washing machine?

All washer machines work by using mechanical energy, thermal energy, and chemical action. Mechanical energy is imparted to the clothes load by the rotation of the agitator in top loaders, or by the tumbling action of the drum in front loaders. Thermal energy is supplied by the temperature of the wash bath.

The front loading design or H-axis clothes washer, most popular in Europe and the Middle East, mounts the inner basket and outer tub horizontally, and loading is through a door at the front of the machine. The door often but not always contains a window. Agitation is supplied by the back-and-forth rotation of the cylinder and by gravity. The clothes are lifted up by paddles on the inside wall of the drum and then dropped. This motion flexes the weave of the fabric and forces water and detergent solution through the clothes load. Because the wash action does not require the clothing be freely suspended in water, only enough water is needed to moisten the fabric. Because less water is required, front-loaders typically use less soap, and the aggressive dropping and folding action of the tumbling can easily produce large amounts of foam.

Washing machines perform several rinses after the main wash to remove most of the detergent. Modern washing machines use less water due to environmental concerns, however this has led to the problem of poor rinsing on many washing machines on the market [13], which can be a problem to people who are sensitive to detergents. Some washing machines have an extra rinse option to help. Using non-bio detergent may help allergy sufferers.

The principal parts are: the drum and its door, a solenoid controlled water inlet solenoid, a heating element, sensors to detect water level and temperature, a powerful motor to provide motion to the drum via a flexible belt, a drain pump, a detergent and frabric softener dispenser and associated valves and a controller - sometimes electro-mechanical but more often fully electronic on modern machines.

Peccavi
July 2009