Air inlet structure and air conditioner
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202522106774.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-09
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-09-29
AI Technical Summary
[0005]本申请旨在解决上述技术问题,即,解决现有嵌机式空调安装框架与进风栅之间存在的安装结构复杂、定位繁琐的问题
[0020]在采用上述技术方案的情况下,本申请的框架与进风栅的卡接结构采用过盈配合与间隙配合相结合的设计,通过第一卡扣与第一安装孔的过盈配合,直接保障二者装配的定位精度,有效限制进风栅相对框架的位移,同时借助第二卡扣与第二安装孔的间隙配合,规避了过盈装配易出现的卡顿现象及部件损伤风险。该设计既简化了安装流程、提升了装配效率,又能从结构上避免进风栅晃动。
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Figure CN224837805U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, specifically providing an air intake structure and an air conditioner. Background Technology
[0002] As a common type of indoor air conditioning, the air intake structure design of recessed air conditioners has a significant impact on overall performance and user experience. The air intake structure typically includes a mounting frame and an air intake grille. The mounting frame secures the indoor unit and ensures its integration with the overall interior design, while the air intake grille serves multiple functions, including guiding airflow, filtering air, and aesthetic decoration. Together, they determine the air conditioner's air intake efficiency, noise control, and visual integration. Therefore, the rationality of its structure and installation method directly affects the actual operating performance and user experience of the air conditioner.
[0003] In existing technologies, the installation and positioning structure between the mounting frame and the air inlet grille is often quite cumbersome. Common practices include using multiple sets of screws or auxiliary positioning components for connection, which not only increases the number of parts and assembly complexity but also places higher demands on the operator's precision. Furthermore, because the structural design does not fully consider installation tolerance and ease of adjustment, problems such as inaccurate alignment, uneven gaps, or difficulties in disassembly and assembly easily occur during actual installation, thus affecting the overall appearance and ease of maintenance. These structural shortcomings limit further improvements in the efficiency of installation and user experience of recessed air conditioners.
[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 resolve the issues of complex installation structure and cumbersome positioning between the existing embedded air conditioner mounting frame and air inlet grille.
[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides an air intake structure, comprising:
[0007] A frame having an air inlet, and a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole on the frame;
[0008] An air inlet grille is disposed at the air inlet. The air inlet grille is provided with a first buckle and a second buckle. The first buckle is inserted into the first mounting hole and contacts the hole wall of the first mounting hole to limit the relative displacement of the air inlet grille and the frame in the plane where the air inlet is located. The second buckle is inserted into the second mounting hole and forms a gap between the second mounting hole and the hole wall of the second mounting hole.
[0009] Optionally, the diameter of the first mounting hole gradually decreases along the insertion direction of the first buckle.
[0010] Optionally, the leeward side of the frame includes an intersecting first surface and a second surface, the first mounting hole is formed at the intersection of the first surface and the second surface, and the diameter of the first mounting hole gradually decreases from the first surface to the second surface;
[0011] The first mounting hole includes a first hole wall near the second surface, and a second hole wall and a third hole wall respectively connected to the first hole wall. The second hole wall and the third hole wall are disposed opposite to each other to limit the displacement of the air inlet grille in a first direction. The third hole wall is used to limit the displacement of the air inlet grille in a third direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.
[0012] The air intake structure also includes a limiting part for limiting the displacement of the air intake grille in a second direction. The intersecting plane formed by the first direction and the second direction is the plane where the air intake is located, and the third direction is perpendicular to the plane where the air intake is located.
[0013] Optionally, the frame has a snap-fit protrusion on the surface facing the air inlet grille, and the air inlet grille has a snap-fit groove. The snap-fit protrusion is inserted into the snap-fit groove to form the limiting part.
[0014] Optionally, the snap-fit protrusion is provided with a guide surface.
[0015] Optionally, the width of the second mounting hole is greater than the width of the second buckle, and the second buckle passes through the second mounting hole and abuts against one of the side walls of the second mounting hole.
[0016] Optionally, multiple second mounting holes are provided, and the multiple second mounting holes are respectively distributed on both sides of the first mounting hole.
[0017] Optionally, the frame is further provided with a mounting groove, which is arranged around the edge of the air inlet, and the air inlet grille is embedded in the mounting groove.
[0018] Optionally, a first gap is formed between the sidewall of the air inlet grille and the groove wall of the mounting groove, and a second gap is formed between the sidewall of the second buckle and the hole wall of the second mounting hole, wherein the size of the first gap is larger than the size of the second gap.
