US1555762A - Violin piano - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29, 1925 sssgm E. Si LE'IN VIOLIN PIANO Filed April 13, 192i 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 135 f6 7 22 10 4 (BM/gt 61 Fromm a Sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,152

E. SILEN VIOLIN PIANO E. SlLEN VIOLIN PIANO Sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,762

Filed April 1 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 n w ()4 Z 4 r f I, O G O O O J 0 v V l I 11mm Sept. 29, 1925 1,555,152

. E. SILEN VIOLIN PIANO r11: April 15. 1921 'g m 4 J2 L 1 Sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,762

E. SILEN VIOLIN PIANO Filed April 13, 192 esheets-sheet 6 Patented Sept. 29. 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

ERICK SILEN, OF PRESCOTT, OREGON.

VIOLIN PIANO.

Application filed April 13, 1921.

T0 (1,77 whom it may, (OI/((41711 Be it known at I. Enron Sir' zen of the lr'nited States. residi A cott. in the county of (,ohunbia and State Oregon, have invented a new and useim Violin Piano, of which the tailor-ring is a specification.

This invention relates to violin pianos and is designed primarily as an improvement upon the structures disclosed in my Patents 1,0t5,899 of Dec. :5, 1912, 1,115.001 of November 3, 19192, and 1.238.835 of September &, 1917.

One of the objects of the invention is to so arrange the parts of the structure as to leave room tor an automatic piano player mechanism oi any well known construc' tion.

A further object is to combine with t. bowing mechanism a means whereby r. lower strings oit the instrument will be vibra ed by the ordinary piano hammers. thus to provide an accompaniment :tor the violin tones produced by the vibration of the strings beginning with G below middle (l it having been tound impossible to produi", pure violin or cello toner the bow ue; of the coarse bass strings.

A further object to reduce the number of parts of the mechanism and thereby reduce the cost of construction without vsacrificing: etliciency.

Another object is to utilizv a motor as the sole means for operating); the u'lechanism, means being; provided for rendering the motor noiseless.

A still further object is to provide bowing: mechanism in the ffilii! Oil a complete unit which can be removed readil from or placed in the piano without removin oi the other actions in the inst neat.

Another object is to provide nzproved means for applying rosin to the bowing disic whereby the suplfly of rosin kept for er period than has heretotore been l the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novci details of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully des=.:ribed and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that 'arious changes may be made in the construction ant-Qtarrangement ot the parts without depaftiliig from the spirit or sacrificing an Serial No. 460,932.

of the advantages of the invention as set torth in the appended ciaims.

In the arcompanving drawings the prel torn-.1 ot' the invention has been of the insertion and remote part being omitted.

i 1; a front elevation ot the metal Fran; the strine tand soui'idiug' board. i

i a plan view oi the pedals and the adjacent portions of their connections.

Figure 5 a section through the ros n applying: device.

Figure (3 is a detail view oi the supporting: strip or hanger used in connection with said device the said hanger being shown detached and open.

Figure 7 is deta l view of the upper portion or be operating; rod oi one of the shafts tor actuatim: the bowingdisk.

Figure 8 is a view partly in side elevation and Ptil't lh' in section showing: t

Figure e manner oi mount ng: the shaft of the iMHYiilj" dish in the instrument.

Figu e 0 is a section t :rougi'h of the bowing mechanism.

i ore to is an enlarged section through one ot the bowing): disks.

Figure it is a side elevation of a portion of the tremolo mechanism.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of one of the lifting rods of the tremolo mechanism. the bearing lever engaged thereby being shown in section.

Figure 13 a detail view of a portion of the housing and the slidnble arm carrying strip thereon.

Figure 14 is a plan view of a. portion of the rosin applvin;- mechanism and the adjacent disk.

Referring to the figures by characters of reterence A designates the cabinet of the instrument the keyboard, the strings, and D the sounding: board. The wood frame carrying "the sounding board D has been illustruted in Figure 3 and is designated at E. It ill i noted. that the metal frame l a portion E has the bass strings C extended diagonally across the treble or violin strings C and the wrest pins F to which the bass strings C" are connected are located in a lower plane than the wrest pins G to which the treble or violin strings are attached so that the hammers H of the usual piano action which are used for sounding the strings C" will strike said strings along a line indicated at h in Figure 3 while the bowing elements hereinafter described will engage the treble or violin strings C at a higher level along the line indicated at h in Figure 3.

The sounding board D has its front five inclined along the upper portion thereof as indicated at 1 in Figure 2 and it will be noted that the wood frame E is cut away under the marginal portion of the sounding board at the top, as shown at 2 thus to increase the vibrating area of the sounding board, there being left only a narrow shoulder 3 on the wood frame E for engagement by the upper part of the sounding board.

The upper bridge 4 mounted on the sound ing board for engagement by the violin strings C has one end portion carried by an extension wing 5 secured along one edge to the sounding board but spaced therefrom at its other edge where the bridge is located and as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The metal frame E can be reenforced by a rib or brace 6 and by a supplemental brace 7 which is secured to the frame.

Arranged on the bottom of the cabinet A are cleats 8 on which is mounted a base strip 9, it being understood that any suitable cushioning means such as strips of felt 11) can be interposed between the cleats and the strip 9 for the purpose of absorbing vibrations. ()n this strip 9 are provided bearings 1.1 for a shaft 12 having cranks 13 whereby pitman 14 will operate the bellows 15 of pneumatic piano playing mechanism. the wind chest of this mechanism being indicated at I, the pneumatics at J and the tracker at K in Figure 2. Inasmuch as this piano playing mechanism is of the usual type and constitutes in itself no part of the present invention, it is not deemed necessary to enter into a detailed description thereof. A double pulley 16 is connected to one end. of the shaft 12 while the other end of said shaft is connected by a coupling 17 of any suitable construction to a short shaft 18 journaled in one end of a housing 19 which is mounted on a base 20 supported by cleats 21. This base can likewise be provided with interposed strips 22 of felt or the like for absorbing vibrations. A gear 23 is secured to the shaft 18 and within a housing 19' and meshes with a gear 24 on a short transverse shaft 25. This shaft has a worm gear 26 which meshes with a worm 27 on a longitudinal shaft 28. Said shaft, in turn, is

from eye-bolts 34'. These eye-bolts are ad-' justably mounted in supporting yokes or standards 35 within the housing 19. By providing hangers such as described the shaft of the motor can be relieved of all of the weight of the motor casing so that the noise which would otherwise result from the operation of the motor due to excessive vibration and friction, is eliminated and an entirely noiseless operation set up. It is to be understood that the housing 19 can be suitably lined with a sound deadening material,

shown at 36.

It is to be understood that all of the strings (1" up to G below middle C are to be vibrated by the usual hammer mechanism as heretofore indicated and which has been shown at H. The remaining strin s are a lapted to be vibrated by bOWiIlg disks the applii-ation of which to the strings is controlled by the keys of the keyboard B. Each key lever 37 extending inwardly from the board has a recess 38 in its upper face at the rear end thereof for the reception of the lower end of a threaded stem 39 adj ustably attached to the lower end of a lifting rod 40. A link 41 is pivotally connected to this rod and to a bracket 42 secured to a rail 43 mounted within the instrument. The upper end of each lifting rod 40 is pivotally connected to a lever 44 fulcrumed as at 45 and having an upstanding spoon 46 extending in front of the lower portion of a damper lever 47. A spring 48 presses against the damper lever and serves to hold the damper 4.) normally pressed against the string in the rear thereof. When the rear end of the lever 44 is swung downwardly by the elevation of the rod 40, however, the spoon 46 will press the lower end of the damper lever 47 and shift the damper away from the string C. A damper controlling plate 50 is hinged y mounted in front of the series of damper levers 47 and has a crank arm 51 to which is pivotally connected a rod 52. This rod 52 is mounted at its lower end on a crank arm 53 provided at one end of a transverse rock shaft 54 journa led on the bottom of the cabinet and beneath the strips 9 and base 20. there being a forwardly extending arm 5;) upon the other end of the shaft which projects through the front of the cabinet and constitutes a pedal as shown at 56. A spring 57 extends under this arm to hold the pedal 56 normally raised. Thus it will be seen that when the pedal 56 is depressed the rod 52 will be pressed upwardh and force the plate All against all of the levers l7 so as to prevent the dampers a from coming against the strings.

A cros strip 58 is arranged between and secured to the sides of a frame 59 secured in the cabinet A, this cross strip bein preferably oi. two thicknesses as shown in Fig!- ure and supporting an elongated housing (50 from the bottom of which extends a ton wardl projecting flange G1. The top oY the housing has been indicated at (3i and a strip ($2 is hingedly and slidably mounted on this top. the spindle 63 on which the strip is mounted being extended laterally from the housing and carrying a spring- (34 bean ing against an eye extending from the strip 62. It preferred a pair t these springs and eyes therefor can be provided so that the strip 62 is thus normally held pressed toward the left. An antitriction roller 66 can be interposed between the strip iii and the top (3t ot the housing and a finger piece ($7 can be extended upwardly from the strip (1:2 to enable said strip to he swung upwardly and downwardly about its hinge connection. Arms 68 are mounted on the strip 2 and are pivotally connected thereto by screws (99 or the like. Clamping screws 70 having washers T1 are extended between the ends of these arm. and a rib 72 on the strip 62 and by tightening the screws 70 the washers will be clamped on the arms and the arms held against angular adjustment. The back end of the arms 68 are provided with hangers 73 one of which is shown in detail in Figures and (3. Each of these hangers is formed of a strip ot metal Folded to V shape and having ears Tl extendingat right angles from the upper ends of the hanger. A stud T5 is placed in one of the members of the hanger with its head 76 between the hangers. By then drawing the members of the hanger together, as shown in Figure and with the cars 74 lapping each other, a fastening device indicated at 77 can be inserted through the ears and through the arms 68. thus holding the head of the stud 75 tightly clamped within the hanger. A disk 78 is mounted for rotation on the stud 7 being held thereto by a cotter pin '79 or the like, and in one face of this disk is provided an annular recess S0 in which is molded a ring 8t formed of rosin there being preferably provider anclioring ribs 82 on the disk for extending ext riding! urinating at its in end in a pedal 'ated ll. front of the cr se A, the sail bei held no mall raised bv a i t). l l e n that when the pedal Fr div the rod 8; will bell crank the action o; .3" 'l he action of b another spring 91. connect. a u at the bell crank 83 to on itrame 59.

Secured to the end portions of the flange (31 are bee. gs 9:. having sleeies 923 in which is jeurnaled a shaft 93. Arranged on this shaft 9%? so as project betw en the strings C rre how disks it formed o3! layers of flexible ma ial cupped as shown. the said layers ot ea. disl: being clumped the sh: it by tints screwed on the shaft. -Waslwrs it; and 97 are interposed between these nuts Us di s, 111 washers $36 which enga c th cave faces of the disks being .unal diameter than the washers 9? win e l the center; ta es of the disks. lirt the i are 'tie'htened the disks wil not end to buckle out of shape as often l especially r-fith disks of liq." nnuc ers ('iilillptt'l between the nuts.

Journaled within the housing (3 are hattts d8. each shatt being-5 ollset within the rousing, as shown at if}; so as to h h ld against longitudinal movement. ihe shatts extend to the spaces between the bowing lu-S disks and are provided w th fingers two which lie close to the convex 'l uces oi the respective disks tt-l. roller hit is mounted on each oi, these ingers to irect ontact with the adjar l c lit) at r sided at the shafts 98 and project into i ing the heads of threaded ste ably connee t of these rods bear of the tiange (Si' arusigned to work up and down w loops 10% extending "from the :"f lower ends of the rod I ed to the leiers so a e dew. it ctll list upwardly by its rev will rotate the cranl-z it d cause 100 to swing later-airy so as to Thus it. will be seen that duri. V

" disks, rosin will be applied to the friction idges of the bowing disks and at the same time the osin disks will rotated. a result of this arrangemeni the wear upon the rosin disks will be equalized throu hout the surfa'J-c of the disks.

Extending through the sides of the frame 59 is a shaft 107 to which secured a vibrator or roll 108 having longitudinal corrugations. This shaft is adapted to work within openings 109 formed in the sides of the frame 59 and is journaled in levers 110 fulcrumed on the sides of the frame as shown at 111. Springs 112 bear down on the levers 110 so as to hold the shaft 107 normally in its lowermost position, and serur d to one end of the shaft 107 is a pulley 11$) driven by a belt 114 extending over guide pulleys 115 and driven by the pulley 1G. Notches 116 are formed in the lower edges of the levers 110 to receive the forked upper ends 117 of lifting rods 118. The lower end of one of these rods is connected to a crank arm 119 extending rsarwardly from a shaft 120 arranged under the strip 9 and constituting the fulcrum of a lever 121 the front portion of which constitutes a pedal as indicated at 122. The rear arm of the lever 121 has a finger 123 extending laterally therefrom and engaged by the other rod 118, it being understood that this finger is so located as to support the two rods 11.8 at the same disstancc from the axis of rotation of the shaft 120. A spring 124 is provided for holding the pedal 122 normally elevated.

Each of the rods 105 is provided with an adjustable block 125. A rail 126 is located back of the rod and has brackets 1.27 on which are pivoted levers 128. One of these levers is provided for each rod 105 and each lever carries a roller 129 which overhangs and is normally spaced from the corrugated roll 108. A spring 130 has one end seated in bracket 127 and its other end bearing upwardly against the lever 128 on said bracket. Thus the lever is held pressed against a stop 131. on the bracket and with one end projecting into the path of the block 125. It will be obvious that each time the rod 105 is moved upwardly by the depression of a key 37, the block on said rod will move against the lever 128 in the path thereof and swing the roller 129 downwardly. This will not produce any results, however, unless the pedal 122 should be depressed in which event the roll 108, while rotating, would be elevated so as to contact with and oscillate each roller 129 as lowered into contact therewith, thereby producing a tremolo because every time the roller 129 is pushed upwardly by the corrugated roll the lever 128 will press down on the block 125 in contact therewith and cause the flexed bowing disk to shift out of contact with its string.

Motion is transmitted to the lever 44 of each key from the piano player attachment through a rod 132 extending from the pneumatics J. Thus the bowing mechanism can be operated either by hand or mechanically.

Any suitable soft pedal mechanism can be used in the instrument and as the same constitutes no part of the present invention it has not been deemed necessary to describe or illustrate it. A soft pedal has been shown at 133, the same being yieldingly supported by a spring 134 and adapted to operate the soft pedal mechanism through a lever 135.

It will be understood that by detaching the housing from the frame 59 the entire mechanism mounted on said housing can be removed from the instrument.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. A violin piano including a sounding board having piano strings extending across one face thereof, a keyboard, hammers adj acent certain of said strings, means for transmitting motion to the hammers from certain of the keys of the keyboard, bowing disks adjacent the remaining strings, means for rotating the disks, and means operated by the remaining keys of the keyboard for shifting the disks against the adjacent strings, said hammers and bowing disks being located at the same side of the sounding board.

2. A violin piano including a sounding board having piano strings extendin across one face thereof, hammers for soun ing the bass strings, bowing disks for sounding the remaining strings, means for rotating the disks, keys for actuating the hammers, keys for positioning the disks against their strings, said hammers and bowing disks being located at the same side of the sounding board, and an automatic player attachment for actuating both the hammers and the disks to sound their respective strings.

3. In a violin piano a bowing disk including nested cupped layers of flexible material, a shaft extending therethrough, washers upon the shaft and engaging the opposed faces of the disk, the washer engaging the convex face being of greater diameter than the other washer, and means engaging the shaft for clamping the layers between the washers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

ERICK SILEN.

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