Device-side connector

The device-side connector addresses corrosion issues in electrical connectors by using a sacrificial corrosion-resistant member to protect the metal housing, ensuring reliable electrical connections and waterproofing in automotive applications.

JP2026084910APending Publication Date: 2026-05-22FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO LTD +1
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO LTD
Filing Date
2024-11-12
Publication Date
2026-05-22

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing connectors for electrical equipment in automobiles, particularly those used in electric vehicles, face issues with corrosion of metal housings due to exposure to water and saltwater, leading to wear and potential gaps that compromise electrical connections and waterproofing.

Method used

A device-side connector that incorporates a corrosion-resistant member, made of a more reactive metal than the housing, which sacrificially corrodes to protect the metal housing and fastening members, ensuring electrical connectivity and waterproofing by forming a sacrificial corrosion protection system.

Benefits of technology

Prevents corrosion of the metal housing by using a more reactive metal to sacrificially corrode, maintaining the integrity of the connector and preventing water ingress, thus ensuring reliable electrical connections and waterproofing.

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Abstract

This device-side connector prevents wear and tear due to corrosion of the metal housing by directly or indirectly connecting a corrosion-resistant component, which is more susceptible to corrosion than the metal housing, to the metal housing and fastening component via water. [Solution] A device-side connector 2 that connects to a harness-side connector 1 on which terminals to which electric wires are connected, the device-side connector 2 has a connector housing 22 on which terminals to be connected to the terminals of the harness-side connector 1 are provided, a through hole 26 formed in the fixing base 231 of the connector housing 22, a fastening member 25 that is inserted into the through hole 26 and connects and fixes the fixing base 231 to the metal housing 6 of the device made of a first metal, a sealing member 28 that is in close contact with the metal housing 6 in an annular groove 232 formed inside the position where the fastening member 25 is provided and around the entire circumference, and a corrosion-resistant member 5 made of a second metal that melts first to the first metal constituting the metal housing 6 and has a sacrificial corrosion protection effect.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device-side connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, electrical equipment installed in automobiles and the like has been connected to other electrical equipment or a power supply device via a wire harness formed by bundling coated wires to form an electrical circuit. At this time, the wire harness and devices such as electrical equipment and power supply devices are connected by fitting harness-side connectors and device-side connectors attached to each.

[0003] However, in recent years, electric vehicles have become widely popular. In particular, since the engine has been replaced by a motor, power supply devices such as batteries that handle high current and voltage have come to be used, and there is a tendency for the number of connectors for connecting between electrical equipment and power supply devices to increase. Furthermore, recently, a drive device called an "axle" that integrates drive devices such as a "motor", an "inverter" that controls high current and voltage, and a "transaxle" that is connected to a tire has been widely used. This "axle" is formed of a metal aluminum housing to house heavy drive devices such as transformers. Furthermore, a high-voltage device-side connector is fixed to receive high current and voltage from the "battery".

[0004] On the other hand, an aluminum housing is likely to corrode in an environment such as water or salt water, and it is necessary to perform anticorrosion treatment. Therefore, there is an anticorrosion measure of performing anodizing treatment to form an anodic oxide film on the surface of the aluminum housing. However, there is a problem in that the anodic oxide film insulates the aluminum housing and cannot be grounded with a shield member. Therefore, there is a problem that the anticorrosion measure for the aluminum housing and the measure for connecting excessive current to the ground while maintaining insulation are not compatible.

