EP2095359B1 - Musical string - Google Patents

Abstract

A string for musical instruments comprises a core including a gut material and a coating covering the core. The coating includes a material of a polyaryletherketon (PAEK) material class.

Description

The invention relates to a string for musical instruments.

Musical instrument strings are made in a variety of types from different materials and compositions of materials. Depending on the application, the string type is designed for the sound range and the musical instrument. In order to meet the musical requirements, various materials can be used for string production. Especially high quality musical strings are made of gut.

Gut strings for musical instruments are usually made from animal intestines of ungulates, mostly sheep, and are usually used in plucked and stringed instruments. The fact that the strings are attached to the instrument under a certain tension and struck, plucked or painted in use, however, it comes to a high wear of the musical string. Therefore, today gut strings are usually made as so-called intestinal kemalites, with an inner, supporting portion of the string, also referred to as the core, made of intestine with an outer wrapping of poly-plastics, such as e.g. Nylon, or metals, e.g. Aluminum and titanium, is provided. The outer wrapping may in particular also be provided to give the string a sufficient mass to produce comparatively low tones.

Basically, such gut-based strings have good tonal properties. However, such strings show relatively large changes in tone over time due to their water absorbency. As a result, the string has to be retuned comparatively frequently. Strings with a nylon-based sheath also have the Disadvantage that the water absorption capacity of nylon (moisture absorption of nylon ~ 3-4%) is also very high and also the elongation properties of nylon are poor.

The re-tensioning of the musical strings, in particular for tuning the musical instrument by tensioning the string, and the degree of wear on stripping the string, can lead to cracking within the string and possibly even breakage of the whole string. In addition, there are aging phenomena of the used string material. Therefore, in intensively used orchestral instruments a relatively frequent replacement of a string may be necessary in order not to impair the specific musical characteristics of the instrument, above all the sound and sound quality. However, it would be desirable to reduce the frequency of string replacement in view of possibly long playing time of the strings.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a musical string of the type mentioned above, which shows a comparatively high life expectancy, especially with good sound quality.

The patent application EP 1 531 454 discloses a string for musical instruments, comprising a core and a surrounding sheath made of a polymer material class material, wherein the core has intestine as the main component. However, the sheath material is not a polyaryletherketone (PAEK) fabric class fabric. The patent US 5,601,762 Although discloses polyetheretherketone, which can be used as a cladding material. But here solvents are added to achieve a higher elasticity of the material and thus the string.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the string has a core and a surrounding sheath consisting of a material of the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) substance class, the core having the main constituent intestine.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the consideration that in view of the usually high stress of the strings for a particularly long life of the strings special measures should be taken to stabilize the strings. For this purpose, it is provided in the sense of reinforcing the strings, to provide the core with a sheath made of a specifically granted material. On the one hand, such a material should be very ductile and extremely resilient due to the special molecular arrangement and should have high tensile strength, on the other hand but still be elastic in terms of the requirements of the string. As has surprisingly been found, these material properties and technical-physical properties can be achieved by a material of polyaryletherketone (PAEK) substance class particularly largely.

A particularly suitable material from the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) substance class is polyetheretherketone, or PEEK for short. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) is similar in its technical-physical properties to that of intestine and also fulfills the musical and tonal characteristics of a musical string. Both materials, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and intestine, are in a density range of ρ = 1.27-1.32 g / cm ³ . Due to these comparable properties, especially with a material combination of polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and intestine a particularly homogenous sound pattern and a high compatibility is achieved. In addition, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), in contrast to other polymeric polymer cladding materials, is not nearly as sensitive to moisture with a moisture uptake of only 0.1%. In other words, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has good water resistance. Especially with the use of (PEEK) in the sheath for the core thus this can also be protected from moisture to some extent, which favors the overall durability of the string even more. Furthermore, a musical string encased in polyetheretherketone (PEEK) shows a higher mood stability and, surprisingly, a shorter break-in period.

In particular, with regard to the intended application, it is expedient if the sheathing material by appropriate choice of parameters, for example in terms of dimensioning, to the specific musical, tonal or sound technical requirements, as well as tensile and tensile strength, which are placed on the string adjusted. As a result, in particular a good musical tone, easy handling while playing and also a particularly long life can be achieved. The sheath material is expediently made as a fiber. This is the handling of the sheath material In the manufacturing process of the musical string kept comparatively simple, and also can be influenced by a suitable dimensioning of the fiber of the subsequent overall diameter, the mass and possibly also the pitch of the string.

The fineness of fibers and yarns is a textile size and is given in the unit tex . The unit tex is expressed in SI units with the conversion factor of 1 tex = 1 g / 1000 m . Thus, the fineness of the fiber expresses a weight per length of the fiber to be produced. In other words, the unit tex describes a length-related mass of a fiber or a yarn. Advantageously, the fiber of the sheath material for the reasons mentioned above, a fineness, depending on the musical application, in a range of 20 dtex to 280 dtex . This area covers the intended musical application with regard to the different pitches of the musical string and the use of the musical string with regard to the dimensioning of various instruments particularly favorable.

