PIANO FINISHING SYSTEM The present invention relates to improvements in the construction of tuning systems for pianos and similar instruments. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The conventional construction of tuning pegs for string instruments includes a metal plug driven into a hardwood pegbox. The tuning pegs have a length of approximately 60-65 mm. They have a square section at one end to accommodate a tuning lever and are slightly tapered away along their tuning end. There is a section finely threaded at this tapered end. The threaded tapered end is embedded in the hardwood headstock. A hole of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the plug is drilled in the block and the plug is inserted in this hole. The tapered pin (100) has fine threads (103) and is held in this lower dimension hole by friction, (refer to Figure 5). Then a rope is wound on the pin at the required tension. The tension that has to be supported by the wood usually causes the breakage, separation or buckling of the pegbox. In addition, wood tuners are subject to changes in humidity and other climatic variables. Once a pegboard breaks, buckles, separates or twists, in most cases it is very expensive to repair or save the piano, since the repair work is extremely intense. The main major defect in old pianos is that they can not maintain their tuning because of the buckling, separation or breakage of the pegbox. In some cases, modern manufacturing techniques incorporate the use of laminated pegs (as shown in Figure 5) and tuning pegs of a larger diameter. This is done in an attempt to minimize the effects of climate changes and to improve tuning stability. However, this can make the subsequent tuning more difficult. Conventional wood tuners are made from a selection of hardwoods which, from a conservation point of view, is a diminishing resource. There are two stages to tune a string. First the pin is rotated and then "adjusted" to compensate for the internal torsion of the tuning pin. A different technique is required to fine-tune grand pianos contrary to vertical pianos due to their design differences. However, the principle is the same and will now be described with reference to Figure 6. The tuning lever (106) has an approximate length of 300 mm and fits into the tuning pin via the tuning head with the handle angled straight to the pin (usually placed between 12 - 2 o'clock). Then, the piano tuner uses leverage to rotate and adjust the pin. As the pin (100) is rotated (104) about its axis (107) by the tuning lever (106), the internal twist (bending and bending) is carried out within the pin (100). It bends or flexes enough to change the tone of the string. Therefore, the pin (100) must be rotated a little more until the frequency of the string is slightly sustained. Now, the rotation of the pin (100) is finished. In this step the "adjustment" of the pin (100) is carried out. Then, the pin (100) is flexed back to compensate for its internal torsion by resting posteriorly on the tuning hammer (106), pulling it down through its axis (107). The pin (100) is manipulated slightly by pushing up or pulling down (105) until it maintains a stable position on the headstock (101) with the string in the correct pitch. This procedure is known as adjusting the plug. This must be done to achieve stable and accurate tuning. The plug must maintain a very tight grip on the pegbox
(101) when it is strung, since the rope pull can be as big as 68.04 kg. By achieving this grip, the internal torsion (bending or bending) is carried out as the pin rotates. A balance is sought between a firm grip of the peg on the block (enough to keep the rope at the correct tension without unwinding) and the smooth rotation of the peg (minimizing its internal twist and therefore the need to adjust the peg ). A tuning peg, whether wooden block or metal, must allow for "adjustment", that is, manipulation by loosening, turning or pivoting through its axis after rotation, as understood by a person skilled in the art. technique. The amount of loosening (pivoting or turning) of the pin required to alter the pitch of the string (measured in vibrations per second) is minimal. Minimum adjustment of the pin is required to achieve tuning stability, anticipate the light internal torsion of the pin and equalize the tension of the string (a finishing factor for the individual design of each piano). "Adjusting the plug" is described in the text by Mr. Arthur A. Reblitz, entitled "Piano Tuning Servicing And Rebuilding", published by Vestal Press, September 1976 (refer to page 45 and subsequent). This text is recognized and adopted by The Piano Technicians Guild of America and Mr. John H. Steinway by Steinway and Sons. In conventional designs, the pin is adjusted
"flexing it" on the block of wood. The loosening of a steel tuning peg on a wooden pegbox does not damage the peg or the wooden block, due to the length of the peg and the materials used. However, in constructions where a metal pegbox is used, it is impossible to loosen or adjust the shorter length peg that is firmly embedded in the peghead, without stressing it to the extent of breaking it eventually. This is a known problem in the pianos constructed in accordance with the Australian patent application of Beale and Vader 8777/07 filed on May 22, 1907 (refer to Figure 9). In this construction, the pin (14) had a conically tapered head (1 1 5) that was seated in a conical bore. The pin (1 1 4) was held in place by a locking screw (1 16). The curved end of this locking screw aided in the rotation of the plug. This conical head allowed the pin (14) to rotate but not pivot or rotate through its axis. The perforation formed a taper of positive closing that caused the cut of the pin. Other pegbox constructions of the prior art included principles incorporating secondary mechanical devices for tuning. For example, in German Patent DE-B-55 353 (refer to Figures 6 and 7) a pin (108) having a spherical plug (1 09) is held in place by a pole (1 1 0). This pin (108) is manipulated vertically by means of a cam eccentric disc (1 1 1) (1 1 0). Due to its spherical end (09), the plug will always pull to its lowest position in the direction of the rope pull. The disc (1 1 1) is rotated to slightly move the cap vertically, thus raising the tone of the string, to perform a fine tuning. A tuning peg, regardless of its design, should be slightly over-rotated and then loosened or adjusted down towards the rope pull. The plug in the patent DE-B-55 353 may be slightly over-rotated, but does not allow the necessary cord and pin adjustment that is required for the piano to retain its tuning, because it is always in its lowest position by the pull of the rope. Therefore, a spherical head pin is a disadvantage. It is not satisfactory as it does not compensate for the necessary cord and pin adjustment required. Therefore, an alternative construction is required. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a tuning system for a piano or string instrument comprising at least one tuning pin (10), a metal unit or set (28) having an opening (26) or openings therein for accommodating each tuning peg (10) and retaining means (34), said said tuning peg (10) having a head (12) with an upper part (32), a tuning end (22) remote from said upper part (32) for accommodating a tuning device, an orifice (20) through said tuning end (22) for securing a tuning string to said pin (10), and said retaining means (34) retaining said pin (10) in each said opening (26) and having an end (38) on which said upper part (32) of the pin (10) pivots, characterized in that: the head (12) is radial, having a surface that is its btantially spheroidal elongate, said tuning end (22) extends from each of said openings (26) with said radial head (12) retained in a complementary radial perforation (31) of each said opening (26), and each said opening (26) has a pivot clearance (33) between the tuning end (22) of such pin (10) and the metal unit or assembly (28), wherein said radial head (12) settles in said bore complementary radial (31) allows the pin (10) to rotate around and rotate through its longitudinal axis. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a tuning plug is provided for a piano or string instrument comprising a tuning end (22) for accommodating a tuning lever, a hole (20) through said tuning end (22) for securing a tuning wire to such tuning plug (10), said plug (10) being characterized by having a head (12) at an end remote from such tuning end (22), and said head being radial and having a surface that is substantially spheroidal elongated . According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a tuning pin for a piano or similar instrument comprising a recessed portion attached to said head and a sheath within said recessed portion. According to a further aspect of the invention, self-contained screw, sleeve and plug screw assemblies are provided, wherein such pins in accordance with the second or further aspects of the invention are contained in an alloy or composite metal housing. containing lubricating elements, either individually or in one or more blocks, or sectioned units of such tuning pegs, which are then mounted flush with the metal structure of an instrument from the front or the rear, either by a series of reduced metal screws, plugs or otherwise joined. The holes for said screws or plugs are perforated or fused in one or more hanging ears, by means of which the assemblies or units are attached to said metal structure. Preferably, the pin has a radial head with a radius of 8 millimeters with respect to the axis of said pin. The sleeve is preferably made of bronze or brass, although it may be made of nylon or other suitable plastic material. The term "radial" as used herein means a curved surface that is substantially spheroidal elongated. The parameters that define the radial head of the pin, and the complementary radial perforation, can be different as long as the pivoting of the pin around and through the longitudinal axis of the pin is accommodated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with respect to the figures in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective scheme of a first embodiment of a unit and plug construction according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a self-contained individual assembly attached to a metal structure, Figure 3 shows a plurality of plug openings in the form of a block or sectioned unit of tuning plug openings for housing the locking pins and screws According to the invention, Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective scheme of a second embodiment of a plug in accordance with the invention, and Figures 5-9 show tuning plug configurations of the prior art. PREFERRED MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As shown in Figure 1, the pin 10 has a radial head 12, a tapered portion 14 and a tuning end 18 (piano cord retention). A string hole opening 20 extends through the end 18, as is well known in the art, for a piano string to be inserted therethrough. As in a conventional pin, the end 18 is configured with four flat surfaces 22 to accommodate a tuning hammer or tuning lever. This lever or hammer (not shown), when used by the piano tuner, refines the respective wire to the required pitch by rotation of the pin about the axis 24. Each pin 10, as shown in Figure 1, is located in a opening 26 of the assembly 44 or unit 50. A sheath 30 surrounds the recessed portion 14. This sheath can be made of bronze or solid brass and can be continuous or divided. The pin 10 rests within the opening 26 with the radial head 12 in contact with the complementary radial perforation 31 of the opening 26. The pin 10 has a flat upper part 32 on which a closing screw 34 is seated. closure 34 is screwed to threaded bore 35 of assembly 44 or unit 50. Locking screw 34 has a curved shaped end 38 to provide single point surface contact between top 32 of pin 10 and screw closure 34 thus allowing the pin 10 to pivot on the curved shaped end 38 of the closure screw 34. The closure screw 34 has a formed or polygonal end 40 to allow an adjustment tool, such as an Alien key, rotate the locking screw 34 with respect to the bore 35. By screwing the locking screw 34 into the bore 35 the required force is provided on the pin 10 to retain it in the opening 26. The radial head 12 allows the pin 10 to rotate about the shaft 24 and rotate through the shaft 24 at the pivot point of the end 38 within the pivot clearance 33 of the opening 26, allowing the pin 10 to be tuned and adjusted. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, these pins can be used either as a self-contained single plug assembly 44 or, as plug assemblies, sectioned into one or more blocks or pin units 50 (FIG. 3) for example to form sections of bass, medium and treble. Although Figure 2 shows a single pin, such a set can comprise a number of associated pins and openings, and could be used in the manufacture of new pianos, or to repair or replace a damaged section of a piano. These assemblies 44, or self-contained units 50 are inserted by one or more accessories, for example metal ears 46 or the like in the structure of the piano 28.
Although the following description will be with respect to a single pin, it should be understood that the description is applicable to a plurality of pins. As the individual fabrication of each piano is unique in its scale and design, the tuning task generally requires a different technical approach. The construction described herein provides a solution adaptable to said variations when presented. When tuning the piano, the pin 10 is rotated about the axis 24. The radial head 12 and the sheath 30, allows the pin 10 to move freely providing smoothness and uniformity of touch, allowing the pin to be brought directly to the required tone, thus eliminating the need to adjust the plug in such instances. The pin 10 is designed to substantially reduce the pressure around the point of tension, as it is subsequently supported by the tuner. The radial head 12 eliminates the bending or bending of the pin and allows the pin 10 to rotate about the axis 24 and rotate through the axis 24 around the pivot point 38 of the closing screw 34 in the complementary radial perforation 31, within the pivot clearance of the opening 33. The preferred opening pivot clearance between the leg 10 and the assembly 44 or unit 50 is between .01 - .05 mm. Due to the tactile consistency, it would be possible to "automatically" tune a wire. For example, when using a motorized, torque sensing tool, the pin can be adjusted first to the expected required torque setting. Then, the tuning of the wire could be determined by measuring either the resonance of the string (by applying a frequency sweep signal and looking for the maximum response) or, by vibrating the wire, detecting its frequency response. Then the tuning would be repeated until the wire was adjusted to the required note, adjusting (increasing or decreasing) the torsion applied by the tool. Such technology is currently not possible with existing systems due to the inconsistency of twisting from one pin to the next. The sheath 30, when present, forms a damping between the pin 10 and the assembly 44 or the unit 50, regulates the pivot clearance 33 and protects the pin 10 from wear around this critical space. The radial head 12 and the sheath 30 allow the pin 10, when required, to be adjusted uniformly and effectively to the correct pitch without producing undue stress on the tuning pin, thus eliminating the possibility of breaking and / or locking of the pin. the plug. The radial arc of the plug 10 gives the plug a tactility superiority for purposes of tuning and adjusting on a conventional tuning pin, maintaining a tactile consistency from one pin to the next, allowing the pin 10 and the string to be adjusted effectively, overcoming the tension placed on the rope by the pressure bar (not shown). A lubricant can be used to reduce the friction between the pin and the radial perforation 31 without slippage. Lithium-based grease has been found adequate. The tuning system, being sectioned into either a number of individual self-contained plug assemblies 44, (Figure 2) or one or more blocks or units of tuning pegs 50, (Figure 3) makes it possible for these assemblies 44 or units 50 are accommodated by being embossed more simply and effectively to any piano plate, before stringing the instrument. Said assemblies interconnect with the piano plate thus forming a shoring, reinforcing and strengthening the piano plate, because the dimensions of the tuning system are substantially thicker than any piano plate per se. The standard piano plates are very thin to house the tuning plug 10 and the closing screw 34. This sectioning of the tuning system results in the elimination of embedding costs, assembly, handling and storage and associated problems that occur at the factory level with existing conventional tuning systems. The sets 44 or units 50 are much less expensive to manufacture and easier and simpler to install than the existing technology. The assemblies 44 or units 50 are bolted or bolted to the plate by a series of tapered screw holes 29 within ears 27 of the assemblies 44 or units 50, or otherwise joined. For force, the pin 10 and the locking screw 34 are made of annealed alloy steel while the sleeve 30 is made of bronze or bonded brass. The plug or screw may be covered by glue, chromed or nickel-plated, or otherwise coated. The individual assembly 44, or sectioned block or unit 50 can be made of cast iron, alloy, zinc or composite materials containing scattered graphite flakes or other similar lubricating elements. Such composite materials containing lubricating elements are necessary when used in conjunction with lithium-based grease, or other external lubricant to facilitate free movement of the plug 10 through and around its axis 24 when it is tuned and adjusted. Standard cast iron piano plates do not contain such elements and therefore do not have these properties. The amount of carbon including any graphite flakes disseminated within the chemical composition of the alloy or cast iron material is preferably 15-20 percent for an assembly 44 or unit 50. The molten iron may contain up to 4% carbon.
Although the invention has been described above with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, variations are possible with the knowledge of a person skilled in the art, for example, the sheath 30 can be altered or extended to fit in the radial head, reducing additionally in this way the wear of the pin 10 and the radial perforation 31. Alternatively, the sleeve 30 and the recess of the pin can be omitted together as shown in Figure 4. A ball bearing can be located between the end in curved shape 38 of the sealing screw 34 and the flat upper part 32 of the pin 10, a hollow cup is placed between both surfaces to accommodate the ball bearing, thus reducing the friction between the pin 10 and the closing screw 34. it can use a radial piercing seat and a radial piercing seat housing instead of the piercing being integral with the assembly 44 or the unit 50. A The radial head pin may be set in a set 44 or unit 50 with a frusto-conical bore or a larger radius bore. The diameter of the locking screw or pitch of the thread can be reversed, or the radius of the pin and / or the length dimensions can be altered, to suit a given application, while the pivot clearance of the opening 33 can be changed to an oval or a different shape. The individual assemblies 44 or the sectioned units 50 can be altered in size, shape, dimension or design to fit into the structure of the piano, and instead of being bolted or bolted in place, they can be welded, sealed, joined with bolts, with spring-loaded bolts, bolted as a single piece, as a set, mounted on rails, or in some other way fitted and held in place in structure 28, or the existing pegboard or support wood, either from the front or back of the piano. The locking screw 34 may instead have a curved shaped end 38, a conical, pointed, half-sphere, or domed end, or another suitable shape for supporting the upper portion 32 of a plug, with minimal friction, or may have a flat surface cooperating with a plug head of convex shape. Other plastics, metals, ceramics, compounds or alloying materials and lubricating elements may be suitable for the assembly 44 or the sectioned unit 50, the sheath 30, the pin 10 or the closure screw 34, all of which have compression and coefficients of friction similar to each other, but whose compression forces and friction coefficients are greater than those of cast iron, alloy material, zinc, bronze or brass. Pin 10, assembly 44, unit 50 and closure screw 34 can be hardened, nitrated or otherwise treated to improve performance and inhibit wear. The radial head eliminates the bending or bending of the pin, and allows the pin to rotate around the shaft and rotate through its axis in the complementary radial bore by pivoting at the curved end of the locking screw. Then the plug can be adjusted to the correct tone without exerting tension on the plug. The curved end of the locking screw does four things: 1. Retains the plug in the opening under compression in the desired setting, maintaining contact of a single point between the locking screw and the plug. 2. Maintains the piano wire at the correct tension. 3. Allows the plug, when required, to be pulled directly to the correct pitch. 4. Allows the pin to pivot through its shaft into the opening without causing tension on the plug. The radial perforation allows the pin to rotate, rotate and be adjusted in the assembly or unit without producing tension in the plug and inhibits the possibility that the pin forms a seal on the unit or unit or is locked in the future by corrosion or some other cause, instead of the pin being placed in a perforation with a conical positive taper taper (as described in Beale's prior art). The cover protects against the wear and tension of the pin, helps the movement of the pin to be tuned and forms a damping between the plug and the unit or set, and protects in this way to be supported later by the tuner. The individual self-contained plug assemblies allow the system to be simply and efficiently keyed to any piano plate without having to reuse tools on the board and only minimal cosmetic changes to the instrument. The blocks or sectioned units of the pins allow the unit to be manufactured separately from the main body of the instrument, wherein the system can be easily adapted to then be simply and efficiently attached to any piano plate. The opening pivot clearance allows the pin to rotate, rotate and pivot in the assembly or unit within predetermined parameters, for example between .01 -0.05 mm. , to allow the plug, when required, to be adjusted easily and effectively.