Air inlet assembly and air conditioner

Abstract

The application relates to the air conditioning technical field, and particularly provides an air inlet assembly and an air conditioner, aiming to solve the problems of low installation efficiency and the like caused by the poor design of the installation structure of an air inlet grid and a filter screen. For the purpose, the air inlet assembly comprises the air inlet grid, a limiting portion and a first clamping portion are arranged on the air inlet grid; the filter screen assembly is arranged on the leeward side of the air inlet grid, the filter screen assembly comprises a support and a filter screen arranged on the support, the support is provided with a mounting hole, the first clamping portion passes through the mounting hole and is clamped with the support to limit the relative displacement of the support and the air inlet grid in a set direction, the limiting portion is inserted into the mounting hole and abuts against the hole wall of the mounting hole, and the limiting portion is matched with the first clamping portion to limit the relative displacement of the support and the air inlet grid in a set plane. The air inlet assembly provided by the application can be assembled by manually aligning and pressing through the clamping structure, without the aid of tools, and is convenient to operate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, specifically providing an air intake component and an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] An embedded air conditioner is an air conditioning unit concealed within the ceiling or wall. The air intake grille is located at the bottom or side of the air conditioner panel, and the filter is typically installed inside the grille. Its main function is to trap particulate pollutants such as dust and hair from the air, ensuring indoor air quality and efficient heat exchanger operation. The air intake grille and filter together constitute the air conditioner's return air system, and the precision with which they work together directly affects the filtration effect.

[0003] Currently, there are significant operational inconveniences in installing the air intake grille and filter of embedded air conditioners: First, the assembly structure design is unreasonable. Most products rely on hidden clips or small fixing screws for connection. During installation, precise alignment of the clips is required in the narrow ceiling space, or special tools are needed to tighten the small screws. The operating field of vision is limited, and clip misalignment and screw loosening are common. Second, there is a lack of convenient positioning and auxiliary structures. There are no clear positioning marks to guide the installation process. Maintenance personnel or users need to repeatedly adjust the relative positions of the air intake grille and filter to complete the assembly, which greatly increases the installation time. Third, some filter fixing methods are unstable. After installation, the filter is prone to displacement due to slight vibrations. This not only affects the filtration effect but may also increase the gap between the air intake grille and the unit body, generating additional operating noise.

[0004] Therefore, a new technical solution is needed in this field to solve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] This application aims to solve the aforementioned technical problems, namely, to address the shortcomings in the design of existing air intake grilles and filter installation structures, resulting in low installation efficiency.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides an air intake assembly, comprising:

[0007] An air inlet grille is provided with a limiting part and a first snap-fit ​​part;

[0008] A filter assembly is disposed on the leeward side of the air inlet grille. The filter assembly includes a bracket and a filter screen disposed on the bracket. The bracket is provided with a mounting hole. A first snap-fit ​​portion passes through the mounting hole and snaps into the bracket to limit the relative displacement of the bracket and the air inlet grille in a set direction. A limiting portion is inserted into the mounting hole and abuts against the hole wall of the mounting hole. The limiting portion cooperates with the first snap-fit ​​portion to limit the relative displacement of the bracket and the air inlet grille in a set plane.

[0009] The set direction is perpendicular to the set plane.

[0010] Optionally, the first snap-fit ​​portion includes a support arm and a snap hook disposed at the end of the support arm. The snap hook has a snap-fit ​​surface facing the air inlet grille. The support arm passes through the mounting hole, and the snap-fit ​​surface abuts against the surface of the bracket away from the air inlet grille.

[0011] Optionally, a first arc-shaped segment is provided between the hook and the leeward side of the air inlet grille.

[0012] Optionally, the bracket has an elastic element on its surface facing the air inlet grille, and when the first snap-fit ​​part snaps into the bracket, the elastic element abuts against the leeward side of the air inlet grille.

[0013] Optionally, the elastic element includes a base disposed on the bracket and an elastic arm extending outward from the base, the elastic arm abutting against the air inlet grille, and the elastic arm having a second arc-shaped segment.