[0019] In a second aspect, this application provides an air conditioner including an air intake structure as described in any one of the first aspects.
[0020] When adopting the above technical solution, the frame and air inlet grille of this application employ a combination of interference fit and clearance fit design. The interference fit between the first snap-fit and the first mounting hole directly ensures the positioning accuracy of the assembly, effectively limiting the displacement of the air inlet grille relative to the frame. Simultaneously, the clearance fit between the second snap-fit and the second mounting hole avoids the jamming phenomenon and component damage risk that can easily occur with interference fits. This design simplifies the installation process, improves assembly efficiency, and structurally prevents the air inlet grille from wobbling.
[0021] This application provides an air conditioner including the air intake structure described above. Because the air intake structure offers advantages such as convenient installation, precise positioning, and stable assembly, this air conditioner significantly improves assembly efficiency during installation, reduces labor and time costs, avoids airflow noise caused by air intake grille displacement during operation, and ensures stable air intake efficiency due to the tight fit between the air intake grille and the frame. The overall appearance is also cleaner and more uniform, effectively improving the user experience and reliability of the product. Attached Figure Description
[0022] The preferred embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the air intake structure in an assembled state according to an embodiment of this application;
[0024] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows an exploded view of the air intake structure.
[0025] Figure 3 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of a frame according to an embodiment of the present application, intended to show the structural schematic diagram of the frame as viewed from the windward side of the frame;
[0026] Figure 4 This is a second structural schematic diagram of a frame according to an embodiment of the present application, intended to show a structural schematic diagram of the frame as viewed from the leeward side of the frame;
[0027] Figure 5 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of an air intake grille according to an embodiment of the present application, intended to show the structural schematic diagram of the frame viewed from the windward side of the air intake grille;
[0028] Figure 6 This is a second structural schematic diagram of an air intake grille according to an embodiment of the present application, intended to show a structural schematic diagram of the frame viewed from the leeward side of the air intake grille;
[0029] Figure 7 yes Figure 4 Enlarged schematic diagram of the local structure at point A;
[0030] Figure 8 yes Figure 3 Enlarged schematic diagram of the local structure at point B;
[0031] Figure 9 yes Figure 6 A magnified schematic diagram of the local structure at point C. List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:
[0032] 1-Frame, 11-First mounting hole, 111-First hole wall, 112-Second hole wall, 113-Third hole wall, 12-Second mounting hole, 13-First surface, 14-Second surface, 15-Snap-fit protrusion, 151-Guide surface, 16-Mounting groove;
[0033] 2-Air inlet grille, 21-First clip, 22-Second clip, 23-Snap-fit groove. Detailed Implementation
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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.
[0036] 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.
[0037] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The illustration shows an air intake structure for a recessed air conditioner according to an embodiment of this application. The air intake structure specifically includes a frame 1 for ceiling-mounted installation and an air intake grille 2 disposed on the windward side of the frame 1 and detachably connected to the frame 1. Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure after the frame 1 and air inlet grille 2 are assembled. Figure 2 The diagram shows the exploded structure of frame 1 and air inlet grille 2. Air inlet grille 2 is installed into frame 1 along the direction of the arrow in the diagram.
[0038] Specifically, in conjunction with reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 ,in, Figure 3 The diagram shows the structure of frame 1 as viewed from the windward side (i.e., the side where the air intake grille 2 is installed). Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of frame 1 as viewed from the leeward side (i.e., the side of frame 1 facing the interior of the air conditioner). Simultaneously, combined with... Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of frame 1, viewed from the windward side of the air inlet grille 2 (i.e., the side where air enters the air conditioner). Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of frame 1 obtained by observing the frame 1 from the leeward side of the air intake grille 2 (i.e., the side where the air intake grille 2 is connected and attached to the frame 1).
[0039] As shown in the figure, the central area of frame 1 has an air inlet adapted to the air intake channel of the air conditioner body. A first mounting hole 11 and a second mounting hole 12 are respectively formed at predetermined positions along the outer periphery of the air inlet on frame 1. Both mounting holes are perforated structures penetrating the thickness of frame 1. The shape of the air inlet grille 2 is adapted to the outer periphery of the air inlet of frame 1, and at positions corresponding to the first mounting hole 11 and the second mounting hole 12 on frame 1, a first buckle 21 and a second buckle 22 are integrally formed. In this embodiment, both buckles are hook-shaped structures with elastic deformation capability. The first buckle 21 and the first mounting hole 11 form an interference fit, and the second buckle 22 and the second mounting hole 12 form a clearance fit.
