US1599743A - Piano action - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 14, 1926.

J. w. CARNES PIANOACT'IDN Filed Oct. 1,-, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheetl Sept. 14 1926; 1,599,743

.1. w. CARNES PIANO ACTIUN Filed Oct. 1, 1923 zsneets-sneez 2 INVENTOR 's.\33&oxme.s

BY 7 Z ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

JOHN WILSON CARNES, OF KEWANEE, ILLINOIS.

PIANO ACTION.

Application filed October 1, 1923.

My invention relates to piano actions, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed. 7 I

An object of my invention is to provide a piano action for upright pianos, and which is designed to take u less room than other actions of the ty e, tiereby obviating the necessity of exten ing the piano casing to provide room for mechanical players.

A further object of my invention is to provide a piano action in which the arts are simplified, and in which there are ewer parts, without in any Way diminishing the effectiveness of the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a piano action, in which the parts may be easily assembled or taken apart for repair or inspection.

Afurther object of my invention is to providea piano action which is more responsive than the ordinary piano action, especially when uick staccato notes are being played, as or instance, in trills where there is a repeated striking of one key. In many pianos, the key may be struck in succession so rapidly that the hammer does not have time to complete its action, owing to the fact that it has to move back a predetea-mined distance before it can be again thrown forward. The present device provides a construction in which the hammer may be driven forwardly toward the string again at any point in its backward movement. v

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularl pointed out in the appended claims.

y invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which I Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, showing the piano action in its normal position of rest,

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the device, showing the parts in position when the hammer has hit the strin and has rebounded, while the key is still depressed,

Fgure 3 is a sectional view showin position of the parts at the moment theTi the mer is striking the string, and

Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail views showing parts ofthe device. ln carrying out my invention, I make use Se1ial No. 665,981.

of the ordinary piano key 1 which, when depressed, raises the abstract 2. The usual abstract flange 3 and abstract flange frame or extension 4 are provided, the latter being mounted on the action bracket 5. The abstract is connected with a wippen 6 which is suspended to the upper-action frame 7, and which bears the usual spoon 8 which engages the lower end of the damper lever 9, the latter being carried at the top of the frame 7 and being provided with the usual damper spring 10. The usual damper lever is provided with a wire 11 which carries the damper 12, the latter against the strings 13.

The construction thus far described is ordinary. Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, it will be seen that I have provided a ack flange 14 to which is pivoted a jack 15. .In the ordinary construction, this jack is made in the form of a bell-crank lever. In the present instance, however, it is not so made, but is provided with a jack spring 16 having a coil to add flexibility and durability, which is fastened to the wippen and which extends upwardly beyond the fulcrum point of the jack 15, this spring bearing on the jack toward the upper part thereof, as shown in the drawing, between felt guides 16", which prevent lateral displacement.

Itwill be seen that the upper-action. frame 7 is provided with a recess 7 near its upper end. A metal loop 17 is passed around the pivot pin 18 of the hammer butt 19, and the end is bent at right angles and is disposed in the recess 7*. This metal loop is provided with a slot 17, through which a screw, 20 passes. The metal loop forms a hinge member for the hammerbutt 19. The in turned end prevents the hinge from rotating about the screw 20, while the latter holds normally resting the hinge firmly to the upper-action frame.

By releasing the screw 20, the hammer butt may be immediately frame. As will be seen from Figure 2, the

hammer butt is provided with an arc-shaped portion 21, having inserts of felt 22, and an arc-shaped felt member 23 arranged to receive the thrust of the upper part of the jack 15. Below the arc-shaped felt member 23 there is a portion 24 of the hammer butt to which is secured a felt strip 25 in the form of a wippen; A trip 26 for the jack is formed by a piece of looped felt which is bound together at its contiguous edges, and Which" is held by an eye or loop 27 formed removed from the w in a wire one 011-: the huninier hut through the tier stri ing' 21 in the jzicli. a.

P5) 111 the hurl; catc; ec

from the drawings. t tl.

0 upper end of c if heel at ranged to en- 'ioi dlr in position. the hammer shanlthus main lQtltllJx as stated 1. In this position, the jack is disposed close to the hammer hutt. with the *ontiguous to the trip Qii.

hen ii oil the j; l in d LpY-varo ll L7 ni-tivcnient oi; the ahstract :1 "he wippen, and thss tends 2 jack i'izine'e inore tnns flexing the jack rd movement of the rue hammer ahout its The continued upward cl; tend; to force it; away through the medium of a: at the end of the stroke position against the abut- (1 l .71 1. .lne 115111111101", in tne hen thrown. forwardly and 4 s rebounded oi: this type, it

1 strnie. a1;

nier butt. to have ntioi' or substanit is not necessary, r1 (e n I :1 w 11 r (l 15'. s in any position t. which bears the arcshaped Pressing on the 2e even when the dew shown ii Figure will ce in the position l to the striihrow the hammer pert riusi cian often finds. in the ordinary iii actuate the hammer to throw it This forms the main features oi the 1 l It will he 1 rifz'idly held in position by means of the Wire This is :iPCOlllQliSllQtl by hendinn the at a point ll. where it passes through i 1 hack catch. 1111i then hooking itv around te edge at l). The action is that w .1 the rebound of the hammer the rnoi'enient of the hammer butt. point where the wire 27 is attached. l the hack catch so as to engage to return it to its normal position.

important advantage of. my con- (lion over thof-Je in which hridle straps tor insuring the return of the haml position t r: it} is that in rent construction. the "weight of the 011. and the 11hstract.\\'l1e11the hey is released. tend to swing e hammer hutt into its normal position. will he oliscrwd that the wire 27 passes rough 112 open. 3 as stated, in the jack, h is oi c m'licient size to permit the full action of the jack. "hen. however. the key 1 the jack will descend, and tho; he engaged at the upper edge in ed that the hack catch is (.1 opening 28. and the weight of the eppl il outside of the pivotal p 1 the hummer hutt to rcto ts original position.

or 'oi'idle tapes. the hznnn'ier may where the hearings hind. so i r e iii-idle st ap should he hrolien .1 any reason. or eaten through by mice, hzin' ancr 111:1 not return to it?v original r form according to the present inor c rtain of action than the ll :1 hell crank lever, 1 on the short. :1'111. 11 thit the coil spring on the 0H cranl-I lever tends to exert tl e rca Son l shor arm 01 not in the direction in which the .o he r turned. as 111 the case of-the 1 he, hut in such a direct-ion that the justment of the throw of the hammer. This can be very readily done by turning the scriiw 36 so as to limit the movement of the ae Another feature is the ease with which the parts can be released for inspection or repair. For instance, in removing or tightenmg the screw 20, it is only necessary to grasp the hooked portion of the wire 27 at the rear of the back catch 30, and to raise it, when the back catch may be swung rearwardly and the jack may be swung also rearwardly, both parts passing off the end of the hook 42, and thus giving full access for a too], such as a screw driver, to the screw 20.

The construction described eliminates a number of parts that are used in upright pianos, without sacrificin any of the eflectiveness of the action. I n fact, the action is more responsive for the reasons stated, but this construction takes up a space of about an inch and three-fourths less than the ordinary action, that is to say, measuring from front to rear in a horizontal di rection, an inch and three-fourths or thereabouts is saved. This permits more room for the installation of a mechanical player, and obviates the necessity of extending the casing that much.

The elimination of parts renders the construction more economical, which in itself is desirable from the point of manufacture.

I claim:

1. A iano action comprising a pivotally mounte hammer butt, having an arcshaped jack-engaging portion, a trip carried by the butt for moving said jack along said arc-shaped portion, means for actuating the jack to cause the hammer to strike the string at any point of engagement of the jack with the hammer butt, a back catch rigidly carried by said hammer butt, and means carried by said back catch for regulating the extent of movement of the jack.

2. A iano action comprising a pivotally mounte hammer butt, having an arcshaped jack-engaging surface, a jack arranged to engage said hammer butt and having an opening, a back catch pivoted to said butt and being provided with an opening, and a guide member rigidly secured at one end to said butt and arranged to extend through the openin s in said jack and said back catch, one en of said uide member being normally rigidly secure to said back catch.

3. A iano action comprising a pivotally mcunte hammer butt, having an arcshaped jack-engaging surface, a jack arranged to engage said hammer butt and having an opening, a back catch carried by said hammer butt, and a guide member arranged to pass through the opening in said jack, one end of said guide member being rigidly secured to the hammer butt, and the other end being rigidly secured to said back catch.

4. A piano action comprising a pivotally mounted hammer butt, having a jack-engagin surface, a wippen, an arm or flange rigidl y secured to said wippen, a jack pivotally mounted on said arm, a back catch carried by said hammer butt, and a leaf spring carried by said wippen and arranged to engage the jack above its pivotal mounting to normally force the ack away from said back catch.

In a piano action, a wippen, an arm rigidly carried thereby, a jack pivotally carried by said arm, and a leaf spring rigidly secured to one end of said wippen, the other end of said spring having a sliding engagement with said jack beyond its pivotal connection, and means for preventing the lateral movement of the spring with respect to the jack.

6. A iano action comprising a pivotally mounte hammer butt, having an arcshaped jack-engaging portion, a trip carried by the butt for moving said jack along said arc-shaped portion, means for actuating the jack to cause the hammer to strike the string at any point of engagement of the jack with the hammer butt, a back catch rigidly carried by said hammer butt, and a regulating screw carried by said back catch and arranged to extend through the latter for limiting the extent of movement of the jack toward the back catch.

In apiano action, a frame, a hammer butt pivotally mounted on said frame, a back catch pivotally mounted on said hammer butt and having an opening, a trip carried by said hammer butt, a pivotally mounted jack having an opening, a guide wire havone end secured to said butt and arranged to pass through the openings in said jack and said back catch, one end of said guide wire being normally bent downwardly and being rigidly secure to said back catch, said guide wire being flexible, whereby the downwardly bent end may be lifted to permit the pivoted back catch and the pivoted jack to be moved off from said guide wire,

' thus affording access to the butt-supporting means.

JOHN WILSON CARN ES.

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