US1170617A - Controlling mechanism for phrasing-bars. - Google Patents

Description

I C. W. DORRICOTT.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PHRASING BARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3.1912.

1,170,617. Patented Feb. 8, 19-16.

5 SHEE TS-SHEET I.

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fmr/efl/Zjornttt THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 0)., WASHINGTON, n. c.

c. w. DORRICOTT. CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PHRASING' BARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, I912 I I Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

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THE FPLUMBXA PLASIOFRAPH $20., \VVASHINGTON, D. c

G. W. DORRICOTT. CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PHRASINGFBARS. APPLICATION r1120 JULY 3. 1912.

} ww'w 'a c. w. DORRICOTT CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PHRASING BARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3. 1912.

- Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

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i it known that 1, .CHARLES Controlling .Mechanisin for f UNITED STATES I IATE OFFICE L "n'mrco'mxor man'rrnrnm; rnnnsyLvanm, 'ASSIGNOR T EIJEC- 1mm: "conrmuw,"'o'r zmrnn nmirnm; .rEnnsYLvn-NIA, A CORPORATION or immngvnmn.

mncH-nmsn' won rnimsmc rnns.

. speoinoation of reen s ment- P-aten bed Fieb. '8, 1916.

.mmatmnmed s, 191a. serial n. ?,524

. nom- 0TT.,.a citizenof ithe United States, residingat Philadelpl-iia, inithe countyof. Philadelphia and ,State .ofPennsylvania, have. in-

vented new and useful lmpnovementsin hrasing-Bars, of wh ch the followingzisa specification invention relatesto controlling mech- :anism for manipulatingphrasin'gbars employed in musical instruments. While my invent n is l-for general useit i flp Cia1ly ada ted for operating flexible parts. Figure 1 is a andflcompos-ite phrasing bars employed in upright and grand pianos, whether adapted forfmanual playing, automatic playing, or oth hand and automat-icplaying.

More particularly stated I seek to control various portions or sections of a composite phrasing bar by aid .ofthe improved levers of my zinventionin such manner as to give theoperator a wider rangev of control over the phrasing bar, and to-enable'him tolock the various movable portions of the phrasingibar in predetermined fixed positions at wi Myinvention also relates to-the construction {and operation of expression levers used for handlin the phrasing bar, soas to improve the e ciency of such levers andparts immediately associated therewith.

invention further relates to means for improving the efliciency of the various carts and connections more or less related 35 .0 the expression mechanism for instruments. p a I a Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, and in which like letters indicate like fragmentary elevation shoW- ing my invention as applied to an upright piano. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary verticalpsection through an upright piano, and shows =thclocation of thephrasing'levers, thephrasthe magnet rail, and various other 7 ingbar, parts. Fig. 3 is a detail showing in elevation the phrasing levers as. adjusted by and for varying the expression. Fig. 4' is a horizontal section showing the expression levers as folded back into normal or inactive position. Fig. '5 is a detail showing in section three of the rocking levers used for handling the phrasing' bar, and also showing parts associated with said rocking levers. Fig.6 is a detail showing theconstnuction of :one of the brackets. -Fig. 7 vis a deta l .showinghow all of the phrasing levers may as a unit be locked in any desired predetermined. relative position. Fig. 8 -1s asection on the line 17-17 of Fig. 7

lookirrgin'the direction of the arrow. 7 Fig.

v 9 :a detail showing in elevation an eccen-- trio used for actuating the locking mechanism shownin Figs. i7 and 8. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section through a grand piano equipped with .my improved controlling mechanism, and also with my improved device for rendering the expression .mechanism inactive in order that the vpiano may be played by hand. Fig. 11 is a section on the line 20.20 of Fig. 10, looking in the a direction of the arrow.

The casing of an upright piano is shown in position by aid of bolts 28. Mounted upon the brackets 27 is a magnet bar 29. Supported upon this magnet bar are two brackets 30, and securedvto these brackets is a stationary shaft Bl.

Journaledupon shaft 31 are three bell crank levers'32, 33, and 34, and connected with these bell crank levers are three connecting rods 35, 36 and 37 which are, in this instance, made of tough, heavy wire. These rods are severally connected with expression levers 88, 39,40, thetform of which may be readily understood from Figs. 3 and 4.

