantageously, the actuation region has an actuation surface with a normal, in particular in the radial direction. This allows torque, in particular a form-fitting torque, to be easily applied to the connector, in particular about the longitudinal direction, in order to mount the connector. By providing an actuation surface normal facing radially, a particularly cost-effective manufacture can be achieved and actuation is facilitated.

[0024] Advantageously, one or more recesses and / or openings, in particular recesses and / or openings forming a spiral and / or having a slotted hole shape, are laser cut, which results in a particularly cost-effective and precise manufacturing, and local (undesirable) stress concentrations can be avoided and / or reduced.

[0025] Further aspects of the invention may relate to a battery arrangement and / or a fuel cell, the battery arrangement or fuel cell comprising a connector as described above and / or below.

[0026] Further aspects of the invention may relate to the use of the connectors described above and / or below in and / or for a battery arrangement or a fuel cell.

[0027] A further aspect of the invention may relate to a method for manufacturing a connector, in particular as described above and below, in particular the method comprising the following steps: ●Especially preparing blanks Advantageously by molding, the working area (especially the head molding) Molding of assembly areas, especially hollow areas, by forming Moulding of the elastic area in the longitudinal direction between the actuation area and the mounting area, in particular by introducing stiffness-reducing structures, advantageously in the form of recesses and / or openings

[0028] The stiffness-reducing structure may be formed, in particular by a laser, for example by laser cutting. The connector provided by the manufacturing method may have, in particular, the features, embodiments, designs and advantages described above and below. In particular, molding of the actuation area and / or molding of the elastic area and / or molding of the assembly area is performed by the forming process to achieve a particularly mechanically resilient and still cost-effective design for the connector. In particular, the connector may be a screw and / or a bolt. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] Further advantages and features of the present invention are set forth in the following description with reference to the figures. Individual features of the illustrated embodiments may also be used in other embodiments, unless expressly excluded. The figures include: [Figure 1]FIG. 1: Side view of a connector with stiffness reduction structures in a slotted configuration; [Figure 2] Figure 2: A connector with a stiffness reduction structure in the shape of a recess. The width of the stiffness reduction structure decreases toward the center; [Figure 3] Figure 3: Partial view of a connector in a fuel cell; [Figure 4] Figure 4: Multiple connectors in a fuel cell; [Figure 5] Figure 5: Side and cross-sectional views of the connector; and [Figure 6] Figure 6: Connector with spiral deformation structure; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] 1 shows a connector 1 having an actuation area 10 in the form of a head. The actuation area 10 has a connection thread for a gas connection piece. In addition, the connector 1 also has a mounting area 50, with the attachment area 10 and the mounting area 50 forming the distal opposite end area of the connector 1 in the longitudinal direction L. An elastic area 30 is located between the attachment area 10 and the mounting area 50. Due to its shape, the elastic area 30 has a lower elasticity than the actuation area 50 and than the mounting area 10, and the elastic area 30 has reduced spring characteristics. These stiffness characteristics of the elastic area 30 are achieved by a stiffness-reducing structure provided with slots designed as openings.

[0031] Figure 2 shows a connector 1 similar to that of Figure 1, except that the actuation region 10 has an external hexagonal shape with actuation surfaces 12. The mounting region 50 is hollow on the inside and has an internal thread for mounting. The radial direction R points radially from the longitudinal direction L. Deformation structures 32 present in the elastic regions 30 are such that they have a variable width in the longitudinal direction L, decreasing towards the center of the recess.

[0032] 3 shows a detailed view of the connector 1 mounted on a fuel cell. Both the actuation area 10, having the actuation surface 12 therein, and the elastic area 30 are provided with a central recess 60, resulting in an internal hollow area in both the actuation area 10 and the elastic area 30. A stiffness reduction structure is designed in the form of a slotted hole. The stiffness reduction structure 34 forms the deformation structure 32, which has a radial thickness RS in the radial direction R.

[0033] 4 shows a fuel cell with multiple connectors 1. The connectors 1 pass completely through the fuel cell in the longitudinal direction L.

[0034] 5 shows a side view of the lower part and a cross section through the upper part of the connector 1. The connector 1 extends in a longitudinal direction L. In the elastic region 32, the disk spring-like deformation structures 32 are arranged in series. This geometric design gives the elastic region 30 a cumulative spring characteristic. The radial thickness RS can be seen in the elastic region. Both the mounting region 50 and the elastic region 30 are hollow on the inside and therefore each has a central recess 60. The mounting region 50 has an internal thread for mounting the connector 1.

