FR3054919B1 - WIND MUSIC INSTRUMENT WITH FREE REEDS AND HIGH MODULAR HEIGHT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates mainly to a wind instrument with a free reed comprising a frame on which is mounted a blowing nozzle opening into a reservoir, and a plurality of keys, each key being in connection with a valve whose displacement generated by actuating the corresponding key by the instrumentist connects the reservoir with a first upstream cavity which opens on a blade made of a reed mounted on a frame by allowing the said blade to vibrate. The instrument is essentially characterized in that each blade (13) opens, in the direction of the flow of blown air, into a second downstream cavity (17) which has an air flow opening (20) towards the outside, in that it comprises closure means (22) of said flow opening (20) operable by the instrumentalist and able to adopt a first open position in which the air flowing in the second cavity (17) is not subjected to any pressure, and a second closed position in which the sealing means (22) hermetically covers the air flow opening (20), and in that since the first position to the second position, the closure means (22) are adapted to adopt a multitude of positions that increase the pressure in the second cavity (17) by lowering the sound frequency of the blade considered (13).

Description

"INSTRUMENT OF WIND MUSIC WITH FREE REEDS AND HEIGHT OF MODULAR SOUND" [0001] The invention is in the field of musical wind instruments.

Such instruments are well known in the state of the art. We know in particular the accordina whose keyboard is composed of round keys, and the melodica are the keyboard is made of piano keys. Also known is the harmonica which comprises a plurality of conduits opening on the edge of the instrument and against which the instrumentalist blows and sucks.

For accordina and melodica, it is the breath of the instrumentalist and the concomitant actuation of one or more keys that act on the blades making them vibrate, which results in the emission of a sound at a frequency determined in particular by the size of the blade or blades in vibration. Each blade consists of a flexible reed mounted on a frame by means of a rivet located at one end of the frame. The frame has a light at which the reed extends from the rivet to its free end. The expression "vibration of the blade" is similar to the vibration of the corresponding reed and the term vibrating surface of the blade refers to the surface of the blade which extends from its free end to the base of the light [0004] For this purpose, a blowing tip is mounted on the reservoir of the instrument by communicating with this reservoir which is generally located on the side of the lower face of the instrument opposite to the keys. Each key is connected to a valve whose movement caused by the actuation of the corresponding key by the instrumentalist puts the air in relation to the reservoir with a cavity which opens onto a blade. The blown air causes the blade to vibrate and then escapes to the outside.

In the case of the harmonica, each duct before which the instrumentalist blows or sucks leads to a blade of the type described above.

The change of sound is achieved by the change of position of the mouth of the instrumentalist relative to the edge of the instrument at which the ducts open.

These instruments thus make it possible to produce a multitude of sounds, each sound being determined by the size of the corresponding blade. On the other hand, it is not possible to modulate the frequency of a particular blade.

The invention thus provides a wind instrument as described above for which it is possible to modulate the frequency and therefore the pitch of each blade to produce an effect commonly called "pitch bend effect".

For this purpose, the instrument of the invention comprises, in accordance with the state of the art, a frame and a plurality of means for guiding the air blown or inspired by the instrumentalist, each guide means air opening into a first upstream cavity which opens itself to a blade made of a reed mounted on a frame allowing the said blade to vibrate, and is essentially characterized in that each blade opens, in the sense of the blown air flow, in a second downstream cavity which has an outward air flow opening, in that it comprises means for closing said flow opening which can be actuated by the instrumentist and able to adopt a first open position in which the air flowing in the second cavity is not subjected to any pressure, and a second closed position in which the sealing means cover hermetically the airflow opening, and in that from the first position to the second position, the closure means are adapted to adopt a multitude of positions which increase the pressure in the second cavity by lowering the pressure. sound frequency of the considered blade.

The invention thus relates mainly to the addition, downstream of the blades, a second cavity, the air flow opening may be closed by closure means which, in approaching the opening air flow, increase the air pressure in the second cavity and thus lowers the frequency of the blade vibration.

The invention thus applies to any wind instrument, including key instruments or the harmonica.

