US1564454A

US1564454A - Player pneumatic

Info

Publication number: US1564454A
Application number: US725597A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl R Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-07-12
Filing date: 1924-07-12
Publication date: 1925-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1942-12-08

Description

E. R. SMITH PLAYER PNEUMATIC Dec. 8, 1925.

Filed July 12. 192

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5dr] 2-51mi];

[rarer/tar V Arc'omqyf 3 Dec. 8, 1925. 1.564.454

E. R. SMITH PLAYER PNEUMATIC Filed July 12'. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eta? 2:1, 4

Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL B. SMITH, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

PLAYER PNEUMATIC.

Application filed July 12,

i is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to piano players and particularly to the pneumatic actions thereof and the principal object ofmy invention is to provide a new and improved pneumatic for this purpose. In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof I have shown, for purposes of illustration, one form which my invention may assume. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross-section through the piano player mechanism,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of that portion of the player mechanism comprising the chest and the pneumatics,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through one of the pneumatics,

Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the pneumatics, while Figure 5 is a view showing the parts of the pneumatic separated from each other.

The action herein disclosed comprises a plurality of pneumatics 11 each provided with a rigid metal duct 12 extending therefrom and connected by means of a flexible duct 13 to one aperture 14 of a tracker bar 15 arranged to cooperate with the note sheet 16, and each provided with a projection 17 operated by a bellows portion of the pneumatic and itself arranged to act through a rod 18 to operate one of the hammer actions 19.

Each of the these pneumatics comprises a base member 20, an intermediate member 21 positioned upon the base member 20, and a cover member 22 positioned upon the intermediate member 21. The base member is provided upon its upper surface with a chamber 23 connected by means of a duct 24 to the rigid duct 12 leading to the tracker bar 15 and closed by means of a flexible dia phragm 25 of any suitable material such as leather. The intermediate member 21 is provided on its lower surface with a chamber 26 registeringwith the chamber 23 of the base member 20, opening through the upper face of the intermediate section 21 by means of an aperture 27 in the intermediate section 21, and opening through one end of the pneu- 1924. Serial No. 725,597.

matic 11 by means of a duct 28 arranged to coincide with an aperture 29 in the chest 30 when the pneumatic 11 is in position upon the chest 30.

The cover member 22 is provided on its lower face with a chamber 31 in communica tion with the aperture 27, opening to the exterior through an aperture 32, and connected, by means of a duct 33 in the intermediate member Y21 and a duct 34 in the base member A 20, to a recess 35 in the lower face of the base member 20 communicating with an aperture 36 in a board 37 fixed to the lower face of the base member 20 and forming the upper board of a bellows 38 which comprises also a lower board 39, hinged at 40 to the upper board 37 and carrying the projection 17, and a flexible closure 41 forming the end and sides of the bellows and secured to and bet-ween the

boards

37 and 39 in any suitable manner.

Positioned within the recess 31 in the cover section 22 is a valve 42 having an upper face 43 arranged to close the aperture 32 connecting the recess 31 with the exterior, having a lower face 44 arranged to close the aperture 27 connecting the re cess 31 with the recess 26 in the interme diate member 21, operated by gravity from its position closing the aperture 32 to its position closing the aperture 27, and operated in the reverse direction by the upward action of the diaphragm 25 against the lower end 45 of a valve stem 46 which depends from the valve 42 and is provided with a plurality of ribs 47 fitting within the aperture 27 to guide the valve in its movement and hold the valve against displacement.

The duct 28 is directly connected with the recess 23 through a bleed aperture 52 and the various fixed members of the pneumatic are secured together in any suitable manner as by gluing.

It will oe understood that when the note sheet 16 opens the aperture 14 in the tracker bar 15 air enters through the flexible duct 13 and rigid duct 12 and connecting duct 24 into the recess 23 in the base member 20 and raises the diaphragm 25 to raise the valve 42 and thus close the aperture 32 connecting the recess 31 and the exterior and simultaneously open the aperture 27 connecting the recess 31 and the recess 26 to permit the air within the bellows to flow through the aperture 36 into the recess 35 in the base member 20 and thence through the duct 33 and recess 31 and aperture 27 and recess 26 and duct 28 into the chest 30. \Vhen the note sheet 16 again closes the aperture '14 the air within the recess 23 will flow through the bleed 47 and duct 28 into the chest 30 to thus permit the diaphragm 25 and valve 42 to descend into the position shown and thus permit air to flow into the bellows through the aperture 32, chamber 31', duct 33, duct 34, recess 35, and aperture 36. It will be understood, of course, that the flow of air from the bellows causes the movable board 39 to rise and operate the hammer action and that the flow of air into the bellows permits the lower board 39 to drop back to normal position ready for the succeeding action.

, My invention also contemplates means for quickly detachably securing the pneumatic to the chest and in the embodiment of my invention herein shown this means c0mprises a single spring metal strip 4L8 arranged to extend across the top of the pneumatic 11 and the chest 30, provided with an aperture 49- to prevent the strip 48 from blocking the aperture 32 in the cover member '22, provided atone end with a depend- 'ing curved portion 50 arranged to embrace the chest 30, and provided at the other end with a depending portion 51 adapted to embrace the remote side of the pneumatic 11.

It will be apparent that the securing means herein shown holds the pneumatic firmly and resiliently in position against the chest yet permits ready removal of the pneumatic at Will.

It will be obvious from the above description that I have provided a pneumatic of improved construction and particularly adapted for repair work. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof and it will therefore be understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment herein disclosed.

I claim:

In a piano player, a vacuum chest provided with a series of apertures, a pneumatic arranged to have one end abut said chest and provided with a duct through 'said end arranged to register with one of said apertures, and with a vent emerging to atmosphere through the top of said pneumatic and a spring metal clip extending from the remote end of said pneumatic along the top of said pneumatic over the end of said vent to beyond the abutting end thereof, apertured opposite the end of said vent to prevent closing said vent and engaging the remote side of said chest to quickly detachably and resiliently hold said pneumatic in position firmly abutting said chest.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

EARL R. SMI'IH.