US1653935A - Tension-controlling mechanism for musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

De. 27, 1927.' Lg

' Y u. URQUHART TENSION -CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Jan. 10. 1924 SWSheetS-Sheet l accent Q @Jaa Q A-Q/ Q Bass Jczfcbn Dec, E?) 192651 l 1,653,935

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ff//f/ .U. URQUHART Filed Jan.1o. 1924 Dec.- 27, 1927.

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u. uRQuHAR-r TENSION CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed aan. 10. '1924 @sheets-sheet s y dvrvuyf 7m my m Patented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT @Efljll i mail UBERT URQUHART, OF NEWr YGRK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 THE AUTO ENEUMATTC ATEUN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. y

., A CORPORATION OF NEW' YORK..

TENSION-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed January 10, 1924.

' The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved tension controlling mechanism for pneumatically operated musical instruments whereby thedynamic effects can be controlled.

The invention has been particularly designed for use in combination with an accenting instrument which is operated from `two sources of tension; one relatively high and the other relatively low; the high tension being appli-ed automatically to selected notes to obtain solo effects. While the improved tension controlling mechanism can be applied substantially to any accenting instrument7 I have particularly designed and shown the same herein as aplplied to the accenting mechanism shown and described in an application for patent filed by- Herbert J. La [foie and Ubert Urquhart, Sept. lll, 1922, Serial llo. 588,254.

The improved tension controlling mecha-- nism has been designed to work primarily in a suction or exhaust operating mechanism; and the particular feature thereof consists in providing an adjusting valve for controlling passage from the action to the suction pump; a spring pressed pneumatic for operating said valve, anda valve operated from the tracker-bar for controlling said pneumatic, the passage for operating thc pneumatic against the spring being restricted in size, while the Apassage from the atmosphere to the pneumatic is large, whereby the time element of the position of the perforation in the music sheet for operating said pneumatic relatively to the position of the playing perforation or perforations controls the dynamic effect. This dynamic effect is preferably built up on a governed tension which is the slightest or softest the instrument is to play. The pneumatic above mentioned preferably is operated from an accurately governed source of tension so that the time element can be nicely figured.

Preferably two such mechanisms are employed with each tension. his adjusting valve mechanism also preferably is duplicated so that said mechanism will automat-ically control the tension which operates either or both the accented or accompanis .ment notes.

@ne form of Vapparatus by which my in` rention can be conveniently practicedL is il- Serial No. 685,341.

lustrated in the accompanying six sheets of drawings, referring to which- F l is a diagrammatic elevation 'illus-A trating a player piano action with my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation on an enlargedscale partly in section of the accent control valve chest.

Fig. 3 is a. bottom plan view partly in section in the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is a cross sectional elevation thereof on the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the perforated music sheet, tracker-bar, and the connections by which the accenting is obtained. 1

Fig. 6 is a front elevation partly in section illustrating the tension controlling mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 8 is a plan thereof.

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan on the line 9 9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a cross ysectional elevationlon the line lO-l'() of Fig. 6.

l1 is an enlarged view of the tension controlling valves and operating pneumatics therefor.

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional elevation on the line lf2-l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is: a detailed view of one of the springs which controls the adjusting pneun matic. y v

Fig. 14 is a partial cross sectional plan on the line 14 lef of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a plan illustrating the relative arrangement of the two springs used in convnection with two of the adjusting pneumatics, and

Fig. lo is a diagrammatic plan of the tracker-bar and music sheet,l illustrating diagrammatically the connections to 'the tension controlling mechanisms.

Referring to the drawings and in detail7 l will first describe in general terms the accenting` mechanism to which my improvement is to be applied and reference to follow this description should be had to the first three sheets of drawings.

These drawings 'illustrate a tracker-bar and music .sheet manipulating mechanism ranged in any of the improved ways, above an action valve chest, which carries theusual striker pneumatics having connections for operating the actions of the piano as illustrated particularly in Fig. 4. The action valve chest contains partitions 100 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 so that the trackercontrolled valves V will be divided into sections. As shown there may be nine intermediate sections of three valves each and the remainder of the valves may be divided between the bass and treble sections. 0n top of the action chest is arranged an accent control valve chest l/V having j )assages G and H, the passage G being a low tension passage for the accompaniment and the passage lbeing a high tension passage for the accent. The accent control valve chest `W is provided with nine valves C, which control passages extending to the nine sections in the valve chest, and with two jointly act-` ing valves C1 controlling passages extending to the bass section ont the action valve chest and with two jointly acting valves C2 controlling passages extending 'to the treble section ot the action valve chest. These valves are controlled by eleven expression openings arranged in the tracker-bar, live at the left thereoil and six at the right thereof, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 5. The normal playing is obtained from the lower tension in the accompaniment passage Gr. lt any note is to be accented, the proper one ot the eleven accent openings in the tracker is uncovered, by an accent-controlling perforation in the music sheet, which will set the proper valve C, C1 or C2, as the case may be, so that the air from the particular section oit' the action valve chest, instead oit being exhausted through the passage G, will be exhausted through the passage H, which is connected to the high tension so that the pai'- ticular note thus will be accented. 'lhus the piece of music can be played to produce solo etl'ects, that is particular notes may be accented or played louder than the remaining or accompanying notes.

The details ot this accenting mechanism are set forth more in detail in said application for patent,v Serial No. 588,254, previously referred to.

I will now describe the tension comzrolling` mechanism, by which the tension ot either or both the accent or accompaniment may be automatically controlled from the tracker-bar. The suction pump is connected by a pipe 20 to the back block 2l oi the tension controlling device and to a horizontal 'passage 22 therein. The tension controlling device is constructed so as to contain two cham- The valve arrangement in each chamber 23 and 24 is substantially the same and the arrangement in the accompaniment chamber 24 will be described in detail.

The passage 22 is connected by a passage 27 to the chamber 24, this'passage being controlled by a pivoted spring pressed governor valve 28, which is regulated by a pneumatic 29 adj ustably connected thereto by link 80. The pneumatic 29 is normally kept open by an adjustable spring 3l and the pneumatic is connected to the chamber 24 by a passage These parts are arranged so that normally the lightestor so'itest tension employed will be maintained in the chamber 24. A long narrow vertical passage 33 is arranged between the chamber 24 and the passage 22, which passage is controlled by a sliding valve 34, arranged to move vertically in ways or guides 85, 850. rlhis valve is adjustably connected by a wire or rod 36 to an adjusting pneumatic 37 arranged at the lelt hand top ot the structure, this pneumatic being normally ilorced open by a spring 38 arranged on the side thereon, .vhereby the sliding 'valve 34 will be held upwardly normally to cover the passage A third compartment 39 is arranged at the right hand part of the structure and the same is connected by a passage 40 to the passage 22. This passage is controlled by a pivoted spring pressed governing valve 4l, which is adj ustably connected to a pneumatic 42, arranged on the right hand side of the structure, which pneumatic is connected to the compartment 39 by a passage 43, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The pneumatic 42 is normally kept extended by an adjustably arranged spring 44. By this arrangement an accurately governed tension will be maintained in the compartment 39. This third compartment is connected by a passage 45 to a passage 4G in a block 47. A double valve 48, see Fig. l2, is arranged to control a pas- 49 extending to the adjusting pneumatic 37, so as either to leave the pneumatic connected to the atmosphere through a passage 50 in the top of the block 47 or to connect the pneumatic to the passage 4o.

lt will be seen that the tension in the passage 4G .is an accurately governed tension, so that the operation oit the adjusting pneumatic 37 can be readily regulated. The connection between the passage 46 and the passage 49 is made minute or restricted in size. a bleed. or perforated metal cap 5l being preferably employed.` while the passage from the governing pneumatic to the atmosphere is relatively very large. W'ith this arrangement, when the double valve 48 is lifted to connect the passage 46 with the passage 49 to collapse the adjusting pneumatic 37,i this action will take place very slowly as the air can only tlow very slowly through the bleed 51. On the other hand when the double (lll lill) valve i8 is in its normal position, as illusi trated in lig. 12,the atmospheric air can flou? at high speed into the adjusting pneu- .ina-tic so that the opening movement thereot Will be almost instantaneous. The valve is operated by a diaphragm 52 having a bleed control compartment 53 below the saine, Which is connected. by a tube 54 to a tension control opening 55 in the tracker. rllhis controlling mechanism preferably is duplicated. Along passage 330 isarranged between the passage 22 and the chamber 2d, this passage 330 being` considerably Wider than the passage This part ofthe tension control mechanismis controlled by a sliding valve :S1/l0 arranged in guides 350 and 351, which sli valve is connected by Wire 36() to governing pneumatic 370 normally held open by spring 380. lhis miljusting` pneumatic 370 is operated by a double valve arranged in the block 47 and is similar in construction to the double valve already described. This double valve is controlled through a tracker' opening `57 nent to the opening 55, as illustrated in Fig. 16. The chamber 28 which is arranged to control the dynamics of the accent is provided vvith similar governing valves, etc., lwhich it is not believed necessary to describe again.

'.lhe operation is as follows, the description being` given of the operation in connection with the chamber 24rcontrolling the ac coinpaniment. The tension in this chamber is normally maintained by the governing valve 2S at the lovvest or softest which is to he employed tor playing. lh hen a note or series of accompaniment notes is to be played louder, a tension control opening` is cut in the music sheet in proper time relation. For example, perforation is cut a slight distance ahead of the playing perl'oration Gl, -whereby the sliding valvell Will be slightly lowered betere the note 61 .is called, thereby playing the same With a slightly increased torce, the degree ot increase being determined by the advance or" the perforation 60 relatively to perforation Gl. l the next note is to be played louder the tension control opening GQ is given an increased lead relatively to the playing per- .toration 63. By liguring the advance of the tension control perforation relatively to the playing peri'iorationv or perforations VWithin the limits of the action obtained by the valve l/l, various pressures can be established to control the dynamics because the slou7 opening movement ot the valve 34 is controlled by these tension control periorations.

ln case .it is desired to goabove the degree ot tension Which can be obtainedby the valve 34-, recourse is had to the operation oli' the valve 340, which controls the' larger passage 330, that is, perforation Will give alarger degree of tension Jfor playing perforation 7l; 7 2 still louder for 7 3 ;.74 still loudtor and 76 still louder for 77. As

many tension control valves 34-340 can be employed as desired but I have found two suliicient. made to werk together it desired by arranging the tension control openings side by ,side but I have found it usually better to operate only one valve 341-. or 34C() at a time.

The dynamics of the accent are similarly controlled from the chamber 23, Which is connected by the pipe 25 to the accent pas sage inthe accent control valve chest. The spaces under the diaphragm of the valve @LS-i8 of this part of the tension control apparatus are connected by pipes 540 and 560 to tension control openings `550 and 570 at the right hand end of the tracker bar, as illustrated in Figure 16 and the saine general operation is obtained with the heavier pressure gir/en the accented notes.

trol perforation GOG Will cause the note called by the perfor-ation 610 to be played with a certain tension, While the time eleient of the tension control 620 will cause the note called by the perforation 630 to be played with a heavier tension. Of course While the tension control of the accented notes is to be regulated, accenting perforations such as X and X1 must be arranged in conjunction with the playing perforations. The springs for controlling two governing pneumatics Q9 are preferably made slightly diierent in size as illustrated in Fig. v15, the spring on the pneumatic controlling the accenting part ot the action being somewhat shorter and stiller than the spring on the other pneumatic, so that the tension on the accented notes normally will be kept somewhat higher than the tension on the accompaniment notes so that the accented notes normally' will be played somewhat louder.. The same results could be obtained by adj usting the tension of the springs but l have found itis preferable to employ springs of dii'lerent lengths for `this purpose. By adjusting the connection between the valve 4l andthe pneumatic l2 or by adjusting the tension el the kspring 44, it Will be seen that the tension at which the adjusting pneumatics 37 and 370 operate can be regulated, whereby the relative dynamic effects obtained from the tension control perforations in the music sheet can be adjusted. By the arrangements described it will thus be seen that simple mechanism is provided for controlling dynamic eliects, which mechanism can be advantageously applied to van accenting mechanism.

The details and arrangements herein shown and described may be 4greatly varied by skilled 'mechanic Without departing vfrom' the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention The valves 3l and 84() may bev For instance, the time element ot the tension con-` what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is zl. A tension controlling mechanism for musical instruments comprising an adjusting valve controlling a passage from the action to the pump, a spring pressed pneumatic for operating said adjusting valve, and a valve operated from the tracker for controlling said pneumatic, the passage for operating the pneumatic against the spring being restricted in size, whereby the time element of the position of the perforation in the music sheet for operating said pneumatic relatively to the position ot' the playing perforation or pertorations controls the intensity of the dynamic e'lifect.

2. A tension controlling,mechanism for musical instruments, comprising an adjusting valve controlling a. passage from the action to the pump, a spring pressed pneumatic for operating said adjusting valve, and a valve operated from the tracker for controlling` said pneumatic, the passage for operating the pneumatic against the spring being restricted in size, While the passage from the atmosphere to the pneumatic is large, whereby the time element ot the position of the perforation in the music sheet for operating said pneumatic relatively to the position of the playing perforation or perilorations controls the intensity of the dynamic effect.

.3. A tension controlling mechanism for musical instruments, comprising tivo adjusting valves controlling passages of relatively' different sizes from the `action to the pump, spring pressed pneumatics 'for operating said. adjusting valves, and valves operated from the tracker tor controlling said pneumatics, the passages for operating the pneumatics against their springs being restricted in size, whereby the time element of the position of the accenting perforations in the music sheet relatively to the position of the playing perforation or perforations controls th-e intensity et the dynamic effects.

fl. A tension controlling mechanism for musical instruments, comprising a chamber connected to the action, a governing device for maintaining` a low constantly regulated tension therein, an adjusting valve controlling a passage from said chamber to the pump, a spring pressed pneumatic tor operating said adjusting valve, and a valve operated lrom the tracker for controlling' said pneumatic, the passage for operating the pneumatic against the spring being restricted in size, whereby the time element of the position of the perforation in the music sheet for operating said pneumatic relatively to the position oi' the playing perforation or perilorations controls the intensity of the dynamic etfect.

5. A tension controlling mechanism for musical instruments comprising an adjusting valve 'controlling a passage from the action to the pump, a spring pressed pneumatic `for operating said adjusting valve, a governor for regulating the tension applied to operate said pneumatic, and a valve operated from the tracker for controlling said pneumatic, the passage for operating the pneumatic against the spring being restricted in size, whereby the time element of the position ot the aceenting perforation in the music sheet for operating said pneumatic relatively to the position of the playing perforation or perforations controls the intensity o'f the dynamic effect.

6. A tension controlling mechanism for musical instruments, comprising an adjusting valve controlling a passage from the action to the pump, a spring pressed pneumatic for opera-ting said adjusting valve, a governor for regulating the tension applied to operate said pneumatic, means Whereb the governing effect thereof can be adjuste and a valve operated from the tracker for controlling said pneumatic, the passage for operating the pneumatic against the spring being restricted in size, whereby the time element of the position ot the accenting perforation in the music sheet relatively to the position of the playing perforation or per- :t'orations controls the intensity ot the dynamic effect.

7.111 a pneumatically operated musical instrument, a source of air tension, an accompaniment air chamber and an accenting air chamber, means to provide a regulated 10W air tension for said accompaniment chamber, means to provide a regulated high air tension for said accenting chamber, a plurality of striker pneumatics, means to selectively connect said striker pneumatics to either air chamber, and record controlled means to increase the air tension in said accompaniment chamber' for playing selected notes.

8. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, a source ot air tension, an accompaniment air chamber and an accenting air chamber. means to provide a regulated low air tension for said accompaniment chamber, means to provide a regulated high air tension tor said accenting chamber, a plurality of striker pneumatics, means to selectively connect said striker pneumatics to either' air chamber, and record controlled means to increase the air tension in said accenting chamber for playing selected notes.

9. In a pneumatically operated musical instrument, a source of air tension, an accompaniment air chamber and an accenting air chamber, means to provide a regulated lo7 air tension for said accompaniment chamber, means to provide a regulated high air tension for said acccnting chamber, a plurality of striker pneumatics` means to selectively connect said striker pneumatics to either air chamber, and record controlled means to increase the air tension in each of said air chambers for playing selected notes.

10. In a pneumatically operated musica-l instrument, the combination of a source of high air tension and a source of low air tension, mechanism whereby the high air tension may be applied automatically to operate and thus accent certain notes, and additional air tens-ion controlling mechanism for automatically adjusting either the high air tension or the low air tension with respectl to certain selected notes.

l1. A tension controlling mechanism for musical instruments yhaving player actions and an air pump, comprisingl an adjusting valve controlling a passage between said actions and the air pump, and automatic means for positioning said valve, said automatic means being responsive to the time element of the position of the pertorations in the music sheet controlling said automatic means relative to the position of the associated playing perforation or periorations for the player actions producing the notes to be accented, whereby the intensity of the dynamic effect is controlled by said time element.

l2. In a 'pneumatically operated musical instrument, a source oi air tension, `an accompaniment air chamber and an accenting air chamber, means to provide a regulated low air tension for said accompaniment chamber, means to provide a regulated high air tension for said accenting chamber, a plurality of striker pneumatics, means to selectively connect said striker pneumatics to either air chamber, and additional means to increase the air tension in each ot said air chambers for playing selected notes, the time element of the position of the accenting perforation in the music sheet relative to the playing` perforation controlling the intensity of the dynamic effect.

In testimony whereof: I have hereunto affixed my signature.

UBERT URQUHART.

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