The instrument of the invention may also include the following optional features considered in isolation or in any possible technical combination: the instrument comprises a blowing nozzle mounted on a reservoir with which said tip communicates, and a plurality of keys, each key being connected to a valve whose movement generated by the actuation the corresponding key by the instrumentist connects the reservoir with the first upstream cavity which opens on the blade. the instrument comprises a bed base comprising a plurality of housings forming the first upstream cavities, and the opposite side to the bed base a plate comprising a plurality of through openings forming the second downstream cavities, in that a plurality of blades is arranged in a decreasing direction of blade size on the bed base or on the plate, and in that the bed, the plates and the plate are secured to one another by forming a resonance board comprising a plurality of resonance chambers formed in the air flow direction, a first cavity, a blade and a second cavity. - The plurality of blades is arranged in a series of housings formed on the plate, each housing being in the axis of a through opening. the instrument comprises at least one rigid flap which extends along the resonance board being pivotably mounted pivotably between a first position open at a distance from the airflow openings of the second cavities of the resonance chambers, for which first position the blown air flowing in the chamber or chambers of resonances is not subjected to any pressure, and a second closed position in which the rigid flap is in contact against the plate by closing the openings of airflow from the second cavities of the resonance chambers. the rigid flap is articulated to the end side wall of the frame of the instrument by means of a hinge whose axis extends along and against the plate of the soundboard. the articulation means of the rigid flap relative to the resonance board comprise a fixing plate in contact support against the side wall of the frame which has a first through-hole of oblong geometry intended to receive a fixing screw which extends into an orifice formed in the frame facing said first light, and a second through-hole which is fitted to the diameter of the end of the axis of the hinge and which is intended to receive said end which extends through the side wall of the frame on which is formed a through-light of oblong geometry opposite the second light of the fixing plate, so that the position of the axis of the hinge can be adjusted by means of a double adjustment of the end of the axis in the oblong slot of the side wall of the frame and the fixing screw in the first light obl on the fixing plate. the flap comprises an arc stiffness reinforcement extending along the outer faxe of said flap. at least one return spring secured to the resonance board or the frame of the instrument is mounted in abutment against the inner face of the rigid flap by pushing said rigid flap in its first open position. each second cavity comprises two lateral walls: extending perpendicularly to the dedicated blade from a first opening on the side of the dedicated blade to a second opening forming the airflow opening through which the air blown outwards, and - corresponding to the thickness of the plate, which thickness is at least equal to the maximum movement of the corresponding blade vibration. the size of the first and second openings of each second cavity is adjusted to the surface of the corresponding blade. - For at least a portion of the resonance chambers of said instrument, in particular those for which the blades are smaller, the second opening is partially closed by means of a lid. - The surface of the lid is at most equal to half of the vibrating surface of the corresponding blade. - In a first variant, the instrument comprises a single resonance board located at the underside of the frame opposite the keys. - In a second variant, the instrument comprises two resonance boards respectively located at the opposite side faces of the frame.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended figures in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic representation in elevation of an instrument of the invention clavietta type according to a first variant, - Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the lower face opposite to the instrument keys of the first variant shown without the rigid flap, this representation illustrating the elements of the resonance board on successive layers, - Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the instrument of the first variant in cross section along the lines III-III of Figure 1, which is illustrated on the rigid flap, - FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a side face of an instrument of the accordina type invention according to a second embodiment shown without the rigid flap, this representation illustrating a part of the elements of the resonance board on successive layers, - Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the instrument of the second variant in cross section along the lines. VV of FIG. 4 on which the two rigid flaps are illustrated, - FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the assembly elements of the resonance board, - FIG. 7 is a schematic representation in cross section of a resonance chamber. and the rigid flap of the second embodiment for which the air flow opening does not comprise a cap, - Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a resonance chamber and the rigid flap of the first variant embodiment for which the air flow opening is partially closed by an oper FIG. 9 is a partial schematic representation of a lateral edge of the frame of an instrument of the second variant on which the rigid flap is articulated.