[0040] During installation, the operator can place the air inlet grille 2 against the air inlet side surface of the frame 1, simultaneously aligning the first buckle 21 with the first mounting hole 11 and the second buckle 22 with the second mounting hole 12, and apply a uniform pushing force to complete the insertion. On one hand, during the synchronous insertion process, the first buckle 21, due to its interference fit with the first mounting hole 11, will undergo slight elastic deformation due to the pressure of the hole wall. After full insertion, the deformed buckle forms a tight fit with the hole wall, which can directly limit the relative displacement of the air inlet grille 2 and the frame 1 in the plane where the air inlet is located, achieving core positioning. On the other hand, when the second buckle 22 is simultaneously inserted into the second mounting hole 12, due to the clearance fit design, the reasonable gap reserved between its outer wall and the hole wall can provide fine-tuning space for the air inlet grille 2 if there is a slight misalignment when the first buckle 21 is inserted with interference. There is no need to withdraw and realign; the angle of the air inlet grille 2 can be quickly corrected by the slight movement of the second buckle 22 in the hole, ensuring that the air inlet grille 2 fits the frame 1 after both buckles are inserted into place simultaneously.
[0041] The snap-fit structure between frame 1 and air inlet grille 2 adopts a design combining interference fit and clearance fit. The interference fit between the first snap-fit 21 and the first mounting hole 11 directly ensures the positioning accuracy of the assembly, effectively limiting the displacement of the air inlet grille 2 relative to frame 1. Simultaneously, the clearance fit between the second snap-fit 22 and the second mounting hole 12 avoids the jamming phenomenon and component damage risk that can easily occur with interference fits. This design simplifies the installation process, improves assembly efficiency, and structurally prevents the air inlet grille 2 from shaking.
[0042] refer to Figure 1 To facilitate a clear description of the relative positions, displacement constraints, and assembly logic of the various components of the air intake structure, this embodiment defines the spatial direction as follows: Figure 1 The two directions that are parallel to the plane where the air inlet is located and perpendicular to each other are named the first direction (corresponding to the X direction in the figure) and the second direction (corresponding to the Y direction in the figure). The direction that is perpendicular to the plane where the air inlet is located, that is, along the assembly depth direction between the air inlet grille 2 and the frame 1, is named the third direction (corresponding to the Z direction in the figure).
[0043] In one embodiment, reference Figure 7 , Figure 7 This is an enlarged structural diagram of the first mounting hole 11. The diameter of the first mounting hole 11 gradually decreases along the insertion direction of the first buckle 21. When the operator simultaneously inserts the first buckle 21 and the second buckle 22, the first buckle 21 first contacts the large-diameter inlet of the first mounting hole 11. At this time, the squeezing force of the hole wall on the buckle is small, and the buckle can be guided into the hole without applying excessive pushing force. As the buckle continues to be inserted, the hole diameter gradually decreases, and the squeezing strength on the buckle gradually increases until the buckle is fully inserted. At this time, the hole wall and the cross-section of the first buckle 21 form a tight surface contact, which restricts the relative displacement of the air inlet grille 2 on the air inlet plane. This "progressive squeezing" avoids the buckle from plastic deformation or breakage due to excessive instantaneous force.
[0044] In one embodiment, the leeward side of the frame 1 has an intersecting first surface 13 and a second surface 14, forming a structure similar to an "L-shaped corner". The first mounting hole 11 is opened at the intersection of the two surfaces, and its diameter gradually decreases along the direction from the first surface 13 to the second surface 14, that is, in the assembly direction consistent with the insertion direction of the first buckle 21. This design can utilize the natural transition of the two intersecting surfaces to form a "gradually changing" slope along the insertion direction of the hole wall of the first mounting hole 11 without additional processing. This simplifies the processing technology and enhances the load-bearing capacity of the mounting hole for the buckle through the structural strength of the surface intersection, avoiding wear of the hole wall due to stress during long-term use.
[0045] Specifically, the first hole wall 111 is close to the second surface 14. When the buckle is fully inserted, its end contacts the first hole wall 111, ensuring proper assembly and limiting the displacement of the air inlet grille 2 in the third direction. The distance between the second hole wall 112 and the third hole wall 113 gradually decreases along the insertion direction of the first buckle 21. When the first buckle 21 is inserted into the first mounting hole 11 simultaneously with the air inlet grille 2, the buckle will first enter the wider inlet area. As the insertion depth increases, the two hole walls gradually narrow, and the squeezing force on both sides of the buckle gradually increases until the buckle is fully inserted and contacts the first hole wall 111. At this point, the second hole wall 112 forms a tight fit with one side of the buckle, and the third hole wall 113 forms a tight fit with the other side of the buckle. The two hole walls cooperate to firmly clamp the first buckle 21, achieving an interference fit. The constraint force generated by this interference fit helps to limit the displacement of the air intake grille 2 relative to the frame 1 in multiple directions, including movement within the plane where the air intake is located and movement perpendicular to that plane, thereby ensuring the overall stability and positional accuracy of the air intake grille 2 and the frame 1 after assembly.
