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
  • G10D7/00—General design of wind musical instruments
  • G10D7/06—Beating-reed wind instruments, e.g. single or double reed wind instruments
• • 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
  • G10D9/00—Details of, or accessories for, wind musical instruments
  • G10D9/02—Mouthpieces; Reeds; Ligatures
• • 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
  • G10D9/00—Details of, or accessories for, wind musical instruments
  • G10D9/02—Mouthpieces; Reeds; Ligatures
  • G10D9/035—Reeds

Definitions

• the present invention relates to instruments with a single swing reed, in particular clarinets and saxophones, which have a bore forming an air column vibrated by the instrumentalist to generate sounds. It relates more particularly to the part comprising a spout, a reed and a ligature intended to be mouthpieces to breathe air into the instrument and to vibrate the air column.
• this part is called mouthpiece, to avoid any confusion with the word "mouthpiece”, which here exclusively designates the way of taking the instrument in the mouth.
• the spout comprises a table comprising a curved portion and a substantially flat portion, intended to serve as a support for the reed.
• the term "table” used without further specification always designates the table of the spout in the following description.
• the mouthpiece comprises:
• a spout fitted with - a chamber comprising a vault, a wall opposite to the vault and two side walls, and a bore, intended to allow the flow of air and the circulation of sound waves towards the tube of the 'instrument, and
• a first table, original comprising a curved portion, arranged laterally on either side of the chamber and forming the end of the walls, and a substantially planar portion disposed above the chamber and the bore, in the extension of the curved portion,
• a second table extending over its entire length and forming one of the faces of the heel and of the bevel, arranged to bear, by the part of its table associated with the heel against the flat portion of the first table, and
• a ligature to ensure the assembly of the reed on the beak.
• the spout and the reed define between them an opening intended to let the air penetrate, to generate sound vibrations.
• the air then flows into the chamber and into the bore, in a general direction known as longitudinal.
• the mouthpiece is characterized in that it further comprises, present during sound production, a removable interlayer in the form of a patch, sandwiched between the tables of the spout and the reed, and arranged so as to define, with the first table, a third, virtual table, as a function of the shapes of the first table, of the interlayer and of the position of said interlayer on the first table.
• a patch will be defined as being a flexible piece, advantageously of generally rectangular or trapezoidal shape, the thickness of which is variable and substantially smaller than the other dimensions.
• the interlayer can cover at least part of the curved portion of the first table. In this way, the length and / or the curvature of the curved portion can be modified, and a longitudinal displacement allows its characteristics to be finely modulated.
• the present invention also relates to a spacer intended to equip such a mouthpiece.
• This insert has a chamfer at at least one of its ends, intended to be arranged facing the bevel of the reed.
• the thickness of the end of the chamfer is less than 0.09 mm.
• the thickness of the interlayer is constant laterally and variable, along the longitudinal dimension, according to a continuous function defined by pieces, said pieces, three in number, each being formed by a polynomial of the fourth degree, the at least one, present over a length of more than 2 millimeters, at least two non-zero coefficients.
• the film consists of a superposition of thin sheets fixed to each other, the number of superimposed sheets decreasing to form the chamfer.
• the angle at the top of the chamfer is small, advantageously less than 3 °.
• the shape of the chamfer of the interlayer makes it possible to modify the characteristics of the curved portion of the virtual table. Several forms are possible, chosen according to the modifications to be made.
• its end comprising the chamfer is provided with a cutout made throughout its thickness and disposed laterally in its middle part.
• This cutout defines two fingers arranged so as to bear on the curved portion of the table of the spout, and a notch defined by these fingers and intended to clear access to the room.
• the choice of material plays a role in the working conditions of the reed on the spout. It is also necessary that the material used allows to give the desired shape to the interlayer and that its structure is such that it does not vibrate with the reed during sound production. It is thus advantageous to use a material capable of being worked by plastic deformation, for example an aluminum alloy.
• the interlayer in the case where the interface must be made of a weakly elastic material, it is advantageous to produce the interlayer in a plastic material. If the latter is of the thermoformable type, the desired shapes can be obtained by simple and inexpensive means, by heating and crushing of the parts to be deformed, by injection or by calendering.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 show a clarinet mouthpiece according to the invention respectively seen in perspective and on its side intended to receive a reed, defined as “above” in the present description,
• FIG. 3 and 4 illustrate respectively seen from above and from the side, different types of dividers capable of equipping the mouthpiece according to the invention
• FIG. 5 shows a profile view of a clarinet mouthpiece without interlayer. It illustrates the system of axes Ox and Oz defined when a reed is secured on the substantially flat portion of the table of the spout, and
• FIG. 6 is a graph showing how a thin tab is calculated.
