Drum of the washing machine: device, types and their characteristics

Most often, when choosing a particular model of a washing machine, the buyer pays attention to its size, design, manufacturer, set of programs and washing modes. All these indicators are undoubtedly important when choosing a new unit. But besides the external characteristics, before making a choice in favor of a particular model, you should pay attention to the tank and the drum of the automatic machine.

Since both the tank and the drum of the machine directly affect the quality of washing the laundry, it is necessary to understand the features of these structures. And only after that make the purchase of a new washing machine.

The drum is stainless container with many holes. Laundry is placed directly into the drum during washing, through a hatch located on one side. On the other side of the drum is a threaded shaft connecting it to the motor.

Inside the drum are plastic ribs called punches. They help to better mix the laundry during the wash process and wash away dirt. The drum is most often made of plastic and is hollow inside. In some models of washing machines, these bulkheads have holes.

A tank is a reservoir located around the drum. From it, water and detergent enter the drum during washing. Unlike the drum, which is made only of stainless steel, the tank can be made of either iron or plastic.

The design of the tank is most often collapsible, consisting of 2 halves interconnected... Less commonly, the tank body may be solid.

The drum is located inside the tank and is connected to it through a pulley. The tank is held inside the machine body by means of special clips made in the form of springs.

Regardless of the manufacturer, the tank of any machine can only be made of stainless steel sheet.

The inner surface of the drum has many small holes called perforations. With their help, water and powder are poured into and poured out of the drum. But at the same time, it is these holes that lead to abrasion and damage to the fibers of the fabric during the washing process. When the laundry is spinning, especially at high speeds, the fabric is pressed into these holes with force.

Therefore, manufacturers are constantly improving the structure of the drum, as well as the pattern of its rotation, so that the laundry is less subject to wear and tear. All innovations in the development of new drum designs are aimed at so that the fabric is in contact with the perforations as little as possible during washing and spinning.

Among the most common are some types of drums.

1. Perforated drums... The drum of cheaper models has a flat surface with many holes. The inner side has no bulges, therefore, in such models, things are subject to more rapid wear during washing.
2. Drip drums. For the first time, this technology was invented by designers from Bosch. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the entire inner side of the drum is strewn with holes in the form of drops. On the one hand, the droplets have a flat shape, and on the other hand, they protrude more inward.And with different directions when the drum rotates, the laundry, depending on the washing mode, rubs either against the more sloping part of these protrusions, or against the sharper one.
3. Pearl drums. On their surface there are many hemispheres resembling a scattering of pearls of different sizes. The essence of this idea is to protect the laundry as much as possible from contact with the holes and provide more gentle care.
4. Cell drums. The drum, in which the inner part is made in the form of convex hexagons, reminiscent of a honeycomb, is an innovation. The advantage of honeycomb drums is that the raised hexagons completely protect the laundry from contact with the holes. As for the holes themselves, in such a design they are very small. Small holes keep the soap solution inside longer and prevent foreign objects from entering the tank and damaging it.

Therefore, if the buyer thinks about a more careful attitude to things when washing, then preference should be given to those models where the drum has not a smooth, but a convex surface.

The tank of the machine, in contrast to the drum, may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer in material of manufacture. Each type of tank has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, when choosing a model equipped with a tank made of one material or another, you need to take into account the features of each of them.

Stainless steel tanks are considered the most durable, since least of all susceptible to corrosion and mechanical damage. The disadvantages of such tanks include loud noise emitted when the drum touches it during the washing process... Therefore, if you plan to wash clothes at night or have small children, you should give preference to models where the tank is made of modern polymer materials.

Enamelled metal tanks have the same disadvantages as stainless steel tanks due to their noisy operation. In addition, enameled tanks have a lot of weight, which makes the entire structure of the machine heavier.

A tank made of modern alloys is present in most models. Plastic is lighter than metal. Its main advantage is its low noise level during operation. And also a plastic tank keeps warm longer, therefore, the energy spent on heating water in machines with a plastic tank will be consumed less.

Even when choosing, it is worth considering the fact that tanks can be whole or consist of 2 halves... The advantage of seamless structures is leakage protection. But in case of damage to such a tank, it will not be possible to remove the drum from it. Therefore, the entire structure will need to be replaced.

Collection tanks are more prone to leaks. In the event that the rubber band installed at the joint gets damaged, water can enter the insides of the machine and damage them.

But if damaged, such a tank can be disassembled and replaced. In this case, you will not need to replace the drum.

Honeycomb drums are an innovation in the development of new generation machines. A drum made in the form of a honeycomb protects tissue from damage better than others. Honeycomb designs have their advantages.

1. Minimal contact of laundry with holes.
2. The ability to wash and spin delicate items at high speedsbecause the linen is not pressed into the holes due to the presence of convex hexagons.
3. Less water and detergent consumption due to the relatively small holes in the drum.
4. Better wash quality... Due to the ribbed surface, the laundry mixes better with the detergent when it comes into contact with them.And the shallow holes allow the soap solution to stay inside the laundry tub longer.

Despite the clear advantages, the presence of honeycomb in the drum can have several disadvantages.

1. The high cost of such machines.
2. Units with a similar structure of the linen tank are produced only by some manufacturers of household appliances.
3. Small holes allow water to drain more slowly during draining and may remain in the machine after the wash is complete. Therefore, when choosing a machine with a honeycomb structure, you need to ensure that the door is open between washings and that air circulates freely. Otherwise, there is a risk of an unpleasant odor.

The dimensions of the tank and drum directly depend on how much laundry it is designed to load. The minimum load capacity of the drum is 3 kg dry laundry. The maximum load of the latest models can be up to 12 kg of laundry.

The larger the load, the more liters of water will be needed during the wash. And the load will increase with the increase in the amount of loaded laundry. The diameter and radius of the opening on the side for loading laundry also depends on the volume of the loaded laundry. Therefore, when choosing machines with a large load, you should pay attention to the reliability of the parts and the build quality. The best home appliance assembly plants are located in Europe. Also, cars assembled in Korea or Japan are distinguished by good assembly.

The rotation speed in modern models can reach up to 1400 rpm.

But at the same time, when spinning at high speeds, the laundry can receive mechanical damage, since areas of fabric falling into the holes on the drum can be damaged when they come into contact with them.

That's why, when choosing a machine with high speeds, it is important to pay attention to the drum, made using modern technology that helps prevent damage... It is necessary to check that the more convex its inner surface is, the less the laundry will be subject to wear during washing.

Household appliances such as an automatic washing machine belong to the category of technically complex appliances. In addition, you will have to use this device almost daily. Therefore, in order to choose the appropriate option, it is necessary to study information about all processes in the operation of the machine. After choosing the model of the machine, you need to pay attention to the inner surface of the drum. When examining it, you should take into account a number of features.

1. Reliability of fasteners. The tank with the drum must be securely fixed. When rotating, the structure should not swing strongly from side to side, otherwise there is a risk of damage to the parts located inside the case.
2. The inner surface of the drum, like the punchers, should be smooth to the touch, be free from jags or sharp parts.
3. On a drum there should be no chips or dark spots.

About what the washing machine consists of and how it works, see the video.