Methods Used To Increase Control
The most basic type of cam timer continues to rotate regardless, which is not suitable when needing to wait for events that occur at variable times.
With washing machine cam timers, it is necessary to wait a variable amount of time (for example waiting for a tank of water to heat up to a preset temperature). To achieve this, the cam motor subjects itself to control by one of its switches. The timer sequence switches the cam motor off, and the motor is started again by the signal from the thermostat when the required temperature is reached.
Usually washing machines thermostats have less fixed temperature detection points than the number of wash temperatures used. For intermediate temperatures, the cam mechanism uses the stop and wait method to heat to the nearest temp below the one desired, then uses only fixed timing of the heating element to increase the water to the desired temperature.
Some cam timers also have a fast forward mode, where applying power to a point on the controller causes rapid advance of the mechanism. This is often seen on washing machine controllers. Rapid advance can be achieved by moving of gearing, which may be triggered by various means.
Using feedback and external time delay and other sensory circuits, it is possible to build an electromechanical state machine using a cam timer, which is what such a system within e.g. a washing machine amounts to.
Read more about this topic: Cam Timer
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