[0005] For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a corrosion-resistant connector comprising a plurality of terminals, each attached to the end of a plurality of electric wires having a conductor, and made of a different metal from the metal constituting the conductor, and a corrosion-resistant body for preventing corrosion at the contact points between the terminals and the conductors of the electric wires. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a waterproof connector that has an annular sealing surface formed on the inner wall surface at the opening end of the wire outlet opening, with the outer sealing surface of a sealing member having an inner circumferential sealing surface that is in close contact with the outer circumference of the wire, thereby stabilizing waterproof performance by suppressing deformation in the direction of expansion of the annular sealing surface provided on the inner wall surface of the connector housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-055029 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-055030 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-204641 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, while Patent Documents 1 and 2 prevent corrosion at the contact points between multiple electric wires and the terminals connected to them, they do not consider corrosion between the connector and the metal housing in which the connector is placed. Furthermore, while Patent Document 3 describes a waterproof connector with stable waterproofing, it does not consider corrosion of the metal housing of the object being connected. Therefore, when the equipment-side connector is fastened to a metal casing such as aluminum using different fastening members such as bolts made of steel, the metal casing corrodes and wears down, reducing the axial force of the fastening members. This creates a gap between the metal casing and the equipment-side connector, allowing water or saltwater to enter.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide an equipment-side connector that prevents wear due to corrosion of the metal housing by directly or indirectly connecting a corrosion-resistant member, which is more susceptible to corrosion than the metal housing, to the metal housing and fastening member via water. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The inventors of this invention have completed the present invention by using a corrosion-preventive material between the metal housing and the fastening member to sacrificially corrode the metal housing, which is made of a metal less noble than the fastening member, thereby preventing corrosion of the metal housing. The features of this invention are listed below.

[0010] (1) A device-side connector that connects to a harness-side connector having terminals to which electric wires are connected, wherein the device-side connector has a connector housing having terminals to which terminals to be connected to terminals of the harness-side connector are provided, a through hole is formed in the fixing base of the connector housing, a fastening member is inserted into the through hole and connects and fixes the fixing base to a metal housing of the device made of a first metal, a sealing member is disposed in an annular groove formed around the entire circumference at a position inside the position where the fastening member is provided and is in close contact with the metal housing, and a corrosion-resistant member made of a second metal that dissolves first to the first metal constituting the metal housing and has a sacrificial corrosion protection effect. (2) The equipment-side connector according to claim 1, wherein the corrosion-preventive member is connected directly to the fastening member or indirectly via a conductive plate connected to the fastening member. (3) The equipment-side connector according to claim 1, wherein the corrosion-preventive member is disposed at the outer end of the connector housing, outside of the sealing member. (4) The equipment-side connector according to claim 1, wherein the first metal is one metal or alloy selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, iron and iron alloys, and copper and copper alloys. (5) The equipment-side connector according to claim 1, wherein the first metal is aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and the second metal is one metal selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc alloys, and magnesium and magnesium alloys. (6) The equipment-side connector according to claim 2, wherein the conductive plate is made of a third metal, such as iron or stainless steel. (7) The equipment-side connector according to claim 1, wherein the corrosion-preventive member is disposed in an annular recess formed between the sealing member and the fastening member, and which is formed continuously or intermittently. (8) The equipment-side connector according to claim 7, wherein the corrosion-preventive member disposed in the recess is pressed into contact with the metal housing by a pressing member disposed on the bottom side of the recess. (9) The equipment-side connector according to claim 3, wherein the connector housing has a plurality of water-inducing grooves that extend in the direction from the corrosion-preventive member toward the sealing member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, a device-side connector is provided that prevents wear due to corrosion of the metal housing by connecting a corrosion-resistant member, which is more susceptible to corrosion than the metal housing, directly to the metal housing and the fastening member, or via water. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the connector connection structure, with the harness-side connector and the equipment-side connector separated, as seen from the equipment-side connector. [Figure 2] These are a rear view and a cross-sectional view of a device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of a device-side connector, which is an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of a device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a partial cross-sectional view of a device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a partial cross-sectional view of a device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a rear view of a device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8]These are partial cross-sectional views of the device-side connectors, which are other embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 9] These are rear views of the device-side connectors, which are other embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 10] These are rear views of the device-side connectors, which are other embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 11] These are partial cross-sectional views of the device-side connectors, which are other embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 12] These are rear views of the device-side connectors, which are other embodiments of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Those skilled in the art can easily make changes and modifications to the present invention within the scope of the claims to form other embodiments, and these changes and modifications are included in the scope of the claims. The following description is also an example of the embodiments of the present invention and does not limit the scope of the claims.

