Patent ID: 8678078

Claim:
Apparatus for heating transmission fluid, comprising: an engine having an intake manifold and an EGR system; a transmission assembly; a heat exchanger effective to transfer heat between transmission fluid of the transmission assembly and an exhaust gas feed stream of the engine; an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve, located upstream of an EGR system, for selectively diverting flow of an EGR portion of said exhaust gas feed stream into the EGR system while allowing flow of an exhaust portion of said exhaust gas feed stream directly through an exhaust pipe; a flow valve, located upstream of the heat exchanger within the EGR system, for selectively controlling flow of a first portion of said EGR portion through said heat exchanger based upon temperature of said transmission fluid, and selectively controlling flow of a second portion of said EGR portion directly through a by-pass circuit from said flow valve into said intake manifold of the engine; and wherein said first portion of said EGR portion passing through said heat exchanger is directed to said intake manifold of the engine, and said second portion of said EGR portion bypasses said heat exchanger in passing directly to said intake manifold of the engine.