A lid switch, which indicates whether
the lid is open or closed, will interrupt some or all of the washing
machine operations.
The water inlet valve connects to
the water supply of your home and allows hot and cold water to
flow into the tub.
The agitator is in the center of
the inner tub. During the wash cycle, the agitator rotates back
and forth (about 3/4 of turn) to pull the clothes through the
water. At the conclusion of the wash cycle, the water is pumped
from the outer tub and into the drain though the drain hose.
The pump, agitator and spin drum
are driven by the motor. Some washing machines use direct drive,
in which the motor is connected directly to the pump and transmission.
Other machines uses a belt drive in which the motor drives the
transmission through a pulley and belt. On belt driven machines,
the pump is typically connected to the motor by a flexible coupling.
The transmission drives both the
spin of the inner tub and the back and forth motion of the agitator.
Your washer has either a single direction or a reversing motor.
With a single direction motor, an electromechanical device controls
whether the transmission drives the agitator or the drum. Reversing
motors control the drum when they spin in one direction and the
agitator when they spin in the other.
Most washing machines use a clutch
to reduce the force generated by fast starting motors. The clutch
allows the transmission to grab the drum or agitator in a gradual
manner rather than all at once. Some washers use a clutch mechanism
while others rely on slippage and gradual tension of the belt
and pulley.
