Abstract: The present invention relates to a washer/dryer (1), the drum of the washer/dryer (1) is rotated by an electric motor (2), and over heating of the electric motor (2) is controlled by a thermal protector (8) that cuts off the current passing through it when the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined limit value. The thermal protector (8) is energized by the triac (7) that drives the door lock (6) and thereby is prevented from being subjected to high currents.

Abstract: An appliance with a hazardous device contains a first controller controlled by a first control element which, in turn, is controlled by a second controller by use of a first switching element. An electrically controllable protection device is provided and is controlled by a second control element, it is possible to deactivate the protection device. A storage capacitor is provided between the first and the second control element and supplies the second control element with energy for a control pulse and is charged by the first control element when the first controller is switched off and is discharged by the first switching element when the first controller is switched on. This circuit generates a safe control circuit. In the event of a possible hazardous state, either the first controller is no longer supplied with energy or the protection device cannot be deactivated, and so danger to a user is precluded.

Abstract: A method for washing shrinkable textiles in a program-controlled washing machine consisting in washing textiles in a rotatably mounted washing drum according to a process corresponding to textile requirements with a water flow and possibly washing agents, wherein a starting and operating time of a drum driving motor are predefined. A washing machine for carrying out said method is also disclosed. At the beginning of the washing process, the motor operates with a staring time rate which is greater than a possible staring time and which decreases step by step or continuously during the process in order to reduce a mechanical energy applied to the textile according to the shrinkability thereof which strongly increases along with the increase of the washing process time. In such a way, the textile is pre-wetted with an optimal water quantity or soapy solution without producing the excessive textile shrinkage.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system of wash action control for an automatic washing machine. A manually operable user interface allows selection from between a plurality of discrete agitation speed selections which comprise at least a continuous speed agitation mode for a given agitation period during a wash cycle and an intermittent speed agitation mode for at least a part of a given agitation period. The intermittent speed agitation mode automatically varies agitation speed between at least two sub-periods of the given agitation period. The variation in agitation speed can be between a faster and a slower speed or a certain speed and no agitation.

Abstract: A device is provided for monitoring a plurality of appliances, wherein each appliance is connected to an electrical circuit having a first wire and a second wire. The device includes a plurality of cores, each of the plurality of cores being constructed to be able to surround one of the first wires of each circuit and having a secondary winding at which an electrical signal is generated in response to a current polarity change in the first wire. A multiplexer is connected to the secondary winding of each of the plurality of cores. A processor is connected to the multiplexer to monitor the phase relationship between an AC voltage an AC current of each appliance connected to one of the plurality of circuits and to determine information relating to the function of the appliance based on the phase relationship. The device may be located at the circuit breaker box of an establishment.

Abstract: A direct current power supply for a washing appliance powered is disclosed. The power supply includes a switch mode power supply which supplies direct current at a low voltage level from a high direct voltage supply and a pair of commutation devices as a buck converter, an active switching device connected across the input of one of the commutation devices, a latching circuit which controls the active switching device to cause the commutation device to switch off to disable the buck converter, and a push button switch for disabling the latching circuit to cause the active switching device to switch off to allow the one commutation switch to function and thereby enable the buck converter.

Abstract: Device for controlling a motor in a washing machine and a method for controlling a process of a washing machine by using the same, the device including a motor, a power source part for supplying a voltage to the motor, a plurality of torque varying parts parallel to each other and electrically connected to the motor for varying a rotation torque of the motor, a plurality of switching part connected to the torque varying parts respectively and electrically connected to the power source part, a driving part for switching the switching parts, and a controlling part for controlling the driving part so as to vary the rotation torque of the motor according to a mode of user's selection.