US1201306A - Pneumatic action for musical instruments. - Google Patents

Description

V. L. JONES.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I0. 1913.

1,201,306, Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

I I I 'j/ 6 I 2. j C a 1191. C /i c' Wtn 6356/8 f 2 to) Qi/ pzax 7?? 11/271 as UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VEBN Id. JONES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE FARRAND COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed April 10, 1913.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VERN L. JoNns, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of IVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Actions for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being" had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to pneumatic actions for automatic pianos and more particularly to that type of action composed of a series of motor and valve units.

The invention consists in the provision of a simple and efiicient structure which may be easily and cheaply manufactured; in a structure that is compact and reduces the width of the action; in a construction that is not easily affected by change in atmospheric conditions, and in certain combinations and arrangements of parts as will more fully hereinafter appear.

In the drawings, Figure l is a. vertical, central section through one of the pneumatic units embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view taken in a difierent plane; and Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

A designates one of the units composed of a valve section or unit B and a key-actuating pneumatic C, and D is the wind-trunk to which the units of one series are attached. Each valve section comprises a casing E, preferably cylindrical and formed of metal, and primary and secondary pneumatics arranged therein. Thus the primary pneumatic is formed of a chest section having a lower member F and an upper member G. The lower end of the casing is closed by a metallic cap I-I provided with a chamber I to which a conduit J that leads to the traokerboard, is connected. A suitable washer K is interposed between the cap H and the flange L upon which the cap is seated, so as to seal the joint therebetween.

M is a diaphragm suitably attached to the upper face of the cap H and closing the top of the chamber I and N is a valve positioned within a recess or chamber 0 and controlling a passage P.

R is a second valve connected to the stem a of the valve N and controlling communication between the passage P and a chamber Q in the upper member G. The chamber 0 is connected by means of a conduit S in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Serial No. 760,255.

chest section of the primary pneumatic and an aperture T in the casing with the windtrunk. Leading from the passage P is a conduit U that opens into the diaphragm chamber V of the secondary pneumatic, this diaphragm chamber being formed in the top face of the upper member G. The diaphragm W of the secondary pneumatic is arranged between the adjacent faces of the primary and secondary chest sections and preferably is attached to the upper member G of the primary pneumatic. The member X is chambered at Y and the latter is in constant communication with the windtrunk by a passage Z and an aperture A in the casing E.

B is the upper member of the secondary pneumatic chest, herein shown as formed of a ring section C and a metallic disk D. Communication between the chamber E of the member B and the chamber Y is controlled by a valve F and attached to be simultaneously operated with the valve F is a second valve G that controls an aperture H in the disk D.

I is a clamping ring having a screwthreaded engagement with the casing E and adapted to clamp the several parts within the casing. The joints between the cap and the ring C and between the latter and the me%ber X are sealed by packing rings U The chamber Q, is in communication with the atmosphere by means of a passage L that alines with an aperture M in the side of the casing E, and the joint between the casing and the member G around the aperture M is sealed by means of a packing ring N preferably made of felt, seated in a recess N in the member G. The conduit J is provided with a bleed connection (not shown) which is in communication with the exhaust mechanism.

In operation the parts-are normally as shown in Fig. 1, and since the chambers O I and Y are in communication with the exhaust mechanism, these chambers will be at less than atmospheric pressure. Also since the diaphragm chamber V is in communication with the chamber 0 by means of the passage P and conduit U, the diaphragm chamber will be at less than atmospheric pressure. Upon the opening of a port in the tracker-board which leads to the tube J, the chamber I will be placed in communication with the atmosphere, thereby causing the raising of the diaphragm M which will close the valve N and open the valve S. Upon the opening of the valve S the chamber Q, which is in communication with the atmosphere by way of the port L and aperture Ml will be connected to the diaphragm chamber V by means of the passage P and conduit U, expanding the diaphragm, closing the valve G, and opening the valve Fi The opening of the valve F placesfthe key-actuating motor C in con'nnunication by means oi? apertures Q R and the aperture S, with the chamber Y and therefore, in direct communication with the wind-trunk D. The vacuum will collapse the pneumatic C in the usual manner. Upon the closing of the port in the tracker-board that leads to the tube J, the bleed connection for the tube J will exhaust the chamber I, permitting the valves to return to their normal position. Upon the opening of the valve G the pneumatic C is placed in communication with the atmosphere through the aperture H, chamber E and ports Q R.

It will be noticed that when the port S is open the key-actuating pneumatic is in communication with the wind-trunk by a very short passage. This materially in creases the speed at which the instrument may be played, since the shorter the passage, the quicker will the vacuum of the wind-trunk act upon the key-operating pneumatics.

The construction of valve section hereinbefore described permits the parts of the primary and secondary pneumatics to be readily assembled within or removed from the casing. When assembled the pneumatic parts are supported by the flange L and are secured in place by a single clamping memberthe ring I. In making up the unit the washer L is attached to the bottom face and the diaphragm M to the top face of the metallic cap H; the pouch or diaphragm is secured to the member G and after the valves of the primary pneumatic are engaged with the member F the latter and the member G are cemented together. The pneumatic is positioned in the casing and the member X arranged thereon. The valves of the secondary pneumatic, the ring 0, washers K J and disk D are properly engaged with each other. Then the ring I is screwed into the upper end of the casing to clamp the several parts in place. As all the joints between the abutting faces of the primary and secondary pneun'iatics are sealed, and as the washers l1 and J seal the joints of the end members of the casing,-

an exceedingly acc rate fit between the side walls of the chest sections and the sides of the casing is unnecessary.

The wind-trunk D is secured to the casing E by means of a screw A passing through an aperture in the trunk and having the inner end engaging a threaded aperture B in the casing. A suitable packing as C is interposed within the trunk and adjacent the connection between the trunk and the casing so as to properly seal the joint there between.

Vhat I claim as my invention is In a pneumatic action, a valve unit, including a casing and primary and secondary pneumatic chests arranged in said casing, a wind-trunk on one side of said casing adapted to communicate with said primary and secondary pneumatics, and a key-actuating pneumatic on the opposite side of said casing adapted to communicate with said secondary pneumatic, the passage between said key-actuating pneumatic and said windtrunk being comparatively short and direct.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VERN L. JONES. lVitnesses:

M. J. BELKNAP, James P. BARRY.

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

Washington, I C.

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