US1261553A

US1261553A - Mechanical musical instrument.

Info

Publication number: US1261553A
Application number: US82656114A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul B Klugh
Original assignee: CABLE CO
Current assignee: CABLE Co
Priority date: 1914-03-23
Filing date: 1914-03-23
Publication date: 1918-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1935-04-02

Description

I. B. KLUGH.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1914.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I Www IKN

P. B, KLUGH.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- www Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

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P. B. KLUGH.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1914.A

1,261,558. Patented Apr. 2,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WM @//am/ P. B. KLUGH.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. I9I4.

1,26 1,553, Patented Apr. 2, 1918; f

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL B. KLUGH, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CABLE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MECHANICAL .MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, PAUL B. 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 Mechanical 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 specification.

My invention relates to mechanical musical instruments, and especially to such as are controlledl in operation by a traveling music sheet.

Prominent objects of the invention are to provide a simple and practical construction of such' musical instrument; to provide a construction by which solo effects can be automatically secured; to secure certain advantages of manipulation and arrangement in connection with such solo construction; and to secure other desirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.-

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the upper part of a player-piano embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section, taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a detail of construction Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the essential features of the apparatus, with the parts shown more or less diagrammatically; Fig. 4il is a vertical section of a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale. of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of different parts of the mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the mechanism associated with the music roll;

Fig. 8a is a detail of construction;

Figs. 9 and 10 are viewsvof an end portion of the music roll; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an end portion of a modified form of music roll.

In the drawings, I show my invention applied to a player-piano, although it could be otherwise applied. This player-piano, which is shown in Fig. 1 with part of case removed, has sides 1 and 2, a top 3, key-bed 4, and keys 5. A tracker 6 is shown arranged above the keybed, together. with a take-up roll 7 and spindles 8, 9 for a music roll. A. motor 10 is shown connected with suitable rewind mechanism 11, by which the take-up roll 7 and spindle 9 are properly rotated.

Referring to Fig. 2, which is on a larger scale, tracker 6, roll 7 and spindle 9- are shown, as well as string 12, and a hammer 13 arranged to act upon said string. It is understood, of course, that there is a row of strings and a row of hammers as usual in a piano. In Fig. 2, I also show a power pncu matic 14 which is understood to be one of a row of such pneumatica. together with a lever 15 pivoted at 16 and having one end connected by screw 17 with the pneumatic 14, and the, other end arranged to act against a projecting portion 18 on a sticker 19, whereby the pneumatic 14 may actuate the hammer 13 to strike the string 12. A tracker tube 20 is shown extended from the tracker 6 to an action chest 21 understood to contain valve mechanism for the pneumatic 14.

In the upper portion of the piano case is shown another pneumatic 22 which is understood to be one of a series of pneumatics, the entire series being shown in Fig. 1. One pneumatic 22 is shown for each pair of hammers 13, but this arrangement may be varied if desired. -This pneumatic 22 is mounted upon and carried by an action chest 23 which extends from side to side nearlythe entire width of the piano, as shown in Fig. 1. The pneumatic 22 (Fig. 2) is in a more or less vertical position and has its swinging leaf 22a provided with an extension or attachment 24, to the lower end of which is secured a transversely extending arm or member 25 having a bent end 26, the lower portion of which is provided with a circular or other conveniently shaped abutting or striking surface 28 which is arranged opposite or in front of the front end of the hammer 13. Thus the surface 28 may serve as a stop for the hammer 13, to limit the forward or return motion thereof. A spring 30 is secured at its upper end to the chest 23 and extends downwardly to engage the member 25, the spring 30 being so arranged as to tend to keep the pneumatic 22 in an expanded condition.

The action chest 23 is arranged so that it u may be swung'to throw the pneumatics 22 forwardly or backwardly, so as to place the' hammers 13 in long or short stroke positions. A convenient arrangement is to pivot the upper edge of said chest, as for example by providing the opposite ends of the same with pivots 32-32, Figs. 1

4and 6, which pivots are mounted in bearings 33 in blocks 34 secured to the sides of the piano case. Movable blocks or keepers 36 are arranged in the bearings 33 and are held in a position over the pivots 32 by pins' 37. This arrangement permits the bearings for the pivots 32-#32 to be opened and the action chest 23 to be lifted and, since said action chest with its pneumatics is near the top of the piano case, the same may be readily lifted out upon disconnecting the proper tubes.' By such movability or pivotal arrangement of the action chest 23 and at- -tached pneumatics 22, it will be seen that thel pneumatics 22 may be moved or swung relatively to the piano action, as for example swung in a rearward direction, in which case the arms 25-25 would cause the hammers 13-13 to be moved part way toward the strings 12 and, obviously, if the entire action chest were swungv in this way, all of the hammers 13 would be moved rearwardly to the position shownin dotted lines in Fig.

