US1670774A

US1670774A - Triple automatic octave mechanism for wood-wind instruments

Info

Publication number: US1670774A
Application number: US65372A
Authority: US
Inventors: Loomis Allen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-10-28
Filing date: 1925-10-28
Publication date: 1928-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1945-05-22

Description

\ May 22, 1928.

A. LOOMIS TRIPLE AUTOMATIC OCTAVE 'MECHANIS M FOR WOOD WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 28, 192 5 2 Sheets-Sheet l- May 22, 1928.

A. LOOMlS TRIPLE AUTOMATIC OCTAVE MECHANISM FOR WOOD WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 22, 1928.

S A ES 1,670,774 PATENT OFFICE.

anLEN noonrrs, or nnxnanr, INDIANA.

Application filed October 28, 1925. Serial No. 65,372.

The present invention relates to musical instruments of the wood wind type having a reed for putting in vibration the column of air contained in the tubular body of the instrument. WVithin the meaning of wood wind as used in this specification, I include instrun'ients characterized by abody tube having lateral tone 'lioles for determining the pitch of the vibrating column of air, whether such tubes are actually made of wood, or of metal or other material. Among the specific instruments included within this generic te rm are the saxophone, the oboe, and the bassoon. In such instruments each note the second (the middle) register (or octave) is fingered the same as the same note of the lower (the first) register, but

the opening of an octave hole in addition, in order to make the note easy to sound In the case of the oboe and bassoon, the notes above the second octave are obtained complicated cross fingering, so-called, coupled with the use of an'appropriate octave hole, but in the case oi'the saxophone. the notes above the second octave are obtained by special keys which open additional holes nearer the endfor" the instrument to which the reed is fitted and into lwhichthe' performer blows, which I may call the blowing end.

The theoryunderlying the use of octave holes is analogous to the principle of playing the harmonic octave on a stringed instrument by touching the string at mid length; that is, the formation of a node between vibrating fractional parts of the string or air column. Howevenowing to the friction of the vibrating air column in the bore of the wood wind instrument, and to otherfactors also, the best position for the octave hole in such instruments is elsewhere than at the mid length of the'instru- 'ment. For each note in the chromatic however, there is one position which is best for the octave hole, but in practice it is obviously impossible to provide a separate octave hole and its kev "for each note of the scale, on account of the excessive complication which would result from so doing, wherefore in practice a 'con'ipromise is reachedhon a much snia-ller number, each of Wl ich offcourSe, is placed in a compromise position.

*Tlie saxophone heretofore has only had ,two octave holes, the loiver'hole'being in a r s ns? is? weii 'niis for sea};

ing the notes controlled by the upper controls a number of notes, and the upper in a position which is a compromise for nine notes. It is found by experience that if the upper hole is too far from the blowing end of the instrument, the highest notes are difficult to sound, while if it is too near the blowing end, the lowest notes which it controls are too sharp and have a fuzzysound. As a matter of fact, both of these defects are present to a noticeable extent in the best". sazgophones made prior to this, invention.

The principal object which I have had in devising the present invention has been to overcome the defects and difiiculti es in playi octave hole, and this I have accomplished by providing two upper octave holes, each of which the notes previously controlled by the upper octave hole, by which I have obtained a'satis actory compromises, facilitating the playing; of the highest notes and correcting the tone quality of the lower ones of the notes forme 'ly controlled by the upper octave hole.

In the embodiment or? the invention herein illustrated, I :have applied my present improvement to a saxophone in connection with an octave key mechanism previously devised by me, and disclosed in my prior application, Serial No. 617,952, filed February 9, 19.23. a

The invention maybe said to consist in an octave key mechanism comprising a single lower octave hole and two upper octave holes, the latter holes controlling the highest notes of the register of the instrument, to-

gether with key mechanism adapted to change "from the lower to the upper octave holes, and vice versa, and from one to the other of the upper octave holes automatically in the course of playing the instrument. The invention further comprises the combination of such upper octa 'e holes and their key mechanism independent of the lower hole and the key mechanism therefor.

should be understood that although the form of the invention herein illustrated and described in detail'is particularly designed and adapted to a saxophone, I do not limit my claim to protection to this specific inech anism or its combination with a musical instrument of this species, but include all other mechanisms, combinations and instruments in which the same principles may he applied.