Each expression lever is-prov ided at it forward end with clips4l, 42, 43, each clip consisting of. a pair of outstanding parallellips between whichYnorma'lly lies an 'extended foldable portion of the lever as will be explained hereinafter. Pivotally mount- 1 ed uponthe forward end of each of the levers 38, 39 and 40 are foldablesecti'ons 44, 45, 46, which carry finger pieces 47, 48, and

' 49, that extend out in front of the key-board 'the' finger-pi'eces being made preferably of hard rubber. Each section 44, 45,46, m vided at its pivotal end with a curved portion (see Fig. 3) integral with it, and

"adapted .to'serVe the'purpose of a camfo r holding the lever in a definite depressed position when the sectionsare folded downward, as shown in Fig. Each section 44,

45, 46 ispivotally connected to its-; correspondingle ver 38, 39,40,by aid of a bolt 51 carried by the lever, andextending loosely through the section encircling each bolt 51 is a'spiral' spring 52 which maintainsa gentlepressure against the adjacent section,- i forcing it betweenthe; parallel lips or clips of'the co'rresponding lever'to hold the sec:

tions in" locked position, "but permitting lateral movement oftheseetions 44, 45,46, to free them'from locking engagement with "their clips. .The operator by grasping one' of the finger-pieces 47y48 or 49 and impartinga' slight lateral and. sidewise movement thereto, which takesiit from between "the parallel lips before referred'to, may turn thecorresponding section 44, 45, or 46 upon its pivot 'formed by its bolt-"51, and, by so doing may bringthe corresponding cam-like portion '50 (see Fig. '3)" into either of the 1 positions shown. Thev levers 38, 39 '40 are pivotally journaled upon a bearing '53as willbe understood-from Figs. 2 and 4 and swing upon their respective pivotal. supi ports as centers. The levers extend through ablock 54,.which is provided with slots for this purpose, the several slots being fitted with feltlinings 55, The block 54 is disposed upon the underside of the key bed56.

A block 57 having more or less resemblance to the block 54 is similarly providedwith slots which are fitt'edwith'lin'in'gs 58 of' 'felt, through which the levers 38, 39, 40 extend. The block 57 is mountedrigi'dly upon a slide 59, the latter'being fitted into a slide-way 60 carried by 'a' plate 61 as will be understood from Fig. 9. The plate '61 is provided with, a lug 62 integral with it and serving as a bearings Extending through this hearing is i a revoluble shaft 63carrying an eccentric 64.

The shaft 63 extends through another bearing 65, and is provided at'its outeror free end with a handle- 66. 1 The operator by graspingthe handle 66and'turning it causes the shaft 63 and eccentric64toturn, so that the eccentricis forced against the adjacent end of the block 57.. As the levers 38', 3,9 40 extend through this block, and through the block54 which'is fixed, as indicated in Figs.

Sand 9,;the movement 'of the' block 57 relatively. tothe block 54 locks'the levers 37, 38,

39, 40 such respective positions as, they happen for the moment to occupy. Asmay readily be'seen from thejforegoing descrip tion, therefore,1the expression flevers 38, 39,-

, 40 may' not only be depressed by hand to any desired extent within reasonablelimits, but they may be held individually in the of which the'hammersma 67 integral with it. Another bra cket 68zis arms67 and the bracket 68 aremountedj two rocking j shafts 69, 70,: in alinement with i each other. Another rocking shaft 71, par-1 allel with'the shafts just mentioned, is ournaledin the arms 67. ,Mounted rigidly upon 5 larly uponfthe shaft arm 'Springs 7 3' are connected with the: arms fthe shaft 69 is an.arm"72;*andrmounted simi 72 and extend therefrom; i: being connected "shaft 7.0, and the shaft ;71 carries a. straight i arm 77 The'curv'ature of tl'1e, arms 75, 76 1 by aid'of holes 74" (see Fig; 5)fwiththefronlt f'portions of'zthe respectivebrackets. 3

ed -rigidly' upon the-shaft 69 isacurved'varm J I 75. A similar arm 76 "is mounted uponithe,

is such fas to bring their lower; ends. into substantially the same 'verticalplane "as the lower endof the armi 77, as will be under- ;stood from Fig. 2. arms 75am 7 (see Fig. 5) are by aid of connecting wires '78, V.

