US1278845A - Expression-device control. - Google Patents

Description

J. W. BRYCE.

EXPRESSION DEVICE CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.22.19I6.

1,278,845 Patented Sept. 17, 1918 66 7 IM/ENTOR A TTOR/VEV UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES \VARES BRYCE, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE AEOLIAN COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

EXPRESSION-DEVICE CONTROL.

Application filed December 22, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES amas BRYCE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Bloomfield, Essex county, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ExpressionDevice Controls, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in remote control for expression devices for musical instruments and more specifically for, electrically actuated means for controlling the expression devices for phonographs such, for example, as a valve for varying the volume of sound produced by such an instrument.

Its object is to provide a simple, efficient and sensitive electro-responsive actuating mechanism for expression devices with a manually operable graduated current control device, by means of which a person at any desired distance from a musical instrument may control such an expression device, atwill.

In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood 1 will now proceed to describe the same in the following specific; tion and then point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of certain parts of a phonograph or the like, with actuating and control devices embodying my invention applied thereto. the latter being shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a modified form of sensitive relay and which forms a part of this invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing certain modifications in the arrangement of circuits which may be employed under certain circumstances.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

10 designates the tone arm of the instrument to be controlled. and 11 a part of its sound chamber; 12 is the expression device, in this case a valve arranged to be moved bv a rod 13 toward or away from its seat, to thereby produce more or less restriction to the size of the sound passage, and to thereby Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

Serial No. 138,465.

vary the volume-of sound emitted from the instrument.

1% is the speed governor of the instrument and 15 the friction disk of the governor.

The electro-responsive motor is designated generally by the reference numeral 20. In the specific embodiment of the invention ilustrated, this motor comprises a pair of similar solenoids 2192, a common core 23, and a dash pot 2st connected with the core. 25 is a bell crank lever pivoted at 26 with one of its arms connected with the core 23 by a link 27 and its other arm connected with the valve rod 13 by means of a rod 28 and another bell crank lever 29.

30 is a rod extending rigidly from the bell crank lever 25 and carrying a weight 31 by means of which the bell crank lever and the different elements which are connected therewith, may be countcrluilanccd to a desired extent.

32 is another arm rigidly connected with but insulated from the bell crank lever This carries at its outer end an electrical contact 33 which is adapted to slide over and make electrical connection with arious points on a rheostat 34 as the positions of the bell crank lever 25 and of the valve 12 are changed.

%0 is a manually operable current varying or control device which comprises a rheo stat a l similar in resistance to the rheostat 31, a movable contact 42 and an actuating thumb or finger piece 43.

A sensitive relay is interposed between this manual control device and the electroresponsive motor 20. This is designated by 50 and comprises an electro-ma-gnet 51 which has two spaced poles 5253 and two magnet windings wound in opposite directions. An arm 56 pivoted at 57 carries a polarized armature 58. This is held by a spring 59 in a position midway between the magnet poles when the latter are not magnetized.

60 is an electric generator which represents a suitable source of electric current supply. 61 is a lead from this generator, and 62 a resistance connected therewith. A wire 63 connects this resistance with the magnet winding 5%. the other end of which is connected by a wire (it with one end of the rheostat Another wire 65 connects resistance 62 with magnet winding the other end of which is connected by a wire 66 with the end of rheostat 41. A wire 67 is connected with the contact member 42. A branch 68 of this wire leads to the contact carrying arm 32 and another branch 69 leads to the other side of the generator 60.

In the circuits 6667, a plug 7 0 is interposed. 7O designates another plug which may be conveniently located in another place with which the manual control device may be connected.

71 is a switch by means of which the circuit hereinbefore pointed out may be opened or closed manually. This is interposed in the wire 69. An automatic switch 72 is also interposed in the wire 69. This comprises an arm 7 3 carrying a contact at its outer end and a similar arm 74 connected with but insulated from the arm/73. These two arms are of spring metal and are so arranged that when free to assume their natural positions,

will close between them the contacts which they carry, thereby carrying any current which may be passing through the wire 69. The arm 7 1 however, is of sufficient length to extend into the path of travel of the speed governor contact plate 15 and the parts are so proportioned and arranged that when the speed governor 1 1 is at rest its friction disk will engage this arm 74 and separate its contact from that carried by the arm 73, thus opening the circuit. It is evident however, that when the speed governor is rotated, its friction disk 15 will be removed from arm 7 1 and that this will allow the contacts on the arms 74: and 7 8 to come together.

