Pick-up pipe and method

Abstract

A pick-up pipe 100 for picking up oil from a motor vehicle sump (190S, fig 3), comprising an internal portion 110 forming conduit with an inlet (110IN, fig 2); an external portion 150 continuing the c

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a pick-up pipe and method. Aspects of the invention relate to a pick-up pipe for picking up oil from a sump of a motor vehicle, a powertrain or portion thereof having a pick-up pipe, a motor vehicle and a method. BACKGROUND It is known to provide a coolant recirculation system for cooling a powertrain of a vehicle. In some vehicles having an electric drive unit (EDU), a portion of the coolant supplied to the EDU is used to cool an electric machine housed within the EDU. Excess coolant bypasses the electric machine by means of an EDU coolant gallery. This coolant is drained into a cavity in a housing of a transmission of the powertrain. This coolant, together with coolant used to cool the electric machine, flows into a sump. A coolant pick-up pipe draws coolant from the sump for recirculation within the coolant recirculation system. It is to be understood that the present applicant has recognised that the velocity at which coolant is expelled from the coolant gallery into the transmission housing as well as contact between the coolant and rotating gears within the transmission housing causes excessive aeration of the coolant, limiting the amount of heat that can be dissipated by the coolant from the electric machine, thereby affecting the performance of the EDU. It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide an oil pick-up pipe, a powertrain or portion thereof having a pick-up pipe, a motor vehicle and a method as claimed in the appended claims. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an external pick-up pipe for picking up oil from a sump of a motor vehicle, the pick-up pipe comprising: a first, internal, portion comprising a first conduit having an inlet for receiving oil from the sump, the inlet comprising an inlet aperture formed in the first portion; a second, external, portion comprising a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit having an outlet, the outlet of the second conduit being provided in fluid communication with the inlet of the first conduit such that oil may be drawn through the pickup pipe along a pickup pipe oil flow path from the sump to the outlet of the second conduit when a fluid pump is coupled to the outlet of the second conduit; and an intermediate portion arranged between the first and second portions, wherein the intermediate portion is configured to engage with a housing aperture of corresponding cross-sectional size and shape to the intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion has a larger cross-sectional shape and size than a cross-sectional shape and size of the first portion. Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that, because the pick-up pipe is an external pickup pipe, having a portion provided external to the housing, a volume of the pick-up pipe required to be accommodated within the housing is reduced. Accordingly, a pick-up pipe may be installed in a sump within the housing having a relatively low volume. This feature ameliorates the problem of accommodating a pick-up pipe within a housing of a portion of the powertrain such as within a sump or a transmission or electric drive unit (EDU) of a powertrain. Furthermore, because the intermediate portion has a larger cross-sectional shape and size than a cross-sectional shape and size of the first portion the first portion and intermediate portion may be inserted through an aperture in the housing, such that the pick-up pipe can be fitted to the housing, such as housing of a portion of the powertrain of the vehicle, from outside the housing, reducing constraints placed on assembly of the powertrain. In some arrangements, the pick-up pipe may be fitted to the housing of the portion of the powertrain after the portion of the powertrain has been assembled, such as after the installation of other components provided within the housing such as gears and other components, in the case of a transmission housing. This can greatly ease assembly in some embodiments. It is to be understood that the presence of the intermediate portion enables embodiments to be provided in which the pick-up pipe enters the sump with the first portion projecting directly into the sump in a substantially horizontal (lateral) direction with respect to a normal upright orientation of the vehicle. In some embodiments the intermediate portion may be fitted to the housing at a location where the inlet of the first conduit can be immersed in oil in the sump after projecting only a relatively short distance into the housing. This enables the first portion to be made correspondingly short, reducing flexing of the first portion. That is, bending of the first portion under a cantilever action may be reduced by making the first conduit relatively short. Optionally, the intermediate portion has a flange portion having a surface that is arranged to abut an external surface of the housing of the portion of the powertrain. This feature has the advantage of easing assembly of the vehicle by providing an indication that the pickup pipe has been correctly positioned. It also minimises cantilever action of the internal portion and provides fixing points for releasably attaching the