Washing+Machine

=Washing Machine= bjentleson12toc

Purpose
//What is the fundamental purpose of the device?// The purpose of a washing machine is to clean laundry such as clothes, towels, sheets, etc, without having to do hard labor or dry cleaning.

Energy
//What energy transformations are seen in its operation?// Washing Machines use mechanical, thermal and well chemical energy. The mechanical energy, which is potential and kinetic energy calculated in a system. Mechanical energy can be seen when the clothes is rotated or when the liquid is released and circulates in the washing machine. Thermal energy in the washing machine involves the temperature at which the water changes to. Chemical energy is present due to the chemicals from the detergent that is added or any other laundry chemicals used.

Controls
//What sensors/controls are designed into the device?// The washing machine has several controls, buttons, switches and knobs in which is required to use in order to get the machine to respond. The main control used on the washing machine is the rinse cycle knob. This control will set the amount of time and what kind of rinse cycle your laundry will be washed through. The knob is very complex. The first thing you should know about it is that it usually will turn or rotate. It turns very slowly due to gear reductions. When you find the setting you would like to put your rinse cycle on you pull the knob outwards. By doing so you trigger a swtich, which is connected to the power supply. This enables a motor which enables the washing process to begin. As the dial spins, and is controlled by bumps while it turns, it open different switches which turn on different motors. Each of these motors that are turned on do a different duty. As the dial spins and it turns on switches which trigger the various motors, tasks such as water squirted, shaking of the washing machine, draining water, etc are all controlled by individual motors. When the dial reaches that last motors of water draining it should have completed a full rotation and the process comes to a stop. Another control is the temperature switch. The temperature switches is much less complex than the rinse cycle control. Simply if the switch is turned to the hot water setting, the hot water valve will open up, and the machine is filled with hot water. Same thing applies to each temperature the switch is placed on. The only temperature in which is different is the warm water setting. In this case both the cold and hot water valves open and fill the washing machine to created warm water.

Materials
//What material(s) are essential to the device?// Stainless Steel - Some washing machines are built with different materials, usually metal. Stainless Steel in a material used to make a washing machine. Stainless Steel is used because over other metals because of its positive impacts. Because stainless steel is such a heavy, sturdy metal, the speed and rate which the washing machine spins and tumbles can be increased. Using a thinner metal would cause the washing machine to "jump." Also since the inside of the tub is exposed to water, over time metal would typical rust, but stainless steel will not.

Science
//What is scientific principle is central to its operation?// The scientific principle of the washing machine is electric current. Its power source is supplied from an electric outlet, and it controlled by switches.

Design
//What does a typical device look like?// A typical washing machine will is a large square box. Sometimes it will take on different shapes or unique forms. A hinged door is normally found on the center front a washing machine or on top. The tub has hollow space where you can put your clothes in the water retaining tub. The interior has visible holes in which water is dispersed through. On the exterior which can be made of variety of things such as plastic, metals, stainless steel, etc, has multiple button usually on a panel on the top of the washing machine. The back is wired and has pipes, and is connected to a wall outlet.

Evolution
//What changes have there been (or could there be) in this device?// Many changes or have been made to the washing machine since their creation. When they first were created they got their water source directly from a sink where you just used a in out slip on connector that would get water from the sink. Today washing machines get their water directly from water pipes from a household, or building. As well the early washing machine did not have automatic times or rinse cycles, until later in history when these "luxury" factors were added. Still washing machines improve everyday in ways they are becoming more "green" or energy efficient, larger so they can hold more thing to clean, and as well more high tech. Seen in few washing machines but hoping to be more popular is the automatic detergant dispense, where the washing machine will calculate the weight and the clothes and add the amount of detergent the is suitable for the load. This will allow washers to skip out on measuring out soaps, etc. The evolution of the washing machine is impressive.



Competitors
//What other devices serve a similar purpose? The dishwasher serves a similar purpose in the way it washed dirty objects with out hard labor.// Dishwasher

Partners
//What other devices work in conjunction with this device? The clothes dryer works in conjunction with this device because it follows up the drying of laundry after put in the washing machine.// Clothes Dryer

Siblings
//What other devices use the same scientific principle? Both the dishwasher and the clothes dryer use electric current.// Dishwasher Clothes Dryer