Patent ID: 8333264

Claim:
A side cover for a transmission, the transmission having a sump for storing hydraulic fluid, the side cover comprising: a body connected to the transmission, the body including: an inner surface; a wall disposed along an outer periphery of the inner surface configured to seal to the transmission, the wall having opposing top and bottom wall surfaces and opposing side wall surfaces; wherein the inner surface and the surfaces of the wall cooperate to define a space having a first portion proximate the bottom wall surface and a second portion disposed above the first portion, wherein the space is at least partially filled with the hydraulic fluid, wherein a planar horizontal cross-sectional area through the second portion decreases from a first distance from the bottom wall surface to a second distance from the bottom wall surface, and wherein the first distance is less than the second distance; and a valve assembly connected to the inner surface of the body within the first portion, the valve assembly having a first port in communication with the first portion and a second port in communication with the sump, and wherein the decreasing planar horizontal cross-sectional area through the second portion is configured to control a pressure of the hydraulic fluid at the first port and when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid at the first port exceeds a predefined pressure, the first port opens to allow hydraulic fluid communication through the valve assembly to the sump.