Referring to Figure 1 and according to a first variant, the wind instrument and free reed is melodica type 1 and comprises in known manner a frame 2, a keyboard 3 composed of piano keys 4 and a mouthpiece blowing 5 mounted at one of its end faces 6 of a tank 7 (visible in Figures 2 and 3) which extends at and along the lower face 8 opposite the keys 4. The blowing tip 5 is in fluid communication, in this case air blown by the instrumentalist, with the reservoir 7.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 and being at the lower face 8 opposite the keys 4, the reservoir 7 can be connected to a first cavity 9 of a resonance chamber 10 when the instrumentalist actuates a key 4, which actuation causes sliding according to the arrow F of a piston 11 connected to the key 4 by an axis 12.

The first cavity 9 opens on a blade 13 made of a reed 14 mounted on a frame 15 by means of a rivet 16. The air blowing through the blade 14 vibrates the blade 14 which then produces a sound whose sound frequency corresponds to the size of the blade 14. Along the instrument 1 and as shown in Figure 2, the size of the blades decreases so that according to the keys 4 operated by the instrumentist, the sound frequency varies to produce a variety of sound, it being understood that the smaller the size of the blade, the more the sound produced is sharp.

According to the invention, the blade 13 opens into a second cavity 17 made of two side walls 18,19 which extend perpendicularly to the blade 14 and which open on an airflow opening 20 to the outside. The air flow opening 20 is partially closed by a cover 21 whose surface corresponds to half of the vibrating surface of the blade 13. As previously indicated, the term vibrating surface of the blade 13, the portion of the blade sui extends from its free end to the base of the light formed in the frame of the blade on the side of the rivet 16. The functionality of this cover 21 will be explained later with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The resonance chamber 10 thus consists of the first cavity 9 located upstream of the blade 13, the blade 13 and the second cavity 17 located downstream of said blade 13.

According to the invention, a rigid flap 22 is articulated pivotally to the frame of the instrument 1 by means of a hinge 23 which will be detailed below with reference to Figure 9. The rigid flap 22 is composed of a metal plate 24 and a vault-shaped stiffness reinforcement 25 which extends along the outer face 26 of the flap 22.

The articulation of the rigid flap 22 allows said flap 22 to adopt a first open position (Figure 3) in which the blown air that opens into the second cavity 17 is not subjected to any pressure and for which the blade emits a sound corresponding to its size. The rigid flap 22 may also adopt a second closed position, not shown, in which the flap 22 is folded against the air flow opening 20 along the arrow F1 and hermetically seals the opening 20. blown air can no longer circulate since its exhaust is not made possible, the blade 13 no longer vibrates and no sound is produced. When the flap 22 passes from the first open position to the second closed position and progressively approaches the air flow opening 20 of the second cavity 17, the pressure of the air blown into the second cavity 17 increases. which causes a lowering of the sound frequency of the blade 14 which then produces a substantially more serious sound up to about one semitone below its normal operation. Thus, the approximation of the rigid flap 22 of the airflow opening 20 modulates the sound emitted by the blade 13 when the key 4 is activated by the instrumentalist by producing an effect commonly called "pitch bend effect" . It is also understood that the bringing together and the rapid removal of the rigid flap 22 also makes it possible to produce vibrato-style effects commonly known as "wha-wha".

For these phenomena of "pitch bend" and "wha-wha" occur, the flap 22 must be rigid so that its approximation of the air flow opening 20 generates a substantial increase in the pressure in the second cavity 17. The approximation of the rigid flap 22 of the air flow opening 20 is provided by the hand of the instrumentalist resting on the flap 22. It is understood that the rigidity of the flap 22 is also necessary for the support of the hand of the instrumentalist on the rigid flap 22 causes the pivoting of the rigid flap 22 over the entire surface of the rigid flap 22 so that the phenomenon of "pitch bend" can occur uniformly in all the chambers resonance 10 extending along the instrument 1. The return of the rigid flap 22 to its first open position is provided by a return spring 27 which is mounted in abutment against the inner face 28 of the rigid flap 22. L effect "wha wha" is thus carried out by successive jolts of the player on the rigid flap 22.

If FIG. 3 illustrates a resonance chamber 10, the instrument 1 comprises a plurality of resonance chambers 10 whose number corresponds to the number of keys 4. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the plurality of resonance chambers 10 extending at the opposite face 8 to the keys 4 form a resonance board 30 which is made in three parts.

The resonance board 30 must imperatively respond to an adjusted positioning stress of each blade 13 in front of the first 9 and second 17 cavities. To do this and as illustrated in Figure 6, the resonant plate 30 comprises a plate 31 in which is formed a series of through openings 32 each corresponding to a second cavity 17 of a corresponding resonance chamber 10. Each through opening 32 has a first opening 29 on the side of the blade 13, and a second opening forming an air flow opening 20, as well as the two side walls 18, 19 whose height corresponds to the thickness of the plate. 31 which must be at least equal to the movement of the corresponding blade 13 in vibration. The plate 31 comprises a series of housings 33, each housing 33 being in the axis of a through opening 32 and intended to receive a blade 33.

The resonance plate 30 finally comprises a bed base 34 provided with a series of housings 35 each corresponding to a first cavity 9 of a corresponding resonance chamber 10. In an alternative not shown, the housings 33 are formed on the bed base 34. The assembly of the plate 31 on the bed base 34 is achieved by means of fixing screws 36 which extend between each housing 33 of the plate 31. To note that the height h of each housing 33 is substantially less than the thickness of a blade 13 so that there is a clearance 37 at the contact areas between the plate 31 and the bed base 34 which allows, when the screws fastening 36 are tightened, to maintain on the one hand the bed base 34 pressed against the plate 31 and on the other hand the blade 13 against the bed base 34 and the plate 31.

The resonance board 30 as previously described extends, for the instrument 1 of the first variant, along the opposite face to the keys 4. The rigid flap 22 thus extends also along the face opposed to the keys 4 and allows to come, when the instrumentalists exerts pressure on the flap 22, simultaneously closing all the airflow openings 20 of the second cavities 17.

To do this, it is essential that the articulation of the flap 22 is precisely adjusted. Referring to Figure 9 (illustrated for the instrument of the second variant but applying mutatis mutandis to the instrument of the first variant), the rigid flap 22 is pivotally articulated by means of a hinge hinge 23 having an axis 35 secured to the flap 22 which extends along the resonance board 30 is to be positioned in contact on the plate 31 so that the closure of the second cavities 17 is hermetic when the flap 22 is in its second position against the plate 31.

There is thus provided a fixing plate 36 mounted in contact abutment against the end side wall 37 of the instrument 1a which has a first through-light 38 of oblong geometry, and a second through-light 39 fitted to the diameter of the axis 35. The end lateral wall 37 has meanwhile a through-light 40 of oblong geometry intended to come opposite the second through-light 39 of the fixing plate 36 and a non-visible orifice in this figure intended to to come next to the first through light 38.

The assembly of the axis 35 of the rigid flap 22 on the side wall 37 is performed as follows. The end of the pin 35 is inserted into the second through-hole 39 of the fixing plate 36 and into the through-hole 40 of the side wall 37, and a fixing screw 41 is inserted into the first through-light 38 of the fixing plate 36 and in the opening of the side wall 37.

Adjusting the position of the axis 35 so that the latter is located against the plate 31 is formed by a double adjustment of the position of the axis 35 in the oblong through hole 40 of the side wall 37 and the position of the fixing screw 41 in the first oblong through-hole 38 of the fixing plate 36. Once the position of the axis 35 has been adjusted, the screw 41 is tightened in the orifice of the side wall 37 and in the fixing plate 36. A second identical fixing plate 36 is arranged on the opposite side wall of the instrument.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 and according to a second embodiment, the instrument 1a may be accordina type, that is to say having a keyboard 3a made of round keys 4a distributed in three rows. In this second variant, there are two resonance boards 30a located at the opposite side faces 42a of the instrument 1a. The resonance boards 30a are identical to the resonance board 30 of the first embodiment and to the resonance board shown in FIG. 6. Two rigid flaps 22a are arranged at the opposite side faces 42a while being mounted hinged to the frame of the instrument 1a in the same way as that described previously, in particular with reference to FIG. 9.

