Washing Appliance

[0092]Referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a drum 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is formed of an elongate rectangular piece of metal, which is bent round and the ends joined together to form an open cylinder. There is a suitably sized, possibly, but not necessarily, substantially rectangular aperture 2 located approximately centrally in terms of the length and width of the metal piece forming the drum 1, that provides an opening for placing laundry into and removing laundry from, the drum 1 when assembled 3. A plurality of elongate drain channels 5 are provided in the piece of metal 1, which channels 5 run laterally across the piece of metal.

[0093]Referring to FIG. 2a of the drawings, the drain channels 5, when viewed cross-sectionally all slope in the same direction from a shallow start point 7 to a distal deep end point 9. Each deep end point 9 defines a valve housing 8 comprising a circular purging aperture 13 located centrally in an offset circ