[0014] (First Embodiment) <Connector Connection Structure> FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector connection structure in a state where the harness-side connector and the device-side connector are separated, as viewed from the side of the device-side connector. The connector connection structure 4 comprises a harness-side connector 1 and an equipment-side connector 2 that mates with the harness-side connector 1. Here, the harness-side connector 1 includes a first connection end 10 having a first terminal 11 to which the electric wires 30 are connected, a first connector housing 12 to which the first terminal 11 is fixedly positioned, and a first housing cover 13 positioned around the first connector housing 12. The equipment-side connector 2 includes a second connection end 20 having a second terminal 21 to which the first terminal 11 is connected, a second connector housing 22 to which the second terminal 21 is fixedly positioned, and a second housing cover 23 positioned around the second connector housing 22. In this connector connection structure 4, the first connection end 10 of the harness-side connector 1 is inserted into and mated with the second connection end 20 of the equipment-side connector 2. The connector connection structure 4 is structured to be electrically connected by mating, for example, a harness-side connector 1 to which a wire harness 3 of bundled electric wires 30 is attached, with an equipment-side connector 2 provided on equipment such as a motor installed in an automobile. In this configuration, it is preferable that the harness-side connector 1 is a female connector and the equipment-side connector 2 is a male connector. Alternatively, the harness-side connector 1 may be a male connector and the equipment-side connector 2 may be a female connector. Figure 2 shows a rear view and a cross-sectional view of an equipment-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2(a) is a rear view of the equipment-side connector, where line AA indicates the cutting position. Figure 2(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the cross-section as seen from direction E. The equipment-side connector 2 has a second housing cover 23 on which the second terminal 21 is fixedly arranged, and a second connecting end 20 which has a through hole 26, a fastening member 25, and a sealing member 28 provided in its fixed base 231. The following drawings are also shown in accordance with this.

[0015] <Device-side connector> The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention: a device-side connector. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an equipment-side connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device-side connector 2 of the present invention includes a second terminal 21 that connects to a first terminal 11 fixedly mounted inside a second connector housing 22. Furthermore, a fastening member 25 is provided, inserted into a through-hole 26 formed in the fixing base 231, to connect and fix the fixing base 231 to the metal housing 6 of the device, which is made of a first metal. A sealing member 28 is also provided in an annular groove 232 formed around the entire circumference, located inside the position where the fastening member 25 is installed, to ensure close contact with the metal housing 6. Here, the first metal constituting the metal housing 6 can be selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, iron and iron alloys, and copper and copper alloys. Furthermore, the device-side connector 2 includes a corrosion-preventive member 5 made of a second metal that has a sacrificial corrosion-preventive effect, dissolving preferentially over the first metal constituting the metal housing 6 when water 7 is present in a specific area of ​​the fixing base 231 of the second connector housing 22 which is connected and fixed to the metal housing 6.

[0016] The equipment-side connector 2 of the present invention connects to an electric wire that is fixedly mounted inside. The electric wire is not particularly limited in type, but for example, it has a conductor consisting of multiple strands or strands made of metals such as aluminum or aluminum alloy, copper, copper alloy, or silver, and an insulating layer that insulates the conductor. At the end of the electric wire, the insulating layer is peeled off to expose a portion of it, and it is connected to the connection terminal of a motor in a drive device that is provided so as to be fixed to the equipment-side connector 2.

