US1076069A - Electropneumatic swell-pedal action for pipe-organs. - Google Patents

Description

E.' M. SKINNER. ELEGTROPNEUMATIG SWELL PEDAL ACTION FOR PIPE RGANS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1911.

Patented 001;.21',1913.

3 SEEETE*SHEET 1.

Win70( B. M. SKINNER. ELEGTROPNEUMATIG SWELL PEDAL AGTIQN FOR PIPE ORGANS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9,1911, 1,076,069.`

Pat-,ema 001121,191.

s LSHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS,

E. M. SKNNBR. ELEGTROPNEUMATIG SWELL PEDAL ACTION FOR PIPE ORGANS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1911.

199076,069. Patented 0015.21, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. ofwhich the following-is a specitica'tion'.

`shutters to move in either direction, te rest, f at intermediate points and to move at vai@n rlous speeds, a controlllng vmechanism con A4the moment and by means of which, without regard to the speed or vdirection of movel closing, etc., has always been indispensable;

a valveuiiieiently largejto carry a swell UNTTED sTATns PATENT enr-ien.

ELECTBQPNEUMATI'G. SWELIi-PEDAL. ACTION FOR-PI1E-OBGANS.

v Patented Oct. 21, 1913. rpplicationled-September 9, 1911. Serial No. 648,547:

LOfh Specification of Letterslyatent. Y.

blage without departing from the spirit thereoii In the drawings Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the organ in use, having wind' in the chest, the swell shutter being completely closed Fig. 2 shows a cross section of' the swell shutter ,in the To all whom t may concern I Be itv known that I', ERNEST M. SKINNER, of Boston, in the county of' Suffolk. and' Statel of'M'assachusetts, have inventedcertain new and* useful Improvements inl Electropnelr" matic SwelllP'edal Actions for Pipe-Organs,

rPhe object of this invention is to'eliminate closed position. Fig. 3 shows the-same in the vuncertainty and erratic behavior that the openposition. Fig. 4' is an rged'sec has always attended' these mechanisms. tion ofthepneumatic enginei` .ng mo rIheusual= construction of' an -electropneumatic mechanism for op'eratingswell shut'- ter consists in a bellows for closing the shutter, *and another connected'thereto for opening it. Inasmucli-.as it is necessary for these 1i. Fig; 5 is-.an enlarged'view ofthe group o'pneumat-icmotors 5, with their connect# inggbarst; Fig: 6is a plan ofia usual ar.'- rangement of' lthe pneumatic motors, viewed from'beneatl. Fig; 7: is a diagram showing .three oflthe` pneumatic motors 5 opera'- pneumatic-motors- 5-in ppefation; Fig. 9 is an' enlarged sectional 4'view illustrating the valve mechanism.

,.The's'ame reference characters indicate the same partsin all the figures;

@ne ofthe* chiefl ditliculties in .the employment of 'two opposedf motors in devices of the description cited-'above has been the sisting of cutouts, neutralipoints, systems Vof. contacts for opening, systems oicontacts for pneumatic its entire excursion .in 'a-very'brief space of timeis not suitable for moving the same pneumatic a 'short distance and' at a slow speed.

The present these problems,

invention aims to solve all to eliminate all' the elements of uncertainty, all contacts, neutral points, places of adjustments, et'cwat the motors, and to substitute a more reasonable and tractable mechanism.

lOne ofthe purposes ofthis invention is to provide an engine or motor for actuating the swell shutter, of which the power shall vary with the amountof work to be done'at in described, the load is always the same on eachmotor;-iff'theshutter is to be moved a will-beactuated-at once, and as all the motors may be' collapsed or inflated Ain the same amount of time required for any one of them not obtainable 'with in'detail apart ofthe devices shown 1n Fig.

tion. lFigi'is a'diagram showingone'of'the short distance only one or two motors will1 he actuated;` If theshutter-is to be moved l 'suddenly-the entire distance, allithe motors ment, any definite or certain number ofcoutacts in circuit at the swell shoe will always give exactly the same position of the. engine 'and swell shutter.

With the above and other objects in view,

' as will presently appear, the invention conparts in all views, there is-illustrated a form of vembodiment ofthe invention capable of -carrying' the saine into practical operatimi hatthe -'elements there#` it-bei lunderstoodjV- l inexhiited Emaybe veiled, as to. shape, prodetailiand exctsnarmererfassen forms.

Referring irst` to Fig. 1', I have represented by 11a-footlever or pedal normally held inthe' position illustrated and adapted to bel depressedlabouta pivotal axis 2 by pressure ofthe performers foot. This pedal is connected bymeans vof a link 3 with a lever'y 4, nwhich isonecontact member of 'an electric switch. This lever is adapted to anumber .or cmplemental contacts 5, which are; so arranged. as-ijtoi befengaged successo j variability'of-theload. In the engine hereto operate, a--promptness i-sxsecuredwhich is mechanism offthe older engage andlmake electricahconnection with sively by downward movemento the switch 4 lever 4, being-thus engaged one at a time'.

The switch lever. Liis.connected withv one .terminal 6`ofv'a`yn electric battery, 7fother sourcev of electrica-l energy., The other-Iter1 minal8 of this battery" or source of epergy is' p-rovided"with branches 9A which lea d /re-Q spectively- 'to independent f electro-magnets,

' 12 represents a chest or wind 'box which is .4 and 5.

levers one of which is shown in Fig. 4 and is herei'nat'ter described. rThe `several complemental switch contacts are independently connected electrically with the windings of the several electro-magnets lto which the branches 9 lead. The. wires making such connections are gathered into a cable 10.

kept permanently supplied with compressed air from a bellows or other compressor. A pipe Vor conduit for conducting the coinpressed air to the chest is indicated at 13.V

In the chest pneumatic m/otors 14s, there being a' series of suoli motors from two to eight or more, and all alike infrespect to the power and extent of motion which theycan produce. similar to bellows having a. rigid top 15,

.which is secured to the top of the wind box,l and a movable bottom 16 exposed to the pressure of air in the wind box. The top and bottom of each bellows are connected by `'flexible sides which permit-movement of the bottom'. From the interior of each motor extends a passage 17 from which outlets lead respectively to a windway 1S continuously in communication with the wind box, and to the outer air. These outlets are controlled by valves 19 and 2O respectively. Each of themetors'is governed in its action by an electro-magnet 21, which, through its armature- 22 and pneumatic 23, valve. 24C and pneumatic 25, actuates the valves 19 and 20 in a manner well-known in the art, so as to close either the valve 19 or the valve 2O and simultaneously open the other, according as the magnet circuit is. opened or closed. rlhe magnets 21 for the motors are those previously referred to asbeing in circuit with the battery 7 and the switch contacts Fig. 1- illustrates the normal positions of the motors whether the chest is' full'of wind or when-the organ is entirely fat rest. 1n other words the positions of the motors do not change except when the circuits are closed by the switch 4.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 26 represents the swell `shutter which is shown as closed inl F ies. 1

lent'thereot, which tends to draw it downward. The wire or rod 30, which, for con.- venicnce ot' description, I mayaeter to as is connected with all of the motors means ol a system of bars or floating 32, and 34. rl`he tie is'connected at the middle of the bar 32, which at its i middle of bars 34.

In form each of such motors isv ends is suspended flexibly from the middle ot two bars 35,' and the latter .at their ends being suspended in like manner from the Each of the last-named bars is in like maiinerconnected flexibly with two of the motors. Thus it'will be seen that these tloating levers act as equa-lizers. Thetie 30 passes through an opening 35 iii the bottom of theehest 12, from'which escape of air is prevented by apacking 36 ol' a. character commonin this art.

From the foregoing git -Will be seen that i the movement of all of the motors simultaiieously through theirjgtull extent gives the inaximumniovement t'o the tie, and consequently to the swell sl'iiitter, vwhile independent movement in one of the motors gives only a ractional part of such movement to the tie. is the number of motors employed. As here shown there are eight motors, but in practice I contemplate using twice as many, arranged in the Wind box and connected together by` an additional barr similar tothe bar below the box from which the tie 30 is suspended. I have only shown one set of eight such motors with the connections, because such showing suiliciently illustrates the principle of the invention, and also to simplify the drawings.

A study of the system of bars and their connections Will make 'it-clear that the movement of any one of the motors is equal to the total movement ofthe perpendicular tie, and it follows that if there are eight motors, each one' of them will bear one-eighth of the load; il sixteen, which is usual in practice, each motor will'bear one-sixteenth of the load. AIt should also be clear that a sudden movement of the shutter from one extreme position to another voccasions Ano greater load on anyone of the mo-tors than a lesser movement, since a variation in the speed or extent of the movement of the shutter means only the 4employment ot a .greater or less number of motors for the purpose.

Fig. '8 shows one of the motors collapsed, and the effect of its movement indicated on the scale opposite the perpendicular tie, e. it has raised' said tie one-eighth the total distance.

Fig. 7 shows three of the motors collapsed, and the position assumed by bars inraising the perpendicular tie three eighths its total movement. In mechanism designed for this purpose, it is customary to use an open circuit 'system` of elect-rie contacts and wirn ing, the circuits beingcompleted at Contact lever el by the usual on and oli' contacts, and automatically broken at the pneumatic mechanism operating the swell shutters.` ln the device herein described 'the circuits are alw 'ys complete at the mechanism controlling the shutter, the make-and-break being.

The denominator ot such' tractionA shutter 26 closed as illustrated in Fig. 1. I'f the foot piece 1 be now depressed', 'a resulting e lowering of contact piece 4 will lta'li'e place i" and one of the contacts 5 will be closed, one

4eliminating a great amount of troublesome complication.

is entirely open.

-the passages e, 38 and -the atmosphere, andthe greater fluid'pges sure in chamber 12 causes the -bell'ows to made' only at contact points, 4 and 5, thereby l The operation is as follows: The motors serve to close the shutter,t`he weightior spring 31 to open the'1'n. Thus when the organ is not-.iin use 'the saidlweight or spring holds all of the motors expanded and the shutters 26 open. lWhen the organ is in use,'howe'ver, and the magnets are all de- 4energized, the pressure of the Huid entering box 12 through pipe 13 maintainsa'l'l 'the motors 14 in a collapsed condition and tlie of magnets 21 will be energized. Referring tol Fig. 9' itwill be seen that when magnet 21 is energized, the armature A37, which also acts. asa valve is drawn so as to uncover passage a and cover assa'ge 'hfthereby 'pl'aoy ing the chamber on t' e right of diaphragm 23 in communication with 'the atmosphere through passages a, b and 0. The fluid' presy sure in chamber Z being greater 'than atmospheric pressure, thev diaphragm 23 is moved to the right just as soon as t 'e passage ais opened. This movement causes the valve 24' to uncover passage f and cover passage e., The chamber to the left of diaphragm 245i is thus opened to 'the atmosphere through. passagej, 38 and g, 'whereupon 't'he pressure in chamber d causes diaphragm 25 to Inove to the left unseatin'g val've 19` and seating valve 20. The pressurefffrom 'chamber di' 'then enters the bellows 14S-'through 'passage 17. The internalv .and external pressures on' the Vbellows then being equal, the weight or spring 31 ac'ts V,to open the bello'v'vs,y and` shutter 26 will accordingly' be opened; one e1 hth its traveling distance; a I fur# ther epression o'f contact piece 4;' frei sul-ts in a similar operation'of the remaining i motors, until all are inila'ted and' the Shutter When tue 'magnet 21 denergized the pressure in chamber' l causes the armature tov close' ,passage a, and open passage 11,Wher'eu'ponthevuid underqiressure inchamber d' passes 'through passages It, and c to the right side of -dlia-4 phragm 23, moving the latter to 'the letI,I causingnthe valve 24 to close passage an open passage e.

This permits the under pressure in chamber l to pass through gto the of `dia-g phragm 25, moving the lla'titerr't'o 'the ri tl to close valve 19 and open 'valve 20C heinterior of the bellows' 14' -is thus 'opened to collapse, effecting a corresponding closing movement of the shutter. o

1. An/electropneunatic swell pedala/ction,

comprising a set of motors 14, a bar :irranged transversely to the direction ott motion Caused by said motors, common to said set of motors and connected thereto, one extremity to each motor, a swell shutter having sections arranged lto/move collectively, and connecting means engaged with an in- 4tei'niefliate point of said bar, and connecting said bar to said shutter substantially as described.'

` '2. An electropneu'matic swell pedal action comprising a group lof motors, a group of of motion produced bythe motors, certain of such bars being' connec'tedfn'ca'r their ends with 'certain of the motors, and another being connected near its ends with intermebars, vextending ytransversely of the direction Adiate points on the first bars, a swell shutter provided with a series of sections connected to move together, and a tie ,connecting said shutter to the last-named of said bars, suo

stantiallyas set forth.

3 'An electropneumatic swell pedal action 'cornrising a swell shutter, a i group. of motors, connecting means engaged with all of said motors at once a'nd with said shutter, lmagnets, pneumatics and valves controlling th'e motors independently, a group 'of -contact-s each connected in circuit with one 'off the magnets, and a Contact piece in circuit with the magnets adapted to engage with said contacts, substantially as described.

4. An v'elec'tropneuinatie. swell pedal action comprising al plurality of parallel circuits each -provided with contacts, a contact vpiece arranged to successively engage said contacts to complete 'the circuits, magnets arranged in the respective circuits, a group of motors controlled' independently' oi' each ,other by said magnets, a swell shutter, motor equalizing .mechanism connected with all the motors,` anda vtie connecting said equalizing mechanism with said shutter.

5., pneumatic's'well pedall action comprising a fswe'll shutter, a group of motors, pneumatic means for independently controlling said motors, 'and a group of bars, connected to each other, and to the motors, meais for connecting said bars to said shuttei j `to 'move the `latter 'in response to move A ments 'produced' by said motors, and' a weight connected' to said bars and acting in" opposition 'to -the pressure Within said motors.

e. 'an .eieetrepneamscc Swen: een action y comprising a wind-box, a grou' go'f' motors, atie-rod issuing' from said wi'nfl'boz, and' a 'flexible 'packing sleeve surrounding said tie rod 'in ai'rt'ight' connection therewith and with "the wind' bex swell shutterfeoneeted with said tie'iro ,and means 4for connecting vsaid tie-rod' `and' moti-ors, said means including. levers forglxcausing theextent of l movement of the tie-,

be inzfproportion l plicate pneumaticmotors, an electro-niaga plurality of magnets, pncumatics and arately, connections from said motors. to

.levers at the .middle points of the latter, a

nently in electrical connection with one of to the number one time. y i

7. An .organ swell action comprising a swell shutter, a plurality of duplicate niotors, means for' energizing the motors sepof motors in 'ooeration at an i 3 saidVA shutter, lsaid connections including means' )r varying the extent of movement of the shutter in proportion to the number of motorsin use at any one time.

8. An electropneumatic organ swell action, comprising a plurality of separate duvnetic" control for each mot-or, switch contacts in circuit separately with the several controls, a.- complemental switch member arranged to be successively brought into and out ot' contact with said contacts, to close and open the circuits of the control and operate the ino! tors successively, a swell shutter, lioating levers each. connected at its 'opposite ends to two motors, a further floating lever connected at its ends'with two of the first-named third lever connected with the second lever at the middle point thereof, and a tie connected with the lever at the middle point thereof, and with the shutter, whereby movement oi all the motors gives the shutter its maximum movement, and movement of one or more of the motors, less than all, proportionately varies the extent et' .movement of the shutter.

9. An organ swell action, comprising a swell shutter, a plurality of motors, means for energizing the motors in succession cumulatively, and connecting meansbetween the several motors and the' shutter, said connect-ing means including means for causing the distance the shutter opens to vary in accordance with the number of motors intlated.

10. An electropneumatic swell pedal action, comprising a swell shutter, a group of motors, connecting means engaged with all of said motors at once and with said shutter,

valves controlling the motors independently, a plurality of contacts, each being permasaid magnets, and a complemental contact member in electrical connection'with all of said magnets and .arranged to be successively brought into 'contact with all of the lirst named contacts.

1].. An electropneumatic swell .pedal action, comprising a swell shutter, yielding means tending constantly1 to open said shutter, a group of motors and connecting means engaged with all of said motors at once and with said shutter, electro-magnetic means for 'causing operation of the motors in opiosltion to the action of said yielding means,

Copies of this patent maybe obte-.ined for are inve,

and separable contacts in electrical connection with the 4several electro-magnetic means, said electro magnetic means being arranged to cause operation of the motors when the circuits are closed.

12. An apparatusl of the character dei greater than atmospheric, and separable con- V,

tacts-in constant connection with 4the several magnets, the magnets and the controlling valves operated thereby being so arranged as 'to close the communication of the shutters with the atmosphere and open that with the source of air under pressure When the magnet circuits are closed, whereby the shutter is caused to open upon closing of the magnet circuits.

13. An electropneumatic swell pedal action comprising a pressure chamber, collapsible motors located therein, mechanical means acting normally vto expand said niotors, means for introducing 'luid under pressure into said chamber, said iluid acting n ormally to collapse said motors in opposition to said mechanical expanding means, means for introducing fluid from said chamber into said motors to equalize the pressure, and

swell shutters operatively connected with' said motors.

14. Anelectropneumatic swell pedalaction comprisinga pressure cliau1bei', collapsible motors located therein, mechanical means actingnormally to expand said motors, means for introducing Huid under pressure into said chamber, said Huid actingnormallv yto collapsel said motors in opposition to said mechanical expanding means, means for introducing fluid from said chamber into said motors to equalize the pressure, a swell shutter, end equalizing mechanism connectinv said shutter with said motors to cause said shutter to move a distance equal in proportion to the movement of all of the motors in operation at any one time.

In testimony whereof l have aiiixed my signature, in presence of tivo witnesses.

` ERNEST M; SKlNNER. llitnesses:

A. H. BROWN, l?. lll'. Pnzzmrr.

by aearessng the Commissioner of Patents. "1 9

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