US1104164A - Range-extending device for pneumatic piano-player action. - Google Patents

Description

E. G. CLARK.

RANGE EXTENDING DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC PIANO PLAYER ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1913.

Patented July 21, 1914,

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E. G. CLARK. RANGE EXTENDING DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC PIANO PLAYER ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14,1913.

1, 1 04;, 1 64, Patented July 21, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST G. CLARK, OF DE KALB, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MELVILLE CLARK PIANO COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RANGE-EXTENDING DEVIOE FOR PNEUMATIC PIANO-PLAYER ACTION.

forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a device by means of which it shall be possible to play music over the whole range of the eighty-eight notes of the piano by means of a tracker and perforated note sheet whose range covers only a portion,-as, for example, sixty-five notes,-of the piano.

It consists of the elements and features of construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings :-Figure l is a vertical fore-and-aft section of aportion of a piano containing a pneumatic action embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the tracker, duct board and pneumatic action shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section at the line 3--3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a section at the line l 1t on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the tracker with a note sheet mounted thereon for traveling thereover, having features for'operating according to this invention.

It is well known that in automatic piano players employing a perforated note sheet, it has been common to make the tracker and note sheet with a range for playing a limited part only of the full range of the piano,- usually about sixty-five out of the entire eight-eight notes of the instrument. It is also well known that a certain class of autonatic piano-playing instruments which are constructed for playing solo and accompaniment by means of separate pneumatic actions controlled by independent sets of perforations in the note sheet, in order to avoid excessive width of the note sheet which would otherwise result from making said sheet with a double set of perforations, usually have each set, instead of comprising the entire number of perforations corresponding to the eighty-eight notes of the piano, consisting of only a portion,usually sixtythree,-out of the entire number, this limited number being suflicient for solo, and being fairly adequate for most purposes of ac- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 14, 1913.

Patented July 21, 1914. Serial No. 778,835.

companiment. It is well understood that in cutting the note sheets for such instruments, when the accompaniment of the composition runs beyond the range of the sixty or seventy notes which are connected with the tracker for playing by such note sheets, the arranger is obliged to rearrange the portions which run above or below the notes which can be played, so as to play them an octave lower than they are written in the composition, or to otherwise modify the composition so as to produce as nearly as possible the desired effect without using notes above or below the range of the note sheet and tracker of the instrument. While this method is satisfactory for the great majority of musical compositions, it is not entirely so, and results in very undesirable mutilation of some compositions in which the notes above and below the limited range of the note sheet constitute the special characteristic of the com position. The nearest approach to compensation for this defect which has heretofore been employed consists in providing pneumatic action for the entire eighty-eight notes, and adding an ordinary octave-coupling device, by means of which the notes cut in the note sheet an octave higher or lower than they are written in the compo sition, are played, not only at the positions at which they are cut, but also at the positions at which they are written in the composition. In many instances, this defeats the artistic eifect intended by the composer, especially when the notes written and subject to this modification are in the higher octave for which the note sheet is not adequate, and which are intended to produce a very light or bird-like effect by being thus played in the high octave, this effect being defeated by the simultaneous speaking of the notes an octave lower.

The purpose of this invention is to ac complish the result of playing the notes in the octaves beyond the normal range of the note sheet without the simultaneous playing of the notes an octave higher or lower within the range of the note sheet. For this purpose, the invention consists in providing means by which the ducts of the tracker which are to be employed for playing notes beyond the playing range of the tracker or beyond the playing range of the note sheet which is to cooperate with the tracker, are connected with the pneumatics for playing the notes which are beyond the range of the note sheet, as well as with the pneumatics to which they normally correspond, and devices which shift the connection of the tracker ducts from the one to the other of the pneumatics with which they are arranged to communicate, and providing other ducts in the tracker which lead to pneumatic devices for operating these shift devices, the note sheet being provided with apertures corresponding to these last-mentioned ducts, said apertures being positioned sufiiciently in advance of the apertures for playing the notes beyond the range of the note sheet, so that said shift-operating pneumatics will be brought into action and the shift made just before the note-playing apertures reach their tracker ducts, the tracker having other ducts and the note sheet having apertures to cooperate with them for reversely operating the pneumatics to replace the devices in position for the ordinary communication of the tracker duets with the respective noteplaying pneumatics.