[0017] <Second connector housing> The second connector housing 22 refers to the connector housing of the equipment-side connector 2, and consists of a roughly rectangular parallelepiped housing integrally molded from insulating resin, and has conductors for the electric wire 30 fixedly mounted inside 111, and a through hole 26 for inserting the fastening member 25 is formed in the fixing base 231. The second connector housing 22 has an opening on one side, which is inserted into the opening of the harness-side connector and mated together to connect the terminals of the conductor portion. Furthermore, the electrical equipment to which the wires are connected from the second connector housing 22 is connected is then operated.

[0018] <Shielding component> The shielding member is provided along the inner wall surface of the second connector housing 22 of the equipment-side connector 2, covering the entire structure, and is connected to the metal housing 6 because it is conductive. The shielding member is connected and fixed to the metal housing 6, such as an axle, and connected to ground in order to eliminate electromagnetic noise generated from the wires and conductors of the equipment-side connector 2 and the harness-side connector 1. For this reason, the shielding member is conductive and is made of, for example, aluminum. This allows the shielding member to prevent electromagnetic noise generated within the equipment-side connector 2 from leaking to the outside.

[0019] <Through hole> The second connector housing 22 has flat fixing bases 231 extending in each direction from the four sides of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped side wall of the housing, for inserting fastening members 25 that connect and fix to the metal housing 6, and the fixing bases 231 of the second connector housing 22 are provided with through holes 26. Preferably, one or more pairs of through holes 26 are provided at positions symmetrical to the width of the rectangular or square shape of the second connector housing 22. This allows the second connector housing 22 to maintain a state of uniform contact pressure with the metal housing 6 when connected and fixed to the metal housing 6, thereby improving the shielding characteristics.

[0020] <Fastening component> The fastening member 25 is inserted into the through hole 26 in the fixing base 231 of the second connector housing 22 and connected and fixed to the metal housing 6 of the equipment made of the first metal, using bolts and nuts or screws, although not particularly limited. The fastening member 25 ensures the axial force during connection and fixing, enabling the second connector housing 22 and the metal housing 6 to be connected and fixed. The fastening member 25 is not limited in material, but conductive iron or stainless steel can be used. Furthermore, if the corrosion protection member 5 and the metal housing 6 are in direct contact, a non-conductive resin can be used. For example, possible resin materials include acrylic resin, styrene resin, and ABS resin. In addition, to impart conductivity to the fastening member 25, the resin material can be plated with, for example, gold, nickel, or tin.

[0021] <Sealing material> The device-side connector 2 of the present invention has a sealing member 28 that is positioned inside the position where the fastening member 25 is installed, and is located in an annular groove 232 formed around the entire circumference of the second connector housing 22, and which is in close contact with the metal housing 6. The sealing member 28 is pressed against the metal housing 6 from the equipment-side connector 2, generating surface pressure and ensuring waterproofing. The annular groove 232 in the sealing member 28 does not have a particularly limited cross-sectional shape, but it may be arc-shaped, triangular, or rectangular, although an arc shape is preferred. Furthermore, the sealing member 28 is preferably made of highly elastic rubber in order to adhere tightly to the metal housing 6, and an O-ring can be applied. Furthermore, the sealing member 28 is positioned inside the location where the fastening member 25 is installed in the second connector housing 22, and is located in an annular groove 232 that extends around the entire circumference. By extending around the entire circumference, the sealing member 28 seals the second connector housing 22 and the metal housing 6, preventing water from entering the wires and conductors inside the second connector housing 22. In addition to being provided in the annular groove 232 of the equipment-side connector 2, the sealing member 28 can also be provided in a groove formed on the metal housing 6 side.

