Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10D—STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G10D11/00—Accordions, concertinas or the like; Keyboards therefor
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
  • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
  • G10H2230/00—General physical, ergonomic or hardware implementation of electrophonic musical tools or instruments, e.g. shape or architecture
  • G10H2230/045—Special instrument [spint], i.e. mimicking the ergonomy, shape, sound or other characteristic of a specific acoustic musical instrument category
  • G10H2230/245—Spint accordion, i.e. mimicking accordions; Electrophonic instruments with one or more typical accordion features, e.g. special accordion keyboards or bellows, electrophonic aspects of mechanical accordions, Midi-like control therefor

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the technical field of so-called free reed wind instruments, such as for example accordions, bandoneons, concertinas, bayans, etc.
• this type of instrument comprises at least two boxes movable relative to one another according to movements of approach or spacing performed by the player.
• the caissons are connected by a bellows defining an air reserve of variable capacity communicating with a series of cells arranged in box springs carried by the caissons. Each cell is provided with two free reeds which are vibrated by the suction or expiration air flow corresponding to the filling or emptying of the bellows.
• the cells are fitted with shutters, the opening and closing of which allows the reeds to be acted upon or not by the air flow.
• the shutters are controlled by a mechanism comprising in particular keys mounted on the casings to be actuated by the instrumentalist.
• the box assigned to the right hand remains in a fixed position while being supported by straps, while the box assigned to the left hand is movable to ensure the depression and compression of the bellows. It should be noted that the musician must also support, by his left hand, the mass of the box, while endeavoring to ensure the performance of the musical part assigned to the left hand.
• the object of the invention therefore aims to remedy the drawbacks of musical instruments with free reeds of the prior art, by proposing an instrument considerably improving the playing comfort, in particular with the left hand.
• the object of the invention therefore aims to achieve this objective by proposing a musical instrument with free reeds solicited in vibration by an air flow generated by a reserve and capable of circulating from the reserve in two directions called respectively d 'suction and expiration, the instrument comprising: • at least two boxes movable relative to each other according to movements of approximation or spacing, • a series of free reeds mounted inside said caissons, • and a shutter actuation mechanism whose opening and closing allows the reeds to be solicited or not by the air flow, this mechanism notably comprising actuating keys mounted on the movable boxes.
• the instrument comprises means for supporting and guiding the relative movement of the boxes relative to one another along a determined path.
• Another object of the invention is to remedy the drawbacks stated above by proposing a musical instrument whose air reserve has a fixed capacity in which at least one mobile air compression member moves, the movement is controlled by the mobile box.
• the flow of air leaving the air reserve has a single direction making it possible to use a single reed for the same note.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument incorporating an electronic transduction system offering an improvement in the transduction sensitivity of sound and in accuracy by being insensitive to sound disturbances from the environment.
• the instrument according to the invention comprises, for each reed, a feeler in permanent contact with the reed, set in rotation with a transducer for converting the pivoting movement into an electrical signal.
• Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a first embodiment of a musical instrument according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.
• Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views showing two characteristic positions of the operation of the instrument according to the invention in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2.
• Fig. 5 is a partial view showing a characteristic detail of the instrument illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4.
• Fig. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the actuation mechanism of the reed shutters.
• Fig. 7 is a top view showing a characteristic detail of the object of the invention.
• Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively end and side views of FIG. 7.
• Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of an instrument according to the invention.
• Fig. 11 is a view showing a characteristic detail of the variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10.
• the subject of the invention relates to a new musical instrument designated as a whole by the reference 1.
• the musical instrument 1 comprises a first so-called fixed box 2, and a second box 3 said to be mobile.
• the instrument 1 comprises means 5 for supporting and guiding the relative movement of the boxes 2, 3, one with respect to the other along a determined trajectory.
• the support and guide means 5 ensure the displacement of the boxes 2, 3 around an axis of rotation 6, so that the trajectory of the mobile box takes place in a circular segment.
• the fixed box 2 called with the right hand moves the mobile box 3 said with the left hand.
• the mass of the mobile box 3 is supported by the fixed box 2 so that the left hand does not make an effort to support the box, but simply exerts an effort to ensure the displacement of the mobile box 3 as will be explained in the following description.
• the playing comfort of the musician is considerably improved by the assisted movement and reduced stroke of the mobile hand.
• the fixed box 2 has a preferably concave back 8, to match the torso of the musician.
• the back 8 is extended on one side over substantially 90 ° by a rounded external wall 9, on the front of which are actuated actuation keys 11 which can be formed in any suitable manner, that is to say by example by buttons, piano keys, "pads", etc.
