US1332187A - Controlling device for pneumatic piano-players - Google Patents

Description

M. NEWCOMER.

onmoum oEvlcE ron Pneumnc PIANO PLAYERS.

APPLICATION HLED 'IML 27. 1918.

yPatented Feb. 24,1920.

MARTIN COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEWT JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEWCOMER, PERTH AMBY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO VOLO'IONE NEW JERSEY.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOB PNEUMAIIC PIANO-PLAYERS.

Application filed March 27, 1918.

To alt wlw/a t 'may 00m-ern:

Be it lrnown that I, MARTIN NnwooMnn, a. citizen ofthe United States, and residing in the city of Perth Amboy, county of Middlesex, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Devices for Pneumatic Piano-Players, of which the following is a specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

There is at the present time a demand, fostered by the makers of expensive player pianos, for the production of instruments which shall be entirely automatic, except for the starting of the instrument and the replacement of the perforated music-sheets, but shall be capable of renditions approach- .ing the artistic under the control of the perforated music-sheet. It is the objectl of this invention to provide devices, in such an instrument, whereby more artistic effects can be produced under the control of the perforated music-sheetthan have been pos-- sible heretofore. The invention isI applicable to the control of the dynamic force with which tones are produced, of the tempo, of phrasing and of melody, but will be shown and described herein, by way of illustration of the nature of the invention, in connection with the control, through the movement of the hammer rest-rail, of the dynamic force with which tones are produced. In the particular embodiment of the invention which is chosen for illustration the position of the hammer rest-rail is controlled by a power pneumatic the operation of which is determined by side perforations in the music-sheet through devices which regulate the connection of the power pneumatic with the atmosphere on the one hand or with the exhaust system on the other hand, the construction of the devices being lsuch that the movement of the movable member of the power pneumatic can be checked, continued or reversed at any point between its extremes, whereby any desired gradation in effect can be accomplished.

In the drawing,--

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view` partly in elevation and partly in section, showing so much of a pneumatic player as; is necessary to enable the application of the invention to be understood.

Fig. 2 is a top view of portion of the lstructnre shown in Fig. 1.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 1920.

serial No. 224.980.

Fig. 3 is a view in section, on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. a is a detail view in horizontal section through the tracker-bar, showing the valve-block in the chamber.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing the usual tracker-box a, is adapted to support in the usual manner a music-roll carrying the usual perforated music-sheet c. i The latter is provided with a series of perfor-ations c, near one edge, in addition to the usual perforations which determine the action of the hammer pneumatics. The perforations c/ are formed in longitudinal lines (with respect to the musicsheet) and the displacement of each perforation toward one side or the other determines a corresponding movement of the power pneumatic, the operation of which is to be controlled. Furthermore, each such perforation, when it has brought about the desired operation of the power pneumatic, is immediately blanked or prevented from having any further effect, so that the movable member' of the power pneumatic remains in the position to which it was moved under` the influence of such perforation until another perforation, at one side or the other of the first, is presented by the music-sheet at the line of action. to bring about a further and corresponding movement of such movable member.

The tracker-box L also includes the usual tracker-bar l which i-s provided with the usual ports (not shown) for cooperation with the usual player perforations of the music-sheet and is also provided, in a position corresponding to the position of the series of side perforations ofthe musicsheet with a recess or chamber al', shown in dotted lines in Fig, l. This recess or chamber al is open at the lside next the music-sheet and is tightlyy covered thereby so that it has atmosphere, when the music-sheet is in position, except when one of the side perforations of the music-sheet passes over it. In the chamber d isfitted, with afsliding it, a bridge or piston or valve-block e, the edge or side of which next the music-sheet is flush, with the surface of the tracker-bar. The thickness 0f this valve-block, in the direction of length of the tracker-bar, is sufficient to blank or close completely the side no communication with the,`

perforation in line with which it may stand. It is moved through suitable connections with the movable member of the power pneumatic, such as the connections hereinafter described, so that, as hereinafter indicated, it shall blank or prevent the further effect of any one of the side perforations as soon the power pneumatic has been operated to the extent indicated by the position of such side perforation, whereby the movable member of the power pneumatic will remain in the position to which it has just been moved until another perforation, at one side or the other of the iii-st, is presented by the music-sheet over the chamber al. The tempo or the dynamic force determined by the passage of any one side perforation over the chamber' a will therefore be continued until a perforation in a diferent line passes over such chamber.

At each end of the chamber cl is a connection to a corresponding primary pneumatic by which thepower pneumatic is placed in conu'nunication with the atmosphere or with the exhaust system. Since the valve-block e forms a movable partition between the two end portions of the chamber fZ, the admission of air to one primary pneumatic or the other will depend upon the position of the side perforation in the music-sheet with respect te the position of the valve-block in the chamber.

In the construction shown the left hand end of the chamber d is connected by a tube /f with a chamber g below the .usual diaphragm gz'of a, primary pneumatic g, the chamber g being also connected through a bleed-hole g3 with the chamber g4 above the diaphragm g2. The chamber g4 is connected as usual, through a connecnection indicated g5; with the exhaust system of the player. The chamber g4' is also connected through a port g with the chamber 97, the port being normally closed by a valve g8, the stem of which rests as usual on the diaphragm g2, so that` when atmospheric pressure is admitted to the chamber g, below the diaphragm g2, the

yvalve is lifted by the diaphragm so as to place the chamber Q7 in connection with the exhaust system through the port g8. lhe chamber Q7 is also connected, through a port g, normally closed by an upwardly opening valve g1", with a chamber gu in direct communication, through a port gm, with the power pneumatic 7L. The latter is normally expanded either through the action of a spring or by thevweight of the movable member 7L. p

The other or right hand end of the cham- I ber d', in the construction shown, is connected through a tube z' with a chamber lo" below the diaphragm. 7a2 of a second primary pneui'natic 1, the chamber c being connected through a bleed-hole k3 with the common chamber g* connected as above described with the exhaust system through a common connection g5. Ahoi/*e the chamber g4 and separated therefrom is a chamber 7c? which communicates with the atmosphere through a port 766, such port being; normally closed by a valve 7.68, the stem of which passes through the wall which separates the chamber 7c* from the chamber 1? and rests upon the diaphragm 7a2. "lhe chamber T communicates with the chamber g through a port 7c, which is normally closed by a downwardly opening, springsupported valve Zelo.

ln the application of the invention to the control of the dynamic force tluough control of a hammer rest-rail, as illustrated in the drawing, the movable member it of the power pneumatic may be connected, through suitable connections indicated at ft2, with the swinging' rest-rail its by which the throw of the hammers itt', and therefore the dynamic force of the may be varied, as is well understood.

ln the construction shown the movable member t of the pov/er pneumatic has secured thereto an arm fr connected by a link LG with a rod 72,7 which carries the movable valve-block c, so that the valve-block is shifted in the chamber' lf with every morement of the movable member 71, of the power pneumatic. i

lt will now be understood that wheneif'er a side perforation c passes over the chamber d at the left hand of the sli valvebloclr e air at atmospheric pressure will immediately be admitted to the chan'iher below the diaphragm g2, be lifted and the power pneumatic 72, will be placed in communication with the eX- haust system, causing the motor partei' movable member 7L to be moved and tie hammer rest-rail, or whatever other part may be connected therewith, to be moved correspondingly. At the same time the valve-block c, through the connections with the .motor part It will be moved to the leftn until. it reaches the perforation c, there1 r blanling` or closing` such perforation checking the movement of the motor part and the valve-block. The diaphragm g2 will immediately sink, by reason of the equalization of pressure through the bleed-hole r(/3, the valve g8 will close the port gs and the motor part it will be brought to' rest immediately in its new position. No further morcment of the motor part will. take place until another perforation c passes over the chamber al. lf such new perforation be at the left of the valve-block c, then a further movement of the motor part 72, ,in the same direction will take place; but if such new perforation be at the right hand of the valve-block e, then air at atmospheric prestones produced,

the valve g8 willI sure will be admitted below the diaphragm L2 and the valve los will be raised, thereby admitting air at atmospheric pressure to the chamber 7.27, through the valve 7cm to the chamber g and the power pneumatic it, which will. then expand and at the same time move the valve-block c to the right until it reaches and closes such new side perforation, when the movement of the power pneumatic will ceaseand there will be no further movement thereof until. another side perforation is presented.

In Fig. l of the drawing the valve-block e is shown, for convenience, at the extreme right hand end of the slot d', with the motor part 71, in corresponding position. With the parts in these positions, when the next perforation in the music-sheetpasses over the chamber Z the diaphragm g2 will immediately rise, lifting the valve g8, and the pneumatic h will collapse until the valve-block c is moved into line with such perforation, when the movement of the motor part h of the pneumatic and the movement of the valve-block will cease, these parts remaining in their new positions until another perforation of the music-sheet, at one side or the other of the valve-block e, comes into registration with the chamber cl.

It will be Iunderstood that the side perforations are formed with the necessary lead with respect to the corresponding note perforations. It will. also be understood that the power pneumatic may be coupled to any part of the player necessary to give the effect desired, whether it be a change in dynamic force or tempo or anything affecting the rendition of the music, such power pneumatic being an expression device in this broad sense. Obviously, moreover, various changes in details of construction and arrangement will be made to suit different conditions of use, the invention not being restricted to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described herein.

While reference is made herein to the tracker-bar which is indicated in the drawing as the ordinary tracker-bar of a player piano, it will be understood that the recess or chamber with its sliding valve-block might be located in a supplementary tracker-bar either above or below the ordinary or main tracker-bar, it being merely a matter of giving the proper lead to the expression perforations in the music-sheet to suit the location of such recess.

i claim as my invention:

l. A piano player including in combination a pneumatic expression device, pneumatic controlling devices for said. expression device, a tracker-bar having a longitudinal recess adapted to be covered by the musicsheet and to be placed in communication.

with the atmosphere through perforations in the music-sheet, pneumatic connections from the ends of said recess to said pneumatic controlling devices respectively, and a transverse partition in said recess.

2. A piano player including in combination a pneumatic expression device, pneumatic controlling devices for said expression device, a tracker-bar having a longitudinal recessadapted to be covered by the musicsheet and to be placed in communication with the atmosphere through perforations in the music-sheet, pneumatic connections from the ends of said recess to said pneumatic controlling devices respectively, and a transverse partition movable longitudinally in said recess.

3. A piano player including in combina-v tion a pneumatic expression device, pneumatic controlling devices for said expression device, a tracker-bar having a longitudinal recess adapted to be covered by the musicsheet and to be placed in communication with the atmosphere through perforations in the music-sheet, pneumatic connections from the ends of said recess to said pneumatic controlling devices respectively, a transverse partition movable longitudinally in said recess, and means whereby said partition is moved in harmony with the movements of the pneumatic expression device.

.L. .-i piano player including in combination a pneumatic expression device, a tracker-bar having a longitudinal recess, a perforated music-sheet, pneumatic controlling devices connected respectively with the ends of said recess to bring about the operation of said expression devices under the control of perforations of the music-sheet, and a valve-block movable longitudinally in said recess to close each perforation immediately after the corresponding operation of the expression device has been initiated.

5. A piano player including in combination a pneumatic expression device, a tracker-bar having a longitudinal recess, a perforated music-sheet, pneumatic controlling devices connected respectively with the ends of said recess to bring about the operation of said expression devices under the control of perforations of the music-sheet, and a valve-block movable longitudinally in the recess, and operative connections whereby the valve-block is moved in harmony with the movement of the expression device and further operation of the expression device is prevented until a differently placed perforation is presented by the music-.sheet at the line of action.

This specilication signed this 12th day of March, 1918.

MARTIN NEWCOMER.

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