Locking member for loading door of washing machine - incorporates bimetal strip and resistance heating member both excess stress free during long processing cycles

摘要

Locking member for the loading door of a washing machine includes a bimetal strip which is electrically heated and which only releases the locking member when it is cold. The bimetal strip is associated with a two part electrical resistance heating element via a switch contact and is connected in such a way that the bimetal strip is heatable from the cold state with a full loading into a warm state with a smaller locking loading, the switch contact short circuiting one portion of the heater element. Pref. the bimetal strip itself forms part of the heating element and is coated with plastics with a dark surface layer. Overloading of the bimetal strip or heating element in long washing cycles is avoided.