Patent ID: 8622040

Claim:
A compact transmission fluid heater for a motor vehicle comprising: a fluid pan assembly mounted on the a transmission for storing a supply of transmission fluid, said fluid pan assembly having an inner chamber storing the transmission fluid and an outer chamber surrounding the inner chamber, said fluid pan assembly including an inner housing having a bottom wall, first and second sidewalls, a front endwall and a rear endwall, and an outer housing having a bottom wall, first and second sidewalls, a front endwall and a rear endwall, the front endwalls and the first and second sidewalls of the inner and outer housings being spaced respectively from one another to thereby define the outer chamber therebetween, the rear endwalls of the inner and outer housing engaging one another with no space therebetween to further define the shape of the outer chamber as U-shaped, and the bottom walls of the inner and outer housings engaging with one another with no space therebetween to further define the outer chamber and maximize clearance from a ground surface beneath the motor vehicle, the inner and outer housings each having peripheral flanges engaging with and connecting to one another to define the top of the outer chamber and provide for bolting of the fluid pan assembly to the transmission, an inlet to the outer chamber communicating with a source of engine exhaust gas, an outlet from the outer chamber for exhausting the exhaust gas, and an inlet valve for either opening or shutting the communication of engine exhaust gas to the inlet.