2,k that is, a position with the hammers nearer to the strings than shown in -full lines in said Fig. 2. In this osition the hammers will not have the full length of stroke, should they be actuated by the piano keys or the pneumatics 14 so that they may be said to be inshort stroke position. The action chest 23 is provided with diaphragms 39, valves 40 and passages 41 and 42 for operating the pneumatics 22 from the windway or passage 43. Tracker tubes 44 are connected with said action chest 23 so as to communicate with the passages 42, said tracker tubes extendin to a junction 45, thev construction of which will be later described and from which tracker tubes 4646 extend to the tracker 6, the tracker having two sets of

tracker ports

47 and 48, whereof the ports 47, to which the tracker tubes 46 are connected, are preferably transversely elongated ports and the other ports 48, to which the tubes 20 are connected, are by preference the usual square or circular apertures. The junction 45 conveniently consists of upper and lower members 45a andv passages 54 which communicate with thel tubes 46. Thus it will be seen that by the tracker and the music sheet, the pneumatics 22-22 may be individually controlled so that any one or more of them, either singly or jointly, may be collapsed. l

In the operation of the device, the Wide perforations in the music sheet, shown vfor example in Fig. 4, will open both front and rear ports l48 and 47 in the tracker (Fi 1) for the notes represented by said perorations, whereas the narrow music-'sheet perforations will open onl the front ports 48 for the proper notes. llVhen a wide perforation opens a rear tracker port for a note, the corresponding'solo pneumatic 22 will be collapsed, thereby moving the member 25 thereon in a forward dlrection and permitting the corresponding hammer or hammers 13 to move forwardly to full stroke position, as shown in Fig. 2. The opening of the other tracker port 48 for this note causes the actuation, that is, the collapse, of the corresponding power pneumatic 14, thereby actuating the hammer 13 which has been retracted to its full stroke position by the collapse of the aforesaid solo pneumatic 22. Thus a solo or fortissimo note is sounded. When a narrow perforation of the music sheet o ens a front tracker port 48 only, without rst opening the corresponding rear port 47, the corresponding pneumatic 14 is collapsed so as to actuate the corresponding hammer 13, but this hammer is in a relatively short stroke position because of the expanded condition of the correspondingr solo pneumatic 22. Thus a relatively so t or accompaniment note is sounded.

The action chest may be tilted or swung about its pivotal connection by any suitable arrangement, a convenient form of which I have shown herein and especially in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6. In this arrangement, the action chest 23 is provided at its right-hand end (Fig. 4) with a projecting member 55 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4), below which is a pushrod 56 having a head 57, the upper end of which is provided with felt 58 arranged to act upwardly against the member 55. The rod 56 extends downwardly to about the bottom of the piano case, as shown in Fig. 4, where it is connected with certain instrumentalities by which it may be given a vertical movement, as will be hereinafter described. These instrumentalities are intended to arrange for the vertical movement of said rod to effect a swinging motion of the solo action under different circumstances.

' For example, the action is to be swung into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to put the hammers in short stroke position when solo effects are to be secured. This is preferably done,liinder certain conditions to be hereinafter described, by simply operating the Wind-inducing apparatus, such as the pedals and bellows, to bring about proper pneumatic pressure conditions to cause the instrument to play. For example, in the particular construction shown, as one arrangement for carrying out the invention, I show, especially in Figs. 4 and 4, pedalsk 60 mounted upon swinging rods 61 and connected with links 62. These pedals, when operated, cause a lowering of pressure in the bellows apparatus in the usual way. This results, of course, in the induction of more or less of a vacuuml or reduction vof air-pressure in the bellows apparatus, so that a pneumatic 64 (Fig. 4), upon being put in communication with the bellows apparatus, would collapse. This would cause an upward movement of a pair of levers or rod members 65 and 66 (Fig. 5), so that a rod 67, pivoted to the member 66, would rise.

A spring 68, having one leg 69 positioned upon a collar 70 on the rod 67, would thereupon act upwardly'upon a swinging lever or member 71, under which the other 4lag 72 of the spring 68 is positioned, whereupon the swinging member 71 will be elevated and will act upon a collar 56l on the rod 56, previously referred to as being extended upwardly so as to act upon the projecting meinbei- 55 onthe action chest 23. Thus it will be seen that, when reduced air-pressure is communicated to the pneumatic 64, said pneumatic by collapsing will cause an elevation of the rod 56 and a consequent tilting or swiiiging motion of the action chest 23, so as to cause the pneumatics 22 to swing intoA dotted positions shown in Fig. 2, and thereby place the piano hammers 13 in short stroke position.

