This invention relates generally to washing machines and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for controlling operation of washing machines.
Washing machines typically include a cabinet that houses a stationary outer tub for containing wash and rinse water, a perforated clothes basket within the tub, and an agitator within the basket. A drive and motor assembly is mounted underneath the stationary outer tub to rotate the clothes basket and the agitator relative to one another, and a pump assembly pumps water from the tub to a drain to execute a wash cycle.
Traditionally, rinse portions of wash cycles include a deep-fill process wherein articles in the clothes basket are completely submerged in water and the water is agitated. As such, a large amount of water mixes with detergent to produce suds for cleaning the clothes in the clothes basket. Excess suds can be generated under certain combinations of detergent amount, softness of water, material of laundry articles, and water temperature. The production of excess suds can cause a problem commonly called “suds lock”. Suds lock occurs when suds build up beyond the bottom of the basket and climb between the sides of the basket and tub. The suds between the spinning basket and the fixed tub produces a significant drag force on the basket.