On the upper end of the pivoted arm 56 is a contact 80 which is arranged to be moved from side to side against one or the other of two stationary contacts 81 or 82. A wire 83 is led from the stationary C,OH-- tact 81 to the winding of solenoid 22. 8% is another wire from contact 82 to the winding of solenoid 21. The other ends of these solenoid windings are connected together by a wire 85 from which a wire 86 runs to the generator 60. The other end of the generator is connected by a wire 87 with the pivoted arm 56 and its contact 80.

Before describing the devices shown in the other figures of the drawing, I will clescribe the operation of this device. hen the manual control device 10 is in the position shown, the sensitive relay 50, the motor 20 and the valve -12 will be in the positions in which they are shown. Now, when the phonograph motor (not shown) is started thespeed governor 1 1- will be actuated and this, as has been pointed out, will cause the contacts on arms 73 74: to be brought together so that it the switch 71 is closed two circuits will thereby be closed from the generator 60 through the windings of the sensitive relay 50. These may be traced as follows :first from the gener ator 60 through resistance 62, through winding 55, wire 66, contact 42, wires 67 and 69 to generator. Second, from generator 60, through resistance 62, wire 63, winding 54, wire 6 1, contact 33, contact arm 32, and wires 6869 to the other side. of the generator.

The current through these two circuits will be equal and as the number of convolutions in the magnet windings 5455 are equal and opposite, these currents will have noefl'ect whatever upon the magnet 51 and the "pivoted arm 56 will remain in its cen tral position.

Now, if the manual control device moved along on rheostat 41, the first effect of this will be to insert a part of the resistance of this rheostat in the circuit through magnet winding This will immediately throw the magnet 51 out of magnetic balance and will cause the polarized armature 58 to be drawn to one side, in this case to the right. The circuit will thereby be closed to the solenoid winding 21 which circuit may be traced as follows :fr.om generator 60 to wire 8'7, pivoted arm 56, contacts 80-S2 and wire 84L to the solenoid winding 21; thence through wires S586 to the other side of the generator. This will of course cause the core 23 to be moved upward. This upward movement will, through the mechanical connections previously described, move the valve 12 upward toward its seat to thereby restrict the size of the passage which it controls in the sound chamber.

The movement of the solenoid 23 and its connected partswill continue until the movable contact 33 reaches a position on rheostat 3a which corresponds with the position which the contact 42 now has on rheostat 41. This will reduce the current in magnet winding 51 to the same extent that the current in magnet winding 55 has been reduced and will thereby reestablish the magnetic effect of the magnet windings 54: and 55 and allow the pivoted arm 56 to again assume its central position under the influence of spring 59, thereby moving the contact 80 away from contact 82 and breaking the circuit through solenoid winding 21 so that the core 23 and the parts mechanically connected therewith will come to rest. 7

A further movement of contact 42 on .rheostat 41 in the same direction will similarly cause a further upward movement of the valve 12.

If the contact 42 is moved back toward solenoid winding 22, thcncc'through wires 85 and 86 back to the generator. In this manner the core 23 will be moved down ward and this downward movement will be imparted to the valve 12 until the contact arm 33 reaches a position on rheostat 3& cor responding with the new position of contact 12 on rheostat 41. This will, as in the former case, reestablish the balance between the magnetic effects of the magnet windings 5i55 and allow the pivoted arm 56 under the action of spring 59 to again assume its central position, thus breaking the circuit between contacts 80 and 81.

The dash pot 24, when used, prevents any sudden or jerking movement of the electroresponsive motor 20.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the form of sensitive relay there shown, comprises two electro- magnets 51 and 51". Each of these has a polarized armature 58 and 58 on pivoted arms which are held away from their respective magnet poles by means of suitable springs. Each of these magnets also compriseswindings 54c and 55 5% and 55, those of each magnet being equal in number of convolutions and wound in opposite directions.

Vithout specifically tracing the circuits it may be seen that when the magnetic effect of currents passing through windings 5t, 55, 5%, 55 is thrown out of balance, by means ,of manual adjustment of the control device 40, one of these magnets will cause its armature to be drawn toward its pole piece and the other will have a tendency to repel its armature on account of the fact that these polarized armatures are polarized in opposite directions. On account of this fact either one or the other of the magnets 51 51 will close a circuit at S1 or 82 whenever the current flowing through the magnet windings is thrown out of balance and this will in the other case, cause either solenoid winding 21 or solenoid 22 to be energized to thereby move the valve 12 an amount and in a direction corresponding with the amount and direction of movement of the contact 12 of the manual control device over rheostat etl.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the parts therein correspond with the parts shown in Fig. 1, with the exception that in this case the generator 60 is an alternating current generator and that in this case a battery 60 is used for the current supply for the magnet windings 5455 and the circuits therefor including the manual control device 40 and the rheostats 11 and 34:. The operation of this form of the sensitive relay and its connected parts is similar to that previously described in connection with Fig. 1, with the exception that in this case the solenoid windings 21 and 22 are energized by alternating current from the generator 60 and that the core 23 in accordance with the usual practice should be laminated to work effectively with currents of this character.

Such expression control valves as 12, as have heretofore been used, have been actuated by means of mechanicaldevices operable either at theinstrument or within a short distance from the instrument.

There is p actically no limit to the distance from the instrument which the operator may desire to assume. I have shown plugs such as and 70 for the purpose of illustrating the fact that several such plugs may be provided at places located at different distances from the instrument to which the manual control device 40 may be attached, sothat the operator may be able to control the instrument from different desired locations.

Another advantage of this arrangement is that but} two wires are required to connect the remote manual control device with the other parts of the apparatus, all of which may be installed within the sound producing instrument itself. It is my intention to have the wires between the manual control device and the plug flexible so that the operator will be able to move freely the hand in which it is held.

The invention is shown as applied to a talking machine or phonograph, but I do not intend to limit myself to this specific case. I have illustrated several modifications of certain parts of the apparatus to show that. I do not limit myself to any specific form or construction, and in fact intend no limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims.

VVhat I claim is:

1. An expression control device for musical instrumentscomprising a movable member, a motor arranged to actuate said member different desired amounts in opposite directions, and a remote control device connected with said motor whereby said motor may be made to actuate the member to an amount and in a direction desired.

2. An expression control device for musical instruments comprising a movable member, a motor arranged to actuate said member different desired amounts in opposite directions, and a remote control device electrically connected with said motor whereby said motor may be made to actuate the member.

3. An expression control device for musical instruments comprising a movable member, an electric motor connected to actuate said member different desired amounts and in 0pposite directions, and a remote manual c011- trol device connected with said motor.

1. An expression control device for musical instruments comprising a movable member, an electric motor connected to actuate said member, a remote manual control device for the motor, a sensitive relay balanced magnetically between the motor and control device, and means actuated by the manual control device and by the motor for disturbing and restoring the magnetic balance of the relay.

5. An expression control device for musical instruments comprising a movable member, an electric motor connected to actuate said member, a remote manual control device for the motor comprising an adjustable current varying element, a sensitive relay having opposed magnet windings and motor control contacts; and a motor controlled adjustable current varying element, said manually controlled current varying element being in one of the relay magnet windings and the motor controlled current varying element being in the other relay magnet winding.

6. An expression control device for musical instruments comprising a movable member, an electric motor connected to actuate said member, a remote manual control device for the motor comprising an adjustable rheostat, a sensitive relay having magnet windings arranged to carry currents in opposite directions, and motor control contacts; and a. motor controlled adjustable rheostat, said manually controlled rheostat being in one of the relay magnet windings and the motor controlled rheostat being in the other relay magnet winding.

7, An expression control device for musical instruments comprising a movable member, an electric motor connected to actuate said member, a remote manual control device for the motor, a sensitive relay between the motor and the manual control device, said relay comprising a pair of pole pieces, a polarized armature and motor circuit closers controlled thereby, yielding means for holding said armature away from the pole pieces and the motor circuit closers open, opposed balanced means for magnetizing said pole pieces, and means actuated by the manual control device and by the motor for disturbing and restoring the magnetic balance of the relay to close and open said motor circuit closers.

8. An expression device for musical instruments comprising a movable member, an electric motor connected to actuate said member, a remote manual control device for the motor comprising an adjustable rheostat, a sensitive relay having magnet windings arranged to carry currents in opposite directions, a pair of opposed pole pieces, a polarized armature and motor circuit closers controlled thereby, and yielding means for holding' said armature between and away from said pole pieces and said motor circuit closers open; and a motor controlled adjustable rheostat, said manually controlled rheostat being in one of the relay magnet windings and the motor controlled rheostat being in the other relay magnet winding.

9. An expression control device for musical instruments comprising a movable member, a pair of solenoids connected to actuate said member, circuits for said solenoids, a remote manual control device for said solenoid circuits comprising an adjustable rheostat, a sensitive relay having magnet windings arranged to carry currents in opposite directions, a pair of opposed pole pieces, a polarized armature and motor circuit closers in the respective solenoid circuits controlled thereby, and yielding means for holding said armature between and away from said pole pieces and said motor circuit closers open; and an adjustable rheostat controlled by said solenoids, said manually controlled rheostat being in one of the relay magnet windings and the solenoid controlled rheostat being in the other relay magnet winding. I

10. An expression control device for musical instruments comprising a movablemember, an electric motor connected to actuate said member difierent desired amounts and in opposite directions, a remote manual control device electrically connected with said motor, and a two-wire circuit for said control device.

11. An expression control device for musical instruments comprising a movable member, an electric motor connected to actuate said member,a remote manual control device for the motor, a sensitive relay balanced magnetically between the motor and control device, means actuated by the manual control device and by the motor for disturbing and restoring the magnetic balance of the relay, a two-wire circuit from said relay comprising a plurality of connecting sockets, a connecting plug adapted to fit said sockets, and a pair of flexible wires between the manual control device and said g 12. An expression control device for a phonograph having a driving motor and a sound passage comprising a movable valve in said sound passage, an electric motor connected to actuate said valve difi'er-ent desired amounts and in opposite directions, a remote manual control device electrically connected with said motor, a two-wire circuit for said control device, and an automatic switch in said circuit arranged to be actuated by said driving motor.

13. An expression control device for a phonograph having a driving motor and a sound passage, comprising a removable valve in said sound passage, a pair of alined solenoids, circuits therefor, a common core for said solenoids, a dzgh pot connected with said core, mechanical connections between the solenoid core and the movable valve, a remote manual control device for the motor comprisingan adjustable rheostat, a sensitive relay having magnet windings arranged to carry currents in opposite directions, a

pair of opposed pole pieces, a polarized armature and motor circuit closers controlled thereby, and yielding means for holding said armature between and away from said pole pieces and said motor circuit closers open; and a motor controlled adjustable rheostat, said manually controlled rheostat being in one of the relay magnet windings and the motor controlled rheostat being in the other relay magnet winding, and a two-wire circuit from said relay comprising a plurality of connecting sockets, a connecting plug adapted to fit said sockets; and a pair of flexible wires between the manual control device and said plug.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of December, 1916. JAMES AKES BRYCE.

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

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,278,845, granted Septembemfi,

1918, upon the application of James Wares Bryce, of Bloomfield, -New Jerseyfor an improvement in Expression-Device Controls, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction usiollows: Page 3, line 98, for the word -.=1se" read use: page 4, line 121, claim 13, for the word removable reed )nO'UGbYp; and

that the said Letters Patent should-be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the. record of the cese in the Patent Of'rice.

Signed and sealed this 22d day of OctobertA. D., 1918;

semi B. .F. HITEHEAD,

Abt'ing Commissioner of Patents. O1. 274 -1.

'Cerrectiens m Letters Patent No. 1,278,845.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,278,845, granted September- 17 1918, upon the epplicaticn of James Wares Bryce, of Bloomfieli-New Jerseyfor an improvement in Expression-Device Controls, errors appear in the printed epecilication requiririg correction as followsz-Pege 3, line 98, for the word r-eso."

read use: page 4, line 121, claim 13, for the word removable read movable; and

that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed arid sealed this 22d day of October, A. D., 1918.

smj R. .F. HITEHEAI);

Abting Commissioner of Patents.

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