There is shown in Fig. 1 a pneumatic action which, except as to the special features constituting this invention, is of familiar type, comprising motor pneumatics, 1, controlled by primary pneumatics, 2, in the pneumatic chamber, 5. i

There is shown in the drawings a part of a tracker, 3, comprising only sixty-four note-sounding ducts 5 with air connections to sixty-four corresponding pneumatics; but the pneumatic action is shown comprising the entire number of eighty-eight pneumatics for playing the notes of the entire range of the instrument. It will be understood that the tracker may comprise any additional number of ducts, either for playing directly an additional number of notes within the range of the instrument, or for any other purpose for which such additional ducts are employed in any of the known types of automatic players, as in the usual eighty-eight note player, or in the solo and accompaniment players; but the special feature of the present invention relates only to the sixty-four ducts, and for this reason, no more are represented, and no more of the note sheet is shown than is utilized by means of the sixty-four ducts shown. The sixty-four ducts of the tracker which are shown are connected for playing by means of the eighty-eight pneumaties, but a certain number-as illustrated, thirtyeight,of the upper or treble end of the group of said sixty-four ducts, and a certain number,as illustrated, twelve,at the lower or bass end of that group are connected each with two pneumatics of the pneumatic act-ion. for playing alternatively the notes corresponding to either one of the two. These double connections at the base and treble ends are precisely similar, except as to the number thus connected and the octave distances between the two connections. The tubes, 10 and 11, from the two end groups of the sixty-four tracker ducts shown lead to ducts, 12, in a duct board, 13, each duct opening at one surface of said board in an elongated mouth, 12, adjacent to which are the mouths, 14 and 15, of ducts, 14 and 15, which lead down to the same edge of the duct board at which the tube, 11, is connected to the duct, 12. From the duct, 14, or tube, 16, which constitutes the air connection to the primary pneumatic corresponding to the tracker duct with which the said duct, 12, is connected, and from the duct, 15, a tube, 17, constitutes the air connection from the same tracker duct to a primary pneumatic one octave higher in respect to the treble group and one octave lower in respect to the bass group than those to which the tracker ducts respectively correspond. A middle group of the tubes, 9, from the tracker, 3, lead directly to the corresponding pneumaties in the primary pneumatic chamber, 5, for playing a corresponding fiddle group of notes of the piano.

For connecting the ducts, 12, alternatively with the ducts, 14 and 15, to cause them to lead alternatively to the pneumatics which correspond to the tracker duets with which said ducts, 12, respectively are connected, or to the pneumatics one octave lower or higher, there is mounted on the duct board, 13, for each of the ducts, 12, a valve device, 18, which is pivoted for oscillating through a small angle and has one end covering all three of the duct months, 12 14 and 15, and. having in the face which thus covers them a recess, 18, which is elongated transversely of the elongation of the mouth at 12, so as to lap at one end upon said elongated mouth, 12, and at the other end upon either of the months, 14 or 15 the range of its oscillation being only suflicient to carry the last-mentioned end of said elongated recess, 18, from a position lapping on one of the months, 14, 15, to a position lapping on the other of said months, the other end of said recess, 18, in said movement traversing only the length of the elongated mouth, 12, and remaining at all times lapping thereon. All of the valve devices, 18, of both of the groups for treble and bass, respectively, are connected by an operating rod, 19, for simultaneous movement from one of the two positions described to the other.

lVith the structure thus far described, it will be understood that when the valve devices, 18, are adjusted for what may be called the normal communication,that is, for connecting the tracker duets with the ducts, 14, and thereby with the pneumatics corresponding directly to said tracker ducts, respectively, the note-sheet traveling over the tracker can cause notes to be sounded .1 in the portion of the sheet corresponding 'to the next to the lowest octave at the bass -both the notes be sounded.

end, instead of causing these notes to be played will cause the playing of notes one octave lower down, and that in no case will That is to say,

when the valve devices are adjusted for playing normally,that is, for playing the notes directly corresponding to the perforations of the note sheet, -the notes one octave higher or one octave lower will not be played by those perforations; and when said valve devices are-adjusted for playing said notes one octave higher or lower than the perforations, the directly corresponding .notes will not be played by those perforations. Consequently, when the musical composition contains notes beyond the range of said middle group of sixty-four notes, or a run or phrase partly within and partly beyond that range, the arranger will cut perforations for such notes or such runs or phrases which are, or which extend, beyond said range at the upper or treble end, in the position as if they were to be played one octave lower; and as to the notes he yond the range of the note sheet at the bass end, he will cut the perforations in the positions as if the notes were to be played one octavehigher. The arranger will, in that case, cut perforations in the note sheet as hereinafter described for causing theshifting of the valve devices, 18, just before these notes which are to be played higher or lower than the position at which they are to be out are to be played, and will thereby cause them to be sounded, as to the treble notes, one octave higher up, and as to the bass notes, one octave lower down, than would be indicated by the positions at which the apertures are ut.