• the fixed box 2 is arranged to allow the partial embedding of the mobile box 3 which is equipped with the axis of rotation 6 guided in rotation at each of its ends by bearings 13 arranged in lower closure plates 14 and upper 14 Î mounted on the fixed box 2.
• the closing plates 14, 14 ⁇ are attached to the fixed box 2 to be part of it, but it is clear that the closing plates 14, 14 ⁇ could be an integral part of the box fixed 2.
• the mobile box 3 has a rounded external wall 15 on the front of which are also actuated keys 11.
• the mobile box 3 is dimensioned so as to allow its relative rotation relative to the fixed box 2 for example on a stroke 1/8 of a turn.
• the mobile box 3 thus leaves a free space 16 with the fixed box defining its stroke, this free space 16 can be equipped for example with a dummy bellows.
• the movable box 3 comprises, at its edge, rolling and sealing means cooperating with the lower plates 14 and upper 14 ⁇ .
• the musical instrument 1 comprises means, not shown, of creating an effort antagonistic to the movement of bringing the boxes 2, 3 together, so as to restore the instrumentalist to his habit
• This antagonistic effort can of course be adjustable, or even disengageable, and be carried out by any suitable means, such as by a spring, a pneumatic or even hydraulic system.
• the instrument 1 is also equipped with means for creating an effort to urge the boxes 2, 3 away from one another during their spacing movement.
• These means of creating a stressing force in distance make it possible to facilitate the return of the mobile box 3 from its front position. to its rear position.
• the implementation of these means, alone or in combination with the means for creating the opposing effort, makes it possible to avoid the use of a strap for the left hand.
• At least the mobile box 3 is equipped, near the implantation zone of the actuating keys 11, with support zones for the thumb or the palm of the hand making it possible to easily manage the resistance created by the opposing and / or spacing means, while leaving the fingers free to actuate the keys 11.
• the instrument 1 comprises an air reserve 17 having a fixed capacity in which moves at least one mobile compression member 3.
• the fixed box 2 is arranged to internally delimit elementary chambers 19 four in number in the example illustrated, partially closed, and sealingly, by the movable box 3 and the lower plates 14 and upper 14 ⁇ .
• the elementary chambers 19 communicate with each other by a circuit 20 shown diagrammatically and constituting the reserve 17 of fixed capacity.
• the mobile box 3 is equipped, as a compression member 18, with arms 21 extending from the axis of rotation 6 and inside each of an elementary chamber 19.
• at least one end-of-travel stop is arranged between the boxes 2 and 3 to avoid bringing the boxes into contact with one another so as to avoid a bonding phenomenon when the direction of movement of the mobile box changes.
• the musical instrument 1 also includes air inlets 23 arranged in the example illustrated, in the lower plate 14 and opening into the elementary chambers 19.
• the air inlets 23 are equipped with means not shown, of regulation such that valves, valves or flaps ensuring only the admission of air to the reserve 17. Thus, the air present in the reserve 17 cannot escape through the inlets 23.
• the air reserve 17 routes the air by at least one, and in the example illustrated, by two outlets 24, towards two box springs 25 each mounted in a box 2, 3 and each arranged to include a series of cells 26 each equipped with at least one free reed 27 intended to be stressed by the air flow leaving the reserve 17.
• the cells 26, which can be positioned in any suitable manner as illustrated in FIG. 5, communicate, on the one hand, downstream, with the air outlets 24 equipped with regulation means not shown, ensuring only the circulation of air from the reserve 17 to the cells 26, and, on the other hand , upstream, with air exhaust vents 28 towards the outside of the instrument. In other words, the air can only enter in the direction of the cells 26 by the air outlets 24.
• the exhaust vents 28 are arranged on a rounded part of the walls of the boxes. 2, 3 to allow good sound distribution and distribution to the outside environment.
• These exhaust outlets 28 can be fitted with acoustic diffusers, in particular mobile shutters, for example being controlled by the general movement of the instrument in order to project the sound in a constant direction.
• the instrument 1 comprises means for channeling the air flow, adapted so that the stress flow circulates at each reed 27 always in the same direction, regardless of the direction of circulation. of the flow from the reserve 17, that is to say compression or depression.
• each cell 26 is provided with a passage 30 equipped with a shutter 31, the opening and closing of which allows the reeds 27 to be acted upon or not by the air flow.
• the shutters 31 are controlled by an actuation mechanism comprising the actuation keys 11.
• the actuation keys 11 control in any suitable manner, the movement of the shutters 31.
• each shutter 31 is controlled to move by an electromagnet 32 controlled by a converter of light energy into electrical energy.
• the light energy is brought by an optical fiber forming part of the actuation mechanism, and on the path of which acts a light energy regulation element controlled by a button 11.
• the electromagnet ensures the movement of the 'shutter 31 preferably returned to position, by a spring 31 ⁇ .
