FR2581468A1 - Improved musical instrument such as a cymbal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to musical instruments. It relates particularly to a musical instrument of the type comprising a sound generating element designed to be made to vibrate by a percussive action and fixed via an acoustic damping joint 2 to a support 3, the instrument being characterised in that it comprises means for rotating said sound generating element 1. The invention applies particularly to cymbals.

Description

 The present invention relates to a musical instrument of the type comprising a sound generating element intended to be vibrated. by a percussion effect and which is fixed by an acoustic damping joint on a support.

 The invention relates in particular to a performance with cymbals which constitute musical instruments of the type in which the sound generator consists of a metal disc. he known cymbals have the disadvantage of relatively poor instruments which cannot produce gutur. only sound expending the diameter and thickness of the sound generating disc.

 The object of the invention is to design a musical instrument of the above type and in particular an improved cymbal, the tone of the sound produced by said sound generator can be varied.

 The musical instrument according to the invention comprises means for rotating said sound generating element and preferably the speed of rotation of the sound generating element is variable.

 It is thus possible to produce with a me-me generator a very large number of sounds of different sounds as a function of the speed of rotation of the sound generator.

 When said sound generating element is constituted by a metal disc fixed by its center on a support rod as is the case for cymbals, the invention provides that the support rod is guided by bearings in a support tube and connected by its opposite end to the sound generating element, to the output shaft of an electric motor. A completely autonomous structure is thus obtained which can be fixed by the support tube on a pole or similar support used for conventional cymbals.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, said disc has on its face opposite to said support rod decorative elements whose appearance perceptible by an observer varies with the speed and the direction of rotation of said disc. We thus use the rotation of the disc to obtain ur. visual animation effect thanks to the simple arrangement of a decorative element on the disc
Other embodiments and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows and with reference to the drawings showing, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of a musical instrument.

 The single FIGURE is a view in longitudinal vertical section of a - - "-. Ent cie -usqUe according to one invention with its means of knowing represents er pers? E ^ tlvt.

 This preferred embodiment shown here is an application of the invention to cymbals.

 The instrument comprises a domed metal disc (1) preferably of copper, mounted by means of an end piece (2) made of a flexible and flexible material on a rod (3). The end piece (2! Has a radial bore (4) intended to receive a locking screw (5) to block the end piece (2) and thus the disc (1) on the rod (3).

 The part opposite to the disc (1) of the rod (3) is housed in a sleeve (6) and supported with respect thereto by ball bearings (7). The end of the rod (3) opposite the disc (1) is connected via. a coupling element (8) to the shaft of an electric control motor (9). The coupling element (8) is of a known type for connecting the motor shaft (9) which usually has a very small section at the end of the rod (3) which has a larger section. For this purpose, the rod (2) comprises, for example, a finger or central extension (10) whose cross section corresponds to that of the shaft (11) of the motor (9). The finger (10) and the free end part of the shaft (11) are connected together by a sleeve (12) put in place by crimping.

 As can be seen in the appended figure, the motor is fixed to a flange (13) provided at the end opposite the disc (1) of the sleeve (6).

In addition, between the other end of the sleeve (6) and the end piece (2) is provided a spherical seal (14) for example rubber intended to mechanically isolate these two parts to prevent any transmission of the vibrations of the disc (1) to the sleeve (6).

 The instrument further comprises means for progressively controlling the speed of rotation and the direction of rotation of the motor (9). Here we see a control unit (15) comprising a breaker (16) controlling the start and stop of the motor (9), a voltage variator (17) for adjusting the rotation speed of the motor (9) and a reverser (18) for choosing the direction of rotation of the motor (9). The control members are of a known type and inserted in a known manner into the electrical supply circuit of the motor (9).

 The assembly of the instrument according to the invention is intended to be fixed by a suitable collar on a pole supported by a foot. The instrument: ncnt can thus be freely oriented in space.

 When the engine is stopped (J, the instrument can be used at a usual angle by oscillating the disc (1 using a suitable percussion device.

 When the motor (9) is started, which then rotates the disc (1) and when the disc (1) is now in oscillation, it can be seen that the sound or sounds produced by the disc have a spectrum and a sound quite special and different from those of the sounds produced by the disc stop. The tone and the spectrum of the sound evolve with the variations of the speed of rotation of the disc (1) and the instrument according to the invention thus makes it possible to produce a very rich variety of sounds and tones which can evolve over time, without new excitation of the disc (1) by varying the speed of rotation thereof.

 The outer face of the disc (1) of the instrument according to the invention can be colored and include patterns whose overall appearance in shape and / or colors can vary in a known manner depending on the speed of rotation of the disc. (1).

 Beer. Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown here, but many modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

REVE'iCATlO. '  1) Musical instrument of the type comprising a sound generating element intended to be set in vibration by a percussion effect and cu: is fixed by a jcint acoustic damper (2) on a support í3 ', characterized in that it comprises means for rotating said sound generating element (1).  2) Musical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that the speed of rotation of the sound generator element (1) is variable.  3) Musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 or 2 and of the type in which said sound generating element (1) consists of a metal disc fixed by its center on a support rod (3), characterized in that the support rod (3) is guided by bearings in a support tube (6) and connected by its opposite end to the sound generating element (1), to the output shaft of an electric motor (9).  4) Musical instrument according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a flexible seal (14) disposed between the support rod (3) and the end of the support tube (6) adjacent to said sound generating element (1).  5) Musical instrument according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that said disc (1) has on its face opposite to said support rod (3) decorative elements whose appearance perceptible to an observer varies with the speed and the direction of rotation of said disc.