US1547272A - Valve for musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

Patented July 28, 1925.

UNITE D SIA'FES.Y

1,547,272 PATENT OFFICE.

PETER TOTTIE, OF` SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR. T THE. VEGA COM- PANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

VALVE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed July1 ao, 19,23. serial-No. 654,561.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known vthat I, PETER ToT'rLn, of`

Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, aV citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Valves for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in explaining its nature.

The present invention relates to an improvement in valves for musical instrmnents` of the wind type. The invention relates f more especially7 to a valve in which there is employed a movable piston controlled by a spring contained within the stem of the piston and which spring is retained in partv by astar so called. This star, owing to the customary mode ofv its retention, is apt to become tipped and not properly seated especially during the assembling of the parts of the valve and when tipped the star 'prevents proper action of the piston and the valve may cease to function.

The object of the invention is to provide a member whereby tipping of the star willbe prevented and its proper seating insuredes-` pecially when the parts of the valve are assembled; also, whereby such members will permit of the star being easily manufactured and applied, together with its retaining member, to the valve during the assembling of its parts.

The invention can best be seen and understood by reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved valve.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the star.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section of the star.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the star.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a plan of the star in blank.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a cast or formed piece from which the blanks shown in Fig. 7 are severally cut.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a detail of construction to which special reference will later be made, and

Fig. 10 is a cross section on the line 10-10 of F ig. 9.

Referring to the drawings 1 represents the casing or tubeof the valve. 2 is.the piston movable through the casing for controlling its usual ports 3. The piston is provided with a hollow stem 4 affixed to the top end of the piston. The stem is of slightly less diameter than the piston leaving the top,y end of the piston forming an annular edge or shoulder 222 around the bottom end ofy the stem. Vithin the hole low of the stem is contained a coiledspring 5 which is retained as will later be explained.y The stem is also provided on opposite sides thereof with the usual slots 6 and 7 and oppositely-arranged side openingsy 8 and 9.

thumb piece 12 isa cap 13 which threadsv onto the top end of thecasing. Thus arranged the piston is movable through the casing within definedlimits. The piston is maintained in a normal raised positionand returned to such position when depressed, by the spring 5 containedwithin the cavity of the stem 4` and is otherwise retained as follows:r At the top end the spring bears against the interiorofthe cap 10 on the top end of-V the stem 4. `At its bottom end the spring bears against a star,14.

The star 14 comprises a body portion 15 which lies within the cavity of the stem 4 at its bottom where the stem joins the body of the piston, the body of the star resting on the top end of the piston. Projecting from the body of the star are wings 16 and 17, respectively, which pass through the slots 6 and 7 in the opposite sides of the stem and outwardly beyond the same to rest upon the annular edge or shoulder 222 at the top end of the piston. The extension of the wings is also beyond the opposite side walls of the piston and when the piston and stem and combined star are placed withinrthe casing or tube 1 of the valve the outer ends of the wings will become seated in slots 18 cut within the interior wall of the casing, the wings resting upon shoulders 181 forming the bottom ends of these slots.

It is this star 14 which is apt to become tipped and assume an inclined position preventing its proper seating and when thus tipped and unseated it causes the piston to stick and necessitates aV 'disassembling of the entire valve before the star can berestored to its proper position.-

Y The tippingV of the star is prevented by aixing to it a centering post or stud 20 which extends upwardly therefrom at substantially right angles thereto to lie within the coil of the spring 5 and interior of the stem 4, and against the coils of which spring backed by the surrounding wall of the stem the post has lateral bearing. Y A

The centering post 2O is fixed'to thestar by providing the body of the Vstar with an annular slightly raised bushing 21V inter-V nally threaded Vand into which the lower threadedend of thepost is screwed. Surrounding this bushing thev body of the star is provided with an annular socket 22forming a seating for the lower end of the spring 5. Y 1

rlhe centering post 2O is of a size or thickness diametrically as to have but a limited lateral play within the coil of the spring 5 and surrounding wall of the stem 4 and accordingly by reason of the limited play afforded itrprevents tipping of the star or such tipping or displacement as would cause vthe piston to stick. 1 Y

The star and post are made as separate elements, the post being attached to the star'V during the assembling of the parts. rlhe Vstarris inserted within the hollow of theV stem 4 by passing it throughthe slots in the side of the stem in the usual manner and afterward the star is moved to the'topv endA of thestem within the limit afforded by the slots, when the post may be screwed onto the starby inserting it through the open top end of the stem. v

The means thus provided for preventing displacement of the stair is such as will enble the star to be easily manufactured. In

fact, blank stars a may be cut from a cast or formed piece b and the blank stars easily machined into finished stars. The center posts Having thus fully described my invention, I claim Vand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A valve of the type specied comprising a casing, a piston, a hollow slotted stem to the piston, a spring within the hollow stem, a star within said stem with a wing projection extending through the slotted wall of the stem and against'which star the are cut from a rod and easily machined or threaded to ,screw onto the star.

spring has bearing, and a centering post af- Y fixed to said star and extending therefrom into the hollow of said stein.

2. A valve of the type specified compris-V ing a casing, a piston, a hollow slotted stein to the pistonfa ycoiled spring witlnnthe holwing projection extending' through the slotted wallof the stem and against which vlowV stem, a star within said stem with a Y star the spring has bearing, and a centering i post affixed to said star and extending therefrom to be contained within the coil of'said spring and hollow of the stem. .i

3. A valve of the type' specifiedcomprising a casing, to the piston, a coiled spring within said hollow stem,' a star within said stem with a wing projection extending through Vthe slotted wall of theV steinH and against which a piston, a hollow slotted stem` star the spring has bearing, and a centering post having a threaded end aflixed toV said star whereby thepcst may project from the vstar and be containedwithin the coil of said vspring and hollow of the stem, said star having a body with an internally threaded bushing for Vreceiving said Ystem and surroundingsaid bushing an annular seat for Said Spring' PETER ToTTLr

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