[0022] <Corrosion-resistant material> The device-side connector 2 of the present invention includes a corrosion-preventive member 5 made of a second metal that has a sacrificial corrosion-preventive effect, dissolving preferentially over the first metal constituting the metal housing 6 when water 7 is present in a specific area of ​​the fixing base 231 of the second connector housing 22 which is connected and fixed to the metal housing 6. As shown in Figure 3, the corrosion protection member 5 provides sacrificial corrosion protection by being connected to the metal housing 6 when water 7 is present. Here, the corrosion protection member 5 is directly connected to a conductive fastening member 25 and is positioned on the fixing base 231 of the second connector housing 22. Furthermore, the corrosion protection member 5 is positioned outside the sealing member 28 on the fixing base 231 of the second connector housing 22. The term "specific area" refers to an area that includes both the contact area that directly contacts the fixed base 231 of the second connector housing 22, and the non-contact area located in a space away from the fixed base 231.

[0023] When the metal housing 6 and the second connector housing 22 are connected, the metal housing 6 may corrode if water 7 or saltwater containing salts soluble in water 7 is present. For example, in the case of an automobile, water 7 may come into contact with the metal housing 6 that constitutes electrical equipment such as the axle when driving in the rain. Similarly, on roads where de-icing agents have been spread, water 7 containing salt may come into contact with the metal housing 6. The device-side connector 2 of the present invention is equipped with a corrosion-resistant member 5 that dissolves before the metal housing 6 in the presence of water 7, thereby preventing corrosion of the metal housing 6. This occurs because the second metal constituting the corrosion-preventive member 5 dissolves in water 7 before the first metal constituting the metal housing 6, causing a corrosion-preventive current to flow from the corrosion-preventive member 5, which has become the anode, to the metal housing 6, which has become the cathode. By utilizing this sacrificial corrosion protection, corrosion of the metal housing 6 can be prevented.

[0024] For this chemical cell reaction to occur spontaneously, the second metal must be in a less noble state with a higher ionization tendency, meaning it is more easily soluble in water than the first metal. In the present invention, when the first metal of the device-side connector 2 is aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the second metal is one metal selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc alloys, and magnesium and magnesium alloys. As the first metal constituting the metal housing 6, aluminum and aluminum alloys (hereinafter simply referred to as "aluminum material") are preferably used. Aluminum material is suitable for electrical equipment because it is lightweight and has high strength. However, since aluminum material is a base metal compared to iron, etc., when aluminum material is used as the first metal, it is preferable that the second metal be one metal selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc alloys, and magnesium and magnesium alloys. In particular, zinc and zinc alloys can be used continuously and stably as the second metal because their oxidation-reduction potential is close to that of aluminum material.

[0025] (Second Embodiment) <Conductive plate> Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. When the corrosion-resistant member 5 is attached to the fastening member 25, for example, in the first embodiment shown in Figure 3, the axial force of the fastening member 25 may decrease if the corrosion-resistant member 5 dissolves and decreases. Therefore, in the equipment-side connector 2 of the second embodiment, the corrosion-resistant member 5 is indirectly connected to the fastening member 25 via the conductive plate 27, thereby preventing loosening due to a decrease in the axial force of the fastening member 25. In this case, even if the fastening member 25 and the conductive plate 27 are fastened together, other fastening members can be used separately from the fastening member 25 that fastens the second connector housing 22. The conductive plate 27 is preferably conductive in order to form a single circuit between the corrosion-resistant member 5, the fastening member 25, and the metal housing 6 via the conductive plate 27, and further via water. This single circuit generates a corrosion-resistant effect. Furthermore, it is preferable that the conductive plate 27 be made of a hard metal to prevent a decrease in the axial force of the fastening member 25. A third metal is used as the conductive plate 27, and a plate or washer made of iron or stainless steel can be used as this third metal.

[0026] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, a corrosion-preventive member 5 is attached to the deformed conductive plate 27. This reduces the distance between the corrosion-preventive member 5 and the metal housing 6 via water 7, thereby enhancing the corrosion-preventive effect. Alternatively, the corrosion-preventive member 5 may come into contact with the metal housing 6 without the need for water 7. At this time, because the conductive plate 27 is elastic, even if the corrosion-preventive member 5 dissolves and decreases, the fastening member 25 can continue to press against the metal housing 6. This allows the corrosion-preventive effect to be further enhanced by maintaining a small distance between the corrosion-preventive member 5 and the metal housing 6 via water 7.