; Referring to the drawings in which one for explanation of this invention,

illustrative form of the invention is shown, h

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upper part of an E-fiat alto saxophone, showing the octave holes with their keys and so much of the connecting mechanisms as required but omitting, for the sake of clearness, other keys and mechanisms with which the instrument is equipped, but which are not directly conof the body tube;

? playing the notes parallel and close the blowing end,

Fig. 4: is, a side elevation showing on a larger scale that part of the mechanism which. more directly controls the upper octave holes; a

Fig. 5 is a cross sectiontaken on a plane to the half rings 66 and 71, looking toward the foot of the tube;

. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a modification in which the control of the upper octave key mechanism is in partobtained by a difierent tone hole key. 5

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures.

The three octave holes provided withthis instrument are shown at 6, 7 and 8, respectively, these reference characters being applied to the stoppers or keys which cover the respective holes. The one at 6 is the lower hole, and those at 7 and 8 are the two upper holes, the one'at 8 being located nearer where it facilitates sounding the highest notes, (four in number in this instrument), and the one at 7 being lo cated at the point which enables the best tone quality to be obtained in playing the next lower five notes, (in this instrument the notes from upper C-sharp to A in the second register). The lower .tone hole "facilitates from G-sharp downward to the next lower D natural, in the second register; that is, such is the situation in the Eflat saxophone herein chosen for illustration. With instruments of other pitches and ranges, the specific notes controlled by corresponding holes may be different, but'the principle is essentially the same. When any one of these octave holes is opened, the other two are closed, and the opening and closing of the holes is controlled automatically by manipulation of appropriate ton-e keys in cooperation with depression of a special finger key. v

The lower octave hole is located in the side of. the body tube 9 of the instrument, while the two upper holes are placed in the detachable curved mouth tube 10, tothe end 11 of'which the reed, not shown here, is applied.

a sleeve 18, which also turns freely about the same rod asthe sleeve 13. An arm 19 is secured to sleeve 18, and tothis arm is secured one end of a bridge rod 20, the other end of which is secured to an arm 21, also mounted on the same rod on which the sleeves 13 and 18 are mounted, or at least rotatable about 7 the sameaxis; such axis being. substantially parallel to the instrument body. .v There is also secured to the bridge rod20 a finger key lever 22, on which is a keymarked 3L to indicate that in this instrument it is manipulated by the third finger ofthe left hand. The

arms

21 and 22 form parts of the mechanisms for controlling the G-sharp and A natural tone holes, the covers of which are designated in these drawings as Gt and A, respectively. It is not necessary to describe these mechanisms further than to say that the Gr-sharp mechanism includes a spring 23 acting through a lever 2a to apply lifting force on the arm 21, as further described in another application for patent filed by me, and that the A hole cover is equipped with a spring-tending to open such cover and acting with the same raising tendency on the arm 21 through interengaged arms 25 and- 26, the formerof which is connected to the A hole stopper, and the latter to asleeve 27, to which the arm 21 is secured. The tendency and effect of these springs is normally todepress arm 17 and apply closing pressure to the lower octave hole stopper 6,.

It may be here remarked that in this specification the word depress, and similar words implying downward movementor pressure, when applied to the parts of the key mechanisms herein contemplated, mean movement or pressure toward the instrument body, whatever the absolute direction of such movement or pressure may be with respect to the horizontal, while the words raise or lift, or other words of equivalent import, have the opposite significance. The terms upper andtlower, however, when applied to the octave holes and their keys,

signify relative distance from the blowing end of the instrument. V

v A sleeve 28 is pivoted on a rod extending substantially parallel to the body of the instrument and supported by posts or

pillars

29, 30, and others, and to this sleeve is connected a key 31 adapted to bepressed upon by the performers left thumb and thereby depressed until it comes to bear against the instrument body. There are also secured to the sleeve 28, two

arms

32 and 33, to which is connected a sleeveor bar 34: parallel to the sleeve 28, and carrying a pivot rod 35.

rier, said floating '39 on said arm 12 and a block This structure I call floating lever carrier. A lever 86 is pivoted in a floating manner by means of therod to the carlever having parallel arms which are connected by'a transverse bar 37 and are mountedon the ends of the pivot pin 35.

One of said arms is designate'd'SfiS and is connectedwith the arm 12 of the octave hole stopper '6 .by a pivot pin 40 litting said pin and slidingly contained in a notch 41 in the arm 38, thus forming a closed mechanical pair, bywhich movement is transmitted positively in either direction between the floating lever and the arm 12. The other arm 42 of the floating lever extends to the under side ofthe instrumentbody and has a projecting linger 43. The arm 42 normally abuts against'the body is urged towardthat position, the key 31 being at the same timeLraised, .by a spring 44 set in the post 30 andengaged with a hook 45 on the sleeve 28.