A pneumatic governor 75, Fig. 4, is shown preferably associated with the pneumatic 64, said governor 75 being` for the purpose of regulating in the usual way the wind-pressure on the solo pneumatics 22. This is done by means of a tube 7 6a, extending up from said governor 75 to the top of the action chest 23 and entering the same from the rear, as shown -in Fig. 2. This governor 75 is preferably arranged so that it canbe automatically locked vin closed or collapsed position, shown in Fig. 5, when the solo pneumatics 22 are not to be operated and solo effects are not to be obtained. This may be arranged by a rod 76, having buttons 77 engaging the loose leaf of the pneumatic 64 and buttons 78 engaging the loose leaf of the governor 75, whereby when the pneumatic 64 is expanded the governor 75 will be collapsed so that it will be inoper wind pipe 80 extended from the bellows to a valve box 81. This valve box 81 contains a valve 82 controlled by a lever 88, which is the usual rewind lever of the instrument, having its linger piece 83 at the front of the keyboard in convenient place for manipulation by the lingers. The valve 82 controls communication to a second pipe 84 ruiming to the action chest 21, which has been previously referred to as the action chest for the power or striker pneumatics 14. Another tube or pipe 86 extends from the action chest 21 to a valve arrangement 87 associated with the spindle 8 for the music roll 89. This valve arrangement 87, as shown more fully in Figs. 8 and 8a, comprises a pair of

blocks

90 and 91 having ducts or passages 92 and 93. respectively, terminating in ports 94 and 95, respectively. The block 90 is pivotally mounted sc that it may be swung with reference to the block 91 to bring the ports 94 and 95 into and out of register with each other. A spring 97 tends to swing the block 90 into a position to the right, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 8, in which position the ports 94 and 95 will be out of register so that no communication can be established between the tube 86, connecting with the block 90, and the tube 98 connected with the block 91 and extended from the same to the pneumatic 64. The spindle 8 for the music roll has an extension 99 adapted to extend to and act upon the block 90, and the music roll 89 has a projecting collar 100 (F ig. 10) which, when said roll is in position, pushes said spindle 8 sufficiently to the left (Fig. 8) to cause the extension 99 to move the block 90 into position to cause the ports 94 and 95 to register with one another; this whole arrangement being of course one arrangement or mechanism for controlling pneumatic communication to the solo action controlling pneumatic 64. The spindle 8 is subject to a spring 101 tending` to force said spindle to the right (Figs. 4 and 8) to press the same against the music roll end. The music roll 89 is understood to be a music roll particularly adapted for playing solo music which brings into operation the solo mechanism involif'ing pneumaties 22, solo rolls being provided with such extended or projecting collars 100 as shown in the drawings,

especially Figs. 9 and 10. In Fig. 11, however, is shown a music roll 89'L which may be 'said to be an ordinary music roll, not intended for solo playing, and this roll, as shown, has a socket 100 without the projecting collar 100. When this roll is put in position, the spindle 8 is not moved so as to cause a shifting or operation of the valve arrangement 87, in which case communication is not established between the

tubes

86 and 98. Thus it will be seen that the solo action may be put into operative condition by means of a controlling device such as the pneumatic 64 and also that, as a preferred arrangement, this controllin device is 1n turn subject to the control o a hand lever 83, and also to the music roll, so that, in this preferred arrangement, in order to have the solo action controlling .device 64 operate upon bringing about proper pneumatic pressure in the instrument by pedaling or otherwise, it is first necessary that the action chest 21 be put into communication with the wind-inducing apparatus and also that the right kind of a music roll, as for example a-roll such as 89, be put in position in the music roll s indles. Thus, when the lever 83 is shifted into playing position and a roll such as 89 is pnt in the music roll spindles and the pedals operated, vthe solo action controlling device 64 will operate automatically to move the solo action chest 23 rearwardly and to release governor 75 for operation, thereby placing the piano hammers 13 in short-stroke position and at the same time permitting operative connection of the solo action with the wind-inducing apparatus through governor 75.

