http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/SLOM/
(Just checked, apparently you can no longer download, only view streaming video. Pity, it was one of the best televised programs I've ever seen; glad I've downloaded them all back when it was still possible and burned to a DVD... Most are available on youtube but the one dealing with washing machines isn't.)
It also goes into the history of washing machines and how they function. I think it's worth 25 minutes of your time to watch it :) One issue that comes to mind is that the motor has to spin backwards and forwards, to prevent the clothes from tangling up.
Not really a direct answer to your question but it should give you a quick overview of the different things that have been tried before we arrived at the current, 'normal', washing machine. And much more entertaining than reading dozens of old patents :)
Peter.
http://sciencezero.4hv.org/tslom.htm
Peter.[ Parent ]
Your best bet is to buy the most efficient electric washer and run it off a good sine wave inverter or sine wave generator. Some of the front load models available today are stingy with both water and electric usage. I would think it would be better and probably cheaper in the long run overall to generate electricity with whatever power source you can come up with and then use that to run a washing machine.
Of course dryers are a totally different story! They are energy hogs and a good old fashioned clothesline is yet to be beat in energy consumption.[ Parent ]