The'octave hole cover 8, that nearest to the reed orblowing end of the instrument, is carried by alever 46 pivoted on an axis 47 between

posts

48 and 49 on the mouth tube. The octave'hole cover 7 is carried by a lever 50 pivoted on an axis 51 between posts 52 and 53 on the mouth tube. These two levers are appropriately shaped and offset to clear one another, substantially as shown in the drawings. A floating lever 54 is connected with both said

levers

46 and 50 by means of

pins

55 and 56 on the respectivelevers,'\vhich occupy slots in the opposite ends of the floating lever and arefitted with

slideblocks

57 and 58 whichfit slidingly in the slots of the floating lever and serve'to transmit motion and pressure positively in either direction between the floating lever and the octave key levers 46 and 50.

The floating-lever is 'fulcrumed between its ends on a pivot rod 59 carired bytwoarms 60 and-61, which are secured to a sleeve 62 having bearing on a pivot rod 63 nounted in posts 64 and 65 on the mouth "tube. Said arms 60 and 61 extend to positions flanking the mouth tube near its junction with the body tube, and they are joined rigidly to the ends of a curved rod or semi-ring 66 which passes around the under side of the instrument, the whole assemblage forming a pivoted rigid floating lever carrier.v The floating lever is positioned properly, approximately n'iidway between tlie'arms 60 and 61,- by a sleeve or sleeves 67 extending between thesaid carrier arms and secured to the floating lever. A leaf spring 68, (Fig. 4), is fasten d at one end to-one ar .1 otthe fleet ing lever'54 by a screw 69, and its opposite end bears against-a pin or equivalent abut- 1nent 70 on the stopper-carrying lever 50, so located that the reaction of thespring in a section between the} axis 51 of lever 50 and o'l.tlie instrument and the coupling pin 55 urges the floating lever both fulcrum pivots 51 and 59, while the connection 69 is at the right of these fulcrum pivots. It follows from this condition that the single spring 69 tends to close both stoppers 7 and 8, and normally holds them closed. In doing so, itexerts a downward pressure on the pin 70, and an upward pressure on the floating lever. This pressure being communicated ,to the right hand arm (with reference to these drawings) of the lever 46, closes the stopper 8, which then stops the lever 46 and makes otthe pin 55 a rigid abutment-forthe lefthand arm of the floating lever, preventing it from rising further, and causing the pressure of the spring to be exerted upwardly on the righthand arm of the-lever 50,.closing the stopper 7 also. The forces exerted on the lever 50 by the spring through the abutment pin 70 and through the coupling pin 56, both act in the same manner,.tend1ng to turn said lever in the direction which closes the stopper .7. The spring also acts throug h the floating lever fulcrun'r 59 on the carrier 60, 61, tending to raise said fulcrum and move the centralpart otthe semi-ring 66 toward the body. A curved bar or semi-ring 71 is fastened to the righthand end of lever 50, and its ends partially embrace the lower end of the mouth tube. Conveniently, the'ba-rs or semi-rings 66 and 7,1 are approximately in thesame plane, and inra position similar to that occupied by ringsused on the mouth tube .part or octave key mechanisms heretofore produced. Equivalent effects are obtained by reversing or inverting the manner of lnountin thespring 6S and locating the floating lever in other positions; for 'instance, securing the spring to the lever 50 and connecting the floating lever to or by the abutment 70; or by means of other types of floating lever invented by me and elsewhere disclosed; wherefore-itis tobe understood that .the foregoing detailed description is not to'be taken as a limitation of my claims beyond the necessary meaning .of their terms as interpreted in view of the position of this invention in the art.

' The member shown at 72 in Figs. 1 and 2 is a slotted post mounted on the mouth tuberto protect the long arm of lever 46 from being accidentally bentor otherwise dis placed.

On the body tube of the instrument is mounted a. sleeve 73 pivoted on a rod supported by posts or pillars 74, 75 and others.

lit)

' gages a y of the floating lever the finger 76.

An arm 76 is secured to this sleeve and is extended lengthwise of the body tube at one sideof the sleeve, and into a position where it passes under the bowed rod 71when the parts of the instrument are assembled. A spring 77 is mounted in the post 74 and enhook 78 on the sleeve 73, (Fig. 2), tending constantly to raise the arm 76. The linger 43 also extends in the same direction asarm 76, but on a diileront side of the instrument and projects between the instrument body and the-semi-ring 66.

