US1582625A - Spring-shank-hammer mechanism - Google Patents

Description

April 27 1926.

H. A. BALLARD SPRING SHANK HAMMER MECHANISM Filed July 28, 1922 Patented Apr. 27, 1926.

BARBIE A. BALLARD, OF BOSTGN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PEONGHARP COMPANY, OF EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SPRING-SHANKJ-IAMBIEB Application file July 28,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat IyHARPLIE A. BALL'ARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-Shank- Hammer Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to playing mecha nism for musical instruments and has more particular relation to a hammer action by which the various strings or other sounding elements may be sounded.

According to'this invention each hammer mechanism comprises an axially slid'able plunger constructed to engage a spring hammer consistingof a leaf spring carrying at its free end a string-striking element or head located at a substantial distance from the plunger engagement therewith. A cushion isprovided to limit without noise the mo tion of the plunger in either direction. The fixed end of the spring is made fast in such position that it urges the plunger into inoperative position when pressure onthe plunger is released.

The spring shank of the hammer and the plunger are so engaged as to prevent lat eral movement of one relative to the other and sothat the plunger, when in an operated position, limits-the movement of that portion of the spring shank which is engaged by it defining a node of vibration for the spring shank of the han'nner, the hammer being free to'vibrate against the string.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, together with further objects, advantageous details and combinatlons of parts, reference may be had tothe-accompanying drawing showing the lnyention as applied to an instrument of the zither type. In these drawings,

Figure l is a fragmentary plan of the instrument showing the invention applied thereto, portions being. broken away.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the same with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sec tion online 3-3 of Figure 2 showing a single hammer action in elevation.

igure 4 is a perspective of an actuating plunger. p

Eeferr to the drawings, 1, in Figure 3, indicates a portion of the instrumen frame MECHANISM.

strip 7 is provided witlrperforations as 8 for the slida'ble reception of hammcr-aetuat ing plungers 9, one plunger being provided for each string or set of strings intended. to be sounded in unison.

As shown in this embodiment the strings designed to: be actuated by themechanism are arranged in pairs and are intended to be struck simultaneously. A single string; or more than two might be employed, however,

according to the particular construction.

of the-instrument to which the mechanism is to be applied. Between the end frames l and beneath the keyboard 7 is fixed: a support or bar 10 which is shown as angular in cross section to provide. an upwardly extending ledge 11 along the edge remote from the frame 1. Made fast to the top of this ledge 11 is a guide strip or plate 12 which has a series of perforations 13, herein shown as of angular cross section, to slidably receive the lower ends of the-plungers 9. Beneath the plat-e12 a: strip of felt 28is shown as applied to the upper face of the support 10 adjacent the ledge 11. This felt strip is for the purpose of receiving the end of each plunger 9 when it is depressed into string-- striking position so as to limit its downward stroke in a noiseless manner. As shown each plunger is formed of sheet material, thelower portion 14- being formed. an gul-ar, while the upper por ionmay, if desired, be formed cylindrical as at 15 to: pass through cylindrical openings in the key board, and an actuating button 16 may be formed or made fast to the upper end of each plunger. One side or leg of the angle portion 1 2, as 17, is slotted at 18 for the reception of the spring'shank 19 of the hammer which is retained in position within the slot by means of hook 20 extending from the other e substantially parallel. tethe i leg 1 and ever the the spring shank 19. Above the leg 17 and hook 520 may be positioned a washer 21 of yieldable material such felt to limit the up ward motion of the plunger by impingement on the keyboard 7. The spring shank 19 is bowed outwardly and then downwardly as shown at 25 and passes between the outer face of the support 10 and a clamping strip 26 fixed thereto in position to retain the various hammers in correct relative positions and in correct relation to the strings of the instrument. The spring shank iasses beneath the hook 20 and through the slot 18 at a point intermediate its ends, and the forward end of the shank carries at a sub stantial distance from its engagen'ient by theplunger a string-striking head 30. By depression of the plunger until it engages the cushion 23, the spring hammer 19 is so flexed so as to bring the head by its mementum down against the string, the resilience of the shank permitting the head to vibrate against the strings for a considerable time after depression of the plunger. The node of vibration of the free end of the hammer is at the slot 18 in the plunger, this slot being but slightly wider than the shank is thick. lVhen the plunger is released the spring shank 19 raises it until the washer 21 engages the strip 7, and in order to'prevent vibration of the hammer head when 1n inoperative position, it is cushioned and stopped by a pad 27 fixed to the lower face of a rebound board 28 which is supported by resilient ar is 29 from the lower face of the keyboard 7 or the plate 5, if desired these arms being integral with the flange 6.

From this description it will be apparent that inasmuch as the plunger slides in spaced guides which hold it against lateral movement and the end of each spring hammer is fixed, any lateral movement of the hammer heads is prevented by the engagement of the hook 20, and the end wall of the slot 18 with the side edges of the hammer shank 19.

hile this invention has been shown as applied to a stringed instrument it is evi dent that it could also be applied to other instruments in which the notes may be sounded by a hammer action, such, for example as a Xylophone. The term string as used in this application, therefore, is intended to indicate broadly one or more strings or sounding elements which are designed to be struck in unison to produce the desired note.

Having thus described an embodiment of this invention it should be evident that many changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a musical instrument, an axially slidable plunger, a spring hammer engaged at opposite sides intermediate its ends by said plunger, and means for fixing one end of the spring shank of said hammer leaving the head end 'of said hammer free.

2. In a musical instrument, an axially slidable plunger having a transverse opening therethrough, a spring hammer having its spring shank passed through said opening, and means for fixing one end of said shank leaving the head end of said hammer free.

3. In a musical instrument, an axially slidable plunger having a sheet metal shank portion provided with a slot, a spring hammer having a leaf spring shank portion passed through said slot between its ends, the sides of said slot closely engaging said spring shank, and means for fixing one end of spring shank leaving the head end of spring hammer free.

4:. in a musical instrument, an axially slidable plunger having a sheet metal shank portion provided with a slot, a spring hammer having a leaf spring shank portion passed through said slot between its ends, the sides of the said slot closely engaging said spring shank means for fixing one end of said spring shank leaving the head end of said spring hammer free and means for retaining said spring shank within said slot.

5. In a musical instrument, an axially slidable plunger having a sheet metal shank por tion provided with a slot, a spring hammer having a leaf spring shank portion passed through said slot between its ends, the sides of said slot closely engaging said spring shank, means for fixing one end of said spring shank leaving the head end of said spring hammer free, and means for retaining said spring shank against lateral motion in said slot.

6. A device of the class described comprising a support having a guide opening, a plunger axially sliclable through said opening, a pad against which. the end of said plunger may impinge and furnish a noiseless stop therefor, a leaf spring made fast at one end to said support and engaged between its ends by an intermediate portion of said plunger, and a striking element carried by the other free end of said spring.

7. In combination, in a stringed musical instrument, a bar angular in cross section constructed to be made fast transverse to the strings of the instrument, a strip of cushioning material carried by one arm of said bar, a strip carried by the other arm of said bar and spaced from said cushioning strip and having guide openings therethrough spaced to correspond with said strings, a plunger axially slidable through each guide opening into and out of contact with said cushioning strip, spring element for each plunger fixed at one end to said bar, engaged by its plunger intermediate its ends and having its free end extending over the corresponding string of said instrument, and a head eleea, cl

said

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ment carried by each free end in position to strike the strings when its plunger is depressed into contact with said cushioning strips.

8. In a device of the class described, a hammer actuating plunger having a slotted portion through which a hammer-carrying element may pass, and means for retaining said element within said slot.

9. In a device of the class described, a hammeuactuating plunger having a portion of angular cross section, one of the legs of the angle having a slot for the reception of a hannner-carrying element, and a hook extending from the other leg in position to re tain the element in said slot.

10. In a musical instrument, a plunger having a portion of angular cross section, one of the legs of the angle having a slot therethrough, a spring hammer having its spring shank extended through said slot and closely engaged by the walls thereof, and an element projecting from the other leg of the angle for retaining said spring shank against lateral movement within said slot.

11. In a musical instrument, a spring hammer having a spring shank portion, a plunger engaging said shank at a point intermediate the ends thereof and defining a node of vibration of said shank, and means for fixing one end of said shank leaving the head end free.

12. The combination with a spring hammer of an actuating plunger therefor hav ing a slot formed to closely receive the shank of said hammer and defining the node of vibration thereof, and means for retaining said shank in said slot.

13. The combination with a spring hammer, of an actuating plunger therefor having a slot formed to closely receive the shank of said hammer, and defining the node of vibration thereof, means for retaining said shank in said slot, and means for preventing lateral movement of said spring shank within said slot.

14. In a musical instrument, a series of spring hammers, and common means for detachably clamping one end of each of said hammers in fixed position.

15. In a musical instrument, a support, a series of spring hammers, and a strip attachable to said support in position to clamp one end of each of said hammers thereagainst leaving the head ends of said hammers free.

16. In a stringed musical instrument, a support extending laterally of the springs at one end, a series of spring hammers having resilient shanks positioned against said support, and abar extended along said support for clamping the hammers in position.

17. In a stringed musical instrument, a pair of spaced guide members, aplurality of plungers guided for axial movement by said members, and hammers actuated by movement of said plungers for striking the strings of the instrument.

18. In a stringed musical instrument, a pair of spaced guide members, plungers guided by said members and spring hammers engaged by said plungers between said members and actuated to strike the strings of said instrument on movement of said plungers.

19. In a stringed musical instrument, a pair of spaced guide members, a plurality of plungers guided for axial movement by said members, hammers actuated by movement of said plungers for striking the strings of the instrument, and a stop for limiting the motion of said plungers to striking position.

20. In a stringed musical instrument, a pair of spaced guide members, plungers guided by said members, and spring hammers engaged by said pl ungers between said members and actuated to strike the strings of said instrument on movement of said plungers, and a stop for limiting the motion of said plungers to striking position.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

HARRIE A. BALLARD.

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