US1369524A - Automatic expression device for player-pianos - Google Patents

Description

S L. FISHER.

AUTOMAHC EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR PLAYER HANDS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEQ. [917.

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AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICKTION FILED IUNE 9. 191].

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S. L. FISHER,

I AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9 1931' Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

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AUTOMATIC EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE 9.1917.

1 69,524. Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

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STANLEY L. FISHER, OF CHESTER, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE PRATT READ PLAYER ACTION COMPANY, OF DEEP RIVER, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Application filed June 9, 1917. Serial No. 178,707.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY L. FISHER, a subject of the King of Great Britain residing in Chester, county of Middlesex, gtate of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Expression Devices for Player-Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic expression devices for musical instruments, and it'has particular reference to automatically operating means for actuating the hammer rest-rails of player pianos. My improvements are particularly applicable to the automatic operation by pneumatic means of the base and treble sections of a divided hammer rest-rail in an automatically operated player piano, but the invention may also be used to advantage in other appl1cations or connections.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide improved means controlled by movement of the exhausting apparatus for automatically operating expression or other devices, and, more specifically,

to furnish a device arranged exteriorly of,

but mechanicall actuated from, an equalizer or other bel owsfor controlling or actuating a movable hammer rail section, or like device.

In the playing of pieces of music on a player piano, the operator pumps strongly for obtaining loud effects and gently for obtaining soft effects. In one case the bellows forming a part of the exhausting apparatus are considerably collapsed, while 1n the other case the collapse is negligible. Hence, by controlling one or more expression devices from the bellows, for example the equalizer bellows, the desired effects may be obtained. In the form of my invention selected for illustration the hammer rest-rail is automatically moved up, close to the strings when the pedaling is only sufficient to collapse the equalizing bellows to a slight extent, whereas when the bellows are more fully collapsedby hardpedaling, the hammer rest-rail is moved back to the initial position. It may be assumed, of course. that when'the pedaling is light a soft effect is desired, and this is automatically obtained by movement of the hammer rest-rail toward the strings to shorten the length of the hammer stroke; conversely, when the pedaling is executed with considerable force, it may be assumed that a loud effect is desired, and this is automatically obtained by the withdrawal of the hammer rest-rail to the initial or normal position. The hammer rest-rail is usually divided into bass and treble sections independently operated, and in the following description I shall only refer to the actuating mechanism for one of these sections. This actuating mechanism is very simple in construction and efi'ective and reliable in operation. It may, furthermore, be used to advantage in connection with devices other than hammer rest-rails.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view of a player piano having means constructed in accordance with this invention for shifting the hammer rest-rail, said rail being shown in the normal position, in which the hammer has the normal stroke.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the rest-rail moved up to shorten the hammer stroke:

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the equalizer bellows and controlling valve for the actuating pneumatic, showing said parts in the position indicated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the pneu matic for actuating the rest rail, takenon the line 44 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sections on lines 55 and 66, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the diaphragm cover.

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the valve mechanism of the pneumatic, taken 7 on a line corresponding to the line 7* A of ing valve which cooperates with said valve block.

As previously stated, my invention is par ticularly applicable to a pneumatic player piano in which the hammer rest-rail is divided into base and treble sections. Inasmuch as the operating means for the two (or more) sections are alike, I have only considered it necessary to illustrate one rest-rail section with its operating means.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the piano selected for illustration has strings 20, adapted to be struck by hammers 21 (of which only one is shown) pivoted to the usual supporting rail 22, and adapted to be actuated in any suitable manner by a pneumatic action A, indicated in the drawings by the valve chest a shown partly broken away, to which a pneumatic Z) for operating the wippen 23 is operatively secured. inasmuch as the construction of the pneumatic action A and the manner in which it operates forms no part of this invention, a fuller description is believed to be unnecessary. The pneumatic action A is connected by a tube 2 to a reservoir or equalizer bellows B, which in turn is connected in the usual manner by a tube 525 with the main exhausting apparatus or bellows. i have not con sidered it necessary to indicate the construction of the main exhaust bellows, but the same is shown diagrammatically at C in Fig. 2. The hammer rest-rail section is indicated at 26, the same being located back of the hammer shanks in the usual location and pivoted by hinges "27 to a supporting rail 28. The hinged rest-rail is properly connected, for example, by a wir 29 with an actuating pneumatic'D having suitable valve mechanism hereinafter described, and connected by a tube 30 with the equalizer bellows B. The upper end of the wire is connected to an angle piece 31 applied to the front surface of the rest-rail 26. so that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 the pulling down of the wire 29 will cause the rest-rail to swing on the axis of its hinges 27 in a forward direction, '2'. 6., toward the strings. so as to move the hammers toward the strings and thereby shorten their effective stroke, as shown in Fig. This downward pulling movement of the wire 29 is effected by the movable leaf of the pneumatic D, which leaf is arranged uppermost so that it will be pulled downward by the collapse of the pneumatic. .1 cleat 33, applied to this movable leaf. is properly connected with the lower end of the rail-actuating wire. When the pneumatic is permitted to expand a5 -in. the wire is moved upward, and the :ESli-lilll 26 swings back (assisted by gravity) to its normal inclined position in which a full stroke of the hammers is permitted. The pneumatic D is normally held in the expanded position by a spring 3% of usual form.

The valve mechanism for the pneumatic D is contained within a valve block which in the example shown is located bene the pneumatic. T eadi e upward from the bottom of the valve block is an upright duct SGcomnmnicating at its lower end with an elbow 87. to which the upper end of the tube 30 is attached. Double 'alves 38 are horizontally movable at opposite sides of the duct 36 for controlling the communication of the interior space 39 of the pneumatic with the exhaust apparatus and with the atmosphere. Each of the valves 38 which I prefer to designate in its entirety as a primary valve is located in a chamber 39 at one face of the valve block, and said chambers are inclosed by a cover piece 49. Each of the primary or double *alves has a valve portion 41 to control an opening l2 in the cover piece, and another valve portion 43 to control a valve seat is in the valve block. \Vhen the valve portion 1-1 fits tightly against the inner face of the cover piece, so as to close the opening 42, the chamber 39 is cut oil from the atmosphere, and when the valve portion 13 fits tightly on the seat is, this chamber 39 is cut oil' from the duct 36, with which it may otherwise communicate by means of a duct 45. Each of the valve chambers 39 is adapted to communicate with the interior space 89 of the pneumatic by way of a duct 4:5. The outer part of the cover piece 40 above mentioned is pret-rably covered with felt or other material pervious to air but impervious to dust, and the inner face of this cover piece has a layer of leather. or the like, applied thereto so that the valve portions a l can be pressed into airtight contact with their seats. Each of the double valves has a stem lti guided in a transverse bore in the block, and at the side of the block opposite the valve chambers 39, the valve stems are equipped with operating heads or buttons 47. adapted to be actuated by diaphragms 48, secured in place by adiaphragm cover -19. Each of the buttons 4LT operates in a chamber 59 of the valve block and behind each of the diaphragms is a suction chamber 5i. Intermediate the chambers 50, the valve block is provided with a lateral duct 52 extending from the upright duct 36 to one face of the valve block. This lateral duct 52 registers and communicates with a bleed 53 in the diaphragm cover 49 intermediate the diaphragm chambers 51. The bleed 53 communicates with both diaphragm chambers by small lateral ducts 54:, as shown in Figs. 7 and T Leading from one of the diaphragm chambers 51 is a small metal tube 55, connected by a flexible tube 56 with a valve mechanism E which is controlled from the equalizer bellows B.

The valve mechanism E for controlling the pneumatic D is preferably constructed as follows: Applied to the under part of the key bed 5? of the piano. or to any other suitable support within the piano, is a depending valve block 58 having a port 59 in one face thereof. The flexible tube 56 is attached to a metal tube 60, extending into the block at one side, and communicatmg with port 59 by way of a passage 61. A flap valve 62 is swingingly mounted adjacent the block so that said valve may close and open the port 59. In the .form shown, the flap valve is provided at its upper end with trunnions. 63 which are journaled in small brackets 64 at the upper part of the valve block 58, and the face of the Valve block in which the port 59 is formed is inclined at an angle to the vertical so that in the normal pendant position the valve 62 rests by gravity on the valve block and closes the port 59. In order that the port 59 may be tightly closed when the valve is in this position, the working face of the valve is preferably covered with leather, or other suitable material, as shown at 65. A rod 66 rigid with the flap valve hangs down in proximity to the bellows B and is adapted to be operated thereby. By preference the movable leaf or lid of the bellows B is provided with a bracket 67 in which adjustable a shank 68 carrying a felted bumper 69, adapted to engage the lower end of rod 66 to thereby lift the flap valve from its seat.

The operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows: With strong or medium pumping of the usual pedal mechanism, the equalizer bellows B is sufficiently collapsed to disengage the bumper or operator 69 from the rod or extension 66 on the flap valve. The flap valve therefore occupies the closed position. [The penumatic D remains inoperative because the suction from B through tube 30 sucks the air from the chambers '51 behind the diaphragms 48 (through the lateral duct 52, bleed 53 and. ducts 54), and also exhausts the small chambers back of the valve portions 43 by way of ducts 45, so that atmospheric pressure holds the valve portions 43 on their seats to cut off the suction apparatus from the pneumatic, while at the same time the valve portions 41, which are connected with the portions 43, are held off their seats, so that the pneumatic is in communication with the atmosphere by way of the passage 45 and the openings or ports 42. When the parts are in this position. the tube 56 is exhausted owing to the factthat the port 59 is closed by the swinging valve 62 while suction is exerted on the interior of the tube from the suction duct 36, by way of duct 52, the left-hand duct 54, and left-hand chamber 51 (Fig. 7), and the tube 55. Suppose, however, that the person playing the piano wishes to play pianissimo, the pedaling is cut down as usual, and this automatically causes the hammer rest-rail to be moved up to shorten the stroke of the hammers. The reason for this is that when the pedaling force is reduced, the bellows B expands so that the bumper 69 engages the extension on the flap valve 62 and pushes said valve away from its seat on the valve block 58, thereby opening the tube 56 to the atmosphere. As soon as this tube is opened the equilibrium of the valve mechanism of the pneumatic D is upset, and as air rushes through the tube 56 into the diaphragm chambers 51, the diaphragms or pouches 48 are actuated to shift the double valves by means of their buttons and stems. In this manner the valve portions 38 are caused to seat on the cover piece 40, and thereby cut off the pneumatic from the atmosphere, while simultaneously the valve portions 43 are moved off their seats so as to establish communication between the suction duct 36 and the pneumatic. The pneumatic therefore immediately collapses, and its movable leaf carries downward the wire 29 so as to actuate the hinged rest-rail 26 in the manner previously described. As soon as medium or hard pedaling is resumed, the equalizer bellows is again substantially collapsed and this enables the flap valve to seat itself by gravity, so that the diaphragm chambers are again exhausted, and the double valves of the pneumatic are moved back to the initial position to expand the pneumatic D.

By having the bumper 69 adjustable, the penumatic D can be caused to actuate the hammer rail automatically upon any given expansion of the equalizer bellows within 100 certain limits, and the parts may be nicely adjusted to secure the results desired. It will be seen that when the force of the pedaling is decreased for the purpose of decreasing the striking force of the pneu- 105 matic action A on the piano action, the softening effect is automatically accentuated by shortening of the hammer strokes, and this is done in a very simple and effective manner.

Various modifications of the described arrangement may be made without departing from the scope of my invention. For example, I do not limit myself in all aspects of the invention to a construction in which 115 an adjustable bumper on the equalizer bellows is arranged to operate and control the valve. It will. be apparent, furthermore, that while I have shown the hammer restrail controlled solely by automatic means, 120 various changes in. this and other features may be adopted without digressing from the scope of the claims.

What I claim. is

1. In a musical instrlnnent, the combina- 125 tion with hammers and strings, of a movable rest-rail for shortening the strokes of the hammers, a source of exhaust, an equalizer bellows in communication therewith, and pneumatic means including a valve operated 180 by said bellows for shortening the hammer stroke automatically by movement of said hammer rest-rail toward the strings when said bellows is expanded to a predetermined degree, and :tor lengthening the hammer stroke when said bellows is collapsed to a certain degree.

2. in a musical instrument, the combination with hammers and strings, oi" a movable rest-rail for shortening the strokes of the hammers, a source of exhaust, an equalizer bellows in communication therewith, and pneumatic means for shortening the hammer stroke automatically by movementof said hammer rest-rail toward the strings upon the expansion oi. said bellows beyond a predetermined degree, including a valve exterior to said bellows, controlled by the movement thereof.

3. In a player piano, the combination oli hammers and strings, a movable rest-rail tor the hammers, a pneumatic device for shifting said rest-rail, a pressure reducingbellows for operating said pneumatic device, an equalizer bellows, and a controlling valve for said pneumatic device ranged exteriorly of but controlled by said equalizer bellows.

In a player piano, the combination of hammers and strings, a pneumatic action for operating the hammers. pressure reducing means for operating said pneumatic action, including an equalizer bellows, a movable hammer rest-rail, a pneumatic connected to said restaail to shift the same, and a controlling valve for said pneumatic automatically controlled by the expansion and contraction of said equalizer bellows.

5. In a player piano, the combination oi. hammers and strings, a pneumatic action for operating the hammers, pressure reauc ing means for operating said pneumatic tion, including an equalizer bellows, a movable hammer rest-rail, a pneumatic for shifting said resta'ail, and a controlling valve for said pneumatic automatically controlled by the expansion and cont action of said equalizer bellows, said valve having an operating part cooperating with the movable leaf of said equalizer bellows.

6. In a player piano, the combination oi hammers and strings, a shittable rest-rail for the hammers, a pneumatic for moving said rest-rail toward the strings to shorten the hammer stroke, pressure reducing means connected with said pneumatic. a controlling valve for said pneumatic, adapted to be opened to move the hammers toward the strings, pneumatic means for operating the hammers, and an equalizer bellows controlled by the pedaling of the instrument, and provided with means to open said controlling valve automatically when the be llows is expanded to a certain extent.

7. In a player piano, the combination of hammers and strings, a movable rest-rail "for the hammers. a pneumatic for shifting said rest-rail to shorten the hammer stroke, pneumatically operated means for actuating the hammers, ann pressure reducing means connected with said last named means, and also connected with said pneumatic tor actuating the hammer rest-rail, said pressurereauoing means including an equalizer bellows having a movable leai, and a controllin valve for said pneumatic, which is closed when said equalizer bellows is co]- lapsed to a certain extent, but opened by the movable lent oi said bellows when said bellows is expanded beyond a predetermined degree.

8. In a player piano, the combination oi hammers and strings, a movable rest rail for shortening the hammer stroke, pneumatically operated means tor actuating the hammers, an equalizer bellows 1 communication with said pneumatically operated means, controlled by the pumping of the instrument, pneumatic means for moving the hammer rest rail to thereby shorten or lengthen the hammer stroke and means acting on said last-named means for shortening the hammer stroke when said bellows is expanded to a predetermined degree and for lengthening" the hammer stroke when said bellows is collapsed to a certain degree.

9. in a player piano, the combination of hammers and strings, a movable hammer rest rail, pneumatically operated means for actuating" the hammers, means including an equalizer bellows for actuating said pneumatically operated means, pneumatic means for operating said rest-rail to vary the length of the hammer stroke, and means arranged exteriorly of said equalizer bellows but acaiated thereby to control said pneumatic means for causing the hammer rest rail to be moved toward the strings when said equalizing bellows is at or near its full expansion and to move away from the strings when said bellows is collapsed by hard pumping.

10. In a player piano, the combination of hammers and strings, a movable hammer rest rail, pneumatically operated means for actuating the hammers, means for actuating said pneumatically operated means includinc; an equalizer bellows, pneumatic means for moving said rest-rail to thereby vary the hammer stroke, including aprimary valve, and means arranged exteriorly of said equalizer bellows but actuated thereby to control said primary valve and thereby shorten the hammer stroke by movement of the hammer rest rail toward the strings when said equalizer bellows is at or near its full expansion.

11. In a player piano, hammers and strings, a movable hammer rest rail, an equalizer bellows the expansion of which varies in accordancewith the force with which the instrument is pumped, a pneumatic for moving said hammer rest rail, a primary valve for said pneumatic, and means actuated by the movable leaf of said bellows for controlling said primary valve to lengthen the hammer stroke by the partial collapse of said bellows and to shorten it by the expansion of the bellows.

12. In a musical instrument, a bellows having a movable leaf, pressure reducing means connected with said bellows, a fixed valve block adjacent the movable leaf of said bellows, a pendant flap valve cooperating with said valve block and normally closed by gravity, an adjustable device mounted on the movable leaf of said bellows for opening said flap valve when the bellows is expanded to a' certain extent and permitting it to close when the. bellows is collapsed to a certain extent, and pneumatic means connected with said valve block and controlled by said flap valve and an expression device controlled by said pneumatic means.

13. In a musical instrument, a bellows, a

valve structure above said bellows adapted,

to be operated by the movable leaf of said bellows, comprising a valve block having an inclined face with a port therein, and a depending hinged flap valve normally held by gravity against the face of said block to close said port, said flap valve having an operating part whereby it may be engaged and opened by the bellows and an expression device controlled by said flap valve,

14. In a player piano, an expression device, a neumatic for operating the same, an equa izer bellows, a flap valve for controlling the operation of said pneumatic, and means for opening said flap valve by the ex ansion of said bellows.

15. n a player piano, an air operated expression device, an equalizer bellows, a controlling valve for said expression device,

, and means operated by the movable leaf of said bellows for opening said valve when said bellows is expanded.

16. In a player piano, an expression de vice including a pneumatic having a primary valve, a controlling valve in communication with said primary valve, an equalizer bellows, and means operable by the movable leaf of said bellows for opening said controlling valve by the expanding movement of said bellows.

17. In a player piano, an expression device including a pneumatic with a primary valve, a controlling valve in communication with said primary valve, an equalizer bellows, and means operated by the movable leaf of said bellows for holding said controlling valvein an open position as long as said bellows is expanded to or nearly to the full extent.

18. In a player piano, an expression de vice, means including a pneumatic valve for controlling said device, an equalizer bellows the inflation of which is controlled by the pumping of the instrument, and means associated with the movable leaf of said bellows for holding said valve in the open position when the bellows is in the normal expanded condition, said valve arranged to close automatically when said bellows is collapsed.

19. In a player piano, the combination of hammers and strings, of a movable rest-rail for shortening the strokes of the hammers, a pneumatic operatively connected to said rest-rail to move the same, an equalizing bellows having a movable leaf, pressure reducing means for operating said pneumatic, and means operated by the movement of said leaf for controlling the operation of said pneumatic.

20. In a player piano, the combination of hammers and strings, of a movable rest-rail for shortening the strokes of the hammers, a pneumatic operatively connected to said rest-rail to move the same, a primarv valve for controlling the operation of said pneumatic, and means including a controlling valve to operate said primary valve, said controlling valve constructed to be opened and closed by variations in the force with which the instrument is pumped.

21. In a pneumatic musical instrument, a piano action, including hammers and strings, means for advancing said hammers toward said strings, a valve for controlling said advancing means, a source of exhaust, a pneumatic having a movable leaf in communication therewith, and means on said movable leaf contacting with said valve as said pneumatic is expanded.

22. In a pneumatic musical instrument, a piano action, including hammers and strings, means for advancing said hammers toward said strings, a valve for controlling said advancing means, a source of exhaust, a pneumatic having a movable leaf in communication therewith, and means on said movable leaf contacting with said valve as said pneumatic is expanded, the point of contact between said means and valve being adjustable.

23. In an expression device for a pneumatic musical instrument, an expression pneumatic, a valve for controlling the same, a source of exhaust, a pneumatic having a movable leaf in communication therewith and cooperating means on said valve and said movable leaf whereby said valve is opened by the expansion of said pneumatic, said means being adjustable to vary the point of opening of said valve.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on the 31st day of May, 1917.

STANLEY L. FISHER.

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