There 'issecuredto the sleeve 73 an arm 7 9 carrying a bar-which underlies an adjustable abutment on a bar 80 carried by an arm 81, to which is secured the cover of the C- sharp tone hole, (designated by the character Cztjs.) This arm and cover" turn freely about the same axis as sleeve 7 3. The C' natural tone hole cover, designated by the letter C inthe drawing, carries a finger 82 which overlies I the O-sharp cover, and is directly connected with the finger key marked 1L by an arm 83, a sleeve 84 and an arm 85.

The G-sharp cover is also overlaid by one arm of a lever 86, pivoted on the same axis as the sleeves 13, 18 and s4, and the other arm of said lever 86 is connected by a bridge rod 87 with a lever 88-carrying the finger key 2L. Either key 1L or 2L may be depressed-to close the C-sharp key, and when this is'done, the arm 76 is depressed.

In the operation of this mechanism, if the key 31 alone is-depressed, the floating

lever carrier

32, 33, 34 is raised, raising the pivot 36 and turning said lever about the pin 39 as a fulcrum, because the lever-36 and arm 12 are held down by the spring 23, and the spring of cover A, either of which is strong enough for the purpose. This causes the finger 43 of the floating lever to be raised, (that is, moved away from the body within the meaning of the definition hereinbefore given, said linger being located at the under side of the body.) This action, being transmitted through the semi ring 66 to the arms 60 and 61, depresses the fulcrum 59 and the lefthand' arm of the floating lever 54, turning the latter about its pivot connection '56 with the lever 50. which is prevented from being moved owing to theresistance opposedby Thus the octave hole cover 8 But if either of the keys 1L or upon before depression of key 31, the arm 76 is depressed, its support of the righthand arm of the floating lever is re moved, and the depression of the floating lever pivot 59 then causes'said lever to swing about the connection 55 as a fulcrum and depress the righthand arm of lever 50, raising the stopper 7. Or if either key IL or 2L is pressed upon while key 31 is held depressed, the previously open octave ,hole

is opened. 2L is pressed cover 7 is opened.

cover 8 is closed, and the previously closed This order of opening the octave hole stoppers is due to therfact that the spring 68 exerts a stronger upward force on the lefthand arm of the floating. lever 54 than on the righthand arm thereof, which in turn is due to the positionof the spring and of the pivot 59 and abutment pin 70. Considering only the relation of the floating lever to the carrier, the spring tends to turn the lever about its carrier fulcrum 59 in right hand rotation. v

If the linger key 3L is pressed upon before or while key 31 is depressed, the resistance to rise of the lower octave hole cover 6 is removed, while movement of the finger 43 of floating lever-36 is resisted by spring 68.

Hence the floating lever arm 38 is raised, raising the octave hole cover 6 without opening either :of the upper octave holes. But if key 3L is released while key 31 remains depressed, then the lower octave hole is closed and one or the other of the other octave holes is opened, according as ether key 1L or 2L is depressed or not atthat time. 1

It may be observed herev that in Fig. 2 an inevitable inaccuracy exists in the relation between the finger 4:3 and the semi-ring 66. This inaccuracy occurs from the very nature of the case, because these members are on the under or rear side of the instrument and their rising movements are, opposite, stantially so, to the absolute (llI'GClllOIL'Of rising movement of the other parts.- \Vhile, in this diagram, the 211 111742 and finger 43 have been developed into a horizontal plane so as to indicate correctly their movements or rise and depression, the semi-ring 66 cannot be drawn in the same plane in correct relation to the other parts and therefore has been omitted from this figure.

The movements of the octave keys above described do not take place unless the thumb key 31 is depressed, and are not used in playing notes in the lower register. But when playing in the second (the middle) register, the key notes played are below A, the key 3L is depressed also, causing the lower octave hole to be opened, and in passing from G-sharp to A. or any higher note, the key 3L is released and the lower octave hole is thereby closed. If such higher note is below C- sharp, then either the key 1L or 2L will be depressed and the octave hole cover 7 only will be opened; while if the higher note is C-sharp or above, 3 the octave hole cover 8 only will be opened. These movements of the octave keys take place automatically by virtue of the manipulation of the keys which control the various tone holes.

It will have been noted that the means which supports the free arm of lever 50, and so causes the octave hole 8 to be opened when key 31 alone is depressed is a spring,

or sub-.