Each resonation board 30a comprises a plurality of resonance chambers 10a made of a first cavity 9a, a blade 13a and a second cavity 17a downstream of the blade 13a. On the section shown in Figure 5, the airflow openings 20a of the second cavities 17a are not partially closed by a lid. In this second variant, the connection between the reservoir 7a and the first cavities 9a of the resonance chambers 10a is adapted to the configuration of this instrument 1a with two resonance plates 30a on the opposite lateral faces 42a and the reservoir 7a which extends at the opposite face 8a to the keys 4a.

As previously indicated, the size of the blades 13,13a decreases along a resonating board 30,30a to generate different frequency and tone sounds. According to the invention, the size of the second cavities 17, 17a on the resonance board 30, 30a can also decrease proportionally to the size of the blades 13, 13a to optimize the production boundary of the "pitch bend" effect, in particular for the small blades emitting a more acute sound. This improvement of the "pitch bend" boundary is achieved due to the faster pressure increase in the second cavity 17,17a as the rigid flap 22 approaches the airflow aperture 20,20a.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, this proportional decrease in the size of the second cavities 17,17a is achieved by adjusting the size of the first openings 29,29a and airflow openings 20,20a to the size of the corresponding blade 13, 13a, it being understood that the height of the side walls 18, 18a; 19,19a must always be sufficient to allow the blade 13,13a to vibrate at a maximum displacement without going beyond the airflow opening 20,20a of the second cavity 17,17a.

To further optimize the boundary of the "pitch bend" can be provided on all or part of the airflow openings 20,20a of the resonance board 30,30a, a cap 21 which partially closes this opening 20,20a. The height of this cap 21 will not exceed half the height of the vibrating portion of the corresponding blade 13 to control the optimization of the boundary of the "pitch bend". Since the lid 21 extends over the entire width of the blade 13, the surface of the lid 21 will not exceed half of the vibrating surface of the blade 13. Of course, the lid 21 also does not have to disturbing the movement of vibration of the blade 13, this is why this seal 21 is disposed on the side of the blade 13 where is located the rivet 36 fixing the reed, that is to say on the side of the low clearance of the blade 13 in vibration.

In an alternative not shown, the cover 21 may be disposed on the opposite side of the rivet 36, that is to say facing the portion of the blade 13 having the greatest movement in vibration. In this case, the height of the side walls 18,19 of the second cavities 17 must be adjusted, taking into account the thickness of the lid 21, so as not to disturb the operation of the blade 1 in vibration.

The invention is described for two instruments 1.1a respectively accordina and clavietta type but applies by analogy to any wind instrument free reed, including the harmonica.

Claims (15)