I show also a further arrangement for controlling the solo action. This control is different from the one previously described and involves the automatic adjustment of the solo action to vary its control of the length of hammer-stroke and to restore it to its lowered position under certain circumstances, that is, to the position in which the pneumatics 22 are nearly vertical, being retracted so as to allow the piano hammers 13 full length strokes. The arrangement shown for bringing this about is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 4'L and 7. This construction involves a rod 104 so mounted upon the loose leaf of the reservoir 103 that, upon the collapse of said reservoir 103, the rod 104 with its adjustable member 106 will be advanced into and pushed through the aperture 107 in the bellows frame 108. A vertically arranged arm 109 is shown so mounted upon a bearing 110a on the bottom-board of the piano case that the upper end of this arm 109 is opposite the aperture 107. The arm 109 is an upwardly extending portion of a horizontally arranged rod or bar 110 (Fig. 7) extended horizontally along the ioor of the piano the end 112 of which extends directly over K' an abutment 114 secured upon the rod 56,

previously referred to. Thus, when the reservoir 103 collapses, the adjustable member 106 acts against the upper end of the arm. 109, thereby swinging the same, as shown` in dotted lines in Fig. 7, and causing the arm 111 to draw downwardly upon the rod 56, so that said rod is lowered and the solo action chest 23 consequently allowed to swin back toward its normal or ineffective position. This part of the collapsing movement of reservoir 103 and this swinging of action chest 23 is opposed by a spring 113, one arm of which acts upwardly upon the abutment 114 at the bottom of the rod 56, and is also opposed by spring 68, which yieldingly resists the downward movement of swinging member 71 caused by this method of lowering rod 56. Thus it will be seen that, when the wind-inducing or bellows apparatus is operated so as to cause a sufiiclent collapse of the reservoir 103, the rod 104 will meet with the arm 109 and a continued reduction of the air-pressure in said reservoir will continue the collapse thereof and cause the rod 56 to continue to be lowered and the solo action to be swung farther backv toward lowered or retracted position with the piano hammers in long stroke positions, until, upon the com lete collapse of the reservoir 103, all solo e ects will be eliminated and all notes struck fortissimo with the piano hammers at full stroke. This elimination of solo effects is desired at certain times. as for example when fortissimo or crash effects are desired, at which times the pumping of course will be very strong in order to increase the power with which the power pneumatics 14 are operated, and by such pumping the solo action will be retracted to make all notes loud. Fortissimo effectsmay be secured in this manner without regard to the size of the music-sheet perforations, the marking opposite the same being j, or such as indicate double forte or fortissimo. Such marking indicates that the playing power should be extremely heavy and, when followed, makes it unnecessary to cut solo perforations at such points, since, as just described, pumping heavy enough to completely collapse the reservoir 103 automatically throws the solo action out of operative position, and all notes sounded would be sounded by hammers from full stroke positions, whether controlled by narrow, wide, or ordinary music-sheet perforations. Variations in the operating air-pressure will, of course, vary the degree of collapse of reservoir 103 and, if such variations are brought about while the rod 104 is operating arm 109 and rod 56 against the resistance of spring 113, swinging member 71, and spring 68, the position of action chest 23 will also be varied, automatic adjustment of the piano hammers 13 between long and short stroke position will be thus obtained, and the tonal power of accompaniment notes be accordingly increased or diminished relatively to that of solo notes, the latter notes being sounded by hammers from full stroke positions.

It will be understood of course that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. j

What I claim is:

1. The combination with the piano hammers and an adjustable hammer-rest rail, of means mounted for movement independently of said rail to provide a rest for one or more of said hammers, and automatically operated lneans for positioning said first mentioned means in various positions between the extremes of its movement to move one or more of said hammers from said rail and vary the position of rest of such hammer or hammers relatively to said rail.

2. The combination with the piano hammers and an adjustable hammer-rest rail, of means mounted for movement independently of said rail to provide a rest for one or more of said hammers, and pneumatically operated means for positioning the first said means in various positions between the extremes of its movement to move one or more of said hammers from said rail and vary the position of rest of such hammer or hammers relatively-to said rail.

3. The combination with the piano hammers and an adjustable hammer-rest rail, of means mounted for movement independently of said rail to provide a rest for one or more of said hammers, and means through which variations in the operating air-pressure may cause movement of the first said means into various positions between the extremes of its movement to move one or more of said hammers from said rest and vary the position of rest of such hammer or hammers relatively to said rail.

Il. An instrument of the class specified having a case, a pneumatic action mounted within the case, and means for removably supporting said action, said means comprising bearings having slots and secured tothe case, pins on the action adapted to fit into said slots, and releasable means for preventing displacement of said pins from said slots.

Means for connecting flexible tubes together comprising terminal boards 45 and 451 provided with registering apertures, said flexible tubes being connected with said boards so as to communicate with said apertures, and means for securing said boards detaehably together, said means comprising braces 50 -fittin against the outer sides of said boards an springs interposed between the outer side of one of said boards and adjacent ends of said braces 50.

6. The combination with the piano action, of a pneumatic action having pneumatics provided with means for limiting the stroke of the piano hammers, means for preventing and permitting the operation of said pneumatics, and means acting automatically with the reduction of air-pressure in the instrument for bodily movin said pneumatics and controlling the operation of the second said means.

7 The combination with the piano action, of a pneumatic action having pneumatics provided with means for controlling the length of stroke of the piano hammers, and means, controlled by the music spool, for controlling the operation of said pneumatics.

8. The combination with the piano action and player mechanism therefor, of a pneumatic action having pneumatics provided with means for controlling the length of stroke of the piano hammers, said pneumatics being adjustable in addition to their individual operability, and means controlled by the instrumentalities for applying playing pneumatic pressure to and excludin it from said player-mechanism for controlling the adjustment of said pneumatics to control said hammers. I

9. The combination with the piano action, of a pneumatic. actionv having pneumatics provided with means for controlling the length of stroke of the piano hammers, a rewind lever and operative means controlled 100 by said rewind lever for positioning said pneumatics to control the length of hammer stroke.

10. The combination with the piano action, of a pneumatic action having pneu- 105 matics mounted for swinging movement into forward and rearward positions, said pneumatics acting upon units of said piano action to cause the production of solo and ac- .companiment eects, and having means whereby such swinging movement controls one of said effects with relation to the other,

a pneumatic, means whereby said pneumatic may shift or swing said pneumatics rearwardly into position to cause the production of said effects, and pneumatically operated means to shift or swing said pneumatics forwardl' to vary said effects.

11. il'he combination with the piano action, of a pneumatic action having pneumatics mounted for swinging movement into forward and rearward positions, said pneumatics acting upon units of said piano action to cause the production of solo and accompaniment effects, and having means whereby such swinging movement controls the accompaniment effects with relation to the solo effects, a pneumatic, means whereby said pneumatic may shift or swing said pneumatics rearwardly into position to cause the pneumaticavly operated means to shift or swing said pneumatics forwardly to vary the accom animent effects.

12. he combination with the solo action, of means for moving the same relatively to the instrument comprising a vertically shiftable rod, means on the action for engaging said rod, a pneumatic, a yielding connection between said pneumatic and rod, and means for actuating said pneumatic.

13. The combination with the solo action, of means for moving said action, comprising a vertically shiftable rod, a pneumatic, and spring means interposed between said pneumatic and rod, whereby the operation of the neumatic will cause t e spring means to shi t the rod.

14. The combination with the vertically shiftable rod, of a vertically arranged pneumatic, a toggle joint connected with the swin ing leaf of said neumatic, a vertically mova le rod connecte with said toggle oint, a swinging bar for shifting said first mentioned rod, and a spring actlng between said toggle joint rod and said swinging bar.

'15. The combination of a mnd-producing apparatus, a pneumatic 64, rods 65 and 66 i pivoted to the swinging and fixed leaves of said pneumatic, abar 67 provided with a collar 70, a horizontall disposed swinging member 71, a spring 68 interposed between and connected with the collar 70 and member 71, a vertically reciprocable rod 56 having a collar 56a arranged and adapted for enga ement with the swinging end of the mem er 71, and connections between said wind-inducing apparatus and said pneumatic 64 whereby-said pneumatic may be collapsed by said Wind-inducing apparatus.

16. The combination with the piano action and a bodily movable structure carrying a plurality of individually operable elements for controlling the length of stroke of the piano hammers, of operative means, acting automatically with the reduction of air-pressure in the instrument, for controlling the position of said structure and the operativeness of the individually operable elements thereof.- y

17. The combination with a piano action, and a bodily movable structure carrying a plurality 'of individually operable elements for controlling the length of stroke of the piano hammers, of a pneumatic combined with mechanism operated thereby for controlling the position of said structure and the operativeness of the individually operable elements thereof.

18. The combination with a piano action, of means for controlling the length of stroke of the piano hammers, and means, controlled by the music spool, for operating said hammer-stroke controlling means.

19. The combination with a piano action,

reduction of said effects, and5 of mechanism for automatically securing solo effects by changing the length of the hammer strokes and means, controlled by the music spoo for operating said solo mechanism.

20. The combination with the piano aotion and a pneumatic solo action for controlling the piano hammers, of means for operating said solo action to control the piano hammers, valve mechanism controling pneumatic communication to said operatin means, and means whereby a music spoo operates said valve mechanism.

