Patent ID: 7325653

Claim:
In a transmission for a motor vehicle having a housing defining a fluid sump and a mounting bore communicating with the sump, a standpipe assembly comprising: a first tube extending from the mounting bore so as to extend into the sump, said first tube defining a first flow passage and a first uniform outer diameter along its length; a second tube having a first end and a second end supported for sliding movement relative to said first tube and defining a second flow passage which communicates with said first flow passage, said second tube defining a second uniform outer diameter along its entire length; a threaded drain nut having an outer wall surface defining a mounting diameter adapted for engagement with threads formed in the mounting bore for securing said drain nut to the housing, said mounting diameter being at least equal to said first and second outer diameters, respectively; and a thermal actuator operable for biasing the second tube in a first direction to vary the position of said second tube relative to said first tube in response to changes in the temperature of fluid in the sump, wherein said thermal actuator engages said first end of said second tube and said threaded drain nut.