[0035] 6 shows a connector 1. The connector 1 has a deformation structure 32 that is a spiral. In other words, the elastic region 30 has a helical recess that forms the deformation structure 32. The deformation structure 32 has a material thickness MS in the longitudinal direction L. Alternatively, instead of a helical recess, multiple helical recesses can also be provided, resulting in multiple deformation structures or a deformation structure in the form of a spiral. The mounting region 50 also has a metric internal thread.

[0036] List of reference numbers: 1 - Connector 10 - Working area, especially the head 12 - Working surface 30 - Elastic area 32 - Deformed Structure 34 - Rigidity reducing structures, recesses, especially openings 50 - Wearing area 60 - Central recess L - Longitudinal MS - Material Thickness R - radial RS - Radial Thickness U - Circumferential direction

Claims

1. A connector (1), in particular a screw or bolt, comprising an actuation area (10), in particular a head, an elastic area (30) and a mounting area (50), The connector (1) extends in a longitudinal direction (L), The radial direction (R) is particularly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L), the elastic region (30) is in the longitudinal direction (L) between the actuation region (10) and the mounting region (50); the mounting area (50) has a thread, in particular an internal thread, the elastic region (30) and / or the mounting region (50) are hollow, in particular internally, the elastic region (30) has stiffness-reducing structures (34), in particular in the form of recesses and / or openings; and / or the elastic region (30), due to its shape, has a lower elasticity than the mounting region (50) and / or the actuation region (10); and / or The elastic region (30) has a cumulative spring characteristic. Connector (1).

2. the elastic region (30) has one or more deformation structures (32) that are subjected to bending and / or twisting when the actuation region (10) is displaced in the longitudinal direction (L) relative to the mounting region (50); A connector (1) according to claim 1.

3. The elastic region (30) has a cumulative spring characteristic. A connector (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the elastic region (30) has one or more stiffness-reducing structures (34), in particular in the form of recesses (34) and / or openings, The stiffness reduction structure (34) forms or limits the deformation structure (32); A connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. At least one stiffness reducing structure (34), in particular a recess, is formed so that its protrusion in the longitudinal direction (L) covers itself; A connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. the elastic region (30) includes one or more helical depressions (34) and / or stiffness reduction structures (34); As a result, the elastic region (30) has one or more and / or multiple deformation structures (32) that are convoluted. A connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. the deformation structure (32), in particular the spiral, has a material thickness (MS) in the direction of said longitudinal direction (L) and a radial thickness (RS) in the radial direction, the ratio of the material thickness (MS) to the radial thickness (RS) is in the range of 0.8 to 1.2, preferably in the range of 0.9 to 1.1, and particularly preferably in the range of 0.97 to 1.03; Connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in particular claim 5 or 6.

8. At least one recess (34) and / or stiffness reduction structure (34), preferably a plurality of recesses (34) and / or stiffness reduction structures (34), are slotted; A connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. the slotted recesses (34) in the direction of the longitudinal direction (L) and / or the protrusions of the stiffness reducing structures (34) form a closed circle, in particular around the longitudinal direction (L); A connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. at least one recess (34), in particular a slot, and / or a stiffness reducing structure (34), has a variable width in said longitudinal direction (L); A connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. the width of the at least one opening (34) and / or the at least one stiffness reduction structure (34) decreases towards the center of the recess (34) and / or stiffness reduction structure (34); Connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in particular claim 10.

12. The connector is one piece. A connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. a central recess (60) is present, which extends in the longitudinal direction (L) from the actuation region (10) through the elastic region (30) to the mounting region (50), in particular to the tip of the mounting region (50); A connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A battery arrangement or a fuel cell comprising a connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, and / or Use of a connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 in and / or for a battery arrangement or a fuel cell.

15. A method for manufacturing a connector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising: Steps below: ●Especially preparing blanks - Advantageously by molding, the working area (10), in particular the moulding of the head - Molding of hollow mounting areas (50) by specifically forming - the molding of the elastic region (30), in particular by introducing stiffness-reducing structures (34), advantageously in the form of recesses and / or openings in the longitudinal direction (L) between the actuation region (10) and the mounting region (50); A method comprising:

Images