pickup pipe to the housing, e.g. the flange portion can provide apertures for studs or bolts. Optionally, the intermediate portion comprises at least one circumferential groove for retaining an O-ring. The surface of the flange portion that is arranged to abut an external surface of the housing of the portion of the powertrain may be a sealing surface which forms a fluid tight seal between the flange and housing. Optionally, a longitudinal axis of the first conduit is substantially straight. In some embodiments, the sealing surface of the flange portion may be provided in a substantially vertical plane with respect to a normal upright orientation of the vehicle. The first conduit is then provided in a substantially horizontal plane with the vehicle in its normal upright orientation and a trajectory of oil entering the first conduit through the inlet of the first conduit from the sump travelling in a substantially vertical direction will bend through an angle of substantially 90 degrees before passing through the first conduit towards the second conduit. Optionally, the first portion comprises an inlet portion, the inlet portion having an inlet portion aperture, the inlet portion being arranged to receive oil through the inlet portion aperture and direct oil through an inlet portion conduit to the inlet aperture formed in the first conduit. The pick-up pipe may further comprise a filter arranged to filter oil flowing through the inlet portion from the inlet portion aperture to the first conduit. This feature has the advantage that oil may be filtered prior to be drawn from the sump to be recirculated through the powertrain or portion thereof. Optionally, the inlet portion aperture has an area that is greater than that of the inlet aperture formed in the first conduit. This feature has the advantage that an amount by which fluid flow rate through the pick-up pipe is reduced due to flow of fluid through the inlet portion may be reduced, enhancing a fluid flow rate. Optionally, the surface of the flange portion that is arranged to abut an external surface of the housing of the portion of the powertrain substantially encompasses a flow path of oil through the pick-up pipe as it passes through the flange portion. The flange portion may be provided with apertures through which fixing elements such as bolts may be passed in order to couple the flange, and therefore the pickup pipe, to the housing. Optionally, the intermediate portion comprises an axial portion defining an intermediate portion conduit , the axial portion having at least one circumferential groove for retaining an O-ring. This feature has the advantage that, when the intermediate portion is inserted into an aperture of corresponding size and shape, a fluid tight seal may be provided to prevent egress of oil from within the housing and, in some embodiments, ingress of liquid or gas into the housing from outside the housing. Optionally, the at least one seal comprises at least one O-ring. It is to be understood that, when the O-ring is provided around the axial portion of the pick-up pipe, the O-ring may be of a shape that is not substantially circular such as oval, discorectangular or any other suitable shape. Optionally, the at least one seal comprises a plurality of axially spaced O-rings. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a powertrain, or a portion of a powertrain, of a motor vehicle having a housing, the housing having an aperture formed therethrough, and a pick-up pipe according to any preceding aspect coupled to the housing such that the seal portion forms a fluid-tight seal to the housing to prevent fluid from flowing therepast from inside the housing to outside the housing. Optionally, the first conduit is arranged to be provided in a substantially horizontal plane with the vehicle in its normal upright orientation on a horizontal plane. In a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of drawing oil from a sump of a powertrain of a motor vehicle comprising coupling an external pick-up pipe according to a preceding aspect to a housing of a portion of a powertrain of the vehicle and drawing oil through the pick-up pipe. In an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of assembling a powertrain or a vehicle having a powertrain comprising: providing a sump; providing a pick-up pipe according to a preceding aspect arranged such that: the first portion is internal the sump the second portion is external the sump the intermediate portion is engaged with an aperture in a housing of a portion of the powertrain, the aperture being of corresponding cross-sectional size and shape to the intermediate portion. Optionally, the method comprises providing the intermediate portion with a flange portion having a surface that is arranged to abut an external surface of the housing of the portion of the powertrain whereby the surface of the flange portion that is arranged to abut an external surface of the housing of the portion of the powertrain substantially encompasses a flow path of oil through the pick-up pipe as it passes through the flange portion. The flange portion may be arranged to be coupled to the housing by means of one or more releasable fixing means such as one or more bolts or fixing means in the form of latching means such as one or more latches. Other fixing means may be useful. In a further aspect of the invention there is provided an external pick-up pipe for picking