US1180871A - Pneumatic action for pianos. - Google Patents

Description

A. NORDEEN.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27. 1913.

1 1 80,87 1 Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

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TH! COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 320., WASHINGTON, D. C-

AUGUST NOBDEEN, OF CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR PIANOS.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

Applicationfiled October 27, 1913. Serial No. 797,581.

To all'whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUeUsr NORDEEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Gonnersville, county of Fayette, and

5 State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Pneumatic Action for Pianos; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of pneumatic pianos, particularly the construction and arrangement of ower pneumatics therein.

ne feature of the invention consists in providing a pair 'of secondary valves in place of one secondary valve, in order that a more rapid and satisfactory operation of the power pneumatic will ensue. This enables one to make the valves of smaller size than when one secondary valve is used and at the same time get an increased air action.

Another feature of the invention consists in mounting a plurality of power pneumatics on one base block and so that the two power pneumatics will be operated from a single air outlet by the suction.

The various features of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a part of a player piano showing a num ber of power pneumatics and accompanying parts, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of one of the base plates supporting a pair of power pneumatics. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 3.

There is a main vertically disposed plate 45 10 in the lower portion of which there is a suction chamber 11 with suitable air exhausting means. Upon the plate 10 there is a plate 12 and a conduit 13 leading through said plates 10 and 12 from each 50 power pneumatic to a tracker board, not shown. To the plate 10 the base plates 15 are secured by rods 16 extending through grooves 17 in the lateral edges of said plates and through transverse plates 18 across the 55 ends of the base plates so that said base plates will be readily mounted and extend horizontally from the plate 10. Tobthe underside of each plate 15 two power pneumatics 20 are secured and from the movable side of each power pneumatic an arm 21 projects which is connected by a rod 22 with the outer end of a lever 23, the inner end of said lever being fulcrumed at 24 on a projection 25 from the plate 10. Said levers are limited in their movement by the stops 26 on threaded rods 27 extending from the vertical lower projection 28 from the plate 12.

I the base plate 15 there is apair of parallel suction chambers 30 in communication with a single outlet 31 which is horizontally disposed and leads to the main suction chamber 11. At the end of each suction chamber 30 there is a primary valve 32 of usual type.

The primary valve is supported on a pouch 33 closing chamber 34 which through a port 35 is in communication with the air passage 13 leading to the tracker board. When the air passage 13 is open the air in chamber 34 will elevate the pouch 33 and, therefore, open the primary valve and permit outside air to enter a port 36 normally closed by the primary valve and pass through a conduit 37 to a chamber 38 under a pouch 39 on which one secondary valve 40 rests. Said chamber 38 is, through a port 41, in communication with a chamber 42 under a pouch 43 supporting another secondary valve 44. The air entering from the outside through the channels beneath said pouches 39 and 42 lifts the secondary valves and opens the ports 45 and 46 which connect the suction chamber 30 with a chamber 47 which, through a conduit 48 leads to the chamber in the power pneumatic. The suction of air from the chamber in the power pneumatic when said valves are actuated, operates the power pneumatic, causing it to collapse, as shown in the middle portion of F ig. 2. There is a bleed hole 50 leading from a chamber 51 which, through conduits 52, is in communication with the chamber 34 under each primary valve, see Fig. 4. Therefore, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the one base or block 15 is arranged so that, while it has only one outlet 31, it will have suitable chambers and ports and valves for operating two power pneumatics. This simplifies the construction of pneumatic pianos and yet each power pneumatic is enabled to perform its individual function. Furthermore, the construction is simplified and the action improved by providing two relatively small secondary valves which can be readily installed in a relatively smaller structure of the device than if one large secondary valve were employed for doing the work of these two valves. By having two secondary valves the action of the device is materially quicker than when only one secondary valve is employed. The extent of operation or movement of one of the secondary valves is limited and controlled by a tubular air inlet port 60 which screws into a cover plate 61 secured on the base block over the chamber 47. When the conduit 13 of the tracker board is closed, said tubular port 60 is opened and air is admitted through chambers 47 and 48 to the chamber in the power pneumatic 20, but when air is admitted through the conduit 13 and a secondary valve 4a is pushed up or actuated, it closes said port 60 so that air cannot enter the chamber 47 from the outside and the air from the power pneumatic will be exhausted. Therefore, the parts 60 perform two functions, one as an air inlet port and the other as a means for limiting the movement of the secondary valve 44.

The invention is:

1. In a pneumatic piano, a power pneumatic structure provided with a primary valve and a plurality of secondary valves cooperating therewith.

2. In a pneumatic piano, a power pneumatic structure provided with a primary valve, a plurality of secondary valves, a. pouch for each secondary valve provided with a chamber under each pouch and said chambers being in communication with each other, and a port controlled by the primary valve whereby the secondary valves will cooperate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of the witnesses herein named.

AUGUST NORDEEN.

Witnesses REUBEN CONNER, MAUDE I. TAYLOR.

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

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