21. The combination with the piano action', of a shiftable pneumatic solo action for' producing solo effects, a pneumatic combined with means for shifting said solo action relatively to said piano action, valve mechanism for controlling communication to said n eumatic, and a music roll su ort com ined with means for operatingy sai valve mechanism.

22. The combination with the piano action, of a pneumatic solo action for roducin solo effects, a pneumatic for a justing sald solo action relatively to said piano action, a pneumatic connection from said solo action to the wind-inducin apparatus, a valve controlling said connectlon, and a connection for said valve by which the same is held from and released for operation through the operation of said pneumatic.

23. The combination with the piano action, of a neumatic solo action having means where y the piano hammers may be controlled to limit their strokes, a pneumatic combined with mechanism for adjusting said pneumatic action to limit the hammer strokes, a pneumatic connection extending to said pneumatic, a manually controlled valve controlling said pneumatic connection, and valve mechanism controlled by the music spool also controlling said connection.

24. The combination with the piano action, of a shiftable pneumatic solo action 110 having p-neumatics-.by which the length of stroke of the piano hammers may be controlled, said solo action being mounted to permit bodily shiftable movement so as to place all of said hammers in long or 115 short stroke positions, pneumatic mechanism for shifting said solo action, valve mechanism controlled by the music spool spindle for controlling said pneumatic shifting mechanism, and a manually controlled 12o valve also controlling said pneumatic shifting mechanism.

25. The combination with the piano action and player-mechanism therefor, of a bodily shiftable solo action, means whereby 125 said solo action may be shifted in one direction and means, automatically operated by said player-mechanism, whereby said solo action may be shifted in another direction into various positions.

2G. The combination with the piano acn tion and player-mechanism therefor, of a bodily movable solo action provided with means for controlling the length of hammer stroke, means for shifting the same .into position to shorten the stroke of the'piano hammers, and means, automatically operated by said player-mechanism, for shifting said solo action Jfrom such position.

27. The combination with the piano action and player-mechanism therefor, of a solo action mounted for swinging movement and provided with means whereby said swinging movement will place the hammers in short or long stroke position, means for swinging said solo action so as to place the hammers in short stroke position, and means, automatically operated by said player-mechanism, for swinging said solo action to return said hammers to long stroke position.

28. The combinationwith the piano action and player-mechanism therefor, of a solo action mounted for swinging movement and provided with means whereby said swinging movement will place the hammers in short or long stroke position, means for swinging said solo action so as to place the hammers in short stroke position, and means for swinging said solo action to return said hammers to long stroke position, said last mentioned means com rising mechanism actuated by the wind-in ucing apparatus of said player-mechanism.

29. The combination withthe piano action and player mechanism therefor, of a swinging solo action, means for swinging the same so as to put the piano hammers in short stroke position, and means for returning the solo action to place the hammers in long stroke position, said means comprising a vertically shiftable rod arranged to swing the solo action, and a lever arranged to be actuated by the wind-inducing apparatus of said player-mechanism.

30. The combination withthe wind-inducing apparatus, of a movable element for adjusting the length of hammer strokes, and means for moving said element, comprising a rod 101 carried by a movable member of the wind-inducing apparatus, a horizontally arranged bar 110 having an upwardly extending arm 109 arranged in the path of said rod, said bar 110 also having an arm 111, and a vertically arranged bar or rod arranged to cooperate with and be operated by the arm 111.

31. The combination with a solo action, of means for shifting the same by the windinducing apparatus, comprising a rod 101 *arried by a movable member of the windinducing apparatus, a horizontally arranged bar 110 having an upwardly extending arm 109 arranged ,in the path of said rod, said bar 110 also having an arm 111, a vertically arranged bar or rod arranged'to coperate with the arm 111, and a spring cooperating with said bar 110.

32. The combination of a swinging pneumatic solo action, a pneumatic for swinging said action, and a governor havin pneumatic communication with said action, the operation of said governor being controlled by the collapse and expansion of said pneumatic.

The combination of a swinging pneumatic solo action, a pneumatic for swinging said action, a valve controlling the wind supply to said action, and means for controlling the operation of said valve by the collapse and expansion of said pneumatic.

34. The combination with the music spool, of an extension device detachably fitted to the end of the spool and forming an eXtension of said spool when attached thereto.

35. The combination with a music spool, of a detachable extension collar projecting from one end of said spool and forming a longitudinal extension of said spool when attached thereto.

36. The combination with a piano action, of a pneumatic action provided with pneumatics and mounted for movement so as to permit the bodily movement of said pneumatics relatively to said piano act-ion, and means for moving said pneumatic action so as to cause such bodily movement of said pneumatics, said means comprising a pneumatic connected with the wind-inducing apparatus of the instrument, and mechanical connections between said pneumatic and said pneumatic action for actuating the latter by the operation of the former, and a. valve controlled by said pneumatic to control the communication between the windinducing apparatus and said pneumatic action.

37. The combination with a piano action, of a pneumatic for varying the length of stroke of the piano hammers, and means controlled by changes in pneumatic pressure for bodily and varyingly adjusting said pneumatic.

38. The combination with a piano action, of means for controlling the length of stroke of the piano hammers, means, operated by the music spool, for controlling said hammer-stroke-controlling means, and separate means for controlling said hammer-strokecontrolling means.

39. The combination with a piano action, of means for controlling the length of stroke of the piano hammers, means, operated by the music spool, for controlling said hammer-stroke-controlling means, and separate means, controlled by changes in pneumatic pressure, for controlling said hammer-stroke-controlling means.

Ll0. The combination with the piano hammers and an adjustable hammer-rest rail, of meansmounted for movement independently of said rail to provide a rest for one or more of said hammers, pneumatically operated means for positioning said first mentioned means in various positions between the extremes of its movement, and means for operating said first mentioned means so as to release certain of said hammers from the position of rest provided by said first mentioned means to permit said hammers to rest against said rail.

4l. The combination with a piano action, of a bodily movable pneumatic -action act-. ing upon said'piano action, means whereby said pneumatic action may be moved in one direction relatively to the piano action, and pneumatic means whereby said pneumatic action may be moved in another direction. into various positions.

42. The combination with a piano action,

of a bodily movable pneumatic action -act-4 ing upon said p iano action, means whereby said pneumatic action may be moved 1n one direction relatively to the piano action, and means, controlled by variations in wind pressure, for moving said pneumatic action in another direction into Various positions.

43. The combination with a piano action, of a pneumatic action acting upon said piano action and mounted for movement relatively thereto, means for moving said pneumatic action into operative position with reference to said piano action, and means, actingr automatically with such movement of?l said pneumatic action, for establishing Wind communication therewith.

44. The combination with a piano action, of a pneumatic action @acting upon said piano action, and means, controlled by the music spool and dependent upon the size of the spool used, for controlling the wind supply to said pneumatic action.

45. The combination with a piano action, ofl a pneumatic valve action having pneumatics for actin upon said piano action, said pneumatics eing arranged for adjustment relatively to said piano action, automatically operated means for adjusting said pneumatics relatively to said piano action and for controlling the wind supply to'said valve action, and manually operable means for controlling said means.

46. The combination with a piano action, of a pneumatic action for modifying the operation of said piano action, said pneumatic action being mounted to permit movement thereof, means, acting automatically with the reduction of air pressure in the instrument, for moving said pneumatic action into position to modify the piano action operation, and means, acting automatically with such movement of said pneumatic action, for supplying said pneumatic action with reduced air pressure.

47. The combination with a piano action, of a pneumatic action acting upon said piano action, said pneumatic action being mounted to permit movement thereof, means for moving said pneumatic action into position for affecting the operation of said piano action, and means for controlling said rst mentioned means, comprising a pair of valves, means for controlling one of said valves manually, and means, operable by the music spool and dependent u n the lengt-h of said spool, for control ing the other of said valves.

48. The combination with a piano action, of a pneumatic valve action having pneumatics for acting upon said iano action, said pneumatics being arrange for adjustment relatively to said iano action, means acting automatically with) the reduction of air pressure in the instrument, for adjusting said pneumatics into effectively operative position, means acting simultaneously for establishin communication between the windinducing apparatus and said valve action and means for controlling both of said means at will.

49. The combination with a piano action, of a pneumatic action acting u on said piano'action and mounted for a justment relatively thereto, means for adjusting said pneumatic action, means for establishing communication between the wind-inducing apparatus and said pneumatic action, and means, operated by the music spool and dependent upon the size of the spool used, for controlling both of said means.

50. The combination with the piano hammers, a traveling sheet and an adjustable hammer-rest rail, of means mounted for movement independently of said rail to provide a rest for one or more of said hammers, automatically operated means for positioning the first said means in various positions between the extremes of its movement, and means controlled in operation through said traveling sheet for actuating the first said means to release certain of said hammers from the position of rest provided by the first said means and permit them to rest against said rail.

