US1183738A - Mechanical musical instrument. - Google Patents

Description

I. B. KLUGH. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

v APPLICATION FILED NOV. I9. ISIO4 l 1183738e INened May1(3,191(

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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cierren.

Et-.UIL BROWN KLUGF-, GF CHICAG', LLINGS, ASSGNR T0 THE CABLE COMFANY, 0F CHCAGC, ILLNGS, A CGBPG'RATION OF LLINDIS.

IdECI-ANICL MUSICAL WSTRUMENT.

.application filed. November 19, 1910.

To aZZ -zrfwm it muy concern.'

Be it known that l, Farm Baci *1v KLUGH, a citizen of the United States. residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in vMechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full. clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication. l

.My invent-ion relates to mechanical musical intruments and especially to a type oit instrument commonly called a player piano. orl piano player.

The present invention relates more particularly. although not exclusively, to the accentuation of certain notes or series of notes to bring out solo eti'ects.

'I he object of the inventiomwwhen applied to piano players and player'pianos, isto provide means for producing the aforesaid solo eliects in an improved manner.

Certain broad features of the solo device herein set forth. are claimed in my copending application. Serial No. 551,14f0. tiled April S, 1910.

In the i'orm of carrying out .thc invention herein shown. l employ blow striking members, operated by power pneumatica. and removable means to limit the stroke of said blow striking .member-s. Broadly speaking. I also provide resilient means to change the strength of the blow.

l will describe my invention more in detail b v reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating several forms ot' carrying out the invention. in which:

Figure 1 is a. side elevation. partly in section. setting forth the piano action. the operating pneumatics, the keys. and the music roll; Fig. 9 sets fort-l1 my improved music sheet as described in my aforesaid co-pending applica-tion; Fig. 3 is a front elevation` of a part of the mechanism shown in F ig.

1; and Figs. l and 5 show modifications-of the structure set forth in Fig. 1.

et'orring more particularly toFig. 1, l show a mechanical musical instrument having strings 1 to be struck bythe piano action. The latter involvesthe usual hammers 2 and actuating mechanisms therefor. The piano action is operated by pneumatics 5 governed by valve mechanisms 6. The valve mechanisms are connected by means Patented May 16, 1916.

Serial N0. 593,203.

or" tubes T to the tracker board 8 where a.

music sheet 9 in its well understood oper: tions selectively controls the actuation of the pneumatics Piano keys 10 may also operate the action as is well understood.

In accordance with my aforesaid copending application, l provide supplemental pneumatics 11. served by tubes l2 and leading to apertures 13 in the tracker board` for accentuating certain notes in order to produe what are called solo effects. The ordinary apertures 1l in the tracker board 8 are associated with the tubes 7. ln accordance with my aforesaid co-pending application, the music sheet has narrow openings or perforations 15 which, in the 'progress of the sheet over the tracker board, cooperate only with the apertures l-l, and wide openings or perforations 16 which cooperate with both apertures 1l and 13 of a given set.

lit will of course be understood that each set of adjacent apertures 13 and 14 serve the actions for the same note. `My supplemental pneumatics 11. through the medium of adjustable bars or rods417, control stops 18, which can be inserted or withdrawn from between the arms or levers 3 and an abutment- 19. lVhen a stop 1S is in place, as shown in Fig. 1. the movement of the corresponding arm or lever is limited lin that the downward pull of the respective pneumatic 5 can draw it only tightly against tire stop 1S, whereas. if'the supplemental pneumatic 11 controlling this stop is actuated to withdraw it toward the left. referring to Fig. 1, the arm 5 may move the entire length of its stroke when the 'pneumatic 5 is actuated. lt will be seen therefore that a supplemental solo pneumatic 11 serves when actuated to permit a louder tone of the particular note under consideration', because of the greater extent of movement of the respective power pneumatic in operating.

In Fig. '-l., l setforth special wedge shaped stops Q0 which in turn limit the strokes of the arms 3 and at the same time limit 'the strokes of the power pneumatics 5.

ln Fig. 5. l set Jforth avery important structure in that l employ resilient means, in this instance consisting of springs Q1 under the control of the supplemental pneumatics. It will be seen that, in the structure of Fig. 5, l interpose removableastops which may again be used to limit the 'strokes of the arms 3 or the power pneumatics 5, but which removable stops are resilient and afford yielding resistive effects when associated with the operating mechanism of an instrument of the class specilied.

The tracker board and music sheet disclosed herein are set forth and claimed in a copending application or'. mine, Serial No. 554;,142, tiled April 8, 1910, tracker board and music sheet.

`While l have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention, l do not mean to limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement as hereinset forth, but

Having thus described one embodiment of my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure b v Letters Patent is:

1. si device of the character described comprising blow-striking` members, power pneumatics to operate same, an abutment,

4remcvable stops to limit the strokes of said power pneumatics capable of occupying positions intermediate said abutment and said rstops E"to, remove them from between said vso abutment and said members.

2. ln a device oli the class described in combination, a power pnei'unatic, an action comprising a lever operated by said pneumatic, an abutment, a device normallv interposed between said abutment and said lever, and mechanism for 'witlidrawiinisaid device from between said abutment and said lever.

3. A device of the character described comprising blow striking members. power pneumatics to operate same, an abutment, means movable betweenl said members and said abutment to limit the strokes out said members, and solo pneumatics to operate Said means.

4:. A device vot the character described comprising blow striking members, power pneumatics to operate same, an abutment, resilient means movable between said members and said abutment to limit the strokes of said members, and solo pneumatics to operate said resilient means. v

5. A device of the character described comprising 'blow striking members, power Vpneumatics to operate same, an abutineni'l, a

spring movable between. said members and said abutment to limit the strokes of said members, and solo pneumatics to operate said sprin'.

6. A device of the character described comprising blow striking members, power pneumatics to operate same, removable stops to limit the strokes of said power pneumatics, and solo pneumatics to operate said removable stops.

E1n a device of the class described in combination, a power pneumatic', an action comprising a blow striking lmember operated by said pneumatic, avxed abutment, a

device normally interposed between said abutment and said member, and mechanism whereby said device may be withdrawn from between said member and said abutment.

8. In a device of the class described in combination, blow striking members, power pneumatics for operating said members, an abutment, means movable between one of said members and said abutment, and devices to operate said-means.

9. ln a device of the class described in combination, a power pneumatic. an action comprising a lever operated by said pneumatic, an abutment, a device movable between said lever and said abutment, and a solo pneumatic for moving` said device.

10. ln a device of the class described in combination, a power pneumatic, a pla ver ction comprising a lever operated bv said pneumatic, an abutment, a device normally interposed between said abutment and said. lever, and a solo pneumatic tor witluilrawing said device from its normal position.

11. In a device o'l' the class described in combination, a power pneumatic, a player action comprising a lever operated by said pneumatic. an abutment placed in provimit)r to one end of said lever, a movable device normalli7 interposed between said abutment and said lever, and a solo pneumatic for withdrawing said device from between said abutment and said lever.

12. ln a device oi the class described in combination, a power pnei'ln'mtic. a player action comprising a lever operated bv said pneumatic. an abutment placed in provimitjaY to one end of said lever, a movable device normally interposed between said lever and said abutment to prevent the complet; e.\'-- pansion of said pneumatic, and a lo pneumatic for withdrawing said dei ...c 'l rom its position between said lever and said abutment.

13. In a device of the class described, a power pneumatic, a player action operated by said pneumatic and comprising a lever` an abutment, a spring movable between said lever and said abutment and normally in position to resist the closingl of said power pneumatic, and a solo pneumatic for removing said spring from its normal position.

1-l-. ln a pneumatic instrument in combination. a 'power pneumatic, an action unit operated b v said pneumatic comprising a pluraliti7 of members one of which is a note sounding member, an abutment, a dcvice normallyT interposed between said abutment and one of said members, and mechanism whereby said device may be withdrawn :trom between said one of said members and said abutment.

15. The combinationwith a piano action. of a pneumatic for actuating the same, and means for opposing the operative movement .LOD

its operation upon the piano action.

karranged to be operated bv said-.prieur 16. The combination with aA piano action, of a pneumatic tor, actuating the same, and

' means for resisting the operative movement of the pneumatic so as to vary the effect of its operation upon the piano action.

17. The combination with tone sounding mechanism and means for actuating the same, of pneumatic means for operating said actuating means, intermediate mechanism between the two said means, and means for automatically controlling said intermediate mechanism tovary the operation otv said actuating means.

18. The combination with blow striking members,`of pneuniatics for actuating said members, and supplemental pneuniatics combined with mechanism for acting upon said rst mentioned pneuniaticsI so as to intercept the-blow striking movement thereof.

19. rl`he combination with blow striking members, of pneuniatics for actuating the safe, and supplemental pneuniatics combi ed with mechanism for controlling the actuation of said members by said pneumatics,by' the movement of abutments into and out of the paths of the blow striking movements of said members,

20. The combination with a tracker having Ifront and rear sets of ports, a set of pneuniatics connected with the front set oi' ports, blow striking members actuated by said pneuniatics, a second set of pneuniatics connected with the rear set of ports, and abutinents controlled by said second set of pneumatics and adapted to be interposed into and withdrawn from the paths of the blow striking movements of said members.

21. The combination with a piano action, of a pneumatic action including a set oi pneuniatics and mechanism associated there` with for actuating said piano action and also including other pneuniatics combined with mechanism'pfor var ving the action of said first set or' pneuniatics upon the piano action by limiting the extent of movement of the mechanism controlled by said iirst set of pneuniatics.

2:2. The combination of a tracker having front and rear rows of ports. a piano action. and a pneumatic action including a set ot pneuniatics combined with mechanism for actuating said piano action and also including other pneumatics combined with mechanism for limiting the actuating movements of said irst set of pneuniatics upon said mechanism combined therewith for actuating said piano action, said pneuniatics being` connected with said rows of tracker ports. said set ot' pneuniatics with one row and said other pneumatics with the other row.

23. The combination with a piano action, of al set 'of pneumatics combined with levers to actuate said piano action, and a second set of pneuniatics combined with abutments arranged to be moved into and out ot' position to control the movements of said levers.

24. The combination with a piano action, of a set ot' pneuniatics combined with levers arrangedfto be operated by said pneuniatics to actuate said piano action, and a second set ot' pneuniatics combined with abutiiients arranged to be moved into and out of position tofshorten the blow striking movements of said levers.

25. rlhe combination with tone sounding mechanism, of pneumatic means for operating the saine, lever devices interposed between said pneumatic means and said tone sounding mechanism, and automatically operated pneumatic means 'for controlling the actuation ot said lever devices to var v the operation of said tone sounding mechanism.

2G. The combination with a piano action, ot a set of pneuniatics combined with levers arranged to be operated by said pneuniatics to actuate said piano action, and a second set ot pneuniatics combined with resilient abutine'nts adapted to control the length ot movement ot said levers.

2T. The combination with a tracker having two rows of apertures, of blow striking members, a set of pneuniatics connected with the apertures oi one of said rows, said pneuinatics'being arranged to actuate said blow striking members. a second set oit pneuniatics connected wit-li the apertures oit" thel other row of apertures in the tracker, and means controlled b v said second set of pneuniatics for opposing the blow striking action ot said members.

2 8. The combination with a piano action, oiC a trackerhaving two rows of apertures, a set of pneuniatics connected with the apertures ot one of said rows, said pneuniatics being arranged to actuate the units of the piano action, a second set of pneuniatics connected with the apertures of the other row of tracker apertures, and means controlled by said second set of pneuinatics for obstructing the operation of the piano action.

29. The combination of a power pneu-- matic, a spring opposing the action of said pneumatic, and a second pneumatic arranged to act upon said spring and remove the opsaid tracker by a note character ofsaid sheet, of independently movable means controlled by the same said note character of said sheet to resist the operation of said operative means.

The combination with a tracker., a sheet provided with note characters and cooperating with said tracker, note sounding devices, and means controlled as to operation through said tracker by a note cliar acter of said sheet to operate said devices, of independently movable means controlled by the samesaid note character of 'said sheet to resist the operation of said device operating means.

33. The combination with a tracker and a sheet provided with note characters and cooperating with said trackerlvof operative means and independently movable means to resist the operation means being controlled in operation through said tracker by the note charact'ersof said sheet.

34:. The combination with a tracker, a sheet provided with note characters and cooperating with said tracker, and note sounding devices, of means to operate said devices and independently movable means to oppose the operation thereof, both of said means being controlled in operation through said tracker by the note characters of said sheet.

35. The combination with a tracker, a sheet provided with note characters and cooperating with said tracker, and power ac' tuated noted sounding devices, of independently movable means operating to resist the actuation of said devices, said devices and said means being controlled in operation through said tracker by the note characters of said sheet. f

36. The combination with a tracker and a perforatedsheet cooperating therewith, of operative means and independently movable thereof, both of said.

means to resist the operation thereof, both of said meansbeing controlled in operation through said 'tracker by the same perforation of said sheet.

37. The combination with a tracker, a perforated sheet cooperating therewith, and note sounding devices, of means to operate said devices and independently movable means to oppose the operation thereof, both of said means being controlled in operation through said tracker by the same perforation of said sheet.

3S. The combination with a tracker', a perforated sheet cooperating therewith, and power actuatednote sounding devices, of independently movable means operating to resist the actuation of said devices, said devices andi said means being controlled in operation through said tracker by the same perforation of said sheet.

39. The combination of a tracker having two sets of apertures, a piano action, means operated through the apertures ofl one of said sets for operating said piano action, and means operated through the medium of the other set of apertures for controlling the extent of movement of members of said piano action between the hammers and keys.

40. The combination with a tracker having two sets of apertures, of a piano action, means operable by means of the apertures of one of said sets for actuating the piano action, and means operable by means of the apertures of the other set for limiting the blow striking movements of members of said action between the hammers andtkeys. l

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 2nd day of November A. D., 1910.

PAUL BROWN KLUGH.

l/Vitnesses;

W. N. JOHNSON, N. D. ToBiiv.

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