US1353643A - Damper for grand-piano actions - Google Patents

Description

. F. L. GEORGE.`

DAMPER FOR GRAND PIANO ACTIONS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1919.

1,353,643. PatentedSept. 21, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAMPER FOR GRAND-:FIANO ACTIONS.

Application filed September 9, 19l9.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK L. GEORGE, a citizen of the United States, 1esiding at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Danipers for Grand- Piano Actions, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to make an improved damper for grand pianos, and my invention consists of tbe novel features herein shown, described and claimed.

A. very objectionable condition existing in the -.grand action for all time is the very unequal touch with which the pianist has to contend owing to the alternate weight put onto the key through the operation of the danipers. Under the present form of construction it is out of the question to keep the weight of touch on the key equalized, owing to the constantly alternating movement of the damper on and off the key caused by the operation of the loud pedal up and down. The act of using the loud pedal moves the entire damper action upward from off t-he rear end of the key thereby taking its weight entirely from the key; this damper action constitutes about one-third of the weight on the key, so that when it is removed by the pedal the weight of touch is about one-thirt lighter, and owing to the constant movement of the loud pedal by the performer there is a constantly alternating touch between heavy and light causing a most disagreeable sensation to the pianist.

My object is to overcome the 'objectionable features of the old construction.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional detail showing an equalizing damper for grand pianos embodying` the principles of my invention, the parts being in their normal positions with the key at rest.

Fig. 2 is a view analogous to Fig. 1 and showing the action when the key is struck.

The key l normally rests upon the back rail` key cloth 2. The wire 3 is in its usual position above the rear end of the key 1. The damper lever rail 4 is substantially in the -usual position and the damper lever flange 5 is secured against the front face of the rail 4 and extends upwardly. The damper lever 6 is pivotally connected to the damper lever flange 5 by a pin 7 and is normally substantially horizontal and extends forwardly from the damper lever rail 4. A round extension 8 extends from the lower Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 322,727.

face of the damper lever 6 about one-third of the distance from its forward end. The equalizer 9 is substantially straight. The extension 8 is bifurcatod and the equalizer 9 has an ear 1() fitting in the bifurcation and connected by a pin 11 like a hinge. rihe forward end of the equalizer 9 has a felt 12 fitting upon the rear end of the key 1 and a similar felt 13 is secured to the rear end of the equalizer 9. rllhe damper rod i4 engages the felt 13.

The damper rod 14 has an extension rod 15 and the extension rod 15 is hingodly connected at its rear end by a pin 16 carried by an attaching plate 17 secured to the supporting arm 1S by a screw 19. rPhe supporting arm 1S extends forwardly from the lower side of the damper lever rail The arm 1S has a seat 2O in the upper face of its forward end and a felt 21 rests in the seat 2O and supports the damper rod 14 when in its normal position. The loud pedal rod 22 extends upwardly through the bottom of the piano and engages the damper rod 14, so that when the loud pedal is operated the rod 22 is reciprocated upwardly against the damper rod and raises the damper rod i4 from the seat 21 thereby raisingl the rear end of the equalizer 9 as shown in dotted lines.

The movable damper lever flange 23 is pivotally connected to the damper lever 6 by a pin 24. rfhe lifter wire 25 extends upwardly from the damper lever flange 28 through a support 26, and the damper 27 is connected to the upper end of the lifter wire 25 in position to engage the piano wire 3.

A spring 28 has a forward end 29 bearing upon the damper lever 6 near its center, a coil 30 near its rear end, and a rear end 31 bearing upon the rear end of the damper lever 6. The coil 30 forms a bearing and the wire is inserted through the bifurcation in the upper end of the damper lever flange 5 and a pin 32 is inserted through the darnper lever flange 5 and through the coil 30.

lhen the loud pedal is operated by the performer the loud pedal rod 22 immediately actuates the damper rod 14, which in turn raises the rear end of the equalizer 9 which having its forward end resting on the key 1 exerts its influence on the damper lever 6, which in turn lifts on the movable damper lever flange 23, which in its turn carries upward the lifter wire 25 which raises the damper 2T from the piano wire Patented Sept. 21, 1220.

Y erts an equal pressure upon the key at all times instead of being raised Jfrom the key by the operation of the loud pedal as in thel old construction thus producing a touch having a perfectly even resistance at all times.

Thus l have produced a damper for grand pianos comprising the combination With a damper lever, of an equalizer pivotally connected at its center to the free end of the damper lever, one end of the equalizer resting upon the rear end of a piano key and the other end of the equalizer resting upon the damper rod, so that When the loud pedal is operated to raise the damper construction the front end of the equalizer is always upon the piano ke i so as to make a uniform touch.

Various changes may be made Without departing from the spirit of'my invention as claimed.

I claim:

A damper for grand pianos comprising the combination with a piano key and a damper lever, of an equalizer pivotally connected to the 'free end of the damper lever, one end of the equalizer resting upon the rear end orP the piano key and the other end of the equalizer resting upon the damper rod, so that when the loud pedal is operated te raise the damper mechanism the fo 1Ward end of the equalizer is always upon the piano key, thereby equalizing the touch.

.-2. ln a damper for grand pia-no actions, in combination With a key, a damper lever and/a damper rod; an equalizing lever resting upon the inner end of the key and upon the rod, being connected intermediate of its ends with the damper lever and forming a support therefor.

3. ln a grand piano, the combination With a key, a horizontally disposed damper lever and a damper rod; of an equalizing lever positioned to support the outer end of the damper lever; one end of said equalizing lever being in contact with the key and the other end being in contact With the damper red; said contact being maintained irrespective orp the movement orp the key or the damper rod.'

4. ln a damper for grand piano actions, in combination, a damper lever pivotally mounted and having a lug extending from its lovver side adjacent to its outer end, an

equalizing lever having an upwardly eX- tending lug pivotally connected with the lug of the damper lever and a cushioning pad fixed to each end of the equalizing lever, the lever resting at one end upon a key and at the other end upon a damper rod.

5. ln a grandpiano, the combination With a key, a loud pedal mechanism, a horizontally disposed damper lever and a damper rod; of means horizontally disposed under the damper lever for substantially equalizing the action touch of the key irrespective of the movement of the damper rod, said means being operatively connected to said loud pedal mechanism and said key.

6. in a grand piano, the combination With a key, a horizontally disposed damper lever and a damper rod; o1e means pivotally connected to the damper lever for substantially equalizing the action touch of the key irrespective of the movement of the damper rod; said means being in permanent contact With the key and the damper rod. Y f

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK L. esoneri.

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