up oil from a sump of a motor vehicle, the pick-up pipe comprising: a first, internal, portion comprising a first conduit having an inlet for receiving oil from the sump, the inlet comprising an inlet aperture formed in the first portion; a second, external, portion comprising a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit having an outlet, the outlet of the second conduit being provided in fluid communication with the inlet of the first conduit such that oil may be drawn along a pickup pipe oil flow path from the sump and through the pick-up pipe from the inlet of the first conduit to the outlet of the second conduit when a fluid pump is coupled to the outlet of the second conduit; and a seal portion, wherein the seal portion is arranged to form a fluid-tight seal to a housing of a portion of a powertrain of a vehicle such that at least a portion of the first conduit is provided within the sump and the second portion of the pick-up pipe is provided external to the sump, wherein a projection of the seal portion along the pickup pipe oil flowpath of the first, internal portion substantially encloses the first, internal portion along the length thereof such that the first portion and seal portion may be inserted through an aperture in a wall of a housing thereby to introduce the first portion to the sump, the aperture being of corresponding cross-sectional size and shape to the seal portion, whereby the seal portion forms a fluid tight seal with the wall of the housing. In a still further aspect of the invention there is provided an external pick-up pipe for picking up oil from a sump of a motor vehicle, the pick-up pipe comprising: a first, internal, portion comprising a first conduit having an inlet for receiving oil from the sump, the inlet comprising an inlet aperture formed in the first portion; a second, external, portion comprising a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit having an outlet, the outlet of the second conduit being provided in fluid communication with the inlet of the first conduit such that oil may be drawn along a pickup pipe oil flow path from the sump and through the pick-up pipe from the inlet of the first conduit to the outlet of the second conduit when a fluid pump is coupled to the outlet of the second conduit; and a seal portion, wherein the seal portion is arranged to form a fluid-tight seal to a housing of a portion of a powertrain of a vehicle such that at least a portion of the first conduit is provided within the sump and the second portion of the pick-up pipe is provided external to the sump, wherein a cross-sectional area of the first, internal portion normal to the oil flowpath does not exceeed a corresponding cross-sectional area of the seal portion normal to the oil flowpath. Embodiments of the invention have the feature that the first portion and seal portion may be inserted through an aperture in a wall of a housing, the aperture being of corresponding cross-sectional size and shape to the seal portion, whereby the seal portion forms a fluid tight seal with the wall of the housing. Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an oil pick-up pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from above, with respect to a normal upright orientation of a vehicle in which the pipe is installed; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an oil pick-up pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from below, with respect to a normal upright orientation of a vehicle in which the pipe is installed; Figure 3 shows a portion of a powertrain of a vehicle, in particular a portion of a transmission of the powertrain in which the pick-up pipe of Figures 1-2 is installed, as viewed from below with a portion of a lower wall of a housing of the transmission and the sump pan removed to expose an internal portion of the pick-up pipe, i.e. a portion of the pick-up pipe that is located within the sump; Figure 4 is a side view of the pick-up pipe of the embodiment of Figures 1-3; Figure 5 is a side view of the pick-up pipe of the embodiment of Figures 1-3 as viewed from an opposite side to that of the view of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a view of the pick-up pipe of the embodiment of Figures 1-3 as viewed in a direction normal to a flange portion thereof, showing the external portion of the pick-up pipe; Figure 7 is a corresponding view to that of Figure 6 from an opposite direction, showing an internal portion of the pick-up pipe as well as part of the external portion of the pick-up pipe; and Figure 8 shows a vehicle having the pick-up pipe of the embodiment of Figures 1-7 installed in a powertrain thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION An oil pick-up pipe 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures 1 to 8. Figure 1 illustrates the pick-up pipe 100 as viewed from above and Figure 2 illustrates the pick-up pipe 100 as viewed from below, both views with respect to an orientation of the pick-up pipe 100 as installed in a vehicle 100V (Figure 8), with respect to a normal upright orientation of the vehicle on a horizontal plane. Figure 3 is a view, from below, of the pick-up pipe 100 installed in an aperture 190A provided in a wall WOW of a housing of a transmission 190 of a motor vehicle 100V. The transmission forms part of a powertrain 100P of the vehicle 100V (Figure 3). A portion of a lower wall WOW of the housing of the transmission 190 