For shifting the valve devices, 18, there are provided two motor pneumatics, 20 and 21, at the upper or treble end of the instrument, and two similar motor pneumatics, 22 and 23, at the lower or bass. end. Both motor pneumatics at each end are connected to the valve devices, 18, of the set at that end, one of said pneumatics of each pair being so connected for moving the valve devices of the set in one direction, and the other pneumatic of each pair being connected for moving them in the other direction, this being most conveniently accomplished by mounting the two motor pneumatics of each pair in reverse position and connecting the moving members of both directly with the connecting rod, 25, which is connected to all the valve devices of the set. For controlling these motor pneumatics, tour ducts, 3 of the tracker and four primary pneumatics in the primary pneumatic chamber are appropriated, the primary pneumatics having the chambers of the valves which they control, respectively, connected by tubes, 25, with the respective motor pneumatics; and an area of the note sheet corresponding to the position of the tracker ducts so appropriated is devoted to perfora ions for automatically controlling the action of the slide-operating pneumatics. In the particular instrument with respect to which this instrument has been designed, there are customarily what is called a blind area in the tracker comprising two ducts at each end of the middle portion of the tracker which is connected for playing the accompaniment, and between that area and the two end areas which are devoted to playing solo, these blind areas being the result of provision for transposition by moving the-tracker. It is convenient, dispensing with the use of the transposing expedient, to utilize the ducts, 3 in these socalled blind areas and the primaries corre sponding to them for controlling the slideoperating pneumatics; and in the corresponding areas of the note sheet, there are cut apertures, 30, for automatically controlling the operation. The note sheet is represented as having apertures numbered. from 31 to as, inclusive, for playing a run through an entire octave, the range of the run being'partly below and partly above the limit of the sixty-four middle roup of notes constituting the ordinary range of the accompaniment. Heretotore, in such cases,

it has been customary to revise the compos1 tion in arranging perforated note sheets by shifting such run to position one octave lower so that it could all be out within the range of the note sheet, and in that case it would all be played one octave lower down than as originally composed; that is, the playing as well as the cuttingwould be within the range of the note sheet. According to the present invention, the perforations 4 with the ducts, 15. so that when the first aperture, 31, reaches its duct in the tracker, and thereafter throughout the entire run the connections are such as to play the notes one octave higher up than they are written and cut. Similarly, for playing a run in the base portion which extends both sides of the lower limit of the note sheet, there are cut in the note sheet apertures, 45 to 57, inclusive, one octave higher up than they are written, the group being preceded by an aperture, 30, which causes the shifting of the rod, 19, for operating the valve devices, 18, at the bass end, resulting in the playing of the notes of this group an octave lower than they are cut.

The reason for providing the double connections described at the treble end over a range greater than the number of notes remaining beyond the range of the note sheet at the treble end (one octave being suflicient for this), is that in order to approximate the playing of music running beyond the limited middle range of sixty-four notes, heretofore the note sheets and the masters for them have been cut as above indicated,-with the perforations for the notes which were beyond this middle range one octave lower down than they are written; so as, for example, to transpose a run covering an entire octave partly below and partly above the upper limit of the note sheet range, the run would be reproduced through an entire octave lower down, although the lower half of that run being within the normal range of the note sheet could have been cut so as to be played as originally composed and writ ten. But since this would have necessitated either omitting the upper half of the run or changing the musical effect by transposing that part alone to a different position lower down, the method above indicated has been adopted. For a similar reason, musical phrases other than runs, when their range exceeded the range of the note sheet, have been customarily transposed bodily to a lower octave, even though a part of the phrase being within the range of the sixtyfour notes could have been cut to be played as written. In order that these previously cut note sheets and the masters for them may still be serviceable for playing and cutting note sheets for playing, on the instruments made according to this invention, it is necessary to construct the mechanism for carrying over the entire phrase or run from the position in which it is cut to the higher or lower place where it is to be sounded; and since such runs or phrases heretofore cut to be played an octave low or an octave high frequently commence at a point such that an octave change puts them below middle C, and run up beyond the limit of the sixtyfour note range, it is necessary that the provisions in question should cover this cominstrument equipped with this invention is competent to be played with note sheets cut in the previous manner, while at the same time it can be played with the note sheets cut in accordance with this invention; also, the masters used for cutting the previouslyused note sheets in which runs and phrases such as indicated are arranged to be played an octave lower than written, can be used for cutting note sheets adapted to be operated in accordance with this invention, by merely adding the perforations, 30 and 30, atthe proper place; and the note sheets cut in accordance with this invention can be used on the former instruments which are not so equipped with the same effect as the note sheets cut for said former instruments.

In order to cause each of the rods, 25, and the valve devices connected to it to stand in positions to which they are moved upon the energizing of one of the pneumatics of the pair with which the rod is connected until the other pneumatic of the pair is energized to reverse the position, the two pneumatics, 20 and 21, are normally adapted, as nearly as possible, to have their moving members stand in any position in which they are placed; that is, the flexible walls of the pneumatics are sufficiently pliable so as to exert no spring reaction upon the moving members. From this it results that when either pneumatic is energized and collapsed, and thereby caused to move the rod in one direction, the rod carries the moving members of the other pneumatic freely to the most expanded position, and both pneumatics remain thus,that is, the first collapsed and the other expanded,until the expanded pneumatic is energized and in turn collapsed, reversing the positions of both.

I claim 1. In an automatic piano-playing mechanism, in combination with a tracker and a pneumatic action; a duct bar containing ducts corresponding to a limited number of the tracker ducts and containing for each of said ducts a pair of ducts adapted to be alternately connected therewith; a valve device for effecting such alternative connections; tubes from the tracker ducts to the first-mentioned ducts of the duct bar; tubes from one of the ducts of each pair leading to the pneumatics corresponding directly to the limited number of tracker ducts, and tubes from the other ducts of the respective pairs leading to pneumatics chromatically distant a predetermined number of steps from the first-mentioned pneumatics, and means for moving said valve device to shift said connections.

2. In an automatic piano-playing mechanism, in combination with a tracker and a pneumatic action, a duct bar containing ducts corresponding to a limited number of pass. This construction being provided, an

tracker ducts and connected therewith respectively, and containing also for each of said ducts a pair of ducts adapted to be alternatively connected with said first-mentioned ducts; valves mounted on the duct bar for effecting such alternative connections; tubes from one of the ducts of each pair leading to the pneumatics corresponding directly to the limited number of tracker ducts and tubes from the other ducts of the respective pairs leading to the pneumati-cs chromatically distant a predetermined number of steps from the firstmentioned pneumatics; a motor pneumatic and mechanical connections by which it operates said valves to shift said connections.

In an automatic piano-playing mechanism, incombination with a tracker and a pneumatic action, a duct bar containing ducts corresponding to a limited number of tracker ducts and connected therewith respectively, and containing also for each of said ducts a pair of ducts adapted to be alternatively connected with said first-mentioned ducts; valves mounted on the duct bar for effecting such alternative connections; tubes from one of the ducts of each pair leading to the pneumatics corresponding directly to the limited number of tracker ducts and tubes from the other ducts of the respective pairs leading to the pneumatics chromatically distant a predetermined number of steps from the first-mentioned pneumatics; motor pneumatics and connections therefrom to said valves for actuating them respectively in opposite directions to shift said connections, and primary pneumatics which control said motor pneumatics.

4:. In an automatic piano-playing mechanism, in combination with a tracker, a note sheet and a pneumatic action, a duct bar containing ducts corresponding to a limited number of tracker ducts and connected therewith respectively, and containing also for each of said ducts a pair of ducts adapted to be alternatively connected with said first-mentioned ducts; valves mounted on the duct bar for effecting such alternative connections; tubes from one of the ducts of each pair leading to the pneumatics corresponding directly to the limited number of tracker ducts, and tubes from the other ducts of the respective pairs leading to the pneumatics chromatically distant a predetermined number of steps from the firstmentioned pneumatics; motor pneumatics and connections therefrom to said valves for actuating them respectively in opposite directions to shift said connections, and primary pneumatics which control said motor pneumatics, the tracker having ducts for controlling said primary pneumatics, and the note sheet having apertures for cooperating with said ducts.

5,, In an automatic piano-playing mocha nism, in combination with a tracker and a pneumatic action, a duct bar having ducts for connection with a limited number of tracker ducts, respectively, each opening at one surface of the duct bar in an elongated mouth, and a pair of ducts adjacent to each of the first-mentioned ducts opening at said surface in mouths positioned in a line alongside said elongated mouth; a valve device for each of said first-mentioned ducts which covers all three of said mouths having a recess elongated transversely of said elongated mouth and lapping at one end thereon and at the other end on one of the other mouths and movable to shift the last-mentioned lap from one to the other of said other mouths, and means for moving said valve device.

6. In an automatic piano-playing mechanism, in combination with a tracker and a pneumatic action, a duct bar having ducts for connection with a limited number of tracker ducts, respectively, each opening at one surface of the duct bar in an elongated mouth, and a pair of ducts adjacent to each of the first-mentioned ducts'opening at said surface in mouths positioned in a line alongside said elongated mouth; a valve device for each of said first-mentioned ducts which covers all three of said mouths having a recess elongated transversely of said elongated mouth and lapping at one end thereon, and at the other end on one of the other mouths and movable to shift the last-mentioned lap from one to the other of said other mouths, each of said valve devices consisting of a bar pivotally mounted on the duct bar and spring-pressed at its pivot to hold its valve face seated; a connecting rod to which said valve devices are pivotally connected, and means for moving said connecting rod to operate the valve devices simultaneously 7. In an automatic piano-playing mechanism, in combination with a tracker, a note sheet and a pneumatic action, a duct bar having ducts for connection with a limited number of tracker ducts, respectively, each opening at one surface of the duct bar in an elongated mouth, and a pair of ducts adjacent to each of the first-mentioned ducts opening at said surface in mouths positioned in line alongside said elongated mouth; a valve device for each of said first-mentioned ducts which covers all three of said mouths having a recess elongated transversely of said elongated mouth and lapping at one end thereon and at the other end on one of the other mouths and movable to shift the last-mentioned lap from one to the other of said mouths, each of said valve devices con sisting of a bar pivotally mounted on the duct bar and spring-pressed at its pivot to hold its valve face seated; a connecting rod to which said valve devices are pivotally connected; two pneumaties connected with.

said connecting rod for operating the same in opposite directions, the trackers having ducts for controlling said pneumatics, and the note sheet having apertures for controlling said ducts.

8. In an automatic piano-playing mecha nism, in combination with a tracker and a pneumatic action, a duct bar having ducts for connection with a limited number of tracker ducts respectively, each opening at one surface of the duct bar in an elongated mouth, and a pair of ducts adjacent to each of the first-mentioned ducts opening at said surface in mouths positioned in a line alongside said elongated mouth; a valve device for each of said first-mentioned ducts which covers all three of said mouths having a recess elongated transversely of said elongated mouth and lapping at one end thereon and at the other end on one of the other mouths and movable to shift the lastinentioned lap from one to the other of said mouths each of said valve devices consisting of a bar pivotally mounted on the duct bar; an operating rod to Which the valve devices are connected, and means for moving said operating rod.

9. In an automatic piano-playing mechanism, in combination with a tracker, a note sheet and a pneumatic action, a duct bar cent to each of the first-mentioned ducts opening at said surface in mouths positioned in a line alongside said elongated mouth; a valve device for each of said first-mentioned ducts which covers all three of said mouths having a recess elongated transversely of said elongated mouth and lapping at one end thereon and at the other end on one of the other mouths and movable to shift the last-mentioned lap from one to the other of said mouths, each of said valve devices consisting of a bar pivotally mounted on the duct bar; an operating rod to which the valve devices are connected; a pneumatic connected with said operating rod for moving it; a tracker having a duct for controlling said pneumatic, and the note sheet having an aperture for controlling said tracker duct.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, at De Kalb, Illinois, this 9 day of July 1913.

ERNEST G. CLARK. Witnesses J GEN I-IUrER'rs, HAZEL SANFORD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

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