7 9 connected respectively with thebell' crank levers 32, 33,, eaohwire beingsimplyhookedr into theflowerend of the bell crankyleve'r as indicated in this figure. w ienever abelll crank lever is rocked in a clockwise direction 7 according to Fig. 5, the proper arm is' rocked {in the same direction.

Two flat bars80, 81 are mounted is "ends of the magnet rail 29', and at their .e 5 upper ends support the outerends, o f' the shafts 70, 69.', The power sh'aft82 sup- 3 ported by the lower ends of the bars 80, 81

being :journal'ed therein. 'Anumber; of arms 83,84, 85,86 and 87 a're supportedupon the t shafts 7,0, 71 and 69.")5Tl'1ese, areat their lower ends [connected to various hammer supporting sections 88,89, 90, 91" together forming a phrasing bar-through the medium and from the piano strings.

926A stationary hammer rest, having gen- A 'erallytheform of a lengthy bar, provided y be moved toward Th hammers of the piano are s owman with a" felted surface,is shown at 92 and' when thephrasing bar s movedout ofthe way,jfthehammers-inay engage the stationy mmerrest directly. The 's trings are shown at 93,ai1d the stringypl ate at 9'4." I;

a ThebraCketsBO (see Fig.2)-areiprevid a withprojecting portions 101?, and extending through these are screw, bolts 1 01 which: are jfittedwithj nut 'looksl01, The screw bolts .1 Ol? being adjusted andftigh tened the aid of the nut locks, the swing offtheiarmfs I 84, 85, 86, is limited to a 1 fedetermined angular position, andljthe phrasing bar is thus effectively provided with limiting stops for defining'its travel'towardthe 'rearof the strings. I The loudnessof, the sounds of the pianoisthus adjustable, for the' reason that the position of the phrasing bar controls the length of travel of the hammers toward the strings and consequently the loudness of the sounds. W hile, therefore, the expressionis"contr0llable thewill of the operbar sections to different positions of adjustator by the adjustment he gives to different portions of the phrasing bar, the limit of loudness, attainable by such control, is itself adjustable by the means just described.

The operation of themechanism shown in Figs. 1a 9 inclusive, maybe readily understood fromthe foregoing description. The operator swing the handles 47, 48, 49,

into either of several different positions and by" aid of these handles the various levers 38,39, 40 may be turned,"in different angular positions relative to the general position of the piano as will be understood from Fig. 3. 'When the handles a7, 48, 49, are swung downwardly and backward-1y to-their extreme positions beneaththe piano key bed as indicated in Fig. 4 alllparts of the phras T By aidof the handle 66, Ican turn the eccentric 66} and thus lock the various levers 88, 39 and 40, severally in any desired position and thusset the different sections of the phrasing bar todi-fferent positions of adjustment so that when the piano isbeing played automatically and withoutmanual assistance, certainexpression effects be had depending upon the adjusted positions of the different sections of the phrasing bar. Also'by reason of the cam extensions on theinner end'of each of the swinging or foldable sections M, 4-5 and 46, I can in a li'kemanner set thecorresponding phrasing ment, this being accomplished by folding or moving the swinging sections 44, iii-and 46 or either of them backward to different positions as illustrated, for instance, in Fig. 3, which backward swinging movement of'the sections causes the cam extensions 50 thereof to engage the under-side of the key base of the piano and thus depress the levers 38, 39-and4Q or either of them to different .ex-

i tents, the said .cam portions 50 holding the levers so depressed andtoan extent depend.- ing upon the extent to whlch the swinging section is moved backward. when the tamer? swinging or foldable sections :44, .45 and 46 are-foldedcompletely back :so that they lie parallel with theirrespective levers "38,39 and 40, the phrasing bar as I a :whole -will be moved backward to ':its maximum position and thus bring the piano. hammers '92 against the hammer rest rail '92 which; isthe normal position of the hammers whenthe latter are adj-ustedifor manual playing. When the foldable sectionsgi lyrfi and 46 are in the position last referredto, by reason of the fact tha t the cam-porti0ns '50 bears against the underside of-the key -bed of the piano with considerable pressure the .said folda'ble sections will'be held firmly intthis position without ,requiring additional holding means as describedio r completely folded .back.

p For purposes ;of-;grand pianos, :I arrange the mechanism somewhat differently, the principles involved however :being. identical withvthose aboveset forth,.and used in connection with the upright piano.

