US1409482A

US1409482A - Automatic musical instrument

Info

Publication number: US1409482A
Application number: US805899A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles F Stoddard
Original assignee: AMERICAN PIANO CO
Current assignee: AMERICAN PIANO Co
Priority date: 1913-12-11
Filing date: 1913-12-11
Publication date: 1922-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1939-03-14

Description

c F. smnpARn. AUTOMATIC MUSiCAL INSTRUMENT.

I APPLICATIONk RILED DEC.1I,|9!3. 1,409,482.

Patented Mm'. M', 1922.

Q mw .om uw vm, mm.. mwfn.

I wUN/or MNT.

' .To @ZZ /wfaommay cmecwn:

Be it known Clinicas STODDABDS c citizen of the U,.,ieed Sectes, and; a iesiuenii of New York, couny of New Yoik, of New Vork? have invenccd an i'npiovev nient in fintoinaiic Musicai ilnsninnfienitsj which 'the iciiowing description, in connecion with the accompanying drawings, is a speciica-ion, like characters on cnedra??- ings iepiesen'cing like paris.

This invenion ieia'ces to automatic for playing musical instruments such, Afor instance, as pianos; and pertains more pas tcuiaiy to ineens for goveicnffng` and varying 'cone inensities.

Among other objects, he invention is in- 'tended to'piovide apparatus capable of producing a great variety oi1 variations in incensity of piaying., such appaiaus comprising preferably, 'though not essentially, a coin.

bination oi? ineens pi'oducing creseencio decree icio effecs and also instituting various deniie grades oi' steps of playing intensi-cy. Foi these purposes the invention i be embodied in appaiatus which is veiy sinipie and reliable in operation.

Foi iiinsiziaion, i'he accompanying {sawing siicws one practice-bleembodinieni of the invenion empioying suitable pneumatica-ily governed devices in ccopeiaiion xviii a piano action; bnc, as Wiii .appear to those skilled in ine sra the invention is susceptibie of einbofiiinenb in v i'ious constructions and oi'- shown and esiiibed herein. t will appesi* likewise chai iz is not indisoensabie that sii the 'Features ci che invention ce used con joiniiy since `heir respective subsiantiai acivsniages niej/vf acciue -i'i'oni their sepaiabe adppiic-tion in any 'niacica'oie nannei` to a suitai c playing insf nient.

comprises a key-conti'oiied sticker E oo aci:

upon a Wippen I, a hammer C, dampen n Specification of Leiers atent.

A and oher p :Sts which be vieil-.Known in the ai To opecae in e accion 55 pneuinsicaiiys a nio'or pneumatic l1 vided, having a siciiei o acc uooniie Wippen l fi Wind las; ieads ico cile Winc'i chest for the mozoi pneumaiics, each. of which has a secondary v 8 confsioiled. so a primary vaive 9 oneia'ced i'oin a isiaciei'- board G tiiiougii sf cinc?, 109 in che usual inannefn communicates Wish im? The 'aunk c. aed exhausc ches* 12, which be o e es A high exhausu s matics F are cause-ci (c cpera'ie by "che iaied ezihaus; in che cinesi; l2, "dois ieguf. exhaust being; varied, oidei izo vaiy i. L; @msnmaicsj opei'sion of' Vche s subjectingr it more oi iess oo the infuen izhe high exhaust in ciies; li specific purposes have pi'ovicei, be" the high exile isi chest and 'heiegi exhausi chiesi 1...', a por@ 30, ceniioiiefl chrome Valve 3l. A

This valve 3l may be oplei-ated by e of dieien' ineens. n eins specific tus, the stesi 32 of die vaive '.31 is coi to a movable board 33 of a oeiiows e@ pi-esendy desciibed7 said boaid beinigiiin at 33e. n

Beneath board 33 ae u' ses ic-ic'ies 35, 36S having their npjoei boards secuiec ne common niovabie ooad ,38 and oivei boards secured io a fixed piace shown. The pouches may be matie adiusif eine toward and from 'she hinge 33, io y their ieveiages, in any piaciicabe manne? as by having their rappe? and iowe heenreis, lo@ secured by screw and sio'c connections to ijiie inovaoie boaid 33 and iower suppozting respeciiveiy.

inoihei pouch 3T has'iis iowei boaic', cured "co the movable board 33 and iis upnei' we board "Lo a sationary piae 88. A condicion for the valve. mechanism 'for duct ell., and lo for the valve mechanism ior duct 4t2.

In the valve mechanism Afor ductit is assumed that the duct G3 to the tracker 5 vent Ta is'open to atmosphere; this lifts the diaphragm of chamber 62, Venting chamber 54 to atmosphere end admitting atmosphere J to the duct ell, past the valve eb and to the pouch 35. rllhus, whenever a tracker vent T, T or Tb, is open, atmosphere admitted to the corresponding pouch 9:5 or 36.

When one oi the

valves

50, 50, 50 is once opened by venting Athe corresjpionding tracker duct, the valve preferably continues open even though the tracker vent muy immediately closed. ln the specific apparatus this results from the Atact that once the valve 58, Foi-instan 1e, is opened to admit atmosphere tothe dialvihragm chamber 54, said valve 58 is held in, that position by atmosphere admitted past-the valve 58- into a duct 70a through a blender vent 72, and a duct Tl (shown in dotted lines), which latter communicates With the diaphragm chamber Gn. The chamber 59 above the diaphragm communicates as described with the high exhaust chest ll. Thus so long as atmosphere is admitted through duct '70? to duct Tel the diaphragm of chamber 62 will remain lifted and atmosphere will continue .in the corresponding pouch The parte just described as per-- taining to the valve 50 are triplicated to cooperate with the valves o() and 50h.

F rom the preceding discussion it will appear that small perforations in a music sheet may be employed to open the tracker Vents T, T .and T" which may be immediately closed if desired. vWhen used with the illustrative apparatus, each such perforation has the eli'ect of introducing atmosphere to a

pouch

34, 35 or 36 and even a'ttcr the tracker vent is closed, atmosphere will continue in the corresponding pouch until purposely exhausted at any desired subsequent time in a manner such as that about to be described.

The specific apparatus shown in the drau'- ings comprises e single valve mechanism, controlled by a single tracker vent, which may cooperate `with all or any oi the three above described valve mechanisms, to nega tive the eil'ect oi? opening one or more ot the tracker vents T, T and Tb. 'lhis single valve mechanism is shown at the right of Fig L A tracker vent R communicates by its duct 80 with a diaphragm chamber The latter controls e duplex valve which in its alernative positions admits atmosphere to a duct 86 or opens communication between said duct 86 end duct 88 leading to the high exhaust chest in extension $5 of the duct 86 communicates with each 'of 4 flessen the three diaphragm chambers 90 9U and 90b. Thus, when atmosphere is admitted to tl1n duct 86, pest the 'valve 84, the diaoi the chambers 90, 9()a and 90b lifted. ln describing the effect of this operation, it is convenient to refer to chamber 90a and associated parts.

is already `stated, the valvel 58l is held in .lie open position shown, by the fact that ,'tinosphere is'piesent in the ducts 70IIL and le" lli-.Them however, the diaphragm of chenber 90?- ie lifted, it lifts a disk valve 92"' and closes communication between duct and duct *Jet-a', thereby closing the latter from atmosphere At the same time the valve 92 ope scominunication between the duct 74'* through the blender 72a, with chamber 94 iwhich is open. to high exhaust through the duct 60a. ln this manner the duct 74P is connected with high exhaust which bleeds the atmosphere from*l chamber 62 thereby permitting valve 58"L to drop, shutting off atmosphere from thediaphragm chamber 5i and throwing the letter into communication with the chamber 5, f* and the hiUh exhaust chest 'le through the duct 60a. when the diaphragm chamber 54a is thus exhausted by high exhaust, the valve 50a is permt' ted to drop shutting off. atmosphere from the duct all and throwing the latter into comnninicetion with the duct 5lal leadin to the regulated pressure chest 12. lIn this man er, by opening the tracker vent R, the duct and its ouch 35 are closed to atmosphere and opened to regulated pressure.

The operation just described, so far as concernsthe specilic illustrative mechanism depends upon bleeding the diaphragm chember 62a. lt the tracker duct 63a be open through its vent Ta, at the time the vent R is openedvto initiate the bleeding of diaphrag n chambers (32, atmosphere Will enter I"ie cx amber 62i more rapidly than it can be exhausted therefrom bythe described bleed- T; therefore the effect of opening the vent ll is negatived, and in such circumstances t o Ied the ci izo :exhausted es described, wiso 'ehe j" linie' *will oe eroe orig; T., Tn, Tb? oe opened with or Wiiioir simoiteiieousiy opening rho icracker 'vent @in the other hand, the verr', rfa bc opened and henciosed (atmosphere being thereby eioiroiited io the pouch ik) and idoe vom be thereeer opened, the previous efec; or' opening verri', Ta wiii negazived and eine pouch 8e opened ibo regoia'ed pressure.

he eecr of opening arid eiosirig i ons. erocier ducts iii ehe specic meer may be readiiy understood by re erriiiir ro iiiusiretive 'orm or perforated music sheet diagrammeci in Fig. 53 in which are shown four iines of peroretioiis at the top governing' the above described erpressioii controlling tracker vente. rihe music sheet may be assumed to be travelling' iii the cirection of the arrow in Fig'. 2, The tracker. G is shown in domed lines in Fig. 2 zhe verr T@ being open through 'the perforaion 1GO in ehe sheet. All the other vents are closed. The perforatiois iii sheet 'for oggerariug the motor prieumeiics may be.

disregarded 'for brevigy,

'When 'the 'more sheer. and reeker are reia'fed as shown in Fig. 2 ehe various waive mechanisms occupy exactly the positions shown in l.' :if now the music sheet progress in iiie direcrioii of 'isiie arrowi perforazion Boi Wi {preseiiziy open verre E, this Wi'l iii the diep? rags?. or chamber 82; operi door, Si@ ro e'zriosphere; adr atmosphere 'ro rlisipiiregrii chamber i valve 99?; and *ah-row diaphragm cif ber 62 into communce'ioii with the bien exhaust c esi'. 14;., 'three door 60a. This permits the voire 58 '53o i offici hereb die'oiire 5e ie the@ Lhe cyiirider Sauce ami pouch .f eioee to atmosphere moi opened 'Ceo 'regir iofted pressure, .in 'liese circrirriszeiices reguiei'red pressure is present 'in eil o J' ie ponerles 34C, 35 en and rire-phy' 'is er, rire oweeia inrensivy.

'Wheothe music sheet progresses the perforeiiora 302 opens che verri.:

he ciuffi; i6 and pouch 34e to atmosphere Ther. er perforenion 303 ari-. a rye r regis'eer respectively 303 megef'fives me UMA/in.'

here, bo @ouch 71 eey ew eer progresses pouches .L 1 'me 'eer- 'oraiori 30e endures, and i'eereby "UL of he ehree perforabions 304., 305, and atmosphere is present in :iii of 'i'ie po'4 Se, 35 and 36, and rire playing is at bienes stili open to atmosphere.

'Next perforatioiis 309 and 3l() reiner atmosphere in the pouches 3ft arid zuid- :igaiii ali or' the pouches 311-, 35 arid 3G are open to atmosphere.

Next u perforation 3l() opens the Verr at :i rime when nii the other vents ere cio,C f and hereby negatives the efec's or' :iii i perforations 308 309 and 310 with iie rc ii tha al] the pouches 54-, 35 and 36 are ciosei to a'rnosphere and open to regui sure to reduce the playing to lowesrit ieri The preceding' description will sim 'A indicare the variety of combiiiarioiis oi' e oizieioris whereby atmosphere :mii reguieei pressure muy be ailier-'noted in one a or 'the pouches wih 'the reeiiii'mit 'vori a regiiiuted pressure and in the ioeneiries o' notes played thereby.

is Wiii appear to 'hose siriiied in 'die ,y lie iisiizi iiote perrorniions muy occur iii music shee or mov reined wiii; thc icsoribed er;p'essiori-re;iiizxting pc i iii :my piicicabie manner. as. For

advance eno, of :i more perfomion ix" more expression perforatioris io c. 'die regiiiai'eii pressure iii the chest playing the note with desired ineiisiy.

The preceding description i) i voed to im iiiusrative Jform of npperntiie vi which subetzimiziiiy distinct grees of regulaed exhaust eri piiiyiiig notes wiii snoeren-z ziiioe grades or intensity., such .ingr ioiider or softer than the iler-rb ''.o advantage iii w crescendo mi lfio eeote, this connection lo will the present the lthe i the respective pouch' maintained constant operation o' crescendo and oiuii? uen-do upperatiw" a" having regulated exh, i i i pouches for playing with 1n the foregoing descri assumed. that the degree exhaust pouch 3i' has been maintained constant, though always less than atmospheric pressure, so s to produce in effect an upward puil upon the board r his upward pull by the pouch 3? beingopposed as described by the pouches 34, und 36, vwhich. exert a variable aggregate downward pull, the sultunt of these downward und upu'uri, pulls has been shown to be u variable by which the playing intensities muy be varied by distinct increments to different leiels, so to spe-valt. The degree of exhaust in the pouch also preferably variable, to :iliord additional means for varying the result-unt between `the seid upward und downward pulls and thereby further varying the control of the vulve 31 andthe playin 0' intensities.

rllhe means by which a normal minimum degree of exhaust may be muiniained in the pouch 37 will be iii-st described. ductv 100 connects the interior of the pouch 37 with a valve chest 101 containing u needle valve 102. iVhen the valve 10% .is in the po sition shown in Fig. 1 it restricts communication between the duct 100 and e duct 103 which leeds to e source of high exhaust. Thus in effect with the mire 102 in 'the position shown there is e bieeding of air from the pouch 37 through the duct 100 und, chamber lhpast the vulve 10Q.

Another duct 10Q connects the interior off the pouch 37 with the interior of en equal izer pneumatic 105, which has smell bleeding vent 106 to atmosphere. The cepacity of the bleed to exhaust the vulve 102, and the capacityof the vent 106 to utmospliere ere so proportioned that s certain minimum degree of exhaust is maintained, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, in the pouch 37. The equalizer pneu matic 105 havingr u spring,- 107 is employed to provide u sufficient volume of eil' in elastic conditionto render the pouch 37 sensitive and readily responsive 'to such movement oi the board 33 as taires place in the operation of the valve 31.

The Ibleed to exhaust posi, the vulve 102 being so related to tlie`aeinos} )lierc bleed 106 :is to maintain e certain minimum degree of es huust in the pouch 87, it will be evident to those skilled. in the art that if the relation between these bleeds be changed (as by increasing the exhaust bleed, or diminishing the atmosphere bleed) so :is to increase the degree of exhaust in the pouch 37? then the upward pull by the pouch be increased. with e tendency to the vulve 31. to iu uying intensities To illusthus changing., the relation must anl atmosphere bleeds, ieu the needle 'vulve 102 i' iclu being moved upu'iirdly, Aurzuluully inci ases the exhaust bleed (the atmosphere bleed 1l reniaini'" convenience constant) thereby gradually iucrcusing the degree of exhaust in. the pouch Si", ,gradually imrreasing;` the upward pull on the board 33 and vulve 231. so as to produce an excellent crescendo ellect. Obviously.y 'the speed with which the needle valve 102 is moved muy be made to determine the sfeed of the cresceiuloA The upper end oit the vulve. 102 is connected by e :i linl: 110 with ic n'uivable board 111 eif pueuiuutic 112, pfovided with a spring` 113. il.. preferably'adjustable stop 11% for the inoruble board 111 is provided, to hold `the mow-,blc board un( vulve 102 in position to maintain the desired minimum bleed to exhaust through the cln'niber 101 and past the valve 102 when the pneumatic 112 is ingl'ulljv expended posiiiou.

ln the specific illustrutive apparatus the pneumatic 112 's :irruugzed to be collapsed at diii'erent speeds, so us to open the needle vulve et different speeds und produce correspondingly thistor slow crescendos. y

l .ct 11:3 leeds from the interior of the 'pneumatic 1 te an adjustable blceder vent 116 und u second adjustable vent 117 und is connected by u tube 118 with a, valve chumbei- 119' controlled b Y u vulve 120 which admits to said chamber either utmos here or I dit. lirugm carries e vulve block 125 for closing o'f the by-pess 122, und the vulve bloei; controlled by :i diaphrugm 126 over si chamber 12'? connected by u tube 128 with a vulve chamber 12S) controlled by u vulve 130 which admits to said chamber either aimes )here or high exhaust from the chest 121. The vulve 120 is controlled by e diuphrugzj i 132. the chamber of which is' connected by e. duct 133 with u. trucker vent 134. rhe vulve 130 is controlled by t diaphragm the chumber of which is connected by e duct 136 with c tracker vent 1n the operation of this specific apparatus the adjustable bleeder Vent 116 is utilized to determine 'the minimum speed oi exhaustion o1 pneumatic 112 'for slow crescendo purposes; and likewise the minimum speed fit which atmosphere is re-udmitted to the Suid pneumatic vfor slow dii'uinliendo purposes. The bleeder vent 112 is adjusted to provide u less constriction of the possi-ige 115 than that determined by the edju'sta ble vent 116;

t 11'? used to determine the' mausi ded by the vent.

"me open 1 fha,u dus as :a

('.ILLLI hem muuu

1 leem iual 'me end, ou

the non( mined by the previous opening more of they events TfTn, T and Either the slowA crescendo f3-duced by opening the vent 131i alone, or the rapid 'crescendo produced by causing lboth vente '134 and 137 to ,be opened, may be saper osed upon an alreadyeiristing intensity regulation. In the same manner rapid crescendo may be superposed vupon a slow cre-- superposed upon the rapid crescendo by 'superposed upongan already existing slof diminuendo, or viceversa.

v.ducedby .appropriately combiningthe causing the vent i3? to be closed, lflremaimng open. I

Slmilarly, a i'ast `din'unueinio may t Furthermore, as will yappear to those skilled in the art, the playing intensity may be increased by suden practically instantaneous ep super posed upon a crescendo which in progress, thereby, for example, particularly emphasia ing some note or notes in the crescendo. Such effects, .and many others, may be proscendo and diminuendo effects with each other and with the increasing and decreasing of intensities by the distinct steps; it is, however, deemed' unnecessary to desciibe these various combined effects in any greater detail since they will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In Fig. 2 the arrangement of perforated music sheet for producing someof these com bined effects, is shown for iilustration. For instance, a perforation 315 is provided for opening the tracker duct 15E-)4C to produce a slow crescendo, followed, when the rent 131i is again closed, by a slow decrescendo. is already described, the perforation 311 in the 4music sheet has had the effect of introducing regulated pressure to lall of the pouches Se, 35 and 36, and therefore the slow crescendo caused by the perforation 315 starts at 'the lowest level of playingv intensity and crescendoes from that level so long as the perforation 315 continues, and then decrescendoes to the lowest level of intensity. There after, a perforation 316 opens the tracker vent T, thereby [admitting atmosphere to the pouch 34 and causing the instrument t i louder by a distinct step. Vhen, therefore? the'perforations 317 and 318 start a fast crescendo, the latter begins at .a louder ievoi of playing land crescendoes from that. it will be noted that the perforation 318 controliing the speed of operation of the pneumatic i12, extends beyond the rear end of the perforation 317v so that the combined'effects of the perforations 317 and 318 produce a fast .cre-

scendo so long as the former acts, following b a fast decresc'endo. Thereafter, p foration 319 starts a slow crescendo duri which it may be assumed for illust., -o

tensity by a thereafter l the crescc: emphasis.

Vahile the slow crescendo caused by the perforation is in progress., two pcrforations 320 and $521 introduce atmosphere to the pouches b5 and 36 and this combining with the ci'iect of lthe perforation 316 causes the loudest playing to ensue. Shortly thereafter, however, the perforation 322 negatives the -ct et the pcrforations 320 and 323i While the perforation 3*.3 continues the previous eli'ect of the perforation so that the level of intensity upon which the crc scendo started is restored, and the cr ,scendo continues so long as perforation .5518 holds the vent 13d open. As will appear to those skilled in the art, the effect of the perforations 20 and 321, followed more or less promptly by the

perforations

322 and 323, is selecta certain in the crescendo at which notes will oeparticuiarly emphasized above the ii isities which they would oth rwise 'have in me crescendo at that time. For further illustration, aperforation starts a fast crescendo during the progress of the slow crescendo by the perfora- BF2, and after the latter perforation has terminated, the prolongation of the erforation causes a fast crescendo. perforation S32/i be' terminated before the pneumatic iii) has had time to expand to thn` fuliy open position, then the remaining expansion, after the perforation 324 has passed the tracker, results in -a slow crescendo to the revel of intensity determined by the perforation 323.

'.l` he foregoing will suiiice to illustrate the various combined arrangements of intensitystep controllingperforations, and crescendo and`diminuendo perforations, by which a great variety of eii'ects may be produced as will appear to those skilled in the art.

it is to beunderstood that the invention not limited to the specific details of construction, organization and inode of operation hcreinbeforc described for purposes of ,illustratie @n the contrary, the invention may be r' of the s' those "n lainis:

fr. An instrument' of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playin actions; 'and regulating means inter-pose( between said main source of powe'and said pneumatic actions, for maintaining uniformity of' piaying intensities, whether one or 'ones be sounded, said regulating means c niprising a valve, a pneumatic to I the` receive regulated pressure, and an oppositely acting pneumatic partially exhausted, said pneumatics conjointly controlling said valve;

and means to vary the degree of exhaust in scribed comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source ot pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a regulating valvev interposed between said mam source of power and said pneumatic actions; a regulating pneumatic connnected to said valve; means for connecting said regulating pneumatic to regulated pressure; a pneumatic acting upon said valve in opposition to said regulating pneumatic and normally maintained partially exhausted; and means to vary the degree of exhaust within said pneumatic from the normal. s

3. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a regulating valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions; a regulating pneumatic connected to said valve; means for connecting said regulating pneumatic to regulated pressure; pneumatic means connected to said valve to exert a continuous pull relative -thereto in opposition to said regulating pneumatic; and means to vary the force ot said .pull by substantially continuous progression.

4. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a regulating valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions; a regulating pneumatic connected to said valve; means for connecting said regulating pneumatic to regulated pressure; penumatic means connected to said valve; controlling means for said pneumatic means to normally maintaina constant pull thereby in opposition to said regulating pneumatic; and means to vary by substantially continuous progression the pull by said pneumatic means for correspondingly varying the regulation and the playing intensities.

5.*An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneufor varying the degree of exhaust at said last named pneumatic means.

6. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; regulating means interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions, and comprising opposed pneumatic means one of them arranged to receive regulated pressure and the other arranged to be variably exhausted; means for 'varying the degree of exhaust at said last named pneumatic means; and means to vary the speed of exhaustion of said last named pneumatic means. K

7. n instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneu.- matic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing 35 actions; a regulating valve interposed between the main source of power and the regulating pneumatic actions; pneumatic means for opening said valve; a valve for I governing the exhaust of said pneumatic means to open the regulating valve; and automatic means to control said valve.

8.15m instrument of the character described comprising, in combination,` pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a regulating valve interposed between the main source of power and said pneumatic actions; pneumatic means for opening the regulating valve; a valve for governing the exhausting of said pneumatic means to open the regulating valve; and automatic variable-speed means for controlling said valve.

9. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a regulating valve interposed between the main source of power and said pneumatic actions; pneumatic means for opening the regulating valve; a valve for governing the exhausting of said pneumatic means to open the regulating valve; a tracker; means connected tothe tracker for operating said valve, and other means connected with the tracker for varying the speed of operation of said valve.

l0. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, amain source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a throttle valve interposed between the main source of power and said pneumatic actions; a movable member connected to said valve for governing its throttling aotion; pneumatic means adapted to receive regulated pressure, connected to said movable member and tending to move the saine in one direction; and pneumatic means-conmeans; and means to vary the degree of eX- hause in said second pneumatic means for producing crescendo and diminuendo effects.

1 1. Aninstrument of the character` described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source'of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a throttle valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions; a movable member connected to said valve for governing its throttling action; pneumatic expression governing means for varying expression by distinct increments, 'acting upon said movable member and tending to move the same in one direction; and pneumatic crescendo means acting upon said movable member and tending to move it in opposition to said expression means. I

12. An vinstrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a regulator interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions, said regulator comprising opposed pneumatic means; automa-tic 'means for varying the acting area of. one of said pneumatic means to vary playing intensities by distinct increments; and means to vary the degree of exhaust in the opposing pneumatic means to produce crescendo effects.

13. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions; and governing means for said valve comprising pneumatic means having a vent to atmosphere and a vent to suction, said vents having their capacities related to maintain suction in said pneumatic.

14. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing action's-a valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions;governing means for said valve comprising pneumatic means having a bleed to atmosphere and a bleed to suction, the

capacities of said bleeds being so related as to maintain suctionI in said pneumatic means; and means to vary the relative capacities of said bleeds to vary the degree of suction in said pneumatic means.

15. An instrument of the character dcscribed comprising, in combination, pneumatin playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions; and governing means for said valve comprising pneumatic means having a bleed to atmosphere and a bleed to suction; a tracker; and means connected to the tracker for varying the relative capacities of said bleeds.

16. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said pla ing actions; a valve intei'poscd between said main source of power and said pneumatic action-s; and governing means for said valve comprising pneumatic means having a bleed to atmosphere and a bleed to suction, a valve for varying the relative capacities of said bleeds, and automat-ic means for operating said valve.

17. An instrument ot' the character described comprisine, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main sorurce of pneumatic power for operating said playinv.

bleeds, automatic means for operating saidvalve, and means for varying the speed of operation oi' said valve.`

18. An instrument of the character described comprising. in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power tor operating said pla ing actions; a valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions; and automatic. crescendo means comprising,r pneumatic means having bleeds to atmosphere and exhaust. connections vfrom said pneumatic means to the valve, and means lor gradually varying the relative capacities ot' said bleeds to vary gradually the operation ot' said pneumatic means.

19. An instrument oi the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic. power for operating said playin actions; a valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions; governing means tor said valve comprising pneumatic means having bleeds to atmosphere and exhaust: means tor relatively varying the capacities of said bleeds; a pneumatic for operatingY said last-named means; and means for operating said pneumatic at different speeds.

20. An instrument ot' the character described comprisino. in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said pla ing actions; a valve interposed between said main source ot' power and said pneumatic actions; and governing means forsaid valve comprising pneumatic means having bleeds to atmosphere and suction, a needle valve for varying" the capacity of one of said bleeds, a tracker, and means connected to the tracker for governing said needle valve. 21. An instrument or the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source ot pneumatic power for operating said playing actions a valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions; and governing means for said valve comprising pneumatic means having bleeds to atmosphere and suction, a needle valve for varying the capacity of one ot said bleeds, z tracker, and means connected to the tracker for operating said needle valve at different speeds. 22. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions,a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions, a valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions; and governing lmeans for said valve comprising a plurality of pouches each operatively connected to said valve, means to admit regulated pressure to said pouches to regulate said valve and maintain playing intensities whether one or many tones be sounded7 and selective means to determine which of said pouches shall receive regulated pressure.

23. An instrument of the character described (annprising. in combination. pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions; and governing means for said valve comprising a lever loperativelv connected to said valve, pneumatic means acting upon said lever, and means for varying the leverage of said pneumatic means on said lever.

24. An instrument ot' thc character described comprisinf. in combination` pneumatic. playing actions. a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a valve interposed between said main source olA power and said pneumatic actions; and Vgoverning means for said valve comprising a lever operatively connected to said valve, pneumatic. means operable upon said level' with different leverages` and means to vary the acting arca ot' said pneumatic means.

25. An instrument ot the character .described comprising, in combination` pneumatic playing actions, a main source ol pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions; and governing means for said valve comprising a lever, a plurality ot' pneumatic means operatively connected to said lever to act thereupon at different distancesl from its tulcrum, and means for operating said pneumatic means selectively.

actions, and a plurality of cumulatively operable regulating pneumatics operatively connected to a valve interposed between the main source of power and said playing pneumatic to maintain playing intensities whether one or many tones be sounded, comprising a plurality of cumulatively operable pneumatics, pneumatic means opposing the operation of said pneumatics, and means for throwing said regulating pneumatics respectively into and out of operation` and pneumatic means opposing'the operation ot' said regulating pneumatics.

2T. An instrument of the character de scribed comprising. in combination. pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a plurality of cumulatively operable regulating pneumatics operatively connected to a valve interposed between the main source of power and said playing pneumatics to maintain playing intensities whether one or many tones be sounded; a common lever to which said regulating pneumatics are connected at different distances from the fulcrum; means opposing the voperation of said pneumatics upon said lever; and means for( throwing said pneumatics respectively into and out of operation.

28. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions; a main source of powerfor operating said playing actions; a throttle valve interposed between said main source of power andthe playing actions; and a plurality of independently operable regulating pneumatics connected to said throttle valve adapted each to establish a different degree of regulation in the power applied to said playing actions.

29. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination. pneumatic playing actions; a. lmain source ot' power for operating said playing actions: a throttle valve interposed between said main source of power and the playing actions: and a plurality of independently operable regulating means` connected to said throttle valve: means to introduce regulated exhaust to said regulating means selectively or in combination. whereby with th(` introduction ot' regulated exhaust to each such means su c cessively the playing intensities will be (lecreased.

Sil). .\n instrument of the character described comprising. in combination` pneumatic playing actions: a main source of power for operating said playing actionsi a throttle valve interposed between said main source of poweI and the playing actions; a plurality ol regulating means operatively rooted seid throttle valve for varying 'eg-'ree of poi/*er applied to said playing toiconnect said plurality of ting means selectively or in combinato a source ci exhaust controlled by said throttle valve for regulating the degree ot e L lied to the playing actions at diliedetermined levels. in .instrument of the character decoi'nprising'in combination, pneumat' playing actions, a main source of pneuic power for operating said playing ons.; regulating means. interposed besaid main source olf power and said pneumatic actions, for maintaining uni- 't'ormity oi' playing intensities, whether one tones be sounded, said regulating winnrising a valve, a pneumatic to rec. .regulated pressure, and an oppositely i eumatic partially exhausted, said o* e Latics conjointly controlling said valve,

vary by substantially continn s ion the degree ot exhaust in exhausted pneumatic thereby crai s in playing intensities. n., :n .instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneuplaying actions, a main source or" pneupower .tor operating said playing regulating means interposed beid main source of power and said tic actions, for maintaining uniformplaying intensities, Whether one or i .1v tones be sounded, said regulating l comprising a valve, a pneumatic to regulated pressure., and an oppositely pi sumatic partially exhausted, said yes conjointly controlling said valve;

to increase by substantially conprogression the degree of exhaust partially exhausted Ipneumatic to cendo changes in playing inten- "iistrument of the character decomprising, in combination, pneumatic nl ying actions, a main source ot H pow-er for operating said playactions; regulating means interposed b etiveen said main source ot power and said matic actions, for maintaining unii "'lty ot playing intensities, Whether ne any tones be sounded, said regulating s comprising a valve, a pneumatic to regulated pressure, and an oppositely acting pneumatic partially eirhausted, said pneumatica conjointly controlling said valve; and means to decrease by substantially continuous progression the degree of exhaust l partially exhausted pneumatic to diminuendo changes in playing inproduce tensitfs,

i n instrument or the character deooinprising, in combination, pneupotions, a main source ot` duce substantially continuous progres-I pneumatic power for operating said playing;7

ctions; valve interposed between said main source of power and said pneumatic actions, governing means for said valve including. a lever and a plurality of pneumatic means operatively connected to said lever to act thereupon at different distances from its fulcrum; and means for adjusting the acting points of said pneumatic means on said lever relatively to the fulcrum.

35. An instrument ot the character described comprisingfin combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic poner for opera-ting said playing actions; a valve interposed between said main source ot power and said pneumatic actions; governing means for said valve including a lever, and a plurality of pneumatic means operatively connected to said lever to act thereupon at different distances from its 'fulcrumg moans 'for adjusting the actpoints of said pneumatic means on said lever relatively to the tulcruin; and means ttor operating said pneumatic means-selectively. l

3G. An instrument ot the character described comprising` in combination, pneu'- matic playing actions; a main source of pneumatic povver 'for operating Said playing actions; and regulating means interposed betivcen the main source of poiver and said playing pneumatics to maintain playing intensities Whether one or many tones be sounded, said regulating means comprising a lever, pneumatic means progressively acting upon said lever between the fulcrum and 'the end thereof, and means opposing the operation of said pneumatic. means.

B7. An instrument of the character dcscribed comprising` in combination, pneumatic playing actions;' a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions: and regulating means interposed between the main source ot power and said playing pneumatics to maintain playing iutensities Whether one or many tones bc sounded` said regulating means comprising a lever, pneumatic means progrcssivelv acting upon said lever between the fulcrum and the end thereofmeans to control the action ot said progressively acting pneumatic means upon said lever, and means 0ppc-sing the operation of said pneumatic means.

38. An instrument ot the character (le-- scribed comprising, in combination, playing pneumatica; a mainlsource of power for operating said l'ilayer-pneuniaticsg a valve interposed between the main source ot power and tending to open said valve, including lan air container having a movable wall nl erativelyv connected to said valve, adapted to contain a body of air runder tension` and means to vary the tension of said contained air to vary playing intensities while maintaining-communication between vall parts et said air container.

40. In a musical instrument, the combination of playing pneumatics; a main source of power for operating the playing pneumatics; regulating means for regulating the iowot air between the playing pneumatics and said source ot' power comprising means providing a lever acted upon by opposed forces; and means Jfor varying the point of application upon said lever ot at least one of said opposed forces relatively to the fulcrum.

41. In. a musical instrument, the combination of playing pneuinatics; a main source of power for operating the playing pneumatics; regulating means for regulating the flow of air between the la 'infr neumatics P .l/ e, Y

and said source of power comprising means providing a lever acted upon by opposedl forces; and pneumatically operable means for varying the leverage of at least one of said opposed forces.

42. ln a musical instrument, the combination of playing pneumatics; a source of power for operating the playing pneumatics; a valve between said source of power and playing pneumatics; a regulator having operative connection with said valve; pneumatic means for tensioning said regulator; a valve and valve casing tor controlling said pneumatic tension means; expression bellows to cause relative movement between the valve and valve casing to vary the pull of said pneumatic tension means upon the regulator.

43. In a musical instrument, the combination-of playing pneumatics; a source of power for operating the playing pneumatics; a valve between said source of power and the playing pneumatics; a regulator having operative connection with said valve; pneumatic means for tensioning said regulator; valve and valve casing for controlling said pneumatic tension means; expression bellows to cause relative movement between the valve and valve casing to vary rapidly or gradually thc pull of said pneumatic tension means upon the regulator.

ln testimony whereof. l have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. STODDARD.

lllitnesses: 4

LAURENCE A. JA NNwAY, Enw. A JOHNSON.

tCertificate et Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,409,482, granted March 1 4, 1922, upon the application of Charles F. Stoddard, of New York, N. Y., for an improve. ment in Automatic Musical instruments, errors appear in the printed specication requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 113, for themisspelled word diphragm read diaphragm; page 7, line 116, 'For descrescendo read alec/wa scendo; page 9, line 15, claim 2, tortconnnected read connected; same page, lines 87 and 88, claim 7, strike out the words the regulating and insert instead the Word said, and line 89, for the word said read the regulating;

nage 10, line 4, claim 10, for the word exhause read emlzaust; page 11, line 73, claim 26, for

the Word pneumatic read pi'lfeumatas; same page and claim, line 75, commencing with the Word comprising, strike out all to and including the word and in line 78; and that the said Letters vPa tentshould be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the ree-ord ot the case in thp` Patent Ollice.

Signed and sealed this-13th day of J une, n. D., 1922.

[sean] KARL FENNNG, Acting ommz'ssz'ocr of Patente.