GB190213176A - Improvements relating to Mechanism for Playing Musical Instruments. - Google Patents

Abstract

13,176. Lake, H. H., [Aeolian Co.]. June 10. Automatic instruments.-Relates to means for playing keyboard instruments mechanically, and consists of means for providing piano and forte effects and for accenting individual notes. Key stickers S are operated by pneumatics G<1>, which are controlled by primary pneumatics G, these last being controlled in turn by a tune-sheet and tracker board. The tune-sheet is driven by a suction motor, and passes between rollers I<2>, I', to the former of which it may be permanently attached at one end. The vacuum, which operates all the parts, is produced by bellows B, at the back of which is a wind-chest D. The wind-chest D communicates with four equalizing-bellows E', E<2>. E<3>, E<4>, the last of which operates the motor. The two first communicate freely with the wind-chest, and provide vacuums of high but different tensions, which are regulated by springs. E<3> is a low-tension equalizer, which communicates with the wind-chest D through a valve J arranged so as to close when the equalizer collapses. The primary pneumatics are fed from a chamber F, which communicates with the wind-chest D through openings d<6>, d<5>, the latter of which is an ordinary one for regulating the pressure and is governed by a valve. The chamber F also communicates with the low-tension equalizer E<3> through openings d<5> and a windtrunk D<1>. The openings d<5>, d<6> are situated in separate valve-chests d<2>, d', and are controlled by grid valves K<1>, K', which are connected together so that, when one is open, the other is closed. The valves are actuated by a special motor consisting of two bellows, the valves of which are controlled by a second bellows. this last one being operated by a push. The admission of wind to the primary pneumatics is thus under complete control. The note-sheet is made so that the perforations corresponding to accented notes are slightly in rear of these belonging to other notes of the same chord. These last-mentioned notes are therefore uncovered first. The push above mentioned is then actuated, so that a high-tension vacuum is brought into action. This causes a rapid actuation of the parts so that the accented note sounds simultaneously with the others, though its action was started rather later.