Referring: more particularly to Figs. 10 and 11, the (casing of the grand; piano :is shown at 101, thestrings at :102, and the hammers at 108. The hammer rail 1104 oextends lengthwise of the piano. The .keys may be of the usual pattern. The striker rods are shown at and-areactuated-by the player mechanism. Theupper ,ends of the striker rodsare engaged .by the rear ends of ;the :keys. Extending lengthwise of the piano, and located beneath thekeys is'a mocking shaft '106, and mounted upon the latter are'ainumber of leafsprings 107 equal to the number .of keys. 'Each leaf spring Ji engages :the underside of a key ,as will be understood from :Fig; 10. The'rocking shaft 106 carries. a radially projecting arm 108 which extends through a slot 109 in the board 110,;the latter .being gdisposed below the keys. A cam llfi engages the arm 108,

and isnproviided with a handle 1l1. By turning this handle the cam 110 is turned, and thearm- 108 causes the shaft 106 to rock.

When (the handle 1-11 {is turned into one of ends brought Pinto: operative relation to the playing mechanism. When, however, the cam 110 is turnedintoitsopposite extreme position, the arm-108 causes theishatt;106 to rock inthereverse direction so that the -.,5 leaf springs 107,.are lowered,-and the keys their functions is greatly increased. For instance, a particular key 105 beingpressed upon by its particular spring;107 is held with a gentle pressure upon the corresponding striker 'IOduAIf, now, under controlOf' the: playing. mechanism ,the. striker rod moves quickly-upward,- say-two or three strokes in rapid succession, upon each descent of the strikerrod it isfolloWed-closely by the rear' endyof, the key, so that thereis nolostmotionand no loss oftime due to any lagging Iaction bythe key in following the striker rod. This is of very great importance in instances Where the music is 'to r be. played rapid-ly,;or where a particular note'is repeated inlrapid succession; ,In such instances, it is desirable that the lost motion above mentionedjmaybe obviated entirely. .E xcept for the springs 107 taking care of this mattenias above explained, not only would the undesirable lost motion be developed, butit would 'introducelthe diflicul ties stated; and in addition-thereto, ,vvould introduce false rattlinga sounds of a mechanical nature, and might even interfere and delica te however, for the reasonthat otherwise they'wouldplace additional Work upon the movable keys. Mounted upon the undersideof the plate 110 isabracket 112, and adjacent to this bracketare three shafts 113,114,115; For the purpose 'of rocking theseshafts :I' provide three levers 116, "117, 118. Eachjof these leversisjournaled in Each lever'at its rear end is connected by 1 a link120with an arm1121, thel latter being securedaupon the adjacent shafts 113, 114 or115. These shafts are provided respecto the latterjareconnecting wires 125,126, "127. These wir'es are severally connected 7 withlevers 128, 129, 130, and these levers areconnected with. retracting springs 128. The "phrasing bar is made upiof sections 131, 132, 133, 134, connected,togethersubstantially; as: above described withlreference toFigs'I3ito 9inclusive.lf The operation of the mechanism shown in *fl igs1O andll, bereadily understood may be actuated ithout impairment of the bracket 112' by aid of the pivot pin 119;

tiVelyWith'armsl 22, 123, 124 "and secured f om the o, for going descrip ion-2 herppeh ator moving-the handle 111 into fafsuit v ableposition, places the-pian'o infcondition forfman-ual playing, or mechanical'i playing;

aS, the case may-be,f- Supposinglthat the mechanism is toybe played mechanically,

described with reference to thef upright piano. The depressionofjthese levers rocks the various shafts 1123, 114e, 115, andfin doing this causes the connecting wires 125, 126,

127 to be lowered, thus-pullingggdown the the distance from thehammers; 103 to; the" strings; 102 with whichthey are associated.

