Assumption University-eJournal of Interdisciplinary Research (AU-eJIR): Vol. 5. Issue. 2, 2020 ISSN: 2408-1906 Page-83 DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPROVED PEDAL POWERED WASHING MACHINE P.B. Mogaji, H.O. Jayeola and D.A. Echoga Industrial and Production Engineering Department, The Federal University of Technology, Akure. Nigeria. E-mail(s): pbmogaji@futa.edu.ng, happinessjayeola@gmail.com, echogadanielabu@gmail.com Correspondence E-mail: mogajipbtut1@gmail.com Abstract: This research work deals with the design and fabrication of an improved cloth washing machine capable of small-scale industrial application as well as household use. The project is aimed at developing a washing machine that is efficient, affordable, durable and compatible for rural areas with little or no supply of electricity; by working on the efficiencies of pre-developed machines and providing solutions to their deficiencies; a dynapod with gear- sprocket system combined with the belt-pulley system is use to transmit torque via leg cranking to the shaft of the washing drum (agitator in electric washing machine); the dynapod is also used to vary (increase or decrease) the speed of the machine to facilitate different speeds for the three main operations in laundry process washing, rinsing, and spinning which are the three main operations of the washing machine, speed is further increased with the aid of the belt - pulley system. With an overall efficiency of 84.98%, the cost of fabricating the machine is 45,000NGN (123.80USD) and this can be significantly reduced if produced in a large scale. The machine is easy to use and maintain as the system of operation is simple, it is eco-friendly and safe for the user. The machine is capable of community application therefore can be used by the entire populace of a rural area or settlement. Keywords: Pedal, Washing Machine, Dynapod, Pulley 1. INTRODUCITON Washing of cloths is deemed as a very important aspect of our lives in terms of hygiene and beauty, but it is also seen as undesirable and stressful this is largely due to the time, effort energy and cost washing clothes actually requires; this has made laundering a very important part of human daily life. Due to such great importance, really great effort has been invested in ensuring that washing of clothes become less and less stressful. In many ancient cultures, peoples cleaned their clothes by pounding them on rocks. Laundry was often a communal ritual, especially in places near rivers, springs, and other bodies of water, where the washing was done textiles (Mary Bellis, 2019). Laundering by hand involves soaking, beating, scrubbing, and rinsing. Due to such an important and continuous domestic chore, minds had to come together to find innovative ways which would be better more constructive, less time consuming and comfortable way of carrying out laundering processes, hence the adoption of the washing machine. In rural areas washing laundry is one of the activities and responsibilities that is laborious and time consuming. Electric powered washing machines do not work because of electricity and also due to their very expensive cost. Hence the development of a machine that would be cost effective and less laborious without using electricity became necessary. The washing machine is one of the most valuable and useful tools today regarding domestic laundering. A washing machine is basically a machine designed to wash clothes or clean brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by Assumption Journals