to send water to the drain after a predetermined amount of suds water has been removed from the storage receptacle application_number US 42317582 A description in fig1 a washing machine is generally shown at 10 as having an imperforate tub 12 with a perforate basket 14 and a vertical agitator 16 therein a water supply not shown an electrically driven motor 18 which is operably connected to a pump 20 and controls 22 including a presettable sequential control means for use in selectively operating the washing machine 10 through a programmed sequence of washing rinsing and drying steps there is also shown a wash tub 24 having a first liquid retaining receptacle or holding tank 26 and a second liquid retaining receptacle 28 connected to a drain and further having a suds return valve mechanism 30 secured to the tub 24 within the first liquid retaining receptacle 26 the suds return valve mechanism 30 is shown ih greater detail in fig2 7 the mechanism consists of an exterior housing 31 which is attached to a wall 32 of the wash tub 24 by means of a bracket 33 as seen in fig1 and 5 such that a portion of the housing 31 extends down into the retaining receptacle 26 within the housing 31.