in parallel planes as, above described, and the middle sections have considerable angu'e lar' movement relatively to each;,other and to the end sections,: so that therange of ex:

li i d 8 above described, I V -rWhat Iclaim 182:, f

1,111 expression mechanism for musical instruments, a hammer-supporting phrasing-iba-r, separate manually operable leversthe fol-Ward end of eafch lever, sai /Pivotal The end sections "of the f'phrasingbar move 1 v I 'pr sion;- f the midd po n -.t e piano 3 is very; great notwithstanding the-fact that 7 an unusual number-tot 1 keys may; be sem v eachhaving an operative 'connectionlwitha 1 part of, said bar, a laterally yieldable fingerpiece section havinga pivotal connection with v connection permitting lateralwdeflection of the free end of the said section-when th v parts are in alinement,-; and i t l ki means between each leverandit fingelupiece 1 section to hold the partsin rigid relation,

said-means requiring lateraldeflection of the finger-piece section ,torbring the parts into 7 i and out of interlocking engagement.

1 2. The combination Wlth a musicalinstru ment embodying key board, hammers and strlngs, of expression mechan sm fon vary- 4 ing the stroke of the hammers,embodying a hammer rest-rail made in sections,. manually, operable expression levers, having l ope'rative -connect1ons W th sald -rest-ra11'secti'ons, and clamping means engaging oppositefaces ofsajid levers for holding? the same In different adjusted positions 3. The combination of afmusical-linstrument provided with a casing and With ham-Ii mers, mechanism for varying-the [stroke of said hammers," expression levers connected-y v with sand mechanlsm foractuating the same,

Said levers being P vided Withioldable r 125 engaging said casing and thus holdin Saidg portions; havingcam-like; extensions lfor levers 'individuallyz' in predetermined, posig tions;

1' Thecombination 'menthaving a zkeybed and hammers, "of; a

L .r so 1 sections 131,, 132, .1i33,i134,j and in r i a hammer-supporting phrasing bar, manually operable levers having operative .connections with said bar to alter the position of the hammers, said leversbeing pivotally supported beneath the key-bed, a swinging section pivotally connected to. the forward end of each lever and adapted to be swung back under the key-bed, means for holding each lever and its section in rigid relation,

and means carried by each section adjacent its pivoted end for engaging the underside of the key-bed and therebyv depressing its lever when the section is the key-bed.

' 5. The combinatlon with a Inusical-instru-s ment having a key-bed 'andfhamme'rs, of a hammer supporting phrasing bar, and 1nan-- ually operablelevers having operative con= nections with said bar forfmovin'g the latter be swung back parallel with its lever and having a portion adjacent its pivoted end I 7 arranged to contact with the underside of the key-bed when the section is swung'back to hold the parts in adjusted positions.

6. The combination with. a musical instrument embodying a key-board, hammers, and strlngs, of expression mechanism for vary-V ing the stroke of. the hammers embodying a hammer-rest rail; manually operable expression levers having operative connections with said rail, grooved ways in which said levers move, and means associated with said- Copies of this patent may be obtained for swung back under nesses'.

levers for adjustably. clamping the latter he i against movement in'the wa s; whereby the levers may be held in "different adjusted positions.

7. The combination with a musical instrur ment embodying a key-board, hammers, and I strings, of expression'mechanism for varyv ing' the stroke ,ofthe hammers, embodying a hamme'r restrail manually operable eX-v pression levers having operative connections with said ra1l, clamping means for simultaneously engagingiopposite faces of all'sald levers for holding the latterindifferent positio'nsof adjustment; and means foractu- I 'ating said clamping means.

8.'-In expression mechanism for musical 1 instruments, a hammer-supporting phrasing. bar, separate manually operable leverseach having an "operative connection with a part .of saidbar and each lever having laterally projectingficlips at its forward end, and a swinging finger-piece section pivotally connected to the forward end ofeach lever, each section being arranged to take a position be- "tween the clips'on thevlever to which it is pivoted to hold the lever and section in rigid relation and adapted upon lateral movement thereof to be disengaged from between the clips to enable the section to be swung back under the piano key-bed.

In testimony-whereof I have hereunto set 4 my handin presence of two subscribing wit e CHARLES W. DORRIOOTT." Witnesses: o o 1 v JOHN L; Connoe,

W. C. RAISNER. s s

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, I Washizigton,D.G.-

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