[0046] Furthermore, the air intake structure also includes a limiting part, which, in conjunction with the aforementioned limiting structure, jointly restricts the displacement of the air intake grille 2 within the plane of the air intake and perpendicular to that plane, achieving omnidirectional positioning of the air intake grille 2 and the frame 1, preventing assembly misalignment due to insufficient constraint in one direction. Specifically, in this embodiment, the limiting part is implemented through a snap-fit structure. (See reference...) Figure 7 and Figure 8 , Figure 7 The surface structure of the frame 1 facing the air inlet grille 2 is shown, which has snap-fit protrusions 15 for positioning. Figure 8 The structure of the air inlet grille 2 is shown accordingly. At the position corresponding to the snap-fit protrusion 15 of the frame 1, a snap-fit groove 23 adapted to the shape of the protrusion is provided. When the air inlet grille 2 and the frame 1 are assembled, the snap-fit protrusion 15 will be inserted into the snap-fit groove 23 at the same time. The two form a tight fit through multi-face contact. The outer peripheral wall of the snap-fit protrusion 15 abuts against the inner side wall of the snap-fit groove 23, thereby restricting the displacement of the air inlet grille 2 relative to the frame 1 in multiple directions and enhancing the overall stability after assembly.
[0047] Furthermore, such as Figure 7 As shown, the snap-fit protrusion 15 has a guide surface 151 facing the insertion end of the snap-fit groove 23. When the air inlet grille 2 is assembled with the frame 1 and the snap-fit protrusion 15 is ready to be inserted into the snap-fit groove 23, the guide surface 151 will first contact the opening edge of the snap-fit groove 23. With the help of its inclined or arc-shaped structural characteristics, it will guide the insertion path of the snap-fit protrusion 15, so that the snap-fit protrusion 15 can smoothly slide into the snap-fit groove 23.
[0048] In one embodiment, the width of the second mounting hole 12 is greater than the width of the second latch 22, creating an assembly space for fine-tuning. When the second latch 22 is inserted into the second mounting hole 12 simultaneously with the air inlet grille 2, the width difference between them provides a certain amount of room for movement for the air inlet grille 2, facilitating precise alignment by slightly adjusting the position of the air inlet grille 2 during the interference fit between the first latch 21 and the first mounting hole 11. After the air inlet grille 2 and the frame 1 are assembled in place, the second latch 22 will naturally abut against one of the side walls of the second mounting hole 12. This abutment is not a rigid interference constraint, but rather an auxiliary limiting formed by moderate contact within the gap range.
[0049] Furthermore, to improve the balance and stability of the assisted positioning, the second mounting hole 12 is provided with multiple holes. Figure 4 There are four second mounting holes 12 shown, and the four second mounting holes 12 are located on both sides of the first mounting hole 11, with two holes on each side. This makes the force on the second buckle 22 more even and avoids tilting of the air inlet grille 2 due to unilateral installation. On the other hand, the cooperation of multiple sets of second buckles 22 and second mounting holes 12 can form auxiliary limiting from multiple points. Combined with the core positioning of the first mounting hole 11, it further reduces the possibility of displacement of the air inlet grille 2 due to vibration or external force, while ensuring that the fine adjustment margin in all directions is balanced during installation, thus improving the ease of operation.
[0050] In one embodiment, the frame 1 is further provided with a mounting groove 16 surrounding the edge of the air inlet. The mounting groove 16 extends along the outer periphery of the air inlet, forming a rectangular groove structure that matches the shape of the edge of the air inlet grille 2. The depth of the mounting groove 16 matches the thickness of the air inlet grille 2. When the air inlet grille 2 is assembled with the frame 1, the outer periphery of the air inlet grille 2 can be directly embedded in the mounting groove 16, keeping the surface of the air inlet grille 2 flush with the surface of the frame 1. This not only improves the overall neatness of the appearance, but also forms an additional auxiliary positioning structure by constraining the edge of the air inlet grille 2 through the groove. This embedding method can limit the large displacement of the air inlet grille 2 from the outer periphery direction. Combined with the point positioning of the first buckle 21 and the second buckle 22, it further enhances the stability of the air inlet grille 2 after assembly.
