H-axis toploaders

[foraloysius]

It's about time there is a special thread about my favourite type of washer, the H-axis toploaders. I'm adding a picture of a patent that is held by Whirlpool. I wonder if this is the reason why there are still no H-axis toploaders on the American market.

Louis

 

[arrrooohhh]

Howdy Louis!

I am fascinated too by these machines. However I am not sure if I would buy one. They look like lots of fun to load and I could look at them for hours, but I would miss watching the wash action.

I think they are a smashing idea for an American audience, a 25" wide model would have an enourmous capacity, and work better than the Calypso style machine.

I wonder why Whirlpool didnt go ahead with this machine? It has its European base to work from and considering its new Servis frontloader in the US its obviously not capitalising on its European knowledge and base.

 

[gansky1]

Interesting thread, Louis, did you read that DOE report that was posted on the Super forum? I was amazed at how quickly they discounted several designs and washing methods upon manufacturer's balking that 'they can't be done' or it 'won't work' whining... The bending and stooping thing was top of the list for both the front-loading and top-loading h-axis sections. I guess things change and since 1996, Americans have been slowly growing back-bones and muscles so at least we're getting better...a little more physical therapy and we might be able to do away with a top-loading Electrolux "Frigidaire" altogether!

I too think this top-loading h-axis would work, there certainly must be a way to overcome the obstacles - the european markets have made them work quite well. The only one we have here, so far, is the Staber which is one of the most clumsy and primitive machines I've ever used, and loud! Unbelieveable when that thing goes into spin, you certainly wouldn't need an end-of-cycle signal on that! Designed well, these could have a larger capacity, clean and rinse as well or better than the current market offerings.

Time will tell, I'll bet we're not done seeing some new innovations to the American markets just yet...

 

[Designgeek]

Whirlpool can't monopolize the concept, there's too much prior art, Staber included.

Agreed, they need windows. Not only for appliance geeks but for the average person who, at least in the beginning, would want to see what's going on in order to be assured that s/he hadn't overloaded the machine, and that it was working properly.

The "secondary hatch" thing is probably a slight issue for the USA market, since we all grew up dealing with a single lid or door. But I don't think this is a serious problem, people can learn new habits easily enough.

I should go read the DOE report. Hmm...

 

[alr2903]

Deep h- axis

Greg I think one of the issues they also considered was wheelchair accessability, for disabled and the elderly. On Sq's site they at one time mentioned, how user friendly the front control, Fl. on a pedestal was wonderful for folk's with an infirmity. But looks like the fl on a pedestal is the Hot One with consumers at this time. Sears is really ad marketing their sedona on NBC every morning and of course everyone has a choice before they lay down their money. This deep h axis tl, might not be the machine of choice for people with a disability though. just my 2 cents. alr2903.

 

[Designgeek]

For older folks who can't bend down, it seems like the answer is a high enough pedestal to enable accessing the washer and the dryer from shoulder height when standing.

Seems to me that if I were using a wheelchair, I'd prefer to have a FL, with controls on the front. That plus the dryer, both mounted on appropriate pedestals, with enough room to roll up next to them from a sideways position and reach in easily to load or unload either machine.

The limiting factor here is the amount of space to the left and right side of the pair, i.e. to allow rolling up from one side and exiting on the other.

If someone's disabilities don't allow free use of their arms, chances are they have a household assistant to help out with laundry and other tasks.

 

[foraloysius]

I guess the problem with wheelchair accessability is the same with the traditional V-axis toploaders. Fortunately there are indeed frontloaders available. But for a lot of (tall) people, stooping to load a frontloader is also a problem. When I bought my first H-axis toploader I was used to stooping for loading my mother's frontloader. But soon I appreciated the convenience of a toploader like still a lot of Americans appreciate the convenience of their traditional washer.

I just read that DOE report, it's indeed interesting to see how easily they discount several designs. From that report:

"Top-loading horizontal style horizontal axis washers have an“unfriendly” spring-loaded trap door. In addition, excessive reach is required to retrievegarments at bottom of cylinder on top loading style horizontal axis machine."

Perhaps the trap door of the drum looks a bit unfriendly, but the modern ones have a single button. If you press the button the two halfs of the trap door open up slowly. Very clever design. Only closing could be a bit troublesome for some people, but if you buy one of these you can try it in the store and most people know how to do it without any problem. I don't understand the remark about the excessive reach, my H-axis toploader was less deep than most American V-axis toploaders.

Unfortunately a window is very difficult to realize with these machines. Unlike a frontloader these machines have an axis on both sides of the drum, which make these machines more stable than frontloaders. The only odd one out is Miele that has an axis on only one side of the drum. I never understood why they changed to that design, I think a machine with a drum that is hung up on both sides deals very well with vibrations, better than most frontloaders. Ofcourse there is still a vertical movement, so these machines also need a solid floor to stand on.

Staber: Yes, it is a clumsy and primitive machine. The capacity could be much bigger in such a big cabinet. The spinspeeds should be higher and more cycles and a heating element should be added. However, on the Laundry Room Forum on Thathomesite somebody writes about a Staber he just bought and he seems quite happy with it (after 9 loads).

I just had to attach a picture of my first washer, a Philips H-axis toploader. It's from 1982 and I had it for 11 years. I should have kept it!!!!

 

[Designgeek]

With all the comments about Staber being "primitive," it occurs to me that this might be a tradeoff for greater reliability. Anyone have any data on that? Personally I'll take reliable-but-primitive over sophisticated-but-trouble-prone.

Re. "unfriendly" hatches: Disabiliites excepted, it takes real stupidity or laziness to be unable or unwilling to open and close a hatch. Unfortunately, a consumer-oriented economy tends to breed both characteristics as a direct outcome of competition on the axis of "convenience." See also the travel site ads on the radio that use the slogan "Don't Think Twice!" and have a repeated chorus of "Don't think! Don't think! Don't think twice!"

Re. axis mountings: One could mount a drum on a set of rubber rollers that in turn are mounted in axles within the outer tub. This would allow a single driving axis at one end, two rollers and a roller track at the other end, and a window.

However, the window issue is still slightly complicated: You need a window in the inner tub, another matching one in the outer tub, and another one in the cabinet. That's three layers of perspex or glass or both. Could be done, would add cost, would probably get more buyers in the context of a high-end machine.

Another possibility is a clear plastic tub, though the only plastics I know of that are clear are also brittle compared to the ones that are translucent but not clear.

 

[foraloysius]

Miele toploader

Miele makes an interesting toploader, it's a not a total toploader but the opening is a bit more towards the front. It's very convenient to load and you have a good view in the drum. Here's a picture of it.

 

[foraloysius]

Here's another picture of it closed, the controls are on the lid.

 

[shanonabc]

Top Load Tumbler

There are Horizontal Axis Machines on the American market. Visit the web link

Commercial & Residential Laundry Equipment | Staber Industries, Inc.

Staber Industries is a leader in the commercial and residential laundry equipment industry. Staber delivers American made, high quality laundry solutions. No job is too large or too small!

www.staber.com

 

[arrrooohhh]

Hi Shanon.

These Staber machines are available in America, but they are somewhat obscure and not available through the usual channels that most Americans purchase appliances.

What part of Australia are you from? There are a few Aussies on board here.

 

[shanonabc]

Hey Harry,
I am in Wellington NSW. Near Wellington. I have added you to MSN Messenger. CYA When I CYA

 

[shanonabc]

Stupid Me

Near Orange sorry, Not Wellington