• the mouthpiece shown in Figures 1 and 2 is of the type intended to equip a clarinet.
• a similar model can be adapted to a saxophone or any other instrument with a single swing reed. It comprises a spout 10, a reed 12 and a ligature which has not been shown in the drawing, to make the parts involved in the invention more visible. As will be seen in the description which follows, these elements are those which conventionally equip the instrument, without having undergone any transformation or structural adaptation.
• the mouthpiece further comprises an insert 14, disposed between the spout 10 and the reed 12, and the structure and function of which will be specified below.
• the spout 10 is made in one piece. It has an oblong shape, with a front part 16 intended to be mouthed, and a cylindrical rear part, forming a tenon 18, and arranged to be fixed. the barrel of the clarinet.
• the front part 16 comes from a substantially conical shape, truncated by two surfaces 20 and 22.
• the surface 20 forms a table, called here original, comprising two portions, one of which 20a, substantially planar, is close to the tenon 18, and the other 20b, curved, occupies the front of the spout 10.
• the post 18 is of generally cylindrical shape and carries, at its periphery and in an ad hoc concentric recess, a seal 24 made of cork, intended to ensure a tight connection with the barrel.
• the surface 22 constitutes the part of the beak called chin rest and forms, with the surface 20, an acute angle, which defines the whistle shape of the end of the beak, also called tip of the beak, in its part to be mouthed.
• the spout 10 is crossed by a channel, connecting the surface 20 to the central part of the post 18, and intended to ensure the passage of air from the mouth to the body of the instrument. It is formed by a chamber 26 - delimited by a vault 26a, a wall opposite the vault and hidden in the drawing, and two side walls 26b - opening in the portion 20b to define the part of the beak usually called light, and a bore 27, of slightly conical shape, concentric with the tenon, opening into the chamber and extending into the barrel then into the tube of the clarinet, not shown in the drawing.
• the bore 27 delimits a column of air vibrated under the effect of the reed's oscillations and whose frequency defines the sound emitted.
• the reed 12 consists, in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, of a plate usually made from a portion of reed of the Arundo donax species, having a flat underside which constitutes a table 28, a heel 30, curved on the side opposite to the table 28, which serves as a support for the ligature to fix the reed 12 on the spout 10, and a bevel 32, the thinned structure of which ensures its implementation vibration.
• the reed is shown above the spout, so as to leave visible the tab 14.
• the table 28 has however been marked with dotted lines in its working position, identified by the reference 28 '.
• the interlayer 14 is formed of a film of stable material and sufficiently flexible so as to adhere without difficulty to the table of the spout despite strong oscillations of the reed, for example aluminum or plastic. As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, it has a rear portion 34, forming the body of the interlayer and allowing, depending on its shape, to modify the distance and the inclination of the reed 12 with reference to the beak 10, a front part 36 intended to adjust the characteristics of the curvature of the portion 20b, and a middle part 38 connecting the front parts 36 and rear 34. This middle part 38 is called upon to extend the front part 36 or the rear part 34 , according to the longitudinal position of the interlayer on the spout 10.
• the thickness of the rear part 34 is constant.
• the front part has a chamfer 40, better visible in FIG. 4, tapering towards the end of the spout 10 as well as two fingers 42 and 44 each extending on one of the sides of the chamber 26 and covering partially the end of the side walls 26b and defining a cutout 46 making it possible to prevent the chamber 26 from being obstructed, even if the interlayer 14 is placed very forward on the spout 10.
• the thickness of the chamfer at its free end should be as small as possible, usually less than 0.09 mm, with a vertex angle less than or equal to 3 °.
• the reed was pressed directly by its table 28, against the flat portion 20a of the original table. Because of the curved shape of the portion 20b, the front parts of the spout 10 and the reed 12 are spaced from one another and form an opening 48 opening into the chamber 26 and allowing the clarinet player to produce a sound by beating the reed, by blowing air into it.
• the interlayer 14, affixed to the surface 20 and partially covering the surface 20b forms a new table, here called virtual, having another curvature and / or another length than the curved portion 20b, function of the shape of the tab 14.
• the quality of the sounds emitted depends on many parameters, in particular the body of the instrument, but also the reed 12 and the way in which it vibrates on the mouthpiece 10.