In addition, it is expedient to build such a fiber with a thread count of 5 to 80 finest threads per fiber. By choosing the number of threads in the above range, a good adjustment of the fineness of the fiber is already given during the manufacturing process. In addition, can be adjusted by the nature of the twist of the threads to the fiber whose subsequent tensile and elongation resistance. As a result, the size of the fiber can be made exactly to the desired overall diameter of the later finished musical string.

The sheathing of the core can be designed as a so-called wrapping, in which the sheathing material in the form of one or more helical strands is helically guided around the core and along it.

In order to increase the stability and longevity of the string even further, the sheath is advantageously designed as a braid. It is the cladding material is passed around the core in several intersecting strands. Such a braid structure also increases the tear strength of the musical string and reduces cracking. Furthermore, the sheath, designed as a braid, protects the core of the string especially from excessive moisture absorption, since it can be made relatively dense. Since such a braiding is possible in one or more layers around the core of the string, this also influences the dimensioning of the string.

As material for the core, basically common materials such as metals or plastics, such as e.g. Nylon, be provided. Especially in view of the particularly good compatibility of the materials intestine and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) intestine is provided as a base material for the core in a particularly advantageous embodiment. The gut core string is thereby upgraded by the sheath and can therefore be used for particularly high-quality applications, such as for stringing plucked and stringed instruments and even baroque instruments. As has been surprisingly found, just a string with such a pair of materials significant advantages over known strings in terms of playability and mood stability and beyond even a very short break-in time.

Conveniently, the diameter of the core is in a range of 0.15 mm to 5 mm chosen to cover the usual sound ranges of high-quality plucked and stringed instruments with particularly good sound.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the sheath is also still provided with a surrounding outer wrapping, preferably made of plastic or metal. For this purpose, a flat metal strip, which is wound tightly and spirally around the casing, can be provided. In addition, such an outer wrapping shows advantages in processing the cylindrical fine grinding of the musical string. The cylindrical fine grinding may be necessary to the Quintenreinheit to reach the music site. Furthermore, the outer wrapping protects the string against too fast Ausfasem.

Advantageously, the use of at least one string comprising a gut core and a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) sheath is provided on musical instruments associated with the string or plucking instrument family.

The advantages achieved by the invention are, in particular, that the Darmkem musical string encased with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) fiber has a high longevity with high sound quality. Thus, the favorable properties of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), in particular the comparatively high moisture resistance and the comparable intestinal density range of the material, can be used particularly favorably. In addition, the polyetheretherketone sheath (PEEK) protects the intestinal core from excessive moisture absorption. In addition, it has been shown that the so-called Einspielzeit the string can be significantly reduced.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht einer klassischen Violine,

Fig. 2

eine Musiksaite für eine Violine mit angedeutetem Steg, Obersattel und Wirbel,

Fig. 3

die Musiksaite aus Fig. 2 im Querschnitt, und

Fig. 4

die chemische Struktur eines Polyetheretherketon-Monomerbausteins.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Show:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a classical violin,

Fig. 2

a musical string for a violin with indicated bridge, upper saddle and whirl,

Fig. 3

the musical string Fig. 2 in cross-section, and

Fig. 4

the chemical structure of a polyether ether ketone monomer building block.

Identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

A classical violin 1 according to Fig. 1 includes four strings 2, which are stretched over a sound box 4. At a first end, the tailpiece end 6, the strings 2 are attached to a tailpiece 8. At their second end, the vortex end 10, on the other hand, they are mounted on vortices 12 of a tuning mechanism, the so-called pegbox 14. For this purpose, the vertebrae 12 have a hole through which the vertebral end 10 of the string 2 is inserted. The vortex end 10 is placed around the vortex 12 several times in its adjoining area. The vertebrae 12 are rotatable about their vertebral grip plates 16, whereby the string tension and thus the tone of the string 2 is variable.

At the tailpiece end 6, the string 2 is provided with an end head 18, which is fastened in the tailpiece 8. In addition, a fine tuner 20 is attached to the side holder 8, by means of which the tension of each string 2 is finely adjusted. The fine tuner 20 serves the musician to adjust the tone of the string 2 more accurately than is possible via the vertebrae 12.

A Aufspannabschnitt 22 of the string 2 is located between the tailpiece 8 and a web 24 and is spun from the end head 18 in the region of the tailpiece end 6 partly with colored yarn. The purpose of the colored yarn is to indicate the string quality. Also, the vertebral end 10 of the string 2, which is guided around the vertebra 12, spun with colored yarn, which indicates to the musician the exact pitch of the string.

The area between the bridge 24 and a fingerboard 26 is the play area 28 in which the musician plucks or stretches the strings 2. To play the violin 1, the musician picks up the sounds on the strings 2 along the fingerboard 26 and sweeps the strings 2 with the bow in the play area 28.

At the other end of the fingerboard 26, a top caliper 30 is attached, over which the strings 2 are guided to the vertebrae 12 in the peg box 14. The conclusion of the peg box 14, and thus also the violin 1, forms a screw 32.