[0051] Furthermore, to balance ease of installation and positioning accuracy, a first gap is reserved between the side wall of the air inlet grille 2 and the groove wall of the mounting groove 16, while a second gap is formed between the side wall of the second clip 22 and the hole wall of the second mounting hole 12, with the size of the first gap being larger than that of the second gap. Thus, the first gap serves as an initial tolerance space when the air inlet grille 2 is embedded into the mounting groove 16; its slightly larger size reduces the difficulty of aligning the edge of the air inlet grille 2 with the mounting groove 16, facilitating the quick and easy initial placement of the air inlet grille 2 into the installation position. The smaller size of the second gap serves as a fine adjustment allowance when the clip mates with the mounting hole. After the air inlet grille 2 is initially embedded through the first gap, precise alignment can be achieved through slight movement of the second clip 22 within the second mounting hole 12, avoiding a decrease in positioning accuracy due to excessive gap. This combination simplifies the installation process and, through "loose at first, fine later" gap control, ensures the accuracy and stability of the final assembly.
[0052] This application provides an air conditioner including the air intake structure described above. Because the air intake structure offers advantages such as convenient installation, precise positioning, and stable assembly, this air conditioner significantly improves assembly efficiency and reduces labor and time costs during installation. During operation, it avoids airflow noise caused by displacement of the air intake grille 2. Furthermore, the tight fit between the air intake grille 2 and the frame 1 ensures stable air intake efficiency, and the overall appearance is cleaner and more uniform, effectively improving the user experience and reliability of the product.
[0053] 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 structure, characterized in that, include: A frame (1) is provided with an air inlet, and the frame (1) is provided with a first mounting hole (11) and a second mounting hole (12); An air inlet grille (2) is provided at the air inlet. The air inlet grille (2) is provided with a first buckle (21) and a second buckle (22). The first buckle (21) is inserted into the first mounting hole (11) and contacts the hole wall of the first mounting hole (11) to limit the relative displacement of the air inlet grille (2) and the frame (1) in the plane where the air inlet is located. The second buckle (22) is inserted into the second mounting hole (12) and forms a gap with the hole wall of the second mounting hole (12).
2. The air inlet structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diameter of the first mounting hole (11) gradually decreases along the insertion direction of the first buckle (21).
3. The air inlet structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The leeward side of the frame (1) includes an intersecting first surface (13) and a second surface (14). The first mounting hole (11) is opened at the intersection of the first surface (13) and the second surface (14). The diameter of the first mounting hole (11) gradually decreases from the first surface (13) to the second surface (14). The first mounting hole (11) includes a first hole wall (111) near the second surface (14), and a second hole wall (112) and a third hole wall (113) respectively connected to the first hole wall (111). The second hole wall (112) and the third hole wall (113) are arranged opposite to each other to limit the displacement of the air inlet grille (2) in a first direction. The first hole wall (111) is used to limit the displacement of the air inlet grille (2) in a third direction. The air intake structure also includes a limiting part for limiting the displacement of the air intake grille (2) in the second direction; Wherein, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, the intersecting plane formed by the first direction and the second direction is the plane where the air inlet is located, and the third direction is perpendicular to the plane where the air inlet is located.
4. The air inlet structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The frame (1) has a snap-fit protrusion (15) on the surface facing the air inlet grille (2), and the air inlet grille (2) has a snap-fit groove (23). The snap-fit protrusion (15) is inserted into the snap-fit groove (23) to form the limiting part.
5. The air inlet structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The snap-fit protrusion (15) is provided with a guide surface (151).
6. The air inlet structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The width of the second mounting hole (12) is greater than the width of the second buckle (22), and the second buckle (22) passes through the second mounting hole (12) and abuts against one of the side walls of the second mounting hole (12).
7. The air inlet structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second mounting hole (12) is provided in multiple ways, and the multiple second mounting holes (12) are respectively distributed on both sides of the first mounting hole (11).
8. The air inlet structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, The frame (1) is also provided with a mounting groove (16), which is arranged around the edge of the air inlet, and the air inlet grille (2) is embedded in the mounting groove (16).
9. The air inlet structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, A first gap is formed between the side wall of the air inlet grille (2) and the groove wall of the mounting groove (16), and a second gap is formed between the side wall of the second buckle (22) and the hole wall of the second mounting hole (12). The size of the first gap is larger than the size of the second gap.
10. An air conditioner, characterized in that, Includes the air intake structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.