[0014] Optionally, the elastic element is positioned close to the mounting hole.

[0015] Optionally, the air inlet grille is further provided with a second snap-fit ​​part, and the bracket is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove, wherein the second snap-fit ​​part snaps into the snap-fit ​​groove.

[0016] Optionally, the air inlet grille is further provided with a mounting groove, and the bracket is embedded in the mounting groove.

[0017] Optionally, the mounting groove is further provided with a positioning protrusion, and the bracket is provided with a positioning groove on the surface facing the air inlet grille, with the positioning protrusion disposed in the positioning groove.

[0018] In a second aspect, this application provides an air conditioner including an air intake assembly as described in any one of the first aspects.

[0019] With the above technical solution, the brackets of the air inlet grille and filter assembly can be initially aligned and guided by the limiting part and the mounting hole. Combined with the elastic snap-fit ​​design of the first snap-fit ​​part, manual pressing assembly without special tools can be achieved, greatly simplifying the operation process. The limiting part abuts against the wall of the mounting hole to restrict the rotation of the bracket, and the first snap-fit ​​part can fix the displacement in the set direction. The two work together to form a double limiting, effectively preventing the bracket from shifting after assembly and significantly improving the connection stability of the air inlet assembly.

[0020] This application provides an air conditioner including the air intake assembly described above. Because the air intake assembly is easy to install and remove and has a stable connection, this air conditioner can significantly reduce the maintenance difficulty of the filter assembly. Furthermore, the tight fit and vibration damping design of the air intake assembly can reduce gap noise and component vibration noise during airflow, improving the quietness of the air conditioner during operation and optimizing the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The preferred embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 This is an exploded structural diagram of an air intake assembly according to an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Enlarged schematic diagram of the local structure at point A;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of an air intake assembly according to an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Enlarged schematic diagram of the local structure at point B;

[0026] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 Enlarged schematic diagram of the local structure at point D;

[0027] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 A magnified schematic diagram of the local structure at point C. List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0028] 1-Air inlet grille, 10-Mounting groove, 101-Positioning protrusion, 11-Limiting part, 12-First snap-fit ​​part, 121-Support arm, 122-Hook, 123-First arc-shaped section, 124-Second snap-fit ​​part;

[0029] 2-Bracket, 21-Mounting hole, 22-Elastic element, 221-Second arc segment, 23-Snap-fit ​​groove, 24-Positioning groove. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Preferred embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific application scenarios.

[0031] It should be noted that in the description of this application, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer," which indicate direction or positional relationship, are based on the direction or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are used merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the relevant device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. Furthermore, ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0032] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 1 The diagram shown is an exploded view of the structure of an air intake assembly according to an embodiment of the present application. The filter assembly is detachably connected to the leeward side of the air intake grille 1, which is the side facing the interior of the air conditioner.

[0034] Specifically, the filter assembly includes a bracket 2 and a filter screen disposed on the bracket 2. The filter screen is not shown in the figure. The filter screen is fixed to the bracket 2 by means of embedded snap-fit ​​or adhesive connection. (Refer to reference...) Figure 2-4 , Figure 2 This diagram shows a magnified view of a portion of the connection between the air inlet grille 1 and the support 2 in an exploded state, allowing a direct observation of the alignment relationship between the two connection structures. Figure 3 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the air inlet grille 1 and bracket 2 after installation, clearly demonstrating the fit of the connecting structures. Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged schematic diagram of the partial structure at the connection between the central air intake grille 1 and the bracket 2.

[0035] As shown in the figure, the leeward side of the air inlet grille 1 is provided with a limiting part 11 and a first snap-fit ​​part 12, which are spaced apart. The bracket 2 is provided with mounting holes 21 that cooperate with the limiting part 11 and the first snap-fit ​​part 12.