[0027] (Third embodiment) <Recess> Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. In a third embodiment of the present invention, the equipment-side connector 2 houses and arranges the corrosion-preventive member 5 in an annular recess 234 formed between the sealing member 28 and the fastening member 25, which is either continuous or intermittently formed. By arranging the corrosion-preventive member 5 near the sealing member 28, the corrosion-preventive effect near the sealing member 28 is further enhanced, thereby preventing the intrusion of water 7.

[0028] Figure 7 is a rear view showing the configuration of a device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. The device-side connector 2 of the present invention has corrosion-preventive members 5 arranged intermittently in an annular shape to match the intermittently formed annular recesses 234. It is sufficient that electrons generated by the dissolution of the metal of the corrosion-preventive members 5 in water 7 can flow to the metal housing 6. Therefore, the position, shape, and number of corrosion-preventive members 5 are not limited.

[0029] Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 8(a), the equipment-side connector 2 of the present invention houses and arranges the corrosion-preventive member 5 in an annular recess 234 formed between the sealing member 28 and the fastening member 25, which is either continuously or intermittently formed. Furthermore, the corrosion-preventive member 5 is in contact with a conductive plate 27 attached to the fastening member 25. This ensures that the corrosion-preventive member 5 and the metal housing 6 are always electrically connected via the conductive plate 27. Furthermore, in Figure 8(b), the equipment-side connector 2 of the present invention houses and positions the corrosion-resistant member 5 in annular, continuous or intermittently formed recesses 234 formed on the fixing base 231 outside the fastening member 25. In addition, the corrosion-resistant member 5 is in contact with a conductive plate 27 attached to the fastening member 25. This ensures that the corrosion-resistant member 5 and the metal housing 6 are always electrically connected via the conductive plate 27.

[0030] Figure 9 is a rear view showing the configuration of each of the device-side connectors, which are other embodiments of the present invention. In the present invention, the equipment-side connector 2 has a corrosion-resistant member 5 and a conductive plate 27 arranged in an annular shape around the entire circumference of the second connector housing 22. Figure 9(a) shows that the conductive plate 27 is located closer to the center than the corrosion-resistant member 5. Figure 9(b) shows that the conductive plate 27 is located outside the corrosion protection member 5. In either case, the corrosion-preventive member 5 can generate a corrosion-preventive effect via water 7 by contacting the conductive plate 27 and the metal housing 6.

[0031] Figure 10 is a rear view showing the configuration of each device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the equipment-side connector 2, as shown in Figure 10(a), has the corrosion-preventive member 5 and conductive plate 27 arranged in a ring shape around the entire circumference of the second connector housing 22. As shown in Figure 10(b), they are arranged in a fragmentary manner. In Figures 10(a) and (b), the corrosion-preventive member 5 only needs to be able to form a single circuit by contacting the metal housing 6 via water 7. This is because electrons generated by the dissolution of the metal of the corrosion-preventive member 5 in water 7 can flow to the metal housing 6. Therefore, the position, shape, and number of corrosion-preventive members 5 are not limited.

[0032] (Fourth embodiment) <Pressing member> Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the equipment-side connector 2 has an annular recess 234 formed between the sealing member 28 and the fastening member 25, which is housed and positioned on the bottom side of the recess 234, which is formed continuously or intermittently. Furthermore, a pressing member 29 is provided to press the corrosion-resistant member 5 into contact with the metal housing 6. The pressing member 29 can be used stably by keeping its axial force below that of the fastening member 25. In Figure 11(a), a coil spring is used as the pressing member 29. In Figure 11(b), a tongue spring is used as the pressing member 29. By pressing the corrosion-preventive member 5 toward the metal housing 6 using any of the pressing members 29, the corrosion-preventive effect in the presence of water 7 can be stably maintained by pressing the corrosion-preventive member 5 into contact with the metal housing 6.

