Non-Neutral Drain Question

[rinso]

There has been a lot of discussion about machines with a neutral drain operation, mostly Whirlpool and Kenmore. My question is, when a machine does not have a neutral drain funciton, what provides the slippage so the motor doesn't overload while turning a tub full of water? I know that the helical drive Maytags were designed to use a special drive belt that was loosely coupled while being pulled in the spin direction so that it drove the pump at a near normal speed, but the tub didn't catch up until it was empty. If a regular dry clutch is used, how does it keep from burning its linning up? My Norge didn't release its tub brake until the water level got down to a pre-determined point. During that time, the tub was held stationary by the brake, but it's drive shaft turned. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks!

 

[coldspot66]

Usually it is a "clutch" belt, meaning cloth covered that allows slippage. GE products used a centrifical clutch mounted to the top of the motor. It used shoes that swung out to rotate an outer drum that had a pulley on the top half. Norges had a sliding motor base like a Maytag, even though it did a partial neutral drain. Some Amanatags now use a torque spring inside the tranny that causes slippage, rather than slipping the belt. These are called "compensating belt drive" systems, whereas the belt is designed to wear.

 

[kenmore1978]

neutral drain

Even on WP/KM with the neutral drain, there is a dry clutch that slips while the basket is brought up to speed. It is constructed much like the clutch on a manual shift car, with springs and 3 discs for a clutch facing.

 

[rinso]

Thanks kenmore 1968 and COLDSPOT66. One of the things that has always puzzled me is why KM/WP on their direct drive mechanisms, didn't tie the lid switch to the spin cycle and not to the neutral drain cycle. It would have prevented at least some instances of premature spinning.