[0036] For ease of operation, the filter assembly is first assembled with the air inlet grille 1. Specifically, during assembly, the limiting part 11 is initially aligned with the mounting hole 21 on the bracket 2 to complete the pre-assembly positioning guidance. Then, the bracket 2 is pressed towards the air inlet grille 1. As the bracket 2 is pressed, it gradually approaches the air inlet grille 1, and the mounting hole 21 on it moves synchronously and gradually passes through the first locking part 12. The first locking part 12 forms a locking with the back side of the bracket 2 through its own elastic deformation, thereby directly restricting the relative displacement of the bracket 2 and the air inlet grille 1 in the set direction. At the same time, the outer wall of the limiting part 11 abuts against the wall of the mounting hole 21. Since the limiting part 11 can restrict the rotation of the bracket 2 around the limiting part 11, it works in concert with the first locking part 12 to jointly restrict the relative displacement of the bracket 2 and the air inlet grille 1 in the set plane. This structure, through the cooperation of the limiting part 11, the first locking part 12, and the mounting hole 21 of the bracket 2, allows for assembly to be completed by manual alignment and pressing without the need for tools, making it convenient to operate.

[0037] It should be noted that the setting plane here corresponds to the working surface of the air inlet grille 1 (i.e., the plane parallel to the ceiling after the embedded air conditioner is installed), and the setting direction refers to the direction perpendicular to the setting plane. This structural design enables the bracket 2 to be accurately positioned and stably fixed in three-dimensional space.

[0038] In one embodiment, the first engaging portion 12 employs a structure of a support arm 121 and a hook 122 to reliably engage and fix the bracket 2. The support arm 121 is a columnar or plate-like structure with a certain degree of elasticity, one end of which is connected to the leeward side of the air inlet grille 1, and the other end extends to the end to form the hook 122. The hook 122 bends towards the air inlet grille 1, forming an engaging surface facing the air inlet grille 1. During assembly, the limiting part 11 is first initially aligned with the mounting hole 21 on the bracket 2 to complete the positioning guidance before assembly. Then, the bracket 2 is pressed towards the air inlet grille 1. As the bracket 2 is pressed, it gradually approaches the air inlet grille 1. The mounting hole 21 on it also moves synchronously and gradually passes through the support arm 121 of the first snap-fit ​​part 12. After the mounting hole 21 has completely passed through the hook 122 at the end of the support arm 121, the snap-fit ​​surface of the hook 122 facing the air inlet grille 1 will naturally press against the side surface of the bracket 2 away from the air inlet grille 1. At this time, the support arm 121 generates a rebound force based on its own elasticity. This rebound force is converted into a pressing force that continuously acts on the bracket 2, thereby restricting the relative separation of the bracket 2 and the air inlet grille 1 in the set direction and ensuring the reliability of the connection after assembly.

[0039] In one embodiment, a first arc-shaped segment 123 is provided between the hook 122 and the leeward side of the air inlet grille 1. The first arc-shaped segment 123 is an outwardly convex arc shape, which is used to enhance the elastic deformation capability of the support arm 121. When assembling or disassembling, the external force applied to the hook 122 will be transmitted to the support arm 121 through the first arc-shaped segment 123. The arc-shaped structure can disperse stress and provide a larger deformation space, so that the support arm 121 can bend or return to its original position more smoothly. This avoids the breakage problem that is prone to occur in rigid connections and reduces the operation force requirements, making the installation and disassembly of the bracket 2 easier when it is synchronously engaged with the limiting part 11 and the first locking part 12 of the mounting hole 21.

[0040] In one embodiment, to further improve the tightness of the fit between the bracket 2 and the air inlet grille 1 after assembly, an elastic element 22 is provided on the surface of the bracket 2 facing the air inlet grille 1. When the hook 122 of the first locking part 12 passes through the mounting hole 21 and locks with the bracket 2, the elastic element 22 is compressed and tightly pressed against the leeward side of the air inlet grille 1, generating a continuous reverse thrust through its own elastic deformation. This design can avoid loosening or abnormal noise caused by assembly errors, and can also form a two-way fixation with the clamping force of the first locking part 12, enhancing the connection stability of the two in the set direction. In addition, when it is necessary to remove the bracket 2 from the air inlet grille 1, the elastic potential energy stored in the elastic element 22 during assembly will be released, providing an outward elastic force to push the bracket 2 away from the air inlet grille 1. This force can help release the locking state between the first locking part 12 and the bracket 2, making it easier for the hook 122 to separate from the bracket 2, thereby reducing the force required for disassembly and making the entire disassembly process easier.