has been cut away in order to reveal an internal portion 110 of the pick-up pipe 100. The transmission 190 has an oil sump 190S in which the internal portion of the pickup pipe is disposed. The pick-up pipe 100 is arranged, in use, to draw oil from the sump 190S so that it can be recirculated, as described in further detail below. The pick-up pipe 100 may be considered to have three portions: the internal portion 110 that resides, in use, within the oil sump 190S of the transmission 190, an intermediate portion 130 that is arranged to reside within the aperture 190A provided in the wall WOW of the housing of the transmission 190, and an external portion 150 that is provided external to the transmission 190. The internal portion 110, intermediate portion 130 and external portion 150 of the pick-up pipe 100 define respective first, second and third conduits that together define a pick-up pipe conduit 100C through which oil may be drawn by an oil pump coupled to a fluid take-off pipe 155 that forms part of the external portion 150. The internal portion 110 of the pick-up pipe 100 has a sump inlet 110IN at one end as shown in Figure 2. The sump inlet 110IN is arranged, in use, to allow oil in oil sump 190S to be drawn into the pick-up pipe conduit 100C of the pick-up pipe 100. A flow path of oil drawn from the oil sump 190S into the pick-up pipe conduit 100C via the sump inlet 110IN is illustrated schematically by means of arrows F in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the pick-up pipe 100 has a pick-up pipe outlet 150OUT through which oil may flow out from the pick-up pipe 100. That is, oil drawn into the pick-up pipe 100 through the sump inlet 110IN flows along the pick-up pipe conduit 100C and out from the pick-up pipe through the pick-up pipe outlet 150OUT. The internal portion 110 of the pick-up pipe 100 is substantially discorectangular in cross-section. That is, the cross-sectional shape is obround or ‘pill shaped’, being defined by a rectangular shape with semi-circular portions defining one pair of opposite edges. The intermediate portion 130 of the pick-up pipe 100 is similarly discorectangular in cross-section. As illustrated in Figure 1, the external portion 150 of the pick-up pipe 100 has an elbow (bend) 150E, at which the pick-up pipe conduit 100C bends through substantially 90 degrees. It is to be understood that in some embodiments angles other than 90 degrees may be useful, depending for example on packaging constraints associated with the powertrain WOP. Figure 4 is a view of the pick-up pipe 100 from one side thereof, as viewed in a substantially horizontal direction with respect to a normal upright orientation of a vehicle in which the pick-up pipe 100 is installed, and Figure 5 is a corresponding view of the pick-up pipe 100 from an opposite side thereof. The sump inlet 1 WIN of the pick-up pipe may be seen in Figures 4 and 5. The inlet 1 WIN is immediately downstream of a flared hood 112 that is arranged, in use, to be below the surface level of oil in the oil sump 190S, and arranged to direct oil in the sump 190S to the inlet 1 WIN. The hood 112 has an inlet 1 WIN and defines a part of the conduit 112C that reduces in cross sectional area along the flowpath of oil therethrough towards the sump inlet 110IN, i.e., sidewalls of the hood 112 converge, until the hood 112 intersects the sump inlet 110IN, where the conduit 112C has the size as the inlet 110IN. The feature of a flared hood to guide fluid to the inlet 1 WIN has the advantage that aeration of fluid being drawn into the sump inlet may be reduced. In the embodiment shown, the hood 112 is arranged to receive an optional filter element 112F (shown in Figure 4 only, in shading) that filters particulates from oil being drawn into the pick-up pipe 100. The filter element 112F may be a replaceable filter element 112F in some embodiments. As illustrated in Figure 1, the intermediate portion 130 is arranged to reside within the aperture 190A provided in the wall WOW of the housing of the transmission 190. The intermediate portion 130 is discorectangular in cross-section as noted above, corresponding in shape and size to the aperture 190A provided in the wall WOW. The intermediate portion is provided with a pair of axially spaced recesses or grooves 131R therearound, arranged to receive elastomeric ‘O’ rings 131S, 132S of corresponding size. The elastomeric ‘O’ rings 131S, 132S assume a corresponding discorectangular shape and provide seal means to form a fluid-tight seal between the intermediate portion 130 and the wall WOW of the housing of the transmission 190. This seal prevents egress of oil from within the transmission 190 via the periphery of the pick-up pipe 130. It also prevents ingress into the transmission 190 of fluid external to the transmission 190. A flange portion 134 is provided on a side of the intermediate portion 130 adjacent the external portion 150. The flange portion 134 is arranged in use to abut the transmission wall WOW and may optionally provide a sealing surface that forms a fluid tight seal between the flange portion 134 and the transmission wall WOW. Sealing means, e.g. a gasket or ‘O’ ring, may also be placed between the flange portion 134 and the transmission wall WOW. This approach to providing a fluid tight seal may be as an alternative to, or in addition to the ‘O’ rings 131S, 132S. The flange portion 134 is provided with a pair of apertures 134A (see