Patent ID: 7950256

Claim:
A washing appliance comprising: a tank for loading washing liquor and items to be washed and having a side wall defining an inside surface with a low portion where liquid will collect; a drum rotatably mounted within the tank; a controller carrying out a predetermined washing program; spaced guide edges projecting inwardly from the inside surface of a side of the tank and extending vertically downwardly from a vertical position above a middle portion of the tank toward the low portion below the middle portion such that the guide edges converge toward the low portion to define therebetween an inclined drain surface provided on the inside surface of the tank to funnel a portion of the washing liquor along the inclined drain surface; and at least one measuring instrument in communication with the inclined drain surface and assessing mechanical properties of such washing liquor funneled along the inclined drain surface on the basis of a drainage behavior thereof.