• each shutter 31 can be constituted by a piezoelectric membrane controlled by a converter of light energy into electrical energy.
• each reed 27 is equipped with a feeler 33 mounted in permanent contact with the reed.
• This feeler 33 is preferably made of extremely light plastic, possibly with a pad of damping material in contact position with the reed while offering negligible resistance compared to the vibration of the reed transmitted by the flow of air.
• This probe 33 is in contact preferably near the free end of the reed 27, that is to say opposite the fixed end 27 ⁇ .
• the probe 33 is, in the example illustrated, carried by a lever 34 set in rotation with an optical type transducer 36.
• the transducer 36 comprises a rotary disc 37 set in rotation with the lever 34, and resiliently returned by a spring for allow permanent contact of the probe 33 with the reed.
• the rotating disc 37 is equipped with an optical element 38 capable of concentrating, decomposing, diffracting, reflecting or deflecting light radiation routed and recovered by optical fibers 39.
• the exploitation of the beams received by a processing circuit not shown, allows to determine with precision the vibratory movement of the free reeds 27.
• the optical transducer 36 according to the invention which converts the optical signals into electrical signals, makes it possible to faithfully translate the acoustic characteristics of the instrument. It should be noted that the transducer 36 of the vibratory movement of the reeds can be of the electromagnetic type.
• each reed 27 is associated with a transducer
• material such as plastic
• the free reeds 27 correspond to sound reeds or to vibrating blades.
• the reeds 27 can be distributed at will in the instrument on supports which can be assimilated by analogy, to box springs.
• the optical fibers for supplying light energy can be used to supply light energy to the optical transducers 36
• the actuation keys 11 at rest prevent the passage of light energy, while their actuation authorizes the passage, for example progressive, of light energy. This results in a saving in the dimensioning of the power supply of the instrument.
• the circuit for processing the signals transmitted by the transducer 36 may include means for replicating the generated wave, insofar as the probe 33 is liable, in certain cases of sudden and irregular stress, to lose contact with the reed.
• These signal replication means are capable of partially reconstructing an altered waveform, for an extremely short period where the feeler 33 and the associated reed 27 are no longer in contact.
• the musical instrument 1 has the advantage of reducing the mass in movement for the left hand.
• the actuation keys 11 can be mounted mobile, orientable, or even slaved to the movement of the movable box in order to maintain in particular a constant angle for the wrist of the instrumentalist.
• the mobile air compression member 18 consists of mobile arms moving inside elementary chambers 19.
• mobile compression members 18 such as for example discs, flaps, pistons, on which the movement of rotation and / or translation of the movable box is imposed by means of a transmission for example of the cam, connecting rod, worm, gear, etc.
• Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate another alternative embodiment of a musical instrument 1.
• the instrument 1 comprises a fixed box 2 and a mobile box 3 along an axis articulation 6.
• the air reserve 17 is constituted by at least one, and in the example illustrated two elementary chambers 19 each arranged in a box and communicating with inlet and exhaust openings 28 made on the base of the instrument.
• Each elementary chamber 19 is equipped with a movable air compression member 18, such as a piston or a disc moving linearly inside the chamber 19 produced in the form of a cylinder, under the action of a transmission converting the rotational movement of the mobile box into a linear movement.
• a movable air compression member 18 such as a piston or a disc moving linearly inside the chamber 19 produced in the form of a cylinder, under the action of a transmission converting the rotational movement of the mobile box into a linear movement.
• Each box 2, 3 comprises an enclosure 41 for reversing the air flow connected to an elementary chamber 19 by a hole 40 and to a duct 42 for admission of to the air cells 26 arranged in the bed base (s) 25, by an air intake valve 43.
• the intake duct 42 equipped with air inlets 42 ⁇ , communicates, via the cells 26 , with an air exhaust duct 44 provided with air outlets 45 and an air exhaust valve 46 for the communication passage with the flow reversal enclosure 41.
• the instrument 1 includes sensors capable of detecting the variations in intensity of the air flow leaving and / or entering the reserve 17. These sensors, of the anemometer type, are connected to circuits of conversion and processing intended to generate all types of sound effects such as the "wha-wha” effect or to trigger, by boosting a frequency, "delay line” effects (delays, phasing, flangers, etc.) .).

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For Music (AREA)

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• 2001
  • 2001-11-27 FR FR0115321A patent/FR2832844B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-11-27 WO PCT/FR2002/004075 patent/WO2003046883A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2002-11-27 US US10/496,965 patent/US7550662B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-11-27 EP EP02803841A patent/EP1451802A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-11-27 AU AU2002365475A patent/AU2002365475A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-11-27 CN CNB028265629A patent/CN100520910C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

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