Figures 6 and 7) therethrough to allow the flange portion 134, and hence the pick-up pipe 100, to be secured to the wall WOW of the transmission 190. Alternatively, the pick-up pipe 100 may be secured to a wall of the oil sump 190S in some designs. It may be advantageous for the intermediate portion 130 of the pick-up pipe 100 to be a close and relatively elongate fit in the aperture 190A to constrain the pick-up pipe 100 against movement. Restricted movement of the pick-up pipe 100 helps to minimise forces placed upon the flange 134 due to cantilevering ofthe internal portion 110 ofthe pick-up pipe 100. The pick-up pipe 100 may be further constrained by the elastomeric ‘O’ rings 131S, 132S installed as above and thereby further reduce forces acting on the flange 134. Similarly, extending the length ofthe intermediate portion 130 residing in the aperture 190A, and / or extending the distance between the elastomeric ‘O’ rings 131S, 132S, further promotes constraining the pick-up pipe 100 against movement. Figure 6 shows the pick-up pipe 100 as viewed along a direction substantially normal to a plane ofthe flange portion 134, from a direction external to the sump 190S. Figure 7 is a corresponding view ofthe pick-up pipe 100 as viewed from an opposite direction to that of Figure 6. As may be seen in Figure 7, the internal portion 110 ofthe pick-up pipe 100 has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than a projected area, normal to the plane ofthe flange portion 134, ofthe intermediate portion 130 of the pick-up pipe 100. This feature has the advantage that the pick-up pipe 100 may be fitted to the transmission 190 by being introduced through the aperture 190A in the wall WOW ofthe transmission 190 from a location external to the transmission 190. Thus, in some embodiments the pick-up pipe 100 may be installed after the transmission 190 has been assembled. Similarly, the pick-up pipe 100 may be removed from the transmission 190, for example for replacement or maintenance, such as replacement of the filter 112F. In some embodiments, the pick-up pipe 100 may be installed and removed after the transmission 190 has been installed in a vehicle 100V. It is to be understood that oil pick-up pipes 100 according to embodiments of the present invention may be formed from any suitable material or materials including metal such as steel or aluminium, metal alloy such as an aluminium-magnesium alloy or a plastics material such as an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastics material, a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) plastics material, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) plastics material or any other suitable plastics material. Other materials may be useful instead or in addition. It is to be understood that an oil pick-up pipe 100 formed from a plastics material may be formed by injection moulding to form substantially the entire structure of the pick-up pipe 100 as a unitary structure in an injectionmoulding operation. In some alternative embodiments, two or more portions of the pick-up pipe 100 may be formed by injection moulding of the separate portions and subsequently joining the portions together to form the pick-up pipe 100. For example, the pick-up pipe 100 may be formed in substantially two portions such as two halves that are subsequently joined, for example by welding or by means of an adhesive. For example, an upper portion may be formed as a unitary element by injection moulding and a lower portion may be similarly formed as a unitary element by injection moulding. The two portions may then be joined together. One or more further elements or portions may be introduced before or after joining the two portions. Other arrangements may be useful. Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle 100V having an oil pick-up pipe 100 according to Figures 1-7. As noted above, embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that an oil pick-up pipe 100 may be installed in a vehicle transmission or other component from a position external to the transmission or other component such as an electric drive unit (EDU). Thus the transmission or other component may be assembled, and in some cases installed in a vehicle, before the pick-up pipe is installed in the transmission, EDU, or other component. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An external pick-up pipe for picking up oil from a sump of a motor vehicle, the pick-up pipe comprising:a first, internal, portion comprising a first conduit having an inlet for receiving oil from the sump, the inlet comprising an inlet aperture formed in the first portion;a second, external, portion comprising a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit having an outlet, the outlet of the second conduit being provided in fluid communication with the inlet of the first conduit such that oil may be drawn through the pickup pipe along a pickup pipe oil flow path from the sump to the outlet of the second conduit when a fluid pump is coupled to the outlet of the second conduit; andan intermediate portion arranged between the first and second portion,wherein the intermediate portion is configured to engage with a housing aperture of corresponding cross-sectional size and shape to the intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion has a larger cross-sectional shape and size than a cross-sectional shape and size of the first portion.

2. A pick-up pipe according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate portion has a flange portion having a surface that is arranged to abut an external surface of the housing of the portion of the powertrain.

3. A pick-up pipe according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the intermediate portion comprises at least one circumferential groove for retaining an O-ring.

4. A pick-up pipe according to any preceding claim wherein a longitudinal axis of the first conduit is substantially straight.

5. A pick-up pipe according to any preceding claim wherein the first portion comprises an inlet portion, the inlet portion having an inlet portion aperture, the inlet portion being arranged to receive oil through the inlet portion aperture and direct oil through an inlet portion conduit to the inlet aperture formed in the first conduit.

6. A pick-up pipe according to claim 5 further comprising a filter arranged to filter oil flowing through the inlet portion from the inlet portion aperture to the first conduit.

7. A pick-up pipe according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the inlet portion aperture has an area that is greater than that of the inlet aperture formed in the first conduit.

8. A pick-up pipe according to claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 7 depending through claim 2 wherein the surface of the flange portion that is arranged to abut an external surface of the housing of the portion of the powertrain substantially encompasses a flow path of oil through the pick-up pipe as it passes through the flange portion.

9. A pick-up pipe according to claim 3 any one of claims 4 to 8 depending through claim 2 wherein the intermediate portion comprises an axial portion defining an intermediate portion conduit, the axial portion having said at least one circumferential groove.

10. A pick-up pipe according to claim 9 wherein the at least one circumferential groove houses at least one O-ring.

11. A pick-up pipe according to claim 10 wherein the at least one O-ring comprises a plurality of axially spaced O-rings.

12. A powertrain, or a portion of a powertrain, of a motor vehicle having a housing, the housing having an aperture formed therethrough, and a pick-up pipe according to any preceding claim coupled to the housing such that intermediate portion forms a fluid-tight seal with the housing to prevent fluid from flowing from inside the housing to outside the housing around the intermediate portion.

13. A powertrain ora portion of a powertrain as claimed in claim 12 wherein the first conduit is arranged to be provided in a substantially horizontal plane with the vehicle in its normal upright orientation on a horizontal plane.

14. A method of drawing oil from a sump of a powertrain of a motor vehicle comprising coupling an external pick-up pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 11 to a housing of a portion of a powertrain of the vehicle and drawing oil through the pick-up pipe.

15. A method of assembling a powertrain ora vehicle having a powertrain comprising:providing a sump in the powertrain with an aperture in a housing of a portion of the powertrain adjacent the sump;installing a pick-up pipe according to any one of claims 1 to 11 through the aperture such that:the first portion is internal the sump;the second portion is external the sump; andthe intermediate portion is engaged with and sealed in the aperture.

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