[0033] (Fifth embodiment) <Water intake channel> Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a device-side connector, which is another embodiment of the present invention. In a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the equipment-side connector 2 is formed such that a plurality of water-inducing grooves 235 extend from the corrosion-preventive member 5 toward the sealing member 28 disposed on the fixed base 231. In Figure 12(a), the corrosion-preventive members 5 are arranged in a ring shape around the entire circumference of the second connector housing 22, and water-inducing grooves 235 are formed to connect them. In Figure 12(b), the corrosion-resistant members 5 are intermittently arranged around the entire circumference of the second connector housing 22 in an annular shape, and water-attracting grooves 235 are formed to connect the corrosion-resistant members 5 and the corrosion-resistant members 5 to the second connector housing 22. By preventing water 7 from remaining only in the metal casing 6 and actively attracting water 7 to bring the corrosion-preventive member 5 into contact with the metal casing 6, the corrosion-preventive effect can be achieved.

[0034] As described above, the equipment-side connector 2 of the present invention prevents wear due to corrosion of the metal housing 6 and prevents water from entering the center side of the second connector housing 22 by directly or indirectly connecting the corrosion-resistant member 5, which is more susceptible to corrosion than the metal housing 6, to the metal housing 6 and the fastening member 25 via water. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1. Harness-side connector 10 First connection end 11 First terminal 12 First connector housing 121 Wire lead-out opening 122 Housing fitting opening 13 First Housing Cover 14 Protruding tip 2. Device-side connector 20 Second connection end 21 Second terminal 22. Second connector housing (connector housing) 23 Second housing cover 231 Fixed base 232 Annular groove 234 recess 235 Water Intake Channel 25 Fastening members 26 Through holes 27 Conductive plate 28 sealing member 29 Pressing member 30 Electric wire 4. Connector connection structure 5. Corrosion-resistant material 6. Metal casing 7 water

Claims

1. A device-side connector that connects to a harness-side connector where terminals to which electric wires are connected are provided, The aforementioned device-side connector is It has a connector housing that has terminals for connecting to the terminals of the harness-side connector, A through hole is formed in the fixing base of the connector housing, and a fastening member is inserted into the through hole to connect and fix the fixing base to the metal housing of the device made of the first metal, A sealing member is provided, located inside the position where the fastening member is provided, and in an annular groove formed around the entire circumference, to be in close contact with the metal housing. A device-side connector comprising a corrosion-preventive member made of a second metal that dissolves first to a first metal constituting the metal housing and has a sacrificial corrosion-preventive effect.

2. The equipment-side connector according to claim 1, wherein the corrosion-preventive member is connected to the fastening member, or indirectly connected via a conductive plate connected to the fastening member.

3. The equipment-side connector according to claim 1, wherein the corrosion-preventive member is disposed on the fixing base of the connector housing at a position outside the sealing member.

4. The equipment-side connector according to claim 1, wherein the first metal is one metal or alloy selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys, iron and iron alloys, and copper and copper alloys.

5. The equipment-side connector according to claim 1, wherein the first metal is aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and the second metal is one metal selected from the group consisting of zinc and zinc alloys, and magnesium and magnesium alloys.

6. The equipment-side connector according to claim 2, wherein the conductive plate is made of a third metal, such as iron or stainless steel.

7. The equipment-side connector according to claim 1, wherein the corrosion-preventive member is an annular recess formed between the sealing member and the fastening member, and is disposed in a continuously or intermittently formed recess.

8. The equipment-side connector according to claim 7, wherein the corrosion-preventive member disposed in the recess is pressed into contact with the metal housing by a pressing member disposed on the bottom surface side of the recess.

9. The equipment-side connector according to claim 3, wherein the connector housing has a plurality of water-inducing grooves formed therein that extend in the direction from the corrosion-preventive member toward the sealing member.