[0041] Furthermore, the elastic element 22 is positioned close to the mounting hole 21. This arrangement allows the force of the elastic element 22 to act directly on the vicinity of the connection node between the bracket 2 and the air inlet grille 1, forming elastic support. More importantly, since the mounting hole 21 is the core mating part between the first snap-fit ​​part 12 and the bracket 2, the snap-fit ​​state of the first snap-fit ​​part 12 needs to be released when removing the bracket 2. With the elastic element 22 positioned close to the mounting hole 21, when its stored elastic potential energy is released, the outward elastic force can act precisely on the snap-fit ​​node area, directly pushing the bracket 2 to produce a slight displacement away from the air inlet grille 1 at this critical part. The elastic force of the elastic element 22 can effectively reduce the contact pressure between the hook 122 and the bracket 2, reduce the resistance that needs to be overcome when manually prying the hook 122 to release the snap-fit, and avoid force loss caused by the elastic force application point being far from the snap-fit ​​part, making the auxiliary effect of the elastic force more direct and efficient during the removal process, further improving the convenience of disassembling the bracket 2.

[0042] Furthermore, the elastic element 22 includes a base and an elastic arm. The base is fixedly disposed on the surface of the bracket 2 facing the air inlet grille 1, providing stable support for the elastic element 22. (Refer to...) Figure 2As shown, the elastic arm extends from the base away from the support 2, and its extension direction is parallel to the plane of the air inlet grille 1. The free end of the elastic arm directly abuts against the leeward side of the air inlet grille 1, and the elastic arm is provided with a second arc segment 221. This arc segment design can increase the deformation space and restoring force of the elastic arm.

[0043] Optionally, in conjunction with reference Figure 1 and 5 The air inlet grille 1 is also provided with a mounting groove 10, which is located on the leeward side of the air inlet grille 1, with its opening facing the bracket 2. The outline dimensions of the mounting groove 10 are adapted to the shape of the bracket 2, allowing the bracket 2 to be precisely embedded in the mounting groove 10. The groove structure further provides a pre-positioning reference for the bracket 2. During assembly, the bracket 2 only needs to be aligned with the edge of the mounting groove 10 to quickly complete the initial alignment, without repeatedly adjusting the overall relative position of the bracket 2 and the air inlet grille 1, greatly improving assembly efficiency. At the same time, after the bracket 2 is embedded, the groove wall of the mounting groove 10 can form a lateral limit on the bracket 2 from all sides. Together with the previous limiting part 11 and the first snap-fit ​​part 12, it further limits the lateral displacement of the bracket 2 in the set plane, preventing the bracket 2 from shifting due to vibration during air conditioner operation.

[0044] Further, refer to Figure 4 The mounting groove 10 is also provided with a positioning protrusion 101, which is a boss structure extending from the bottom of the mounting groove 10 toward the bracket 2. Correspondingly, the surface of the bracket 2 facing the air inlet grille 1 is provided with a positioning groove 24 that matches the positioning protrusion 101, and the positioning protrusion 101 can be embedded in the positioning groove 24. The engagement of the positioning protrusion 101 and the positioning groove 24 helps to accurately align the mounting hole 21 on the bracket 2 with the limiting part 11 and the first snap-fit ​​part 12 of the air inlet grille 1, reducing the adjustment steps during subsequent snap-fit ​​assembly. At the same time, the cooperation between the positioning protrusion 101 and the positioning groove 24 can also limit the relative position of the two in a set direction. That is, by matching the depth of the protrusion and the groove, the bracket 2 is restricted from moving excessively toward or away from the air inlet grille 1, avoiding unnecessary displacement deviation in the direction perpendicular to the set plane, and further improving the assembly accuracy and structural stability.

[0045] In one embodiment, reference Figure 6The air inlet grille 1 is also provided with a second locking part 124, which is an elastic claw or protruding buckle structure extending along the edge of the air inlet grille 1 towards the leeward side. Correspondingly, the bracket 2 has a locking groove 23 adapted to the second locking part 124 along its edge, and the positions of the second locking part 124 and the locking groove 23 are one-to-one, both located close to the edges of both. During assembly, when the bracket 2 is pressed towards the air inlet grille 1 to a preset position, the second locking part 124 will naturally lock into the locking groove 23 as the bracket 2 moves. Through the locking engagement at the edge, the bracket 2 is additionally fixed from the overall outline. This design can effectively prevent the edge of the bracket 2 from warping or loosening due to uneven force, further improving the connection stability between the bracket 2 and the air inlet grille 1 in the set plane.

[0046] This application provides an air conditioner including the air intake assembly described above. Because the air intake assembly is easy to install and remove and has a stable connection, this air conditioner can significantly reduce the maintenance difficulty of the filter assembly. Furthermore, the tight fit and vibration damping design of the air intake assembly can reduce gap noise and component vibration noise during airflow, improving the quietness of the air conditioner during operation and optimizing the user experience.

[0047] The technical solutions of this application have been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of this application is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of this application, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An air intake assembly, characterized in that, include: An air inlet grille (1) is provided with a limiting part (11) and a first snap-fit ​​part (12); A filter assembly is disposed on the leeward side of the air inlet grille (1). The filter assembly includes a bracket (2) and a filter disposed on the bracket (2). The bracket (2) is provided with a mounting hole (21). The first snap-fit ​​part (12) passes through the mounting hole (21) and snaps with the bracket (2) to limit the relative displacement of the bracket (2) and the air inlet grille (1) in a set direction. The limiting part (11) is inserted into the mounting hole (21) and abuts against the hole wall of the mounting hole (21). The limiting part (11) cooperates with the first snap-fit ​​part (12) to limit the relative displacement of the bracket (2) and the air inlet grille (1) in a set plane. The set direction is perpendicular to the set plane.

2. The air intake assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first snap-fit ​​part (12) includes a support arm (121) and a snap hook (122) disposed at the end of the support arm (121). The snap hook (122) has a snap-fit ​​surface facing the air inlet grille (1). The support arm (121) passes through the mounting hole (21), and the snap-fit ​​surface abuts against the surface of the bracket (2) away from the air inlet grille (1).

3. The air intake assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, A first arc-shaped segment (123) is provided between the hook (122) and the leeward side of the air inlet grille (1).

4. The air intake assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bracket (2) has an elastic element (22) on its surface facing the air inlet grille (1). When the first snap-fit ​​part (12) snaps into the bracket (2), the elastic element (22) abuts against the leeward side of the air inlet grille (1).

5. The air intake assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The elastic element (22) includes a base disposed on the bracket (2) and an elastic arm extending outward from the base. The elastic arm abuts against the air inlet grille (1) and has a second arc-shaped segment (221).

6. The air intake assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The elastic element (22) is positioned near the mounting hole (21).

7. The air intake assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air inlet grille (1) is also provided with a second snap-fit ​​part (124), and the bracket (2) is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove (23), and the second snap-fit ​​part (124) snaps into the snap-fit ​​groove (23).

8. The air intake assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The air inlet grille (1) is also provided with a mounting groove (10), and the bracket (2) is embedded in the mounting groove (10).

9. The air intake assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The mounting groove (10) is also provided with a positioning protrusion (101), and the bracket (2) is provided with a positioning groove (24) on the surface facing the air inlet grille (1), and the positioning protrusion (101) is provided in the positioning groove (24).

10. An air conditioner, characterized in that, Includes the air intake assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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