In a ceiling 34 of the resonator 4, the two f-holes 36 of the violin 1 are inserted laterally at the level of the web 24. The f-holes 36 are for unimpeded movement of the trapped air in the sound box, and further, the vibration capability of the ceiling 34 in the acoustic center about the web feet 38 is substantially increased.

The outer structure of the string 2 is based on Fig. 2 explained in more detail. In this are the end button 18 with partially clamped in colored yarn clamping section 22, which forms the tailpiece end 6, and the most polished string body 40 with subsequent vortex end 10 of the string, also spun in colored yarn. In a perspective view of the web 24 and the upper caliper 30 are indicated. The most polished string body 40 is a sound generating portion 42 which forms the playing area 28 and the area of the string 2 above the fingerboard 26 to the upper caliper 30.

The internal structure of the strings 2 shows the representation in cross section Fig. 3 , The string 2 is designed with a core 44, a casing 46 and an outer wrapping 48. The sheath 46 of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) fiber is designed as a braid. The outer wrapping 48 consists of a flat metal band, which is wound tightly and spirally around the casing 46 and, depending on the application, is usually ground.

The core 44 of the string 2 consists of intestine, which after processing to the core 44 shows a kind of monofilament structure.

The sheath 46 of the string 2 is made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) fiber 50, with the fiber 50 having a thread count of 5 to 80 made up of individual yarns and exhibiting a fineness in the range of 20 dtex to 280 dtex . Furthermore, the fibers 50 are interwoven into a braid structure, the so-called braiding or braiding, thus making the sheath 46 more resilient and tear-resistant to manufacture. In addition, such a braid structure prevents too fast fraying of the string 2 and too rapid cracking within the sheath 46.

Furthermore, the string 2, consisting of the core 44, the outer wrap 48 and the sheath 46, which has a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) fiber braid, a longer life. In addition, such a string 2 is better playable and easy to handle due to its good elongation and tensile strength.

The violin 1 is designed inter alia for a particularly long life and a high musical quality of the string 2 used. For this purpose, some or all strings 2 are made of a Darmkem and a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) fiber sheath, which are adapted by suitable choice of parameters, such as composition and thread thickness, specifically to the requirements of the respective string 2.

The tailpiece 8 is attached in its end region 52 via a so-called trailer string under bias to a holding knob. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) may also be provided as the cladding material for these trailing strings.

The chemical structure of a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) monomer building block 58 shows Fig. 4 , The polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymer is made up of a repeating number n of monomer units 54 with long chains. The monomer unit 54 is formed from keto bridges 56 and ether bridges 58 linked phenyl radicals 60. In each monomer building block 54, a ketone bridge 56, two ether bridges 58 and three phenyl radicals 60 are present. The monomer building blocks 54 are polymerized in the polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymer exclusively via the ketone bridge 56 of the one monomer building block 54 with a phenyl radical 60 of a further monomer building block 54. The material purity of the polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymer is subject to the known chemical-technical purity requirements of polymer production.

In the FIGS. 1 to 3 The Darmkemsaite with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) fiber sheath and outer metal wrapping is shown as a musical string on the example of a string 2 in the violin 1. Of course, the invention also encompasses the use of such a Darmkemsaite with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) fiber wrapping in any other stringed instruments, in particular string and plucking instruments, and the execution of the core 44 as a multifilament structure and with other core materials.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

violin

2

string

4

sound

6

Tailpiece end

8th

tailpiece

10

vertebral end

12

whirl

14

pegbox

16

Peg handle plate

18

end head

20

Feinstimmer

22

tensioning portion

24

web

26

fingerboard

28

play area

30

upper saddle

32

slug

34

blanket

36

f-hole

38

Steg feet

40

string body

42

sound producing section

44

core

46

jacket

48

outer wrapping

50

fiber

52

end

54

monomer

56

keto bridge

58

ether bridge

60

phenyl

n

Number of monomer units in the polymer

Claims (9)

1. A string (2) for musical instruments, comprising a core (44) and a sheathing (46) wrapping said core, made of a material of the material class polyaryletherketone (PAEK), the main constituent of the core (44) being gut.
2. The string (2) of claim 1, wherein the main constituent of the material of the material class polyaryletherketone (PAEK) is polyetherketone, abbreviated PEEK.
3. The string (2) of claim 1 or 2, whose sheathing material is manufactured as a fiber (50).
4. The string (2) of claim 3, wherein the fiber (50) of the sheathing material has a fineness in the range of 20 dtex to 280 dtex.
5. The string (2) of claim 3 or 4, wherein the fiber (50) has a thread count in the range of 5 to 80 threads.
6. The string (2) of any of claims 1 to 5, whose sheathing (46) has a braided structure.
7. The string (2) of any of claims 1 to 6, whose core (44) has a diameter in the range of 0.15 mm to 5 mm.
8. The string (2) of any of claims 1 to 6, characterized by an outer thread covering (48) wrapping the sheathing (46), preferably made of metal.
9. A musical instrument, in particular a bowing, plucking or stringed percussion instrument, having a number of strings (2) of any of claims 1 to 8.

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