1. A wind musical instrument with a free reed comprising a frame and a plurality of means for guiding the air blown or inspired by the instrumentalist, each air guiding means opening into a first upstream cavity which opens on its own. even on a blade made of a reed mounted on a frame by allowing said blade to vibrate, each blade (13,13a) opening, in the direction of the blown air flow, in a second downstream cavity (17 17a) which has an outward air flow opening (20,20a), characterized in that the instrument thus comprises at least a first plurality of second downstream cavities (17,17a) and a second one respectively. air flow openings (20,20a), said flow openings (20, 20a) being arranged in the same plane, in that it comprises means for closing (22, 22a) said openings of airflow (20,20a) operable by the instrumentalist and apt to adopt a first open position in which the air flowing in the second cavities (17, 17a) is not subjected to any pressure, and a second closed position in which the closure means (22, 22a) cover all airflow openings (20, 20a) hermetically and simultaneously, and in that from the first position to the second position, the closure means (22, 22a) are adapted to adopt a multitude of positions that increase the pressure in the second cavities (17,17a) by lowering the sound frequency of the considered blades (13,13a). 2. Instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a nozzle mounted on a tank with which said tip communicates, and a plurality of keys, each key being in connection with a valve whose displacement generated by the actuating the corresponding key by the instrumentist connects the reservoir with the first upstream cavity which opens on the blade. 3. Instrument according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a bed base (34) having a plurality of housings (35) forming the first upstream cavities (9,9a), and the opposite side to the bed base (34) a plate (31) having a plurality of through openings (32) forming the second downstream cavities (17, 17a), in that a plurality of blades (13, 13a) is arranged in a decreasing blade size direction on the bed base (34) or on the plate (31), and in that the bed (34), the blades (13,13a) and the plate (31) are secured to each other forming a resonance board (30) comprising a plurality of resonance chambers (10, 10a) formed, in the airflow direction, of a first cavity (9, 9a), a blade (13, 13a) and a second cavity ( 17,17a). 4. Instrument according to claim 3, characterized in that the plurality of blades (13,13a) is arranged in a series of housings (33) formed on the plate (31), each housing (33) being in the axis of a through opening (32). 5. Instrument according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one rigid flap (22,2a) which extends along the resonance board (30) being mounted hinged in pivoting between a first open position remote from the airflow openings (20,20a) of the second cavities (17,17a) of the resonance chambers (10,10a), for which first position the supply air which is flows into the chamber or chambers of resonances (10,10a) is not subjected to any pressure, and a second closed position in which the rigid flap (22,22a) is in contact abutment against the plate (31) by closing the airflow openings (20,20a) of the second cavities (17,17a) of the resonance chambers (10,10a). 6. Instrument according to claim 5, characterized in that the rigid flap (22,22a) is articulated to the end side wall (37) of the frame (2) of the instrument (1,1a) by means of a hinge (23) whose axis (35) extends along and against the plate (31) of the resonance board (30). " 7. Instrument according to claim 6, characterized in that the articulation means of the rigid flap (22,22a) relative to the resonance board (30) comprise a fixing plate (36) bearing against the side wall (37) of the frame (2) which has a first through-hole (38) oblong geometry for receiving a fixing screw (41) which extends into an orifice in the frame (2) opposite said first light (38), and a second through-lumen (39) which is fitted to the diameter of the end of the hinge pin (35) and which is adapted to receive said end which extends through the side wall (37) of the frame (2) on which is formed a through-light (40) oblong geometry opposite the second slot (39) of the fixing plate (36), so that the position of the axis (35) ) of the hinge can be adjusted by means of a double adjustment the end of the shaft (35) in the oblong slot (40) of the side wall (37) of the frame (2) and the fastening screw (41) into the first oblong slot (38) of the fixing plate (36). 8. Instrument according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the flap (22,22a) comprises a stiffening reinforcement (25) in an arc extending along the external tax (26) of the said shutter (22,22a). 9. Instrument according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that at least one return spring (27) secured to the resonance board (30) or to the frame (2) of the instrument (1, 1a) is mounted in abutment against the inner face (28) of the rigid flap (22,22a) by pushing said rigid flap (22,22a) in its first open position. 10. Instrument according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that each second cavity (17,17a) comprises two side walls (18,19): - extending perpendicularly to the dedicated blade (13,13a) from a first opening (29) on the side of the dedicated blade (13,13a) to a second opening forming the air flow opening (20,20a) through which the blown air escapes outside, and - corresponding to the thickness of the plate (30), which thickness is at least equal to the maximum deflection of the corresponding blade (13, 13a) in vibration. 11. Instrument according to claim 10, characterized in that the size of the first (29) and second (20,20a) openings of each second cavity (17,17a) is adjusted to the surface of the corresponding blade (13,13a) . 12. Instrument according to claim 11, characterized in that for at least part of the resonance chambers (10,10a) of said instrument (1,1a), especially those for which the blades (13,13a) are smaller size, the second opening (20,20a) is partially closed by means of a lid (21). 13. Instrument according to claim 12, characterized in that the surface of the lid (21) is at most equal to half of the vibrating surface of the corresponding blade (13,13a). 14. Instrument according to any one of claims 3 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a single resonance board (30) located at the bottom face (8) of the frame (2) opposite the keys (4). . 15. Instrument according to any one of claims 3 to 13, characterized in that it comprises two resonance boards (30) respectively located at opposite side faces (42a) of the frame (2).