51. The combination with the piano hammers, a traveling sheet and an adjustable hammer-rest rail, of means mounted for movement independently of said rail to provide a rest for one or more of said hammers, pneumatically operated means for positioning the first said means in various positions between the extremes of its movement, and means controlled in operation through said traveling sheet for actuating the first said means to release certain of said hammers from the position of rest provided by the first said means and permit them to rest against said rail.

52. The combination with the piano hammers, a traveling sheet and an adjustable hammer-rest rail, of means mounted for movement independently of said rail to pro-- vide a rest for one or more of said hammers, means through which variations in the operating air-pressure may cause movement of the first said means into various positions between the extremes of its movement, and means controlled in operation through said traveling sheet for actuating the first said means to release certain of said hammers from the position of rest provided by the first said means and permit them to `rest against said rail.

53. The combination with a piano action and player mechanism therefor, of a pneumatic action, acting upon said piano action and mounted for bodily movement, and means, automatically operated by said player mechanism, for positioning said pneumatic action in various positions between the extremes of its bodily movement to vary the operative effect thereof.

54. The combination with a piano action and a pneumatic action, acting upon said piano action and mounted for bodily movement, of pneumatically operated means for positioning said pneumatic action in various positions between the extremes of its bodily movement to vary the operative effect thereof.

55. The combination with a piano action and a pneumatic action, acting upon said piano action and mounted for bodily movement, of means through which variations in the operating air-pressure may cause movement of said pneumatic action into various positions between the extremes of its bodily movement to vary the operative effect thereof. n

56. The combination with the piano hammers and player-mechanism for adjusting them, of a pneumatic action, acting upon said hammers and mounted for bodily movement, and means, automatically operated by said player-mechanism, for positioning said action in various positions between the extremes of its bodily movement to vary the action thereof upon said hammers.

57. The combination with the piano hammers, of a pneumatic action, acting upon said hammers and mounted for bodily movement, and pneumatically operated means for positioning said action in various positions between the extremes of its bodily movement to vary the action thereof upon said hammers.

58. The combination with the piano hammers, of a pneumatic action, acting upon said hammers and mounted for bodily movement, and means through which variations in the operating air-pressure may cause movement of'said action into various positions between the extremes of its bodily movement to vary the action thereof upon said hammers.

59. The combination with a piano action, of a pneumatic action, provided with pneumatics and mounted for movement so as to permit the bodily movement of said pneumatics relatively to said piano action, and means, controlled in extent of operation by variations in pneumatic pressure, for moving said pneumatic action so as to cause such bodily movement of said pneumatics.

60. The combination with a piano action and player-mechanism therefor, of a pneumatic action, acting upon said piano action and mounted for bodily movement, and means, acting in accordance with variations in the operation of said player-mechanism, for positioning said pneumatic action in various positions between the extremes of its bodily movement to vary the operative effeet thereof.

6l. The combination with a piano action and player-mechanism therefor, of a bodily movable structure carrying a plurality of individually operable elements acting upon said piano action for the production of solo effects, and means, acting in accordance with variations in the operation of said playermechanism, for positioning said structure in various positions between the extremes of its bodily movement to vary the production of said solo effects.

62. The combination with the piano hammers and player-mechanism for actuating them, of a pneumatic action, acting upon said hammers and mounted for bodily movement, and means, acting in accordance with variations in the operation of said playermechanism, ,for positioning said action in variousgpositions between the extremes of its bodily movement to vary the action thereof upon said hammers.

63. The combination with the piano hammers and player-mechanism for actuating them, of a bodily movable structure carrying a plurality of individually operable elements acting upon said hammers for the production of solo effects, and means, acting 1n accordance with variations in the operation of said player-mechanism, for positioning said structure in various positions between the extremes of its bodily movement to vary the action thereof upon said hammers.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of February A. D. 1914.

PAUL B. KLUGH.

Witnesses:

J. M. NISBETT, W. E. GUNFERs.

orrections in Let-ters Patent No. 1,26 1,553.1,

, granted April 2, 1918, for an improvement in It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,261,553 upon the applicationof Paul B. Klugh, of Chicago, Illinois, Mechanical Musical Instruments, errors appear inthe printed specification requiring correctionas follows: Page 2, line 36, after the reference-numeral 14 insert a comma; page 5,1ine 46, claim 3, for the word rest." read rail; page 6, line 27, claim 15, for the compound Word i page 8, lines 46-47., claim 45, for the word l, page 9, line 40, claim 56, for the word adjusting read actuating; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with thesecorrecti conform to the record of the case in the Patent O Wind-'producing read wind-inducing;

automatically read pneumatically ons therein that the same may Hice. signed and sealed this'zd day of July, A. D., 1918.

[swr] F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting Commissioner fof Patents: