US1035533A - Apparatus for mechanically operating musical instruments. - Google Patents

Description

H. O. GOLDMAN & G. I. WEBB. I APPARATUS FOR MEOHANIGALLY OPERATING 11111510111, INSTRUMENTS.

, APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1910. v x 1 .035,533. Patented Aug. 13,1912. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I H. G. GOLDMAN 8; G. F. WEBB. APPARATUS FOR MEOHANIGALLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 27, 1910.

1,035,583. PatentedAug.13,1912.

5 SHEETSSHEET-2.

W g L H. C. COLDMAN & G. F. WEBB. APPARATUS FOR MEGHANICALLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

I 6 SKEETSSHIIBT 3.

APPLICATION FILED KAY27, 191i);

H. G. GOLDMAN 6: G. F. WEBB.

APPARATUS FOR MEGHANIGALLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1910.

1,035,533.v Patented Au'g .13,1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. G. GOLDMAN& G. F. WEBB., APPARATUS FOR MEOHANIGALLY OPERATING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1910. 1 ,035,533, Patented Aug. 13,1912.

6 SHEETSSHBET 5.

of which the 'following is a specification.

, UNITED STATES I To all whom it may concern:

CoLnMAN WEBB, -both subjects of the King of Great ratrnntr OFIJICE.

HENRY CHARLES COLDMAN AND CHRISTOPHER. FREDERICK WEBB, 0F LEWISHAM, ENGLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Application filed May '27, 1910. Serial No. 563,766.

Be it known that we, HENRY CHARLES and CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK Britain, residing, respectively, at Albacore Crescent, and 107 Gilmore road, Lewisham, in the county of Kent, England, have invented certain new and useful Improve-- ments in or Relating to Apparatus for Mechanicall y Operating Musical Instruments,

This invention relates to apparatus for {mechanically operating or playing musical instruments such as pianos and other similar key: instruments, and refers more particularly to apparatus in which the aforesaid operation is effected by cylinder and piston pneumatics arranged within the casing of the instrument and adapted to operate the piano action directly.

The object of this invention is to provide certain improvements, hereinafter set forth, in the construction and arrangement of the parts of which such players are composed, and, to this end, the piano action is arranged in operative relation to the piston of the pneumatic device by means of a cord, tape or other suitable flexible connection, said connection having the effect of striking a note larly rerer ;'In"order that the said invention 'Lclearly understood and readily y when the piston moves under the influence of the pneumatic act1on-exhaust or suc- 'tionin the cylinder. For example the cylinder and piston may be so situated relatively to'the piano-action as to lift a part of the latter whenthe piston is moved as aforesaid.

The invention further comprises improved construction of the pneumatic device, improved valve mechanism for use therewith and adapted to enable. different pressures to be employed in the working of the apparatus, improved music rolloperatmgmechanism, means for enabling the music rolls and operating mechanism to be transferred from the interior to the exterior of the iano casing without actual detachment t erefrom, improved means foraccentuating and for'va'ryin'gor adjusting the tempo, improved means for efiectm the modulation of,the playin allhereina ter more particured to and described,

actuating mechanism. F ig. 6 is a vertical section of one of the pneumatics. Fig. 7

.is a section illustrating the mechanism for controlling the damper action. Fig.8 is a vertical section through the valve mechanism and ports'for controlling the pneumatic device, Fig. 9 being a corresponding plan. Fig. 10 is a section showing aconst-ruction in which the valves are arranged in series in a bar or plate, the valves being provided with plungers while the cylinders pertaining to the pneumatics are attached at right-angles to- Fig. 10 and taken along the line 11-11 in the latter figure. Fig. 12 is a perspective view partly in section of.

* the several parts illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. Fig. 13 is a section of a pressure-regulating valve whereby a weaker exhaust may be employed. Fig. 14 is a View in section illustrating mechanism for accentuating, Fig. 15 at-ransverse section along the line 15-15 in Fig. 14, and Fig. 16 is a plan of the pipes and connections to the valves pertaining to the pneumatic device. Fig. 17 shows a valve or cut out pertaining/to the apparatus.

of the tempo control. Fig. 19 is a diagram showing the general arrangement of the system of pipes and appliances.

to the said bar or plate. Fig. 11 is a view Fig. 18 is a view in section d The piston a of the pneumatic a is preferably of solid formation (Fig. 6) and makes a working airtight fit with the sides of the cylinder I (1 The piston therefore acts quickly by gravity when the suction or haust is released and equally. quickly "'answers to'the efiect of the suction. The cylinders a? for the pistons a may be formed separately, in grou s, or in one complete set, the said cylin ers .being however carried-by a bar a. (Fig.-;'1) which traverses the piano immediately behind the lower portion of the upper removable part or panel of the piano casing and is connected to the side walls of the casing by brackets a 5 The cylinders are equally spaced but are slightly closer together than the keys of a piano so that more cylinders are provided than keys in the piano. Thus the variations in the spacing of the parts to be acted upon, namely, the hammer action units, are al lowed for and those cylinders only are used which correspond with the spacing to be dealt with. Furthermore, the excess number of piston pneumatics over the number of keys admits of a disabled or defective pneumatic being disconnected from the corresponding hammer action and the connection of another adjacent pneumatic therewith. The pistons a may be prevented from escaping from the cylinders by hanging the latter or by a. detachable flange a capable of application to the outer end of the cylinder.

The valve a (Fig. 2) for operating the piston a of the actuating cylinder of the pneumatic device a, is fitted within the casing a? which 'incloses the tracker bar-oz and music rollers a a, and is situated preferably between the rollers and toward the rear; a short connection a being thus required between the tracker bar and the valve device a which is suitably connected by the pipe Z) with the pneumatic device a situated preferably slightly below the tracker bar casing and connected with the exhaust chamber 1), though in some cases it may be attached to or form part of the bar a carrying the cylinders. The vacuous conditions in the exhaust chamber 6' are obtained by suitable pumps or exhausting means N, I) adapted for operation by any convenient power, such as pedals I), 5

The valve device, Figs. 8 and 9, comprises a block b in which are formed two compartments b, 6 the former of which is connected, by passages I)", with the tracker bar a and by passages c with the suction chamber b and the other compartment 5 of which is connected with the atmosphere by way of the opening a" and with the suction chamber and the pneumatic device a by the passages 0 respectively. The comartment 6 contains a'ball c" and the other 7 contains a ball or plunger a acting as a piston and both compartments are in communication with each other by means of a passage c of small diameter, which is traversed by a wire or rod 0 same forming a loose contact with each ball.-

In operating the apparatus. upon the music sheet a. opening the aperture in the tracker bar the plunger 0 owing to the ingress of air through the passage b into the compartment b, is forced say upward, and this movement in turn o tes the wire 65 or rod 0 and finally the c in the 0 er compartment, thereby closing the passage 0* leading to the atmosphere and placing the passage 0 from the suction chamber 1) and the passage 0 from the pneumatic device a in communication, the result being the mani ulation of a piano key. The movement of t e plunger a is transmitted to the piano action d, Fig. 2, by means of the flexible connection d.- Upon closing the aperture in the tracker bar a, the air which remains in the passage b thereto, escapes around the plunger 0 The pressure is hereby equalized in both compartments 6, b and the ball 0* moves from the position above mentioned and opens the passage 0* to the atmosphere. The plunger 0 also returns to its normal position with the effect that no key is manipulated. The compartments 6'', b are conveniently arranged the one above the other, the lower one, which may contain the plunger, being in communication -with the tracker bar and the suction chamber and the upper one, which may :ontain the ball, in communication with the suction chamber, the atmosphere and the pneumatic device as hereinbefore described.

The high vacuum used in the apparatus enables all the parts and tubes to be made very small, but in order to render the same operable with music rolls as at present used in connection with other forms of players, of the low vacuum type, it is advantageous to employ a valve adapted to operate with different pressures, as described in our co-pending application, Serial No. 570,090, filed January 10, 1910. W'ith the above-mentioned object in view, the suction passages c a of the valve may be connected with chambers 0", a common to all the passages ofth'c series of'valves, the said chambers being 5 partially exhausted of air by means of the main exhaust b. The suction passage 0, pertaining to the plunger connected with the chamber 0", is partially, though to a less extent than the chamber a, exhausted of 1 air by the same means, the two chambers not being in communication with each other.

In such. an arrangement, the action of the valve is as follows :-When the aperture in the tracker bar a is opened by the aperture in the music roll a the atmosphere enters the passage connected with the tracker bar, and causes the plunger 0'' to rise; at

the same time the wire or stem 0 is lifted and with it the upper ball 0 isforced on to its seating 0, thereby opening the passage to the common suction chamber c" and putting the latter in communication with the piston Pneumatics .through the passage 0 with the result that a key is operated through the actuation of the piano action d as afore-described.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show a modified form of pneumatic device a and controlling valve 0' m which the two parts are directly contube d to the main reservoir b.

however be readily understood from the pre- 1 vious description.

In order to perform soft music and also to operate the roll motor d efiiciently itis sometimes necessary to use a weaker exhaust,

and instead of the extra reservoirs and automatic valves heretofore employed, a valve (Z Fig. 13 of the reducing type is employed,

so that the operation of the roll motor'and the aforesaid modulation in the performance can be effected, The pressure-regulating valve consists of a cylinder cl connected, at one part d, by a tube (5 to the roll motor, or soft note tube, and at another d by a The passage d from the reservoir connects with the inside of the cylinder (l preferably by an annular chamber d which surrounds the partial vacuum in cylinder and has perforated walls; forations f being arranged centrally around the circumference of the cylinder. The cylinder d contains a loose piston or plug f constructed of some light material, such for instance, as carbon, and this plug is maintained by a-spring f in contact with a transversely arranged pin f or a suitable cap; The inner end of the plug may be just short and clear of the ring of apertures or perforations f in the cylinder. hen, for instance, the roll motor 0Z is in operation, air is drawn from the cylinder (1 through the apertures f and tube (i thereby inducing a the cylinder, this degree of vacuum depending upon the adjustment of the spring f whereby the plug or piston f is caused to more in slightly and more or less cover the apertures; the flow between the motor (Z and the reservoir 7) bein thereby shut off. The piston f is adapt to move inward or outward according to the degree of exhaust in the cylinder d", regulating the current of air from the motor and maintaining a steady pressure 50 long as it remains in operation.

The motor d pertaining to the music roll mechanism a? comprises a series of small cylinders 1 connected with the main exhaust in such a manner that the pistons therein which are connected by rods f to a crank shaft 7'', effect the rotation of the latter and thereby the operation of the music rolls a", a. The admission valves f, Fig. 5, to the aforesaid cylinders may be operated mechanically by eccentrics. or otherwise and suitable reversing gear may be fitted. The motor d is started by opening the passage (1", Fig. 19, to the main reservoir I) through the reducing valve 11" previously mentioned, the cylinders bein successively exhausted of air thereby, whifia the atmosphere is admitted at the proper aforesaid valves f V In operating a. piano player for the performance of some musical compositions i time by means of the the perhalf-of the action as is essential that some notes be accentuated. To this end the pneumatic operating means is dlvided in such a manner that notes 1n the treble or notes in the bass may be accented during the playing of the piece. 7 The mechanism used in this connection comprises piston valves is Fig. 1 1, which work in cylinders is arranged in a suitably constructed casing or box is provided with four or other suitable number of actuating buttons or pushes k which are mounted on stems 70" adapted to workairtight in the top of the said casing or box 70 The lower part of the box k opens into the cylinders 70 two of which communicate with a supplementary box In while the others are open to the atmosphere. Each of the cylinders is provided with a double row of ports 70, each of the latter communicating with an annulus k which is common to both rows of ports. Each annulus is connected with a nipple k formed or provided on the exterior of the cylinder.

carbon, are fitted in the cylinder lc and are maintained normally in contact with the inner extremities of the pushes k by means of spring 'or equivalent devices 70 In the the normal position, the lower rows of ports are uncovered by the pistons, thereby establishing communication with the lower box and the atmosphere respectively. The lower box 70 is exhausted of air by means of a suitable pipe m Fig. 19, from the pressureregulating valve d set at weak action for soft playing as previously described. The

upper box 70 is exhausted directly from the main vacuum or exhaust reservoir b by means of a suitable pipe connection m therewith, and is used for strong action or loud playing.

To operate the valve mechanism 76X one of-the buttons or pushes k" is depressed, the stem k thereof thereupon depresses a piston is and the lower ports In are closed, cutting oil' the weak exhaustv and opening the'upper ports and the annulus to the strong exhaust in the box lc' the effect'of which, through the aforesaid nipple it and a pipe connection we or m (Figs. 16 and 19) is conveyed to the whole of the bass or treble the case may be, thereby producing a rapid accenting of any particular note or notes in that half of the piano. It will be noted, by reference to Figs. 16 and 19, that the tubes m and m are connected to the valve devices (1, in the bass and treble portions of the'act-ion respectively, said pipes terminating at the middle of the action so that the pipe m controls the bass while the pipe m controls the treble. the annulus placed in communication with the strong action, but in this case the nipple pipe m leading to a device -m..(Fig. 7) for The pistons 70 which may be of.

By depressing another button Z2 and nipple 7c are similarly carries a.

" through the pressure reducing valve (1*, the

i operating the loud pedal generally through- 272 secured to a suitable part of the piano and provided with: a piston m which 15 connected by a rod n and by a flexible or other suitable coupling n to the loud and soft pedal actions, respectively. The cyl inder is exhausted of air by means of the pipe m or m as the case may be connected to the aforesaid accenting device k causing the piston m to move upward and operate the loud or soft pedal actions, respectively, by means of the flexible or other couplii'ig n.

The tempo control device n is preferably mounted below the keyboard and consists of a block 21 having therein three ports a, n and n, which are controlled by a slide valve 11, having thereon a finger-piece, n for operating the same, the port 11 communicating wit-h the exhaust mechanism port n being directly connected to the pipe (Z leading to the reservoir b, and the port a being connected by pipe n with the motor If. This construction enables the motor to be operated by either high tension or low tension, and both of the tensions may be throttled to the desired extent by suitable adjustment of the slide valve if, as will be apparent from the-illustration in Figs. 13 and 19.

The c'ut-otl' valveu is located in the pipe (Z between the reservoir Z! and the pressure reducing valve (I connected withpipe m, and said cut-oil? serves to reduce or completely interrupt the suction between the reservoir 1) and, the reducing valve d". The said cut-otl' device, illustrated in Fig. 17, consists of a block 0' having ports 0" and 0, which are controlled by a slide valve of" having a finger piece 0" for operating the same, said val e being retained on its seat by a suitable spring 0". i

The exhaust pumps 6 are of the cylinder and piston type. and operate in conjunction with a reservoir 11 and spring regulator b" so as to maintain an even pressure in working. The reservoir 7) is made of such small (.llll'ltIlSlHllS and the apertures in the tracker bar 1 also of such very small dimensions compared with those ordinarily employed that the whole of the mechanism is adapted to be operated with a minimum volume of air, moving at a high velocity, the responsiveness and sensitiveness throughout the player being thereby considerably 1mproved.

The pedals If, b are connected to the pumps by flexible or other eonnections 12"", n and may be capable of being disconnected therefrom and folded or Withdrawn from view beneath the piano; or the pedals may be rendered detachable and capable of complete removal. The high vacuum used in the above apparatus enables such small cylinders to be employed throughout that they can be arranged in a single row inside any piano and by means of flexible connections between the pistons and the piano action, the row.ofcyl-inders becon'ies a suit able standard for any piano. The pistons are preferably made of carbon andthecylindcrs of brass or other .suit- V able metal, the arrangement or combination permitting a free and easy movement of the parts without the use of lubricant. 7

Suitable gearing may be provided for varying the direction of, and speeds of 1: 0- tation of the music rollers-and thereby enabling the music sheet to be readily r'e- 'wound.

l The arrangement and construction of the several parts of the mechanism is such that each may be readily appliedto an existing pattern or, makeof piano without alteration of the standard arrangement and without "attecting the ordinary manual playing of the instrument. Moreover, by the means hereinbet'oredescribed the appearance of the; instrume'nt' is not altered and the'fac't that a piano player is included in the casmg of the instrument is not apparent to the casual observer, nooutward manifestation thereof being ol'iservable. 4 I p The in'q n'ovements in the roll operating mecl'ianisln, accentuating mechanism, and the means for eliecting the modulation of the playing, all .as hereinbefore described, are not-claimed in the present application, but applicants reserve the right. to include these improvements in a separate application or applications. t \Yhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-

1.. A piano having a nuadciuical player inclosed in the casing thereof. said player comprising a bar supported transversely of the cas ng in front of and adjacent to the hammer action, and a longitudinal series of power pneumatics supported by said bar cach ct said pneumatics comprising a substantially vertical c 'linder depending from the ba and a piston freely movable ltherein,

and flexible pull'connections between the fat-mg mechanism constituting an attachment adapted to be secured 1n the casmg of an ,5 3. An upright piano having a pneumatic hammer-actuating mechanism supported in the upper part of the piano casing adjacent to and forward of the hammer action, said mechanism consisting of a supporting bar attached to the side walls of the piano cas ing, a single horizontal series of vertically disposed cylinders and cooperating pistons carried by said bar, andfiexible operative connections between each piston and a unit 15, of the hammer action.

4. Theherein described-pneumatic actuupright piano between the haimiier action and the front panel and in cooperative association with said, hammer action, comprising a carrier bar having means for attaching it within the piano casing, a single l series "of cylinderssecuredfto and depending from said bar,;a piston freely movable in each cylinder, a flexible operative connection to each piston for actuating a member of a hammer action unit, and valve 1necha-- nism for controlling the operation of said pistons.-

-5. The herein described pneumaticactw ating mechanism constituting an attachment adapted to be secured in1the casing of an upright piano in cooperative association with the hammer action thereof, comprising a carrier bar, a single 361168 of connected cylinder and piston pneumatics and valve devices, the associated cylinders and valve devices be ng 111 vertical allne'ment with 40 each other and depending from said bar,

and fiexiblemeans for connecting each piston with a'member of a hammer action unit.

6.1 A pneumatic hammer-actuating mechanism. adapted to be applied within an upright piano casing in front of and adjacent the hammer action, comprising a bar having means for attaching the same within the piano casing, valve devices'suspended from said bar, said valve devices being formed in separate sect ons of multiple units, cylinders in vertical alinement with the valve de-- vices, pistons freely movable in said cylinders, and flexible means for connecting said pistons with the hammer action units.

7. A pneumatic hammer-actuating mech anism adapted to be'applied within an upright piano casing in front of and adjacent the hammer act-ion, comprising a'bar havflIlgMBTBZLIIS 'ZEOI' attaching the same within the piano casing, a plurality ofvertically disposed cylinder and piston pneumatics and valves therefor arranged in lineal order in separate groups or sections on said bar,

and flexible -me ans for connecting the pistons with t-he hammer action units. 8; A pneumatic hammer-actuating mechanism adapted to be applied within an upv right piano casing in front of and adjacent the hammer action, comprising a bar having means for securing the same within the piano casing, a single series of vertically alining valve devices, cylinders and pistons said series extending longitudinally of said bar and supported therefrom, and flexible means for connecting said pistons and the hammer action of the piano, the number of the piston, cylinder and valve devices being in excess of, the number of the hammer action units.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence 01 two witnesses.

HENRY GHARLES COLEMAN.

- CHRISTOPHER FREDERICK WEBB. Witnesses T. SELBY Wannnn, VALTER J. SKERTEN.

-Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

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