Thread Number: 77677  /  Tag: Modern Automatic Washers
Catalyst system for Speed Queen
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Post# 1016925   12/5/2018 at 13:23 (1,940 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        

chetlaham's profile picture
I've been thinking- how well do you think it would work out of Speed Queen created a system where the tub spins at low to medium speed during the wash period, coasting down and reversing direction every few minutes, with a re-circulation pump added that generously showers the clothes with water and concentrated detergent. Basically mimicking the Whirlpool Catalyst/resource saver mechanism. The way I see it this could significantly improve cleaning while making use of the existing system already in place.





Post# 1016969 , Reply# 1   12/5/2018 at 17:42 (1,940 days old) by lakewebsterkid (Dayton, Ohio)        
I completely agree

However, the biggest issues here will be the increased cost, complexity, and time to wash a load. If this process takes 10 minutes, it pushes the time for a wash cycle towards that of a front load or he top load machine.

Post# 1016975 , Reply# 2   12/5/2018 at 18:09 (1,940 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        

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Well, I beg to differ- adding a second pump and flume would not be too costly nor significantly complex. I even have an idea to ditch the motor control board...


However, you are probably right about the increased time.


Post# 1016986 , Reply# 3   12/5/2018 at 19:06 (1,940 days old) by henene4 (Heidenheim a.d. Brenz (Germany))        

For stain treating that would be great.

While reversing isn't really necessary (I mean, think about it, what would reversing spin direction change about laundry position?) the system could be manually added quite easily.



You'd have to make sure the pump wouldn't drain away the suds.

Using a valve to block flow to the pump and then adding a second electrical pump wired in the spin circuit of the motor would be an option, but I think the SQ drain pumps don't like running dry.
But I might be wrong.

Other option would be to use a diverting switch over valve after the pump.
Then use a switch and wire the valve in with the slow spin setting.

With the switch activated, during a low spin cycle, the valve would divert the drain flow back into the tub.

You'd fill the machine with a gallon or 2 of warm water, add your detergent, flip the switch and run a slow spin cycle.

Afterwards, just set it to the desired cycle.



However, using to much water might cause premature belt wear as it would keep slipping during treatment like during spin drain.




On the electronic machines of the current generation, I don't think that would work.

Me thinks that on these the drain isn't times but controlled via pressure switch and that probably would keep tripping with any water left in the tub.

And wiring the recirculation pump in would be tricky as the drain pump cycles on and off AFAIK.






This action could not be used entirely instead of an agitation wash method though or at least not effectively.

In theory, yes, it could result in equivalent results, but time would be more in the hour range for the wash alone.

Problem is that laundry would stay static during this action. No flexing of the fibres would happen.
Thus any soil that is present as one bigger mass sticking together (like a stain) would probably be hard to remove.

That pre-treatment method wonderfully loosens smaller stains up and certainly attacks bigger clusters of dirt.
That is why the Catalyst and for that matter many WP HE TLs with recirculation do that treatment before the agitation wash.
It's like using a stain pretreatment spray on the entirety of the load but without any waste.

But agitation would still be needed.


Post# 1017030 , Reply# 4   12/6/2018 at 06:18 (1,940 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        

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Henene, thank you. This is what I wanted to hear. I like you input on the fibers not flexing but it working well for stains. I know a lot of people talking about that stains staying, perhaps this is the answer.


I have nothing to test right now, but I want to do one experiment where me or someone else takes a Whirlpool catalyst or resource saver and runs a mix of recirculated detergent washes. Various lengths and various cycles coupled with and without agitation.


In my mind this might just save Speed Queen, and make high efficiency fun.


Post# 1017604 , Reply# 5   12/10/2018 at 15:16 (1,935 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        
Thoughts

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Would 20 minutes of catalyst substitute a wash or be better then the agi tub alone?

Post# 1017767 , Reply# 6   12/12/2018 at 11:36 (1,933 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

You could accomplish that now by stopping a low water level wash, removing the drain hose from the standpipe, holding it into the tub and setting the machine for spin IF you can get it to spin before a full neutral drain.  I wash pillows that way in my TL KA.


Post# 1017820 , Reply# 7   12/12/2018 at 20:44 (1,933 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        

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Got to try it now. High or low spin speed?

Post# 1017843 , Reply# 8   12/13/2018 at 07:39 (1,933 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

I don't think it matters because when the tub is spinning with water in it, it does not develop much speed.  Try both speeds. When I do pillows this way, I give them a few minutes of this, then let them soak for a few minutes and follow that with more spin spray action. This really forces the water through the pillows and eliminates having to deal with air pockets.  MAKE SURE TO AIM THE HOSE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SPIN TO AVOID SPLASHING.


Post# 1018065 , Reply# 9   12/14/2018 at 22:09 (1,931 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        

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I plan on using on a small amount of water to concentrate the detergent and have enough to keep a near full flow rate out of the drain hose. My theory is that it will force more water through the clothes then this:







Post# 1018072 , Reply# 10   12/15/2018 at 03:20 (1,931 days old) by thomasortega (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles de Porciúncula)        
henene4

I love the way you think!

A second alternative, MAYBE, use centrifugal force to make an "aquajet" just like I did to the Electrolux LTA15 in Brazil.

As soon as there's enough water in the drum and the relation to the drum-tub gap to pressurize it and overflow, centrifugal force would be enough to recirculate much more water than a pump and a sprayer But also, it could reduce the detergent concentration.


Post# 1018699 , Reply# 11   12/21/2018 at 07:42 (1,925 days old) by chetlaham (United States)        
Another question

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Should I let the tub slow down and stop only to go back into spin or just let it spin why whole time?


I set my Speed Queen to spin with a load of dry clothes and through in a few jugs of water while in spin. It worked well. However, when I stopped the spin the clothes fell downward and scrunched up near the bottom. I'm thinking the latter would be less effective?



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