• this part of the instrument is very sensitive to minute differences in its structure as well as to the surrounding, thermal, hygrometric and barometric conditions.
• a clarinetist performs, he must choose a reed suited to the work to be performed, the tone of the instrument used and the acoustic environment.
• the clarinet player has to “ripen” a large number of them, which is costly and tedious.
• the optimal operating period of each reed is quite short.
• the insert 14 makes it possible to provide a simple, economical and original solution to the problem mentioned above, in particular because it adapts to any type of spout, without requiring any prior modification. Such a solution also allows a teacher to direct his pupil towards more suitable mouthing and support techniques, by developing his flexibility and his sensitivity to variations in sound.
• this interlayer 14 modifies the conditions of connection of the reed 12 to the mouthpiece 10, and thus, the quality of the sound, depending on the shape, the position and the material constituting the interlayer. 14. More specifically, it has been observed that, for a given reed, the quality of the sounds generated depends, among other things, on:
• Figures 3 and 4 show a range of dividers, allowing such adjustments, respectively seen from above and from the side.
• the references have only been placed on part of them, in order to avoid overloading the drawing.
• they When viewed from above, they have a generally rectangular shape. They could equally well be of trapezoidal shape, so as to best match the shape of the surface 20.
• the interlayer 14 shown in a is rectangular in shape, cut from a film of constant thickness. It is intended to be interposed between the flat portion 20a of the spout and the table 28 of the reed 12.
• the material chosen will define the interface qualities, while the thickness will ensure the adjustment of the opening 48.
• This insert may also include a chamfer, as shown in FIG. 4, seen from the side, in h or in. In this case, it may slightly overflow onto the curved portion 20b, however little enough not to obstruct the chamber 26 too much.
• the spacers shown in b, ç, d, e, and f allow a strong engagement on the curved portion 20b, thanks to the cutout 46 with which they are provided, defined by the fingers 42 and 44.
• This cutout 46 can have several forms. Thus, it is in half-ellipse in b and trapezoidal in ç. In d, we find the trapezoidal shape, completed by a triangular structure.
• the dividers shown in e and f have only two fingers 42 and 44 very short, so that the cutout 46 is small.
• the interlayer 14 shown in perspective in g in FIG. 4, has a very simple shape with rear 34 and middle 38 parts of constant thickness, while the front part 36 forms the chamfer 40. It can be produced by superposition thin sheets, from a few ⁇ m to a few hundredths of a millimeter thick, for example made of thermo-adhesive plastic, the sheets being fixed to each other by heating. Note that the rear part of the interlayer can be made using thicker sheets than the other parts, as this one supports the heel of the reed whose oscillation during sound production is negligible.
• the interlayer advantageously has a thickness of between 0.01 and 1 mm.
• the embodiment illustrated in h is similar to g. in its structure, the chamfer 40 however being regular and without stairs.
• a structure can be produced by means of an aluminum alloy sheet, the edges of which would be flattened in a rolling mill.
• the angle of the chamfer 40 is greater than in h. Practice shows that this angle is advantageously less than 3 °, typically 0.1 to 0.3 °.
• the embodiments shown in j, k and I are provided with a curved front portion 36.
• the rear part 34 is inclined towards its free part in j, decreasing towards the middle part 38 in k, while in I, the interlayer shown does not have a rear part.
• These latter structures allow, by the bulging of the front part 36, a reduction in the length of the curved portion of the virtual table of the spout.
• the support conditions of the reed 12 on the portion 20a of the table of the spout, and therefore of the opening 48, can be modified as a function of the structure of the rear part 34.
• the interlayer presented in m has a thick rear part 34 which decreases towards the middle part 38, thus considerably modifying the support conditions of the reed 12 on the portion 20a of the table of the spout 10.
• Its front part 36, forming the chamfer 40 has a concave shape, which does not modifies only slightly the shape of the portion 20b in its front part, whereas it strongly modifies its part close to the portion 20a. In this way, the length of the virtual table is increased.
• p ra x ⁇ ⁇ a r 0 + a r .x + a r 2 x 2 - a, ⁇ + a rA x 4
• p rb x ⁇ ⁇ b r 0 + b r x + b r 2 x 2 + b 3 x 3 + b r 4 x 4
• ⁇ r ⁇ (k r ) p rb (k r )
• the longitudinal axis Ox is defined as being the line of intersection between the plane of the table of a reed 12 subject at the original table and the plane of symmetry of the beak.
• the origin of the axis system is on the Ox axis at the tapered end of the reed. The latter is centered laterally and arranged so that the tip of the beak also has the abscissa 0.
