US1635993A - Modifying device for modulator control - Google Patents

Description

July 1927' J. H. HAMMOND, JR 15635993,

MODIFYING DEVICE FOR MODULATOR CONTROL Filed Avril 2. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.5

.Z 4 2 L L n [14 INVENTQR ATTO'RNEY 1,635,993 July 1927' J. H. HAMMOND, JR

MODIFYING DEVICE FOR MODULATOR CONTROL 1 Filed Avril 92 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR ATTORNEY Patented July 19,1927, v 1 UNITED STATES 1,635,993 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR., OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MODIFYING DEVICE ron MODULATOR CONTROL.

Y ment.

In accordance with this object there is provided a plurality of means for modulatin the sound, with a control device for effecting different relative movements of the modulators.

By means of the device of the present invention the volume of sound emitted from the instrument may be very carefully regulated and the instrument thus caused to produce many novel effects.

The invention has particular adaptability for pianos and thus this type of instrument may be utilized as one of the instru ments of an orchestra, or for other similar purposes. I

Other objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section, of an instrument embodyingthe invention, the section being taken on the line 11 of Figure 2. r

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1; and g Figures 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged views of the control apparatusof Figure 2, in three different positions respectively.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

In the following description and claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience of expresslon, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts or equivalent construction as the art will permit.

In the form of the invention. shown in the drawings, the system is applied to a grand piano 10 which is provided with usual strings 11, mounted in aframe 12. Cooperating with the strings 11 is a piano action 13, which is operated in 'any well known manner by depressing the keys 14.

The piano 10 is provided with usual pedals 15, 16 and 17 mounted in a base 18 which is suspended from a bracket '20 by ,rods 21 and 22. The pedals 16 and 17 are operatively connected to rods'23 and 24 respectively, which operate the sostenuto and Application filed April 2, 1925. Serial No. 20,111.

the loud pedal action of the piano in a well known manner. The pedal 15 is operatively connected to the rod 25 the to of which engages one arm of a bell-cran 26 which is pivoted at 27 to the bracket 20. The other end of the bell-crank 26 is connected to a link 28, the other end of which is provided with a pin 30 which operates in a slot 31 providedin a member 32 which is rigidly secured to a shaft 33; mounted in bearings 34 and 35 and is provided with a collar 36 which prevents it from sliding through the bearings. Rigidly secured to the shaft 33 are'two arms37 and 38 to which are pivoted two links 40 and 41 to the other ends of which are connected two rods 42 and '43. Pivoted to the rods 42 and 43 is a plurality of arms 44 and 45. Each arm is secured to a rotatable element, such as 46 and 47 each of which is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, and which form collectively means for suppressing to a desired degree, the volume of sound emitted from the instrument.

In order to determine the position of the link 28 with respect to the member 32,

' a bell-crank 50 is provided whichis pivoted at 51 to the framework of'thepiano, and is provided at one'endwith two pins 52 and 53, between which passesthe link 28.- The other end of the bell-crank 50 is provided with a handle 54 and a clicker 55 which cooperates with a clicker segment 56. Secured to the link 28 is one end of a spring 57 the other end of which is attached to a bracket 58carried by the framework of the piano. The casing of the piano and the tone modulators, such as 46, 47, are preferably constructed, at least in part of a sound insulating material.

In the operation of this form of the invention the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is in the open. position with the foot pedal 15 depressed and the modulators 46 and 47 open. If it is desired to decrease the volume of sound emitted by the piano the pressure on the footpedal 15 is diminished,

thereby allowing the rod 25 to move downwardly and the bell-crank 26 to rotate in a clockwise direction about the pivot 27 under the action of the spring 57 which will then move the link 28 to the left. This will 'causethe member 32 and the shaft 33 to The shaft 33 is 4 1 to be moved to the right, Which in turn will move the rods 42 and 43 to the right, thus closing the modulators 46 and 47. This will bring the mechanism into the position shown in Fi 3. It is thus seen that with the bellscran 50 in the positionsshown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, that when the foot pedal 15 is depressed, it will cause the modulators to be opened. If it is desired, however, to have the modulators close when the foot pedal 15, is depressed, the bell-crank 50 is moved into the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 by moving the handle 54 to the left which rotates, the bell-crank 50 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 51. This causes the link 28 to be. moved into the position hP I in Figs. 4 and 5. If it is desired to. close the modulators, the foot pedal 15 is depressed thereby moving the link 28 to the right as previously described, which will cause the member 32 to be rotated in a counter-clpckwise direction, thereby moving the 4:0 and 41 to the right and closing the swell shutters 46 and 47 in a manner already described. It is vthus seen that when the bellecrank 50 is in the positipn shown in Figs. 4 and 5, depressing the foot pedal 15 will cause the swell shutters tolbe. closed.

By positioning thebell-crank 50 in intermediate positions between the extremes shown, it is ossible to open and; close the modulators t e. full amount with a smaller action of the foot pedal as the pin 30 may be moved nearer the center. of rotation of the member 32, and thus a smaller motion of the foot pedal willproduce the full motion of the arms 37 and. 38.

Thus it; will be seen that I havev provided a modulating system. for pianofortes having a tone modulating pedal and meansfor reversing or otherwise modifying the action of the tone modulator with respect to the pedal. By setting the reversing or modifying means in an intermediate position a smaller degree of movement of the pedal effects a greater degree of sound control, and thus a wide variety of musical, effects may be obtained. By setting the pin 30 at diierent positions in the slot 31 movement of the pedal will, produce any desired accentuation or suppression of the music, and various expressions may be imparted to the theme, as may be desired.

Furthermore, by reversing the relative movement of the parts, in the manner described, the operation of the pedal can be caused. to produce different effects, so that ii the same musical passage is to be layed a number of times in. succession, texpression can be expeditiously altered. as may be desired, and monotony avoided.

The invention upon which. this applicas tion is based is broader than the specific embodiment shown and described for the suppressing means, and a manually 0 purpose of illustrating at least one of the ways in which it may be employed. The

the sound emitted from the instrument,

means operatively interconnecting the control device and the tone modulator, and means for modifying the action of said interconnecting means.

2. In a musical. instrument of the poroussive type, the combination with a. control device, of a tone; modulator for variably controlling the sound emitted from the instrument, means operatively interconnecting the. cont ol device and the tone modulator, and means for reversing the action. of said interconnecting means.

3. In a musical instrument, the combination of means for reducing the volume of sound effectively produced by the instrument, a manual control therefor, means operatively interconnecting, said sound reducing means and said control arranged so that movement of said controlv in one direction reduces and in the opposite direction increases the effective volume of sound, and a manual device acting on said interconnecting means to interchange the direction of Inpvement of said sound reducing means zvltlll respect tosa id first named manual con- 4. In a; musical instrument, the combinatron of a casing, a source of sound within the casing, a pluralit of rotatable elements mounted in a wal oi the casingand arranged in one position to reduce the volume of sound effectively produced by the instrument, a manual control in continuous com nection with said elements tor controlling said elements, and a'manual. device to reverse the control of said sound reducing ele ments with respect to said manual control.

5. In a musical instrument, the combination of means for producing musical notes, means for. suppressin the music, a pedal for variably controlling the suppressing means and a manuall o able device for modifying the control 0 the, suppressing means by the pedal.

6. Ina musical instrument, the combinatron of means for producing musical notes, means for suppressing the music, a pedal for variably control ing the suppressing means in continuous connection with said able device for reversingthe control of t e suppressing means by the pedal.

7. In a musical inmrument, a percussive action for producing sound, tone modulators for regulating the volume of sound emitted, a pedal operatively connected to and in continuous engagement with said tone modulators and means to reverse the action of said tone modulators with respect to said pedal.

8. A musical instrument comprising a substantially sound proof casing having oppositely disposed apertures therein, movable closures for said apertures, means positioned within the casing for producing sound, a manually operable device in continuous ongagement with said closures for controlling the closures to regulate the volume of sound emitted, and a second manually operable device acting on said first named device to modify the action of said closures with respect to the first-named manual device.

9. In a musical instrument comprising a substantially sound proof casinghaving oppositely disposed apertures therein, movable closures for said apertures, means positioned within the casing for producing sound, a manually operable device for controlling the closures to regulate the volume of sound omitted, and a second manually operable device to reverse the action of said closures with respect to the first named manual device.

10. In a musical instrument, a percussive action for producing sound, means for varying the volume of sound emitted from the instrument after the action has produced a 7 sound, and two devices for controlling said means, one of said devices controlling the other of said devices.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York, this 1st day of April A. D. 1925.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR.

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