US1601432A - Expression mechanism for player musical instruments - Google Patents

Expression mechanism for player musical instruments Download PDF

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US1601432A
US1601432A US414953A US41495320A US1601432A US 1601432 A US1601432 A US 1601432A US 414953 A US414953 A US 414953A US 41495320 A US41495320 A US 41495320A US 1601432 A US1601432 A US 1601432A
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valve
expression
diaphragm
player
chamber
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US414953A
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Eustis Warner
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J P EUSTIS Manufacturing Co
Jp Eustis Manufacturing Co
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G10MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10FAUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
    • G10F1/00Automatic musical instruments
    • G10F1/02Pianofortes with keyboard

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  • WARNER EUSTIS OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO J. P. EUSTIS MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.
  • This invention relates to expression mechanism for player musical instrrunents, such as player pianos and organs, and more particularly to improvements on the player m chanism for musical instruments shown, described and claimed in the patent to Villiam A. ⁇ Vatson and Warner Eustis, No. 1,430,517, dated Sept. 26, 1922.
  • One of the objects of the present invention is to provide improved and simple means for carrying a theme through a per formance by the player action, for carrying a solo or for accenting any given notes or phrases, and for playing softly in either the bass or the treble or both of them.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide means for making use of valve units, such, for instance, as those shown in patent to Vvilliam A. ⁇ Vatson, #1142863, in which patent the valve unit is shown as constituting means for controlling the piano action attackingbellows.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide means associated with the expression mechanism in such manner that the exprcssion-valve serves the double function of an expression-valve and a cut-out-valve for shutting off the player-pneumatics during the rewinding of the perforated sheet of music, or to do so while the player instru ment is set for a silentgo-ahead of the music'sheet or web, and for skipping passages of the music cut on the sheet, when desired.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a player action suflicient to illustrate the present invention, parts being broken away for clearness of illustration, the controlled parts being in position for playing softly in the treble.
  • Fig. 2 is a sectional front elevation, partly diagrami'natic, the controlled parts being in accenting position, that is to say, one of the expression-holes in the music sheet admitting atmospheric air into the expression tracker-tube.
  • Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the controlled parts in position for rewinding the perforated music sheet.
  • Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the valve device, which is controlled directly by the rewind-manual.
  • Fig. 5 is an elevation of the seat for the said valve.
  • Fig. 6 is an under side view of the said 1,430,517.
  • the wind-way and the head 11 are preferably constructed of sheet metal asso ciated in any preferred manner.
  • the left-hand end head as that may be similar to the right-hand end head, the left and right-hand hollow heads being respectively for bass and treble, in which case the wind-ways which support the playe'r-pneumatics are divided between the base and treble in well-known manner.
  • a motor wind-way 12 leads to the right and upwardly, and to the motor, which is not shown in said figures, it preferably being supported from the lower portion of the right-hand head 11. However, the motor 82 is partially shown in Fig. 7.
  • Expression-tubes 13 and 14 lead respectively to the bass and treble sides of the player action, and as the parts which may be associated with the bass side of the player may be the same as those associated with the treble side, this description will be confined only to the parts associated with the treble side.
  • the forward end of expression-tube 14: is provided with a ported head'15, the port of which is controlled by a valve 16, which is operated by the expression-manual or button 17. The said valve automatically It is not closes the port in head 15. the ope 'ator using the finger to depress the manual 17 and open the valve 16 against the action of its spring.
  • the tracker lo is connected in any suitable manner with the wind-ways of the player-prionma ics, and at least at the treble end it is provided in well-known man ner with a hole from which expression-tithe 19 leads, and with which hole there is adapted to register any one of a series of side or;- pression perito 'ations in the music sheet 20.
  • the tubes l-i and 19 are prefer hly of metal. ant their control means are adapted to control certain valves and mechanism, which may be duplicated at the bass side ot' the player action.
  • Valve 21 is provided with a depending upright stein 23 which extends downwardly through the lower end of tie h ad 11. and the lower end of said stein passes tirough rigid metallic wall Q-i, which is secured in the lower end of said head, said wall being located below the wind-way O. Vfall 2%. is provided with a hollow neck 25, through whica. the valvestem 2.
  • a flexible big 26 the mouth of which is secured airtight 'aroi nd the nee 25 in any suitable manner.
  • Said hag may he composed of any suitable material which will secure the bag against leakage of air.
  • the lower extremity ot' valve-stem 23 is preferably disconnected. from the bag 26, so that it will rest loosely therein, and the bottom of the hag is secured to the central button 2? of flexible diaphragm Diaphragm 28 is secured at its ecge in an airtight manner to the. preterahly sheet metal. chamber 29, which is lo rated at the lower extremity of the h ad 11.
  • Chamber is provided with a central hottom opening-r 30, for the purpose of admitting atmospheric air, and also for the purpose of receiving: a tensioil-spring 30 the tendency of which is to pull the diaphragm downwardly with a greater or less pull, as desired; said spring may he cz rried by any suitable mean for adjusting its tension.
  • the tiertihle diaphragm 28 divides the chainher or inemher 29 into two snh-chamhers 31, 31 respectively, the sue-chamber 31 li inp; located above the diaphragm and t. sub-chamber 3?. below it, so as to provide a cha nher which is constantly open to atmospheric air.
  • a valve-casing 82 preferably of sheet metal, 18 positioned upon the wind-way it and partly Xtends thereinto, its outer portron preterably extending forwardly, as
  • va ig is provided aiso with L 35, respectively, the openl are respectively adapted to opened hy means of primary l v va re 37.
  • ⁇ Pt 1 t ii -ch attached to a l "ch constitutes a p arming 32, ll ch the ei-zprc iiiutuhe between the 30 J 4; e-casim; 1-2,
  • i rdly from on heing disposed the vw in vhich is arrang and as 35 l. in l i gs. 2 and 3 the nos 32 and :52 are ed, tor the suite and although shown differento'i' clearness of the said valves in said ti tin d with at and within he reaivc it and said valves are loii
  • I h is coinectcd hack of w-iich is a, cham- 1 se :21.
  • tion The air-tithe 50 l downwardiv port in the side or the outer pol the valve-casing 1-2.
  • a tuhe extends i wardlz. from the sub-0111" 3i i chamber eration or ill) z id are cc;
  • Valve 37 having been opened auto matically, the atmospheric air rushes through the tube 41 to the valve-casing thereby immediately inflating the puff formed by diaphragm 49.
  • This action ac tuates the valve-stem 48, thereby closing the valve 47 upon its seat 45, and cutting'off atmospheric air through the opening in said seat.
  • This action also moves the valve 46 from its seat 44 and permits the tension air in the hollow head 11 to act through the opening in said seat, and through the tubes 50 and 52, and in the subchamber 31 of the chamber 29.
  • the tension air in sub-chamber 31 acts to lift the flexible diaphragm 28 against the tension of the spring 30 and to collapse the flexible bag 26, thereby acting upon the lower end of the valve-stem to raise the expression-valve 21 and close the valve opening at 22.
  • the tension air in the hollow head 11 and in the col lapsible bag 26 has no lifting tendency.
  • the valve 21 will be maintained in closed position for all practical purposes while the valve 16 is kept open, evcept there will be a slight seepage of atmospheric air into the player action, which only has the effect upon the valve 21 of imparting, a slight flutter thereto, but this does not interfere with the desired effect obtained by closing the valve 21.
  • the said seepage oil? air will have a slight tendency to minimize the action of the tension air in the chamber 31, but this is insutlicient to prevent the valve 21 from being practically closed.
  • the valve 21, being then closed in the manner described, and as shown in F 1, the melody will be played softly, whether the same be. carried through the bass or the treble.
  • expression-valve 91 is in t e same manner lowered further, so that the vacuum sion in the lower windway to innnedis ately establish a proportional tension in said upper structure, the two or more notes being sounded with practically the same power as before.
  • it makes no difterence whether one note or any number 02:: notes are sounded, as the expressionvalve 21 acts to automatically maintain a predetermined tension in the upper windchest structure of the player action proper.
  • the pen forated music sheet 20 has acted as a valve to keep the expression track he 19 closed.
  • T1 the music sheet be provided with a series of expressiolrholes, these hoies will register one at a time with the tube 19, and the con trolled parts will be set instant; into position as illustrated in i to the fact that atn'iospheri mentarily admitted to the t and such air will act to press the diaphragm 39 inwardly or inflate he puff, thereby establishing an air ten l nee between the wind-way l0 and use 41, inasmuch as the pressure air will act "nstantl q to open the primary valve 36, and to close the valve position, as regarts the two conditions of the apparatus illustrated in lies 1 and 2.
  • t 53 is provided with two ports, 5% and on, wit 1 which, resp veg, C0111 ect the correspoiding' ends of 1 '3 Mounted npon the z or disk-val" turned npo 53. con 1' the .1 (i and the se 1e ground for nest results. contro h a small s;
  • a cran -arni 62 extending; edgewise from the dislrwalve 56, is connected by means of a linlr (S3 with a crank-arm (ll, which is supported by a ro 'lzshailt 65, at the forward end oi which is a control-inaninil it -onstitoting the rewind-inannal.
  • a link (37 connects another crank-arm (58 on shatt 6:") with a verti 'al rock-shalt (39, which at its upper end is adapted t actuate a rod 70.
  • the rod '70 serves for conditioning the gear shift inion of the power incchani in of the motor, with the io-governor, for moving; the perforated n c sheet at greater than playing speed r1 rewinding, and in shipping or going ahead silently.
  • Q silent o-ahead position is preferably at vertical, that is to sav the rewindmanual is set vertically. This position is not illust'ated in the d 'awings. but the action of the rewind mechanism herein involved is the same in that position as who; the rewind-manual is moved to the lclt, which is the preferred rewind position, as shown in Fig. 3. It should remarked tl at the tracker-bar is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 diagrainniatically, that it not shown in the position which it takes in the practical apparatus, and, that the rewind-nnrnual is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for cl arness of illustration, in a difierent position than shown in Fig. l, which is the practical posi tion tor said manual.
  • Tension air will now exert its action on the flexible diaphragn'l 28, thereby raising the valve 21 and closing its opening, thus sl'rutting oti the player-pneumatics, and strictly speaking, shutting otl all channels or .vindways directly above the valve 21.
  • Full tension will now be exerted upon the air in the motor wind-way 12, as the playerpneumatics are cut out by the valve 21 which now forms a rewind cut-out-valve.
  • rewind-manual preferably assumes a vertical position intermediate of itsrightand left-hand positions. In that position, the crank 62 on the valve 56 will be set in a position intermediate of the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. However, there will still be a break in the connection between the tubes 50 and 52, although the length of the passage or channel 59 is such that the ports 55 and 60 will communicate. Consequently, the motor will also be sped up, as is the case in rewinding.
  • FIG. 7 is illustrated the relation of the expression. mechanism and rewind-manual to suitable power'mechanism controlled by rod for either of the directions of travel of the note sheet.
  • a rock-shaft 71 has bearings in brackets 72, 73, and an arm 74 on the lower end of said shaft is pivotally connected with the rod 70.
  • the upper end of the shaft 71 carries an arm 75 which is adapted to shift the intermediate driving pinion 76 in one direction or the other.
  • the pinion 76 is shifted to mesh with the gear 77 the note sheet roll will carry the note sheet forwardly over the tracker 18 and the instrument will play.
  • the pinion 76 is shifted to clutch with one of the gears of sprocket-chain 78 the note sheet will be rewound on the roll 79.
  • a main windwav the player-pneumatic windwav
  • an expression-valve between the playerpneumatic and the main windwav and having a full-open position and a near-closed position, and which is always biased toward one of said positions in normal playing
  • a chamber separate from said windway and having a flexible diaphragm supporting said valve
  • control-valve means to admitting air under different pressures to said chamber, to act on said diaphragm and cause said valve to move toward one position for obtaining one effect, and toward the other position to obtain another efiect, whereby said valve is caused to flutter when near-closed.
  • a valve therein having a stem, a chamber having a flexible wall connected to said valve through its stem, a flexibly walled enclosure located in said chamber and communicating with said wind-way, and surrounding the end of said stem adjacent said flexible wall, and means adapted to admit air at the pressure in said wind-way to said chamber, and for admitting air at a different pressure to said chamber, for opening and closing said valve.
  • a wind-way a hollow head at the end of said wind-way, a valve in said head having a stem, a chamber at the lower end of said head having a flexible wall connected to said valve through its stem, a flexibly walled enclosure located in said chamber and communicating with said wind-way, and surrounding the end of said stem adjacent said flexible wall, and means adapted to admit air atthe pressure in said wind-way to said chamber, and for admitting air at a different pressure to said chamber, for opening and closing said valve.
  • a horizontal wind-way a hollow head at one end of said wind-way, a transverse, open, valve-seat in said head between the pla ver-pneumatics and said wind-way, an expression-valve and its stem below said seat, said stem extending to the lower end of said head, a chamber at the lower end of said head having a flexible wall adapted to operate said valve through its stem, and manually-controlled pneumatic means adapted to admit air under different pressures but at different times to said chamber, for moving said valve to and from its seat.
  • a wind-way two valve units, each having a plurality of valves for controlling said wind-way, means for controlling the valves in one of said units, a passage connecting said units, a chamber hav ing a flexible diaphragm, a valve operable from said diaphragm and adapted to close and open said wind-way, and a passage con necting the other of said valve units with said chamber, wherebv said diaphragm is adapted to be operated.
  • the con'ibination ot' a wind-way, two valve devices, each having a plurality of valves for controlling said windwav, a hollow head transverse of said windwav, means tor controlling the valves in one o aid valve devices, a passage connecting said valve devices, a chamber having a flexible diaphragm, an expression-valve operable itrom said diaphragm ant adapted to open and close communication between said wind'wav and the plavenpneumatics, a pas connecting the other of said valve devices with said chamber, whereby said diaihragm is adapted to be operated, and said controlling means comprising a manuallyoperable valve for admitting pressure'air thereto, and also an expression tracker-tube.
  • a wind-way having an upright hollow head, in combination with an expression-valve located in said head, and letlllfi for operating said valve and com prising a control-valve device positioned in said head.
  • a wind-way ha “ing an upright hollow head, said head being provided with a transverse oriticed valve-seat, in combination with an expression-va ve to control the orifice and located in said head, said valve having a depend ing stem, at:nospherically-operated means adapted to act on said stem for opening said valve, and suction-operated means for closing the valve.
  • a wind-way having an upright hollow head, in combination with a chamber at the lower end of said head, a flexible diaphragm in said chamber, a transverse orificed valve-seat in said head, an expressioirvalve located in said head. and having a, depending stem resting on said diaphragm through the gravity thereof and said valve, means adapted to act on said diaphragm for operating said valve through said stem, atmospheric means for acting on said diaphragm to open said valve, and suction means acting on said diaphragm to close the valve.
  • a rewind-manual having three positions, namely,for a forward travel, a shipping, and a rewinding,means under the control of said manual for conditioning the apparatus for a playing speed and a faster speed in shipping and rewind in expression means, a rewind conditionb, 1 ,0 mg-valve associated wlth said expression means, and means for actuating said valve from said manual to cut out said expression means when skipping or rewinding.
  • a combined expression and rewind cut-out-valve means for operating said valve for expression, and sepa ate means for operating said valve for rewinding the perforated music sheet with accelerated speed.
  • a combined expression and rewind cut-out-valve means for operating said valve for expression, a control valve, and a manual for operating the control valve for conditioning the instrument for expression and for rewinding a perforated music sheet.
  • ex ression mechanism having an expression-valve, rewind mechanism, and means for enabling said expressionvalve to act as a rewind, cutout-valve.
  • a vertical hollow head having a wind-way, a dia phragm, a branch connection between said wind-way and said diaphragm, and a vertically actuated valve resting upon said diaphragm and controlling the passage of air between said windqvay and said diaphragm,
  • said diaphragm being; sealed from said windf r said branch connection.
  • iusical instrument the i i I lid-wa t a nollow heat a l'GWlllCl-VtilYQ in said sm for operating; said r a player musical instrument the i niinacion of a Wind-way a hollow head connected lllClQWlilL vertically operable, i return, mind-Valve 1n and head i echanism for opera-tine; said val:
  • n'icchanism for player (lib al instr nnents, the combination of the nain ⁇ iindn'ay tor es ablishing suction on layerpneinnatics an ezrpressionwalve rindviay and controlling the degree i on said pneumatics, a chamber ihle diaphragm supporting the raid valve, and means for admitt will under suction or atmospheric to said chamber. whereby said valve serve; for both soft and loud playing.

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Description

'Sept. 2a, 1926. 1,601,432
w. EUSTIS EXPRESSION MECHANISM FOR PLAYER MUS ICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 6, 1920 4 heats-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Wa rnarl'uozia ATTORNEY.
Sept. 28, 1926. 1,601,432
. W. EUSTIS EXPRESSION MECHANISM FOR PLAYER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct 6, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WarnwT'EuJZZ'S ATTORNEY.
' Sept. 28,1926. 1,601,432
W. EUSTIS EXPRESSION MECHANISM FOR PLAYER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed 'Oct. 6 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 'INVENTOR.
Warner-Emil:
ATTORNEY- EXPRESSION IECHANISM FOR PLAYER MUSICAL INSTRQMENTS Filed Oct. 6, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 g ii ATTORNEY.
Patented Sept. 28, 1926.
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
WARNER EUSTIS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO J. P. EUSTIS MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.
EXPRESSION MECHANISM FOR PLAYER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
Application filed October 6, 1920.
This invention relates to expression mechanism for player musical instrrunents, such as player pianos and organs, and more particularly to improvements on the player m chanism for musical instruments shown, described and claimed in the patent to Villiam A. \Vatson and Warner Eustis, No. 1,430,517, dated Sept. 26, 1922.
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide improved and simple means for carrying a theme through a per formance by the player action, for carrying a solo or for accenting any given notes or phrases, and for playing softly in either the bass or the treble or both of them. Another object of the invention is to provide means for making use of valve units, such, for instance, as those shown in patent to Vvilliam A. \Vatson, #1142863, in which patent the valve unit is shown as constituting means for controlling the piano action attackingbellows. Another object of the invention is to provide means associated with the expression mechanism in such manner that the exprcssion-valve serves the double function of an expression-valve and a cut-out-valve for shutting off the player-pneumatics during the rewinding of the perforated sheet of music, or to do so while the player instru ment is set for a silentgo-ahead of the music'sheet or web, and for skipping passages of the music cut on the sheet, when desired. Other objects of the invention will appear from the description.
The above being among the specific objects of the present invention, the same consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and then claimed with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a desirable embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a player action suflicient to illustrate the present invention, parts being broken away for clearness of illustration, the controlled parts being in position for playing softly in the treble.
Fig. 2 is a sectional front elevation, partly diagrami'natic, the controlled parts being in accenting position, that is to say, one of the expression-holes in the music sheet admitting atmospheric air into the expression tracker-tube.
Serial No. 414,953.
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the controlled parts in position for rewinding the perforated music sheet.
Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the valve device, which is controlled directly by the rewind-manual.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the seat for the said valve.
Fig. 6 is an under side view of the said 1,430,517. At the right-hand end of windway or wind-chest 10, there is a hollow head 11, and the wind-way and the head 11 are preferably constructed of sheet metal asso ciated in any preferred manner. necessary to illustrate the left-hand end head, as that may be similar to the right-hand end head, the left and right-hand hollow heads being respectively for bass and treble, in which case the wind-ways which support the playe'r-pneumatics are divided between the base and treble in well-known manner. A motor wind-way 12 leads to the right and upwardly, and to the motor, which is not shown in said figures, it preferably being supported from the lower portion of the right-hand head 11. However, the motor 82 is partially shown in Fig. 7.
Expression-tubes 13 and 14 lead respectively to the bass and treble sides of the player action, and as the parts which may be associated with the bass side of the player may be the same as those associated with the treble side, this description will be confined only to the parts associated with the treble side. The forward end of expression-tube 14: is provided with a ported head'15, the port of which is controlled by a valve 16, which is operated by the expression-manual or button 17. The said valve automatically It is not closes the port in head 15. the ope 'ator using the finger to depress the manual 17 and open the valve 16 against the action of its spring. The tracker lo is connected in any suitable manner with the wind-ways of the player-prionma ics, and at least at the treble end it is provided in well-known man ner with a hole from which expression-tithe 19 leads, and with which hole there is adapted to register any one of a series of side or;- pression perito 'ations in the music sheet 20. The tubes l-i and 19 are prefer hly of metal. ant their control means are adapted to control certain valves and mechanism, which may be duplicated at the bass side ot' the player action.
An expression-valve 21, preferably in the iorni ot a dish, is located in the hollow head 11, and is adapted to the valve opening surround d 3y the seat 22 for said alve. and the valve and its seat are prete ably in accordance with aforesaid application. Valve 21 is provided with a depending upright stein 23 which extends downwardly through the lower end of tie h ad 11. and the lower end of said stein passes tirough rigid metallic wall Q-i, which is secured in the lower end of said head, said wall being located below the wind-way O. Vfall 2%. is provided with a hollow neck 25, through whica. the valvestem 2. 3 passes, and the lover etitrenity of said stem is received in a flexible big 26, the mouth of which is secured airtight 'aroi nd the nee 25 in any suitable manner. Said hag may he composed of any suitable material which will secure the bag against leakage of air. The lower extremity ot' valve-stem 23 is preferably disconnected. from the bag 26, so that it will rest loosely therein, and the bottom of the hag is secured to the central button 2? of flexible diaphragm Diaphragm 28 is secured at its ecge in an airtight manner to the. preterahly sheet metal. chamber 29, which is lo rated at the lower extremity of the h ad 11. Chamber is provided with a central hottom opening-r 30, for the purpose of admitting atmospheric air, and also for the purpose of receiving: a tensioil-spring 30 the tendency of which is to pull the diaphragm downwardly with a greater or less pull, as desired; said spring may he cz rried by any suitable mean for adjusting its tension. The tiertihle diaphragm 28 divides the chainher or inemher 29 into two snh-chamhers 31, 31 respectively, the sue-chamber 31 li inp; located above the diaphragm and t. sub-chamber 3?. below it, so as to provide a cha nher which is constantly open to atmospheric air.
A valve-casing 82, preferably of sheet metal, 18 positioned upon the wind-way it and partly Xtends thereinto, its outer portron preterably extending forwardly, as
'. l. ihe inner portion of the vhich located within the )rovided with openings 33,
ig is provided aiso with L 35, respectively, the openl are respectively adapted to opened hy means of primary l v va re 37. Said va 'c-cas w ind w 1v L and the vi a central stem 38,
so so \Pt 1 t ii -ch attached to a l "ch constitutes a p arming 32, ll ch the ei-zprc iiiutuhe between the 30 J 4; e-casim; 1-2,
i rdly from on heing disposed the vw in vhich is arrang and as 35 l. in l i gs. 2 and 3 the nos 32 and :52 are ed, tor the suite and although shown differento'i' clearness of the said valves in said ti tin d with at and within he reaivc it and said valves are loii I h is coinectcd hack of w-iich is a, cham- 1 se :21. For ohdiaphragtns 39 ded with hleedgrinice in this con: tion The air-tithe 50 l downwardiv port in the side or the outer pol the valve-casing 1-2. A tuhe extends i wardlz. from the sub-0111" 3i i chamber eration or ill) z id are cc;
nected together, constitute one tuhe, which connected the suh-thamher 31 with the valveusing 4:2.
In normal playing the trolled valve 16 will be close ca 'i )ression-valve i open. at the icument w ll p The acicn oi hc pi rts a 1' valve 91 in normaliy loud pl when the method of If one desires to play the mi er the bass or thetrehle sine the eerie spno expression-manual is operated. In F e trehle manual l? is she k-7n as depre .i fi' oi the operator. so as to open c 6 This will admit atmospheric air into tube 1i, and the air 'ushes til through said tube into the chamber 40 of the valve-casing 32. It immediately acts upon the "alve 37 and opens it, closing the valve 36, which controls the opening to the wind-way 10, so that the air tension in the windway 10 will have no efl'ec't and is nullified. Valve 37, having been opened auto matically, the atmospheric air rushes through the tube 41 to the valve-casing thereby immediately inflating the puff formed by diaphragm 49. This action ac tuates the valve-stem 48, thereby closing the valve 47 upon its seat 45, and cutting'off atmospheric air through the opening in said seat. This action also moves the valve 46 from its seat 44 and permits the tension air in the hollow head 11 to act through the opening in said seat, and through the tubes 50 and 52, and in the subchamber 31 of the chamber 29. The tension air in sub-chamber 31 acts to lift the flexible diaphragm 28 against the tension of the spring 30 and to collapse the flexible bag 26, thereby acting upon the lower end of the valve-stem to raise the expression-valve 21 and close the valve opening at 22. Normally, the tension air in the hollow head 11 and in the col lapsible bag 26 has no lifting tendency. upon the flexible diaphragm 28, but as soon tension air acts directly in the sub-chamber 31 above the diaphragm 28, the said diaphragm i instantly raised by suction through the tubes 50, 52. Inasmuch as the sub-chamber 31 is a sealed chamber, except for the effect of the tension air therein, the valve 21 will be maintained in closed position for all practical purposes while the valve 16 is kept open, evcept there will be a slight seepage of atmospheric air into the player action, which only has the effect upon the valve 21 of imparting, a slight flutter thereto, but this does not interfere with the desired effect obtained by closing the valve 21. In other words, the said seepage oil? air will have a slight tendency to minimize the action of the tension air in the chamber 31, but this is insutlicient to prevent the valve 21 from being practically closed. The valve 21, being then closed in the manner described, and as shown in F 1, the melody will be played softly, whether the same be. carried through the bass or the treble.
To understand just how the expression regulating-valve 21 acts it should be ltept in mind that the suction bellows is 0})0l'ittl11f2f, and that the note-sheet is moving forwardly. With a constant 5 ction in the lower windway 10, and if there occurs the smallest leak of atmospheric air into the upper windchest structure having the player-pneumatics, as for sounding one note, the expressionvalve 21 moves further. even though slightly, away from its seat. This slight movement is due to the momentary slight decrease of vacuum tension in said upper structure,
e c to the upper windchest structure, due to more player valves being op rated, so as to increase the leakage into said upper structure, expression-valve 91 is in t e same manner lowered further, so that the vacuum sion in the lower windway to innnedis ately establish a proportional tension in said upper structure, the two or more notes being sounded with practically the same power as before. Hence, it follows that it makes no difterence whether one note or any number 02:: notes are sounded, as the expressionvalve 21 acts to automatically maintain a predetermined tension in the upper windchest structure of the player action proper.
Consequently, on account of the vari ble vibratory movement of the valv 21 in playing softly, the same flutters in its regulating ction. it thus variably cuts off the suction on its controlling diaphragm 28.
So far, it has been tried that the pen forated music sheet 20 has acted as a valve to keep the expression track he 19 closed. T1 the music sheet be provided with a series of expressiolrholes, these hoies will register one at a time with the tube 19, and the con trolled parts will be set instant; into position as illustrated in i to the fact that atn'iospheri mentarily admitted to the t and such air will act to press the diaphragm 39 inwardly or inflate he puff, thereby establishing an air ten l nee between the wind-way l0 and use 41, inasmuch as the pressure air will act "nstantl q to open the primary valve 36, and to close the valve position, as regarts the two conditions of the apparatus illustrated in lies 1 and 2. Tension air in the tube i-l w antly act upon diapl'iragni 49 to deflate the puff formed thereby, and this action re n. in closing valve 46 and open' to atmospheric air. Atm thereupon be instantly admrg valve-casing 42, and will rush ough the tubes 50 and into the sub-ch: 31 of the chamber 29. The pressure air will then immediately act to d the flexible diaphragm 28, and allow the valve 21 to open by gravity, it its valve-stem be merely restair will into the 20. which then reg QLQl'S oll'll the trachcrtuhe 19, the note coil-csgonding with the istenng hole of the note shirt will be accente l it there is no air pressure in tn "e 19 the instrinnent will play loudl when the nrznn. allv-controlle'd valve 16 is closed. This is because it th valve 36 may bleed-hole diaphr: hole t. sion at both result is that closed, a vaci tube and the It the valve ?6 time of norniap diaphragm at it) quentlv, whether closed at the valve 4:? will he the outer ai'inoso' phragni at 89, vacuum tensions can be estahl sides of rid diaphragm.
Under the present invention it l emit a o cnt-ont-valve hetn eon t' es and the pumping inc-ehinvention is not necesoinission. I c
nossi i a Ior playing" a piece or n v sc lol rewindn in big; and in (let: v: we-
t 53 is provided with two ports, 5% and on, wit 1 which, resp veg, C0111 ect the correspoiding' ends of 1 '3 Mounted npon the z or disk-val" turned npo 53. con 1' the .1 (i and the se 1e ground for nest results. contro h a small s;
the valve oo and at oppos" the valve. with an arcn l.\' 1 J! a channels oeing pielera in valve-seas 52-3, and said port connected b a Dy-pass tube 61 with the window-.1 10 at a point in advance of the head 11. A cran -arni 62, extending; edgewise from the dislrwalve 56, is connected by means of a linlr (S3 with a crank-arm (ll, which is supported by a ro 'lzshailt 65, at the forward end oi which is a control-inaninil it -onstitoting the rewind-inannal. A link (37 connects another crank-arm (58 on shatt 6:") with a verti 'al rock-shalt (39, which at its upper end is adapted t actuate a rod 70. The rod '70 serves for conditioning the gear shift inion of the power incchani in of the motor, with the io-governor, for moving; the perforated n c sheet at greater than playing speed r1 rewinding, and in shipping or going ahead silently. Itllechanisin which may he employed to oo-ordinate vith the rod for n'inginn" ahni" these result-1s may he such as is shown, described, and claimed in co-pcnding application of nn'sel'l' and Yfilliain A. l; atson, Serial No. llllJSl, tl or rewind mechanism for player musical instruments. Be- L t'escril'iing' the position of the parts ooe ate by the rewind-1n annal in co-ordinaif vith the expression mechanism as illustrated, it is well to say that the pl: inn posioi the rewind-manual crohlv t0 he right. as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. that is,
Q silent o-ahead position, is preferably at vertical, that is to sav the rewindmanual is set vertically. This position is not illust'ated in the d 'awings. but the action of the rewind mechanism herein involved is the same in that position as who; the rewind-manual is moved to the lclt, which is the preferred rewind position, as shown in Fig. 3. It should remarked tl at the tracker-bar is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 diagrainniatically, that it not shown in the position which it takes in the practical apparatus, and, that the rewind-nnrnual is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for cl arness of illustration, in a difierent position than shown in Fig. l, which is the practical posi tion tor said manual.
As before stated, Fin. 3 si'iows the position of the parts in rewinding. In this position, the valve 56 will be shifted so that the connection between the tubes 50 and 513 will be broken, the passage in the valve -icing;- moved to the position shown in on l nes, and the passage 59 to the position shown in the broken out portion of the houre. The valve 56 now forms a rewindnow connect the tubes 52 and 61, thereby forming a shunt connection between the wind-way 10 and the chamber 81. Tension air will now exert its action on the flexible diaphragn'l 28, thereby raising the valve 21 and closing its opening, thus sl'rutting oti the player-pneumatics, and strictly speaking, shutting otl all channels or .vindways directly above the valve 21. Full tension will now be exerted upon the air in the motor wind-way 12, as the playerpneumatics are cut out by the valve 21 which now forms a rewind cut-out-valve.
With a view to clarity it is stated at this convenient point that although suction is established on the diaphragm 28, which controls the expressiorrvalve 21, when either of the branch tubes 50, '61 is connected with the diaphragm chamber 31, the pull on the diaphragm is not the same in each case. The suction through the connecting branch 50, 52 which connects with the head 11 at a point between the valve 21 and the playerpneumatics, is of less tension than through the short connecting branch 61, For, as before described, the expression-valve 21 flutters during soft playing. At this time, as the valve 21 is closed. or practically closed except for the restricted flow of air therethrough for soft playing-the vacuum tension above the said valve is weaker than in the windway 10, and the tension in the diaphragm-chamber 31 is equal to that in the windway 10. But, when the branch tubes 61, 52. which lead from the windway 10 in advance of the position of the expression-valve 21, are connected with the diaphragn'r-chamber 31 there is a pull on the diaphragm 28 which corresponds with the degree of tension in the windway 10, as that tension is not afliected by any of the connections between the said valve and the player-pneumatics. Hence, at this time the expression-valve 21 is held firmly shut and there is little, if any, flutter thereof. The valve is shut so tightly at this time that it is converted into a rewind-cut-outvalve, and at this time the motor can be speeded up for rewinding the note sheet.
In skipping, or in silent go-ahead, the
rewind-manual, as before stated, preferably assumes a vertical position intermediate of itsrightand left-hand positions. In that position, the crank 62 on the valve 56 will be set in a position intermediate of the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3. However, there will still be a break in the connection between the tubes 50 and 52, although the length of the passage or channel 59 is such that the ports 55 and 60 will communicate. Consequently, the motor will also be sped up, as is the case in rewinding.
In Fig. 7 is illustrated the relation of the expression. mechanism and rewind-manual to suitable power'mechanism controlled by rod for either of the directions of travel of the note sheet. A rock-shaft 71 has bearings in brackets 72, 73, and an arm 74 on the lower end of said shaft is pivotally connected with the rod 70. The upper end of the shaft 71 carries an arm 75 which is adapted to shift the intermediate driving pinion 76 in one direction or the other. lVhen the pinion 76 is shifted to mesh with the gear 77 the note sheet roll will carry the note sheet forwardly over the tracker 18 and the instrument will play. lVhen the pinion 76 is shifted to clutch with one of the gears of sprocket-chain 78 the note sheet will be rewound on the roll 79.
Obviously, the invention is susceptible of more or less modification, as parts may be omitted, parts added, and parts substituted for others without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
lVhat I claim as new is:
1. In expression mechanism for player musical instruments, the combination of a windway, player-pneumatics, the winding having a controllable orifice therefor which establishes communication between the player-pneumatics and said windway, an expression-valve for controlling said orifice, a flexible diaphragm, a member having a chamber, one wall of which is formed by said diaphragm, and means adapted to admit air under different pressures to said chamber from two different points of said windway, for opening and closing said valve. I
2. In expression mechanism for player musical instruments, the combination of a wind-way, a hollow head at the end of said windway, an expression-valve, located in said head, a flexible diaphragm, a member having two chambers formed by said diaphragm, and means adapted to admit air under different pressures to one chamber, for opening and closing said valve.
3. In expression mechanism for player musical instruments, the combination of a wind-way, a hollow head at the end of said wind-way, an expression-valve located in said head, an open transverse valve-seat in said head, a flexible diaphragm, a member having two chambers formed by said diaphragm, and means adapted to admit air under differentpressures to one chamber, for opening and closing said valve.
4. In expression mechanism for player musical instruments, the combination of a windwvay, a hollow head at the end of said windway, an expressioirvalve located in said head,-a flexible diaphragm, a member having two chambers formed by said diaphragm and located at the lower end of said head, and means adapted to admit air under diflierent pressures to one chamber, for opening and clOSiDg said valve.
5. In expression mechanism for player musical instruments, the combination of a main windwav, the player-pneumatic windwav, an expression-valve between the playerpneumatic and the main windwav and having a full-open position and a near-closed position, and which is always biased toward one of said positions in normal playing, a chamber separate from said windway and having a flexible diaphragm supporting said valve, and control-valve means to admitting air under different pressures to said chamber, to act on said diaphragm and cause said valve to move toward one position for obtaining one effect, and toward the other position to obtain another efiect, whereby said valve is caused to flutter when near-closed.
(3. In mechanism of the class described, a
windnva v, a valve therein having a stem, a chamber having a flexible wall connected to said valve through its stem, a flexibly walled enclosure located in said chamber and communicating with said wind-way, and surrounding the end of said stem adjacent said flexible wall, and means adapted to admit air at the pressure in said wind-way to said chamber, and for admitting air at a different pressure to said chamber, for opening and closing said valve.
7. In mechanism of the class described, a wind-way, a hollow head at the end of said wind-way, a valve in said head having a stem, a chamber at the lower end of said head having a flexible wall connected to said valve through its stem, a flexibly walled enclosure located in said chamber and communicating with said wind-way, and surrounding the end of said stem adjacent said flexible wall, and means adapted to admit air atthe pressure in said wind-way to said chamber, and for admitting air at a different pressure to said chamber, for opening and closing said valve.
8. In an expression mechanism for player musical instruments, a horizontal wind-way, a hollow head at one end of said wind-way, a transverse, open, valve-seat in said head between the pla ver-pneumatics and said wind-way, an expression-valve and its stem below said seat, said stem extending to the lower end of said head, a chamber at the lower end of said head having a flexible wall adapted to operate said valve through its stem, and manually-controlled pneumatic means adapted to admit air under different pressures but at different times to said chamber, for moving said valve to and from its seat.
9. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a wind-way, two valve units, each having a plurality of valves for controlling said wind-way, means for controlling the valves in one of said units, a passage connecting said units, a chamber hav ing a flexible diaphragm, a valve operable from said diaphragm and adapted to close and open said wind-way, and a passage con necting the other of said valve units with said chamber, wherebv said diaphragm is adapted to be operated.
10. In mechanism of the class described. the combination of a wind-way, two valve units, each having a plurality of valves for controlling said wind-way, means for controlling the valves in one of said units, pass e'e connecting said units, a chainl'ier having a flexible diaphragm, a valve operable from said diaphragm and adapted to close and open said wind'wav, a passage connccting the other of said valve units with said chamber, whereby said diaphragm is adapted to be operated, said controlling means comprising a manually-operable valve for admitting atmospheric air thereinto.
11. In expression meciianism for player n 'sical instruments, the combination of a v "ad-way, two va ve devices, each having a piuralitji of valves for controlling said windwav, hollow head transverse of said windwav, means tor controlling the valves in one of lid valve devices, a passage connecting id valve devices, a Clltil'i'lllQl having a flex- .a le diaphragn'i, an expression-valve operable from said diaphragm and adapted to open and close communication between said wind-wav and the plaver- 'meumatics. and a passage connecting the other of said valve devices with said chamber, whereby said diaphragm is adapted to be operated.
12. In expression mechanism for phrver musical instruments, the con'ibination ot' a wind-way, two valve devices, each having a plurality of valves for controlling said windwav, a hollow head transverse of said windwav, means tor controlling the valves in one o aid valve devices, a passage connecting said valve devices, a chamber having a flexible diaphragm, an expression-valve operable itrom said diaphragm ant adapted to open and close communication between said wind'wav and the plavenpneumatics, a pas connecting the other of said valve devices with said chamber, whereby said diaihragm is adapted to be operated, and said controlling means comprising a manuallyoperable valve for admitting pressure'air thereto, and also an expression tracker-tube.
18. In a player mechanism for musical instruments, a wind-way having an upright hollow head, in combination with an expression-valve located in said head, and letlllfi for operating said valve and com prising a control-valve device positioned in said head.
14;. In a pla ver nieclninisni, a wind-way ha "ing an upright hollow head, said head being provided with a transverse oriticed valve-seat, in combination with an expression-va ve to control the orifice and located in said head, said valve having a depend ing stem, at:nospherically-operated means adapted to act on said stem for opening said valve, and suction-operated means for closing the valve.
15. In a player mechanism, a wind-way having an upright hollow head, in combination with a chamber at the lower end of said head, a flexible diaphragm in said chamber, a transverse orificed valve-seat in said head, an expressioirvalve located in said head. and having a, depending stem resting on said diaphragm through the gravity thereof and said valve, means adapted to act on said diaphragm for operating said valve through said stem, atmospheric means for acting on said diaphragm to open said valve, and suction means acting on said diaphragm to close the valve.
16. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a rewind-manual having a playing and a rewind position, means actuated by said rewind-nianual and adapted to operate on the power mechanism for either of the two directions of travel of the perforated music-sheet, expression means, a rewind conditioning-valve associated w" h said expression means, and means for actuating said valve from said manual to cut out said expression means when rewinding.
ii". In mechanisn'i of the class decrihed, the combination of a rewind-manual, having three positions, namely,for a forward travel, a shipping, and a rewinding,means under the control of said manual for conditioning the apparatus for a playing speed and a faster speed in shipping and rewind in expression means, a rewind conditionb, 1 ,0 mg-valve associated wlth said expression means, and means for actuating said valve from said manual to cut out said expression means when skipping or rewinding.
18. In a player musical instrument, the combination of a windwayto the playerpneun'iatics, an expression mechanism associated therewith, with a rewind mechanism having a control part which is independent of said windway and constitutes one of the elements of the expression mechanism.
19. In a player musical instrument, a combined expression and rewind cut-out-valve, means for operating said valve for expression, and sepa ate means for operating said valve for rewinding the perforated music sheet with accelerated speed.
20. In a player musical instrument, a combined expression and rewind cut-out-valve, means for operating said valve for expression, a control valve, and a manual for operating the control valve for conditioning the instrument for expression and for rewinding a perforated music sheet.
21. In a player musical instrument, the combination of an expression mechanism having an expression-valve, a rewind-mannal, a control-valve operable by said manual for cutting out the expression mechanism, and means associated with said control-valve for enabling said expression-valve to act as a rewind cutoutvalve, when said expression mechanism is cut out.
22. In a player musical instrument, the combination of ex ression mechanism having an expression-valve, rewind mechanism, and means for enabling said expressionvalve to act as a rewind, cutout-valve.
23. In a player musical instrument, the combination of a wind-way, a hollow head thereon, expression mechanism, a partof which is mounted on said head, having an expressionvalve located in said head, rewind mechanism, and means for enabling said expression-valve to act as a rewind, cutout-valve.
24. In a player musical instrument, the combination of a wind-way, a hollow head thereon, expression mechanism, a part of which mounted on said head, having an exprcssion-valve located in said head, rewind mechanism, and means for enabling said expressior lve to act a rewind, cut-outvalve, r comprising a control-valve mounted on said head.
25. In a. player musical instrument, the combination oi": expression mechanism, a rewind mechanism and manual operable at will on both of said mechanisms for conditioning the instrument for expression or for rewinding perforated music sheet.
26. In a player musical instrument, the combination of expression mechanism, a rewind mechanism, a manual operable at will on both of said mechanisms for conditioning the instrument for expression and for rewinding a perforated music sheet, and a single valve operable by said manual for accomplishing that purpose.
27. In a player musical instrument, the combination of expression mechanism comprising a passage, and a valve controlled from said passage, with a rewind mechanism comprising a passage for independently controlling said valve, and valve means operable by said rewind mechanism for cutting either of said passages in or out.
28. In expression means for musical instruments, a wind-way, a diaphragm, a branch air connection to said diaphragm from said windway, a valve in said windway actuated by said diaphragm, and located between the ends of said branch connection, and means to cut oil the connection from the said wind-way and to admit atmospheric air to said connection.
29. In a player musical instrument, a vertical hollow head having a wind-way, a dia phragm, a branch connection between said wind-way and said diaphragm, and a vertically actuated valve resting upon said diaphragm and controlling the passage of air between said windqvay and said diaphragm,
said diaphragm being; sealed from said windf r said branch connection.
iusical instrument the i i I lid-wa t a nollow heat a l'GWlllCl-VtilYQ in said sm for operating; said r a player musical instrument the i niinacion of a Wind-way a hollow head connected lllClQWlilL vertically operable, i return, mind-Valve 1n and head i echanism for opera-tine; said val:
. In a player .L' I
or a thereni the a hollow ill ad 1 musical instrument ind-Way,
n th v a rewind-mire in SLIlC i tor operating said valve rewinc inn, 1 separate controlwalve opmechanism. and conn t'oni said Wii'id 'ay controlled rolq'alre 3i 1 main Windtva for establishing suction on r instrument. a
the playenpneinnat' an n-Tc an in d n'nidn'a and co iti: of suction on said pneinn having a flexible diaphragm controlling said valye, and means of communication leading from between the said. valve and playerpnenniaties to said chamber and "functioning rith said valve for maintaining an even vacnnn tension upon said player-pneumatics.
In e:-;prcssion mechanism for player n'nisical ii'istrnments, the combination of the main \Yindaay -tor establishing suction 0n the player-pnenmatics, an expression-valve in said windway and controlling the degree of suction on said pneumatics a chamber having; a flexible diaphragm mechanically controlling said Valve, and means connecting with the windway at a point between the aid valve and playe--pneumatics for admitting air at will under suction or atmos' phcrie pressure to said chamber, whereby said valve serves for both soft and loud playing.
In erpression n'icchanism for player (lib al instr nnents, the combination of the nain \iindn'ay tor es ablishing suction on layerpneinnatics an ezrpressionwalve rindviay and controlling the degree i on said pneumatics, a chamber ihle diaphragm supporting the raid valve, and means for admitt will under suction or atmospheric to said chamber. whereby said valve serve; for both soft and loud playing.
\VARNER EUSTIS.
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