Work Begins on the Super Unimatic

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Questions:

1) Since the tub is wider, might there be more of a chance of the tub hitting the cabinet when starting to spin, before the load balances out? Would the window be at risk of getting broken?

2) Would the same flume be used for filling and recirculation?

You might could adapt a 1-18 Circle Fill hose around the cabinet for filling and spray rinsing.

For recirculation, you need to aim the hose so that the target is the center of the agitator. The filter could fit inside the barrel. The heated, filtered water would be injected back into the load evenly around the top of the Energy Ring. You need a funnel for the agitator top like the top of a Philco Automagic agitator. Maybe a special flume attached to the lid to accomplish this? Or a special arm flume, independent of the lid, that you could raise for loading/unloading, and lower into place for viewing the action with the lid raised (or removed)?
 
Austin, you are correct, the 12lb tub was used in the '63-'64 Multimatic, as well as the '64-69 Rollermatic. What I meant was the tub I'm using in the Super Unimatic actually came out of a late 60's Rollermatic machine.

As for the Recirculation Flume a Kenmore or Maytag fill flume sprays the water outward in a circular fashion. What I really want is a fan like high-pressure spray, like the fill in the '59 Philco or the Spray in the Whirlpool/Kenmore Combo, but with higher pressure. The reason I want this is mainly for the "4 Minutes of Magic" cycle with will spray a high concentration of water/detergent on the clothes as they are spun, similar to the Kenmore Catalyst cycle. I'm going to get the tub up to full 1140rpm and then cut the motor but leave the brake solenoid energized so the tub will simply be coasting from 1140rpm down. I want the fan spray to be aimed at the right side of the tub as to help push the tub along and help it coast clockwise with the spray. Also a fan style spray will help reach the entire sidewall of the spinning washing tub from just under the top rim all the way down to the bottom.

(1) Since the tub is wider, might there be more of a chance of the tub hitting the cabinet when starting to spin, before the load balances out? Would the window be at risk of getting broken?
Peter, the WO-65 cabinet is 25" wide, the outer tub in the Rollermatic machines is about 25.5" so while it might hit the side; it won’t hit it with much force. I did put a piece of rubber at the top of the window where the tub might strike it just in case. In "phase 2" I'm to teach the Super Unimatic how to communicate with the computer so I'm going to install an unbalance switch that will tell computer there is an unbalance load, but I probably will program the software to only stop the machine if the sensor is hit more than once. But that will come later.

(2) Would the same flume be used for filling and recirculation?
No, 3 separate flumes. One to fill the outer tub with fresh water (wash fill), one to fill the inner tub with fresh water (rinse fill) and one to recirculate a fan spray. Hey I like your idea about the 1/18 Circle Spray I didn't think of that! That might make a perfect inner tub fill flume; I can make one out of flexible rubber hose. Thanks good idea!

That's also not a bad idea about having the filter screen inside the agitator column, since there will be a separate detergent dispenser. But I do want a fan spray for the initial “Four Minutes of Magic”, but maybe I can use a diverter valve and spray the recirculation water during agitation into the center of the agitator, through a screen. More to think about.
 
Fan spray

This may sound ridiculous, Robert, but when I used to play with bits-and-pieces of machines as a kid, I found that my mom's late-seventies/early-eighties Eureka upholstery tool made an AWESOME fan spray, perfectly smooth and even.

If you could use one of those, or even find something in metal to take the higher temperature, it would vault a nice, broad stream.

Just a thought :-)

--Nate
 
A WP/KM direct-drive fill flume, which makes a waterfall under normal water pressure, makes a lovely fan shape at high pressure.

I have to say, this is the coolest damn project!
T.
 
Robert, For the spray nozzle you could try flatening the end of a copper tube. I did this once and got a nice fan shaped spray. Looking at the photo with the window, I had a thought, you could paint the outside of the inner tub with some colored stripes to help show the movement of the tub. If you used two colors they would blend together at full speed and cause the tub to change color. Just an idea to help keep you busy! Can't wait to see how it all works out. I have ordered one of the interface kits and I am planning on installing it on one of my front loaders. Jeff
 
Bringing it to market...

With the energy and water consumption of this machine, the DOE will give you an "Energy Slap" rating instead of a Star! I love the Laundromat glass window, I can't believe how clean the cuts and drilling have gone through that porcelain! I can't wait to see it next month.
 
Stripes on the Outside of the Tub

Hi Jeff, actually I was thinking the same thing about copper tubing, had bought some 3/4" copper pipe and was planning on giving that a try, it would be very easy to mount then. I can flatten the end in my vice. I JUST LOVE your idea about painting the outer tub with stripes, that's brilliant idea!

Jeff I have the programming logic all figured for outbound information processing to run relays on the board. I have an idea about inbound information from machine back into the computer, but I need to experiment with that yet.

I can't wait to see your "Super Front-Loader" in action.
 
11-4-2005-13-55-34--roto204.jpg
I love that Nate. Yes Energy conservation isn't what I striving for in the Super Unimatic. Its #1 Drama -- #2 Performance -- #3 Flexibility -- #4 Complete Automation -- #5 Super Fun!
 
Robert,
You are the next Mr. Wizard! Whom I was very fond of while growing up.
This is going to be such a cool machine!
What are you going to call it?
I am curious about why does everyone think that it will use more energy than the regular Frigidare machines? Is it because of the heater?
I love the idea you have of the coasting down spin with the spray. I think that really helps so much to get the dirt out of clothes!
This is fun Robert!
Thanks for sharing.
Brent
 
Brent I suppose running the heater will definitely be an energy gobbler, but otherwise it will only use a few more gallons of water in the wash to fill the recirculation system. Both electric pumps are low amperage so they will take minimal power to run. As for what I'm going to call it, I don't know, but for now the "Super Unimatic" will do.

I found and installed a great spray nozzle for the recirculation system and I will take a picture of later. I installed two water valves, one is a three solenoid thermostatic valve for the filling the outer tub for the wash cycle and the other is a three solenoid valve hot/cold/cold-dispenser-port valve for spray-rinse and overflow-rinsing as well as filling the inner tub for rinse.

And now a Unimatic with a Jet-Circle Spray! I can't wait to see how the four 7-second 1140rpm spray rinses look with that spray...
 
Robert!
I love the spray fill!
You know, talking about energy savings....
Most of the front loaders with heat, run during all of the wash cycle. I don't see how this would be any more wastefull.
This is fun Robert!
Thanks for sharing!
Brent
 
Robert that Jet Spray Circle is just fantastic!! Can't wait to see this machine in action! Terry
 

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