GB2577155A

GB2577155A - Wind instruments

Info

Publication number: GB2577155A
Application number: GB1909335.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Macisaac Robbie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-07-03
Filing date: 2019-06-28
Publication date: 2020-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2039-06-28
Also published as: GB201810904D0; GB2577155B; GB201909335D0

Abstract

An assembly for a wind instrument such as a set of bagpipes, and a wind instrument incorporating such an assembly. The assembly comprises an outer tubular part 10; and an inner tubular part 20 contained within the outer tubular part. The inner tubular part has a flow passage extended from a first to a second end, such that air received from a player's breath at the first end is delivered into the flow passage and air from the flow passage is delivered from the second end to other components of an instrument. The inner tubular part is formed with a plurality of apertures 26 that connect the flow passage to a space between the inner and outer tubular parts. Desiccant material may be removably disposed in the space between the inner and outer tubular parts to absorb the moisture from the player’s breath. The assembly may form the blowpipe in a set of bagpipes and may include a mouthpiece connected to the first end of the assembly.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Wind instruments

Abstract Title: An assembly for a wind musical instrument to remove moisture received from a player's breath (57) An assembly for a wind instrument such as a set of bagpipes, and a wind instrument incorporating such an assembly. The assembly comprises an outer tubular part 10; and an inner tubular part 20 contained within the outer tubular part. The inner tubular part has a flow passage extended from a first to a second end, such that air received from a player's breath at the first end is delivered into the flow passage and air from the flow passage is delivered from the second end to other components of an instrument. The inner tubular part is formed with a plurality of apertures 26 that connect the flow passage to a space between the inner and outer tubular parts. Desiccant material may be removably disposed in the space between the inner and outer tubular parts to absorb the moisture from the player’s breath. The assembly may form the blowpipe in a set of bagpipes and may include a mouthpiece connected to the first end of the assembly.

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Wind Instruments

This invention relates to wind instruments. It has particular, but not exclusive, application to bagpipes.

A problem that occurs with those wind instruments that are blown by a player is the condensation of water from a player’s breath within the instrument. Over time, this can lead to degradation and damage to the instrument or unwanted bacterial growth.

An aim of this invention is to provide an arrangement within a wind instrument that prevents or at least reduces the amount of condensation that will form on parts of the instrument that are liable to be harmed by it.

To this end, form a first aspect, this invention provides an assembly for a wind instrument the assembly comprising: an outer tubular part; and an inner tubular part contained within the outer tubular part, the inner tubular part having a flow passage extending from a first to a second end, and arranged such that air received from a player’s breath at the first end is delivered into the flow passage and air from the flow passage is delivered from the second end to other components of an instrument; wherein the inner tubular part is formed with a plurality of apertures that connect the flow passage to a space between the inner and outer tubular parts.

It has been found that condensation that occurs on the inner tubular part tends to pass through the apertures into the space between the inner and outer tubular parts, and therefore does not pass into the rest of the instrument.

A typical application of an assembly embodying the invention is in a blowpipe of a set of bagpipes.

The inner tubular part is typically constituted by a metal tube through which radial apertures are formed, typically by drilling.

Advantageously, a desiccant material is disposed between the inner and outer tubular parts. Most preferably, the desiccant material is removable to allow it to be dried for re-use.

From a second aspect, this invention provides a wind instrument that incorporates an assembly embodying the first aspect of the invention.

Typically, a mouthpiece is connected to the first end of the assembly, whereby air can be delivered from the mouthpiece to the flow passage.

A wind instrument embodying this aspect of the invention may be a set of bagpipes.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a chamber being an outer tubular part of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows an air pipe being an inner tubular part being a component of an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 3 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention; and

Figures 4 and 5 are orthographic and side views of a seal being a component of an embodiment of the invention.

With reference to the drawings, an embodiment of the invention provides an assembly being part of a blowpipe for a set of bagpipes.

The assembly includes a chamber 10 being generally shaped as a frustum with an axial through bore 12 that opens at smaller and larger diameter ends of the chamber. The chamber 10 forms an external tubular component of the assembly. An end portion of the through bore close to the smaller-diameter end is formed with an internal thread.

An air pipe 20 is formed from a length of metal tube having a wall and an axial bore. First and second end portions of the tube are formed with respective external threads 22, 24. Between the threaded portions, multiple radial holes 26 are formed through the wall of the tube into the bore. In this example, the holes 26 are arranged in rows that are spaced around the air pipe 20 at 45° intervals.

A seal 30 is formed as a metal body that has a head 32 and a tenon shaft 34 extending from it The shaft 34 is of generally cylindrical section. The head 32 is of greater diameter than the shaft 34, and has an outer surface that is shaped as a frustum, tapering in a direction away from the shaft (the taper is not apparent in Figure 3). The minimum and maximum diameters of the head 32 are, respectively, smaller and larger than the diameter of the larger-diameter end of the bore 12 of the chamber 10. A bore extends through the seal 30. Within the head 32, the bore is formed with an internal thread 36. Multiple peripheral groves are formed on the outer surface of the shaft 34 and a keyway is formed along its length, the grooves being gripped by hemp within the tenon joint when it is installed upon a set of pipes.

The components are assembled by inserting the air pipe 20 into the chamber, and securing it there by connection of the first of its threaded end portions 22 to the threaded part of the bore of the chamber 10. Desiccant material is then introduced into the space between the air pipe 20 and the chamber 10. The seal is then connected to the air pipe by insertion of the second threaded end portion 24 of the air pipe 20 into the internally threaded part 36 of the bore 34 of the seal 30. As the seal 30 is screwed onto the air pipe 20 it is drawn axially along it until its head 32 enters the larger-diameter end of the bore 12 of the chamber 10, whereupon the outer surface of the head 32 makes a seal against the bore of the chamber 10.

The assembly is used in the construction of an instrument by connection of the shaft 34 of the seal 30, which is slotted into to a stalk that is bound into the bag of a set of bagpipes. A mouthpiece is connected to the smaller-diameter end of the bore of the chamber 10 where it can deliver air to the air pipe.

During play, moisture from a player’s breath condenses on the inner surface of the air pipe

20. The condensate passes through the holes 26 into the space between the air pipe 20 and the chamber 10, where it is absorbed by the desiccant, thereby reducing the amount of condensate that reaches other parts of the instrument When the desiccant has absorbed so much condensate that its efficiency is reduced, it can be removed, dried (for example, in a microwave oven), and replaced within the assembly.

Claims

1. An assembly for a wind instrument the assembly comprising: an outer tubular part; and an inner tubular part contained within the outer tubular part, the inner tubular part having a flow passage extending from a first to a second end, and arranged such that air received from a player’s breath at the first end is delivered into the flow passage and air from the flow passage is delivered from the second end to other components of an instrument; wherein the inner tubular part is formed with a plurality of apertures that connect the flow passage to a space between the inner and outer tubular parts.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 in which the inner tubular part is constituted by a metal tube through which there is a plurality of radial apertures.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 in which the apertures are drilled.

4. An assembly according to any preceding claim in which a desiccant material is disposed between the inner and outer tubular parts.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 in which the desiccant material is removably disposed within the assembly

6. An assembly according to any preceding claim that is a blowpipe of a set of bagpipes.

7. A wind instrument that incorporates an assembly according to any preceding claim.

8. A wind instrument according to claim 7 further including a mouthpiece connected to the first end of the assembly, whereby air can be delivered from the mouthpiece to the flow passage.

9. A wind instrument according to claim 7 or claim 8 that is a set of bagpipes.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No:

GB1909335.0