Appliances Renovation

Automatic Washer, how it works? Washing Machine Mechanical System

Gear Train

Although the homeowner will probably never do a major teardown of a washer gearcase, it is worthwhile to understand its function. The gear train of the automatic washer consists of a sector gear, connecting rod or possibly the rack and pinion gear type. In this type drive, the pinion gear drives a larger main – drive gear. A connecting rod is attached to both ends of the main – drive gear and the sector gear, which pivots on a stud through an approximate 180 – degree arc. A more common type is the sector gear. This gear meshes with the agitator gear to accomplish the washer oscillation. The washer drive belt is turning in a clockwise rotation while the drive motor is energized by the timer assembly. To disengage the gear train at certain segments of the wash cycle, a solenoid is used to convert an electrical impulse into a mechanical action. The force exerted by the solenoid plunger is nowhere near enough power to disengage the gear train of a mechanical system which is powered by a 1/3- or 1/2-horsepower electric motor. Some help is needed to extract the gear from the train. To achieve this, the agitator gear is positioned on the agitator shaft by means of a shaft pin. A spring that is attached to the agitator shaft exerts pressure, which keeps the gear from locking with the agitator shaft. In this position, the agitator oscillates with no resistance. A solenoid assembly that is mounted to the sector gear is designed so that the assembly trails from left to right as the sector gear oscillates.

A cam bar is mounted between the solenoid assembly and the agitator gear. The solenoid plunger is slotted so that the plunger rides the cam bar. A drive pin connects to the two ends of the cam bar by the slot in the plunger which passes through a two-level slot in the cam bar.

When the solenoid is energized by electrical current from the timer, the coil is pulled upward by magnetism. As the magnet assembly travels back and forth, the plunger is pulled up into the second level of the cam bar slot. This slot is located so that the traveling action, which is powered in part by the washer drive motor and not by the solenoid coil, pushes the cam bar forward. This action causes the agitator fork assembly to travel upward, which now engages with the pin in the agitator drive and, in turn, the agitator begins to oscillate.

Clutch-Basket Drive And Brake Assembly

A combination clutch and brake assembly is the most common method used to enable the washer to spin. This assembly serves as a brake that holds the washer basket firmly in place while the washer is agitating. It also acts as the clutch or basket drive assembly that enables the washer to spin the clothes during the spin cycle.

The agitator passes through a drive tube on which the washer basket is secured by a lock or a securing nut. As the drive tube rotates, the washer basket rotates also. The agitator shaft and the drive tube rotate independently during the agitation cycle, and as the washer is spinning they are mated together. The basket drive pulley is always turning whenever the drive motor is running. Located above the basket drive pulley is the basket drive disc that is attached permanently to the drive tube. This disc contains a special lining that is attached to the top of the basket drive pulley. The brake yoke is mounted above the clutch disc which is a stationary part. A tension spring pulls the brake yoke to a downward position, which exerts pressure against the clutch disc, thereby causing it to engage the clutch lining on the basket drive pulley.

Directly above the brake yoke is mounted a brake assembly that is pressed against the brake linings on the bottom of the tub and the top of the brake yoke. A solenoid assembly is mounted to the sector gear, which is a part of the gear train. When the solenoid is not engaged, the solenoid plunger pin rides in the lower level of the spin cam bar, which allows the thrust to hold the basket clutch.

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