Apparatus for setting fluid level in an automatic transmission

• US 20040140162A1
• Filed: 01/22/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Corporation (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Bowlby, John C. II, Ilyas, Syed, Celini, Dean A., Schiemann, Marvin G., Potter, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US10/348,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140162A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 184/103.2
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/12 concerning lubricant level
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0447 Control of lubricant levels, e.g. lubricant level control dependent on temperature

Abstract

An apparatus for setting a level of fluid in an oil reservoir of an automatic transmission comprises a standpipe attached to the oil reservoir, and a regulator movable relative to the standpipe. Alternative means move the regulator relative to the standpipe to set a height of the regulator.

Claims

1. An apparatus for setting a level of fluid in an oil reservoir of an automatic transmission, the apparatus comprising:

a standpipe attached to the oil reservoir;

a regulator movable relative to the standpipe; and

means for moving the regulator relative to the standpipe to set a height of the regulator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for moving the regulator comprises a coil spring.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for moving the regulator comprises a lever.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for moving the regulator comprises a thermal motor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for moving the regulator is thermally sensitive.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the height of the regulator is a function of temperature of the fluid.

7. An apparatus for regulating a level of fluid in an oil reservoir of an automatic transmission, the apparatus comprising:

a standpipe attached to the oil reservoir;

a regulator movable relative to the standpipe;

a lever mounted to the standpipe; and

a coil spring engaged with the lever.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the coil spring is thermally sensitive.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a height of the regulator is a function of temperature of the fluid.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the regulator is mounted as gate in the standpipe.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the regulator is mounted as a sliding gate in the standpipe.

12. An apparatus for regulating a level of fluid in an oil reservoir of an automatic transmission, the apparatus comprising:

a standpipe attached to the oil reservoir;

a regulator; and

a thermal motor for moving the regulator relative to the regulator.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the thermal motor is thermally sensitive.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the thermal motor moves the regulator to a height as a function of temperature of the fluid.