Universal adaptor linkage

A universal adaptor linkage for connection between the transmission and the shift or linkage rod associated with the gear selector lever of an automobile comprising a lower linkage portion having at least one hole therein for selective connection to the shift or linkage rod, a center linkage portion having a hole therein for connection to the gear shift control valve trunnion of the transmission, a transverse linkage portion for connecting the upper end of the lower linkage portion to the lower end of the center linkage portion, an upper linkage portion extending upwardly from the center linkage portion and having at least one hole therein for selective connection to the shift or linkage rod, and an upper transverse linkage portion extending between the upper end of the center linkage portion and the lower end of the upper linkage portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a linkage that is useful in a number of different 
transmissions of different automobiles. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In the rebuilding of automobile transmissions, and in particular, the Ford 
Motor Company C4, C5 and FMX transmissions that have been supplied as 
original equipment in automobiles from 1965 through 1979, it has been a 
problem to provide and to stock the numerous different parts that are 
required. In order to effect a desirable reduction in the number of such 
parts that are required to be stocked, there has been a need to provide a 
single part that can be substituted for a number of different parts that 
are provided as original equipment in the different transmissions. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Among the objects of the invention is the provision of a linkage that is so 
devised as to be useful in a number of different transmissions provided in 
automobiles. 
Specifically, an object of the invention is to provide such an adaptable or 
adaptor linkage for connection between the transmission gear shift control 
valve trunnion and one end of the shift or linkage rod that is associated 
with the gear selector lever of an automobile and has the other end 
thereof connected to the gear selector lever for adjustment thereby. 
A more specific object of the invention is to provide such an adaptor 
linkage that may be used with any C4, C5 or FMX transmission irrespective 
of whether floor shift or steering column shift gear selection is provided 
in the automobile. 
In accomplishing the foregoing and other objectives of the invention there 
is provided a universal adaptor linkage for C4, C5 and FMX transmissions 
for connection between the transmission gear shift control valve trunnion 
and the aforementioned shift or linkage rod. 
The adaptor linkage includes lower linkage portion having two holes for 
selective connection depending upon the type of transmission, to the 
linkage rod. These holes are used with steering column gear selectors. The 
adaptor linkage further includes a center linkage portion having a hole 
for connection to the gear shift control valve trunnion of the 
transmission, a transverse linkage portion for connecting the upper end of 
the lower linkage portion to the lower end of the center linkage portion, 
and an upper linkage portion extending upwardly from the center linkage 
portion. The upper linkage portion of the adaptor linkage has three holes 
for selective connection depending upon the type of transmission, to the 
linkage rod. These holes are used with floor shift gear selectors. The 
adaptor linkage further includes an upper transverse linkage portion that 
extends between the upper end of the center linkage portion and the lower 
end of the upper linkage portion. Adjoining portions of the upper 
transverse and center linkage portions include a half moon cut out in the 
front edge of the linkage, as seen mounted on the transmission, to avoid 
hitting parts of the transmission. Additionally, the lower transverse 
linkage portion includes a squared cut out in its rear edge to avoid 
hitting parts of the transmission. 
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention 
become more apparent in the light of the following detailed description of 
the preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying 
drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing, the 
adaptor linkage is indicated as a whole at 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 
the adaptor linkage 10 comprises a lower linkage portion 12, a center 
linkage portion 14, a transverse linkage portion 16 that connects the 
upper end of the lower linkage portion 12 to the lower end of the center 
linkage portion 14, an upper linkage portion 18 extending upwardly from 
the center linkage portion 14, and an upper transverse linkage portion 20 
extending between the bottom end of the upper linkage portion 18 and the 
upper end of the center linkage portion 14. 
As may be seen in the drawings, the transverse linkage portion 16 has a 
squared cut or cut out portion 22 at one side, that facing the rear of the 
transmission when the linkage 10 is mounted thereon, for allowing the 
linkage 10 to be moved past parts of the transmission without hitting 
them. At the other side of adjoining portions of the center linkage 
portion 14 and the upper transverse portion 20, a half moon cut out 24 is 
similarly provided to allow movement of the linkage 10 past transmission 
parts without hitting them. The half moon cut out is on the side of the 
linkage 10 facing the front on the transmission, when the linkage 10 is 
mounted on the transmission. 
The lower linkage portion 12 is provided with two holes 26 and 28 for 
selective connection of the adaptor linkage 10 by a linkage rod 30, as 
seen, for example, in FIG. 3, to a steering column manually operated gear 
selector lever 32 of an automobile (not shown) having a transmission 
indicated at 34. Center linkage portion 14 is provided with a hole 36 for 
connection of the linkage 10 to the gear shift control valve trunnion 38 
of the transmission 34. Upper linkage portion 18 also is provided with 
holes 40, 42 and 44 for selective connection of the adaptor linkage 10 by 
a shift or linkage rod 46, as seen, for example, in FIG. 4, to a floor 
shift manually operated gear selector lever 48 of an automobile (not 
shown) having a transmission 50. Hole 36 of adaptor linkage 10 is 
connected to a gear shift control valve trunnion 52 of transmission 50. 
Preferably, the centers of the holes 26, 28, 36, 42 and 44 are located in 
the same plane, including a plane vertical to the sheet of drawing, as 
seen in FIG. 2. Hole 40 in upper linkage portion 18 is displaced slightly 
to the left of that plane. 
As those skilled in the art will understand, the positions of the holes 26 
and 28 in lower linkage portion 12, and the positions of the holes 40, 42 
and 44 in upper linkage portion 18 with respect to the position of center 
portion hole 36 of the adaptor linkage 10 are determined by the 
requirements of the transmission and the parameters of the shift or 
linkage rod supplied with the transmission as original equipment. 
By way of illustration and not limitation, an operative embodiment of the 
adaptor linkage 10, according to the present invention, made of steel and 
having the dimensions given in the following table may be used on any C4, 
C5 and FMX transmission provided in automobiles made from the year 1965 
through the year 1979. 
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Table of Dimensions of Linkage 10 
Overall length of linkage 10-181/2 cm (7 5/16") 
Length of linkage portions: 
Portion Length 
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12 6.5 cm (21/2") 
14 4.5 cm (15/8") 
16 3.6 cm (13/8") 
18 6.2 cm (21/2") 
20 1.5 cm (5/8") 
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Spacing between lower edge of lower linkage portion 12 and the center line 
of hole 26--1 cm (3/8"). 
Spacing between centers of the holes, all of which are on the same vertical 
plane extending lengthwise of adaptor linkage 10, as seen in FIG. 2: 
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Holes Spacing 
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26-28 1.6 cm (5/8") 
28-36 6.7 (25/8") 
36-42 7.3 cm (27/8") 
42-44 1.6 cm (5/8") 
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Spacing between upper edge of upper linkage portion 18 and the center line 
of hole 44--0.63 cm (1/4"). 
Spacing between transverse center lines of the holes: 
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Holes Spacing 
______________________________________ 
36-40 5.6 cm (2 3/16") 
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Spacing between longitudinal center lines of holes 36 and 40--0.47 cm 
(3/16"). 
The diameters of the several holes are as follows: 
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26 0.8 cm (5/16 ") 
28 1.3 cm (1/2") 
36 1.9 cm (3/4") 
40 0.8 cm (5/16 ") 
42 1.3 cm (1/2") 
44 0.8 cm (5/16 ") 
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It will be understood that adaptor linkage 10 may be made of materials 
other than steel, if desired, in accordance with the practice in the art. 
Additionally, changes may be made in details of construction and form of 
the linkage without departing from the scope of the invention as defined 
by the appended claims.