• the lateral axis Oy perpendicular to the axis Ox, is in the plane of the reed table, while the axis Oz is perpendicular to this latter plane ( Figure 5).
• f r (x) defines the ordinate in z of a point of abscissa x of the original table of the beak.
• the constant k r constitutes the limit between the curved portion 20b and the substantially planar portion 20a of a table referenced by this function. If this last portion was perfectly flat, then we would have br.o ° • In reality, it is generally very slightly concave.
• Pv.i x > ⁇ ⁇ v, o + K, x + .2 ⁇ 2 +> ⁇ 3 + A X * the coefficients a v 0 , a v , a v 2 . a v 3 , a v 4 , b vfi> b vl , b v 2 , b v 3 , b v 4 and k v being real constants.
• the axis Ox ' is defined as being the line of intersection between the plane of the table 28 of a reed subject to the virtual table and the plane of symmetry of the spout.
• the origin of this new axis system is on the Ox 'axis, at the tapered end of the reed. The latter is centered laterally and arranged so that the tip of the beak also has the abscissa 0.
• the axis Oy ', perpendicular to the axis Ox', is in the plane of the reed table, while the 'Oz axis' is perpendicular to this last plane.
• f y (x ') defines the ordinate z of a point of abscissa x' of the virtual table of the beak.
• the two defined axis systems are therefore slightly offset from each other.
• the angle of the two axes being very small, we will consider that a point of abscissa has the same abscissa compared to the two axes.
• the vibrating reed can move beyond its rest position; p V ⁇ (l ( ⁇ ) can therefore have a maximum for an abscissa x, slightly less than k v so as to govern the reed also in this part of its oscillation, as can be seen in FIG. 6.
• the dividers make it possible to obtain virtually, from a given original table, a large variety of table shapes by giving adequate values to the coefficients ⁇ v 0 , ⁇ V ⁇ l , a v 2 , ⁇ v 3 , a v , b v 0 , b vl , b v 2 , b v 3 , b v and k v .
• the longitudinal thickness of the interlayer follows substantially a continuous function - defined by pieces, by means of three fourth-degree polynomials, delimited by the constants k r and k v , as well as by the minimum thickness and the maximum length that one wishes to give it. Outside these last two limits, the thickness of the interlayer is zero. Generally, the thickness is laterally constant, unless it is desired to give it lateral asymmetry.
• the volume of air v displaced by the reed between position g (0) and position g () of its thinned end can be calculated by the function:
• a materials engineer can estimate the stresses experienced by the reed during sound production. It is therefore possible to create a range of spacers allowing to manage at will the intensity and the location of the stresses that one wants to subject to the reed so as to optimize its longevity. Empirically, we have found that it can be seriously prolonged by first exploiting the elastic potential of a new reed where it is very thick, using a spout table with the following characteristics: small opening, great length and low curvature. As the reed is softened, it is possible to apply greater pressure to the areas where the reed is thinner by increasing the opening and the curvature while decreasing the length.
• the instrumentalist would be forced to compress the reed using the lips and thereby exploit a thinner area of the reed. Once this zone is weakened, it is no longer possible to take advantage of the thicker zones with a musically satisfactory result, which notably reduces the longevity of the reed.
• its face intended to be brought into contact with the table of the spout 10 is advantageously coated with a layer of adhesive of repositionable type such as those sold by 3M ® (USA).
• This layer of relatively soft material modifies the interface conditions between the reed 12 and the spout 10, this is why it may be advantageous for it to be applied only over a small portion of the length of the interlayer, chosen depending on the goal. In all cases, it is preferable that it does not completely cover the surface of the interlayer, in order to facilitate its detachment.
• spacers provided with lateral positioning means produced by folding its front part 36, engaging in the chamber 26 and / or conforming to the shape of the outside the spout 10.
• the interlayer 14 is affixed to the table of the spout 10. It may however also be imaginable to apply it to the table 28 of the reed 12.

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

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• 2001
  • 2001-12-31 EP EP01811275A patent/EP1324310A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2002
  • 2002-12-23 WO PCT/CH2002/000720 patent/WO2003056543A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2002-12-23 JP JP2003556982A patent/JP2005513578A/ja active Pending
  • 2002-12-23 US US10/500,535 patent/US6921853B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-12-23 EP EP02782629A patent/EP1461803A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-12-23 AU AU2002347127A patent/AU2002347127A1/en not_active Abandoned

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