31 isfldepressed, and if the.

thespring 77. However, it is within my contemplation to effect this action in a more positive manner by pressure applied by one of the digits of the performer. A means for controlling the two upper octave holesin this alternative manner, but in an instrument otherwise the same as that described, is shown in Fig. 6. In said figure there is shown the sleeve 73, arm 76 and the arm 81, carryingthe C-sharp tone hole cover, all substantially as previously shown and described. In addition, there is shown the D natural tone hole cover, carried by an arm 90, the latter being connected with an arm 91, which in turn is connected by a bridge rod 92 with an arm 93 secured to a sleeve 95 carrying a key lever 96 in position for depression by a part of the middle finger of the left hand. A spring 97 mounted in the well known manner on a post or pillar 98 bears on a book 99 on sleeve 95 and normally closes the cover I). All this mechanism is a part of the instrument, omitted for clearness from F 1. The different construction from that previously described consists in that the sleeve 73 is rigidly connected to the

arms

90 and 91, or at least is suitably engaged therewith, so that depression of key lever 96 'aises arm 76, and when said key lever is released. arm 'Ttiis either depressed by spring 97 or is left free to be depressed without resistance. In this construction there is no operating connection between the sleeves to which, respectively,

, the covers for the C-sharp and D-natura1 holes are attached. The C-sharp cover and its arm have here no influence on the octave mechanism but the ultimate result is the same, because when the highest notes of the instrument, I) and those above it, are played, the cover D must be opened, and its opening movement is accompanied with rise of arm 76, accomplished positively by pressure of the performefls digit on the key member 96, which closes the hole 7 and opens the hole 8, just as is done by the spring 77 when the C- sharp hole is opened.

I. have previously stated that the invention is applicable to other instruments than the specific one here shown and in connection with that statement I would now say that the foregoing detailed description, and par ticularly the ascription of specific pitches to certain tone holes. and the implication that .certain keysare to be manipulated by certain digits, are for convenience and illustration, without, limiting intent. The protection which I claim embraces the principles embodied in this mechanism, and 'all embodiments of such principles substantially equivalent to that here disclosed, wherever used and however applied.

Although I have hereinbefore distinguished the parts of the instrument body as a body'tube and a mouth tube, respectively.

it is to be understood that these tubes collectively form a single complete body. Therefore where the term body is used without discrimination as to any certain part-of the instrument, itis to be construed as a generic term including both of the tubes of which this specific instruments is composed; that is the fact that this specific instrument has a detachable mouth tube, on which parts of theoctave key mechanism are mounted, is not to be construed as in any sense a limit-a.- tion of the invention to an instrument so constituted, or as excluding the use of the invention in situations where all parts are upon the same integral tube.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Paten't'is:

1. In a wood wind instrument, a triple automatic octave mechanism, comprising a lower octave hole, two upper octave holes at dii erent distances from the blowing end of the instrument, and key mechanisms including covers for said holes, tone hole keys and connections between said" keys and covers for opening only the lower octave hole when playing certain notes, for closing said lower hole and opening one of the upper holes when playing certain higher notes, a'ndto'r closing the previously opened upper octave hole and opening the previously closed upper octave hole when playing other higher notes;

2. Ina wood wind instrument, a triple automatic octave mechanism, comprising a lower octave hole, two upper octave holes at different distances'from the blowing end of the instrument, key mechanisms includin'g covers for said holes, tone hole keys and connections between said keys and covers for opening the lower octave hole only when p'layii'ig ce'rtain'notes, ,for closingsaid lower hole and opening one of the upper holes when playing certain higher notes and for closing the open upper octave hole and opening the previously'closed upper octave hole when playing still higher notes, and an additional control key for rendering operative or inoperative the control of the octave keys as above set forth.

3. In a saxophone, a lower octave hole and'two upper octave holes, one 01 said upperholes being p'laeed'in position'for ta cilitating sounding the uppermost notes of theinstrument, and the other oi said upper holes being suitably placed ior improving the tone quality'of the group of notes next below such uppermost notes, a lower octave hole for facilitating sounding the notes below a certain pitch in theupper register, stoppers for said octave holes and mechanism controlled by the tone hole keys oi the instrumentfor opening and closing said octave hole stoppers in the proper order with respect to the tone pitches of theinstrument.

4. In a saxophone, a. lower octave hole and two upper octave holes, the latter being placed in positions respectively for facilitating sounding vthe uppermost notes of the instrument and for improving the tone quality o fthe group of-notes next below such uppermost notes, a lower octave hole for facilitating sounding the notes below a cer tain pitch in the upper register, stoppers for said octave holes, a special key for making said octave hole stoppers operative or inoperative, and mechanisms connected with said special keyand with certain tone keys of the instrument for opening the octave holes singly in accordance with the foregoing conditions.

5. In a saxophone, a lower octave hole, two upper octave holes at respectively different distances from the blowing end oi: the instrument, covers or keys arranged to open and close said holes respectively, a special digit operated key for controlling all of said octave hole covers, and digit operated tone controlling keys, one of which, when depressed in conjunction with depression of said special key, causes the lower tone hole to be opened, and when raised, causes one of the upper octave holes to be opened; and a second digit operated tone hole key arranged when depressed, in conjunction with depression of the special key, to cause opening of the other upper octave hole and clos ing of the previously opened octave hole.

6. In a musical instrument of the wood wind type, three octave holes located at respectively difl'erent distances from the blowing end of the instrument, covers for the respective octave holes, a floating lever coupled to the covers of two'ot said holes, a carrier for said floating lever pivoted to the instrument, a floating lever coupled to said carrier and to the third octave hole cover, and a digit operated carrier for the second named floating lever.

7. In a musical instrument of the wood wind type, a plurality of octave holes located at respectively different distances from the blowing end of the instrument, a digit operated floating lever carrier, a floating lever pivoted on said carrier and connected with one of said octave hole covers, a digit operated key for controlling the application and release of closing pressure on said cover,

I a second floating lever carrier with which the before named floating lever is engaged for lmparting movement thereto, a second floating lever mounted on said second car' I rier and connected to both of th'e'other octave hole covers, a spring acting upon and through said second floating lever normally holding the last two covers in closed position, and a digit controlled arm arranged and operative to oppose movement of one armor said second floating lever.

B. In a musical instrument of the wood 'wind type, a. body having three octave holes,

mounted on the instrument body, and yield ing means tending constantly to depress all. of said stoppers and the pivots of both floating levers. a

9. In a musical instrument of the wood wind type, an octave key mechanismcomprising a plurality of octave hole stoppers, each pivoted to turn about a fixed axis and having their only motion about their respective axes, a floating lever carrier pivotally supported t'romthe body of the instrument to turn about an axis approximately parallel to the axis of one of said stoppers, a floating'lever pivoted to said carrier to turn about an axis approximatelyparallel to the axis of the latter and being in motion transmitting connection with two of said stoppers, a tone hole key mechanism having means for exerting pres sure on one of said stoppers tending to close it, a second floating lever carrier pivotally supported from the body of'the instrument to turn about an axis transverse to the axes oftwo of said stoppers, a second fioating lever pivoted to said second carrier and having articulated connections with two ofsaid stoppers, including one and excluding the other. of the stoppers with which the first named floatlng lever is connected, and a second. tone hole key mechanism having said stopper, a second floating lever carrier supported pivotally from the body of the instrument and having a motion transmitting engagement with the said floating lever, a second floating lever pivotally supported by said second carrier, two other octave hole stoppers articulated respectively to different arms of said second floating lever, a spring reacting between said second floating lever and one of the last'named stoppers, and a tone hole key mechanism havmg means for exerting closing pressure on one of the last named stoppers.

11. The combination in a musical instrument of the Wood wind type having three octave holes and stoppers therefor, of a floating lever having articulated connection nection with the'tliird octave hole said floating with twoof said stoppers, a carrier pivotally supported from the body of the instrument.

and 'to which said floating lever is pivoted, a secondfloat-ing lever having articulated constopper and being in'motion transmitting engagement with the before named carrier, a digit operated carrier for said second floating lever, and digit controlled key mechanisms arranged and operative to apply force to two of said octave hole. stoppers with tendency to close them.

12. In a musical instrument of the wood wind type having octave holes and stoppers for said holes, levers carrying the respective stoppers and pivotally supported from the body of the instrument, a floating lever articulatedto an arm of each of said stoppercarrying levers, a spring reacting between lever levers with exertion offorce tending to close both stoppers, a. carrier for said floating lever pivotally supported from the body of the instrument, and digit control-led means operative to exert pressure on one of said stopper carrying levers tending to closeits stopper and also to relax such pressure, and to exert pressure on said carrier in-a' direction tending to open. both stoppers.

18. In a wood-wind instrument, a stopper carrying lever pivoted to the body of the instrument, a floating lever carrier pivotally supported from the body of the instrument, a floating lever pivoted to said carrier and having motion transmitting connection with one arm of the stopper carrying lever, a spring carried by said floating lever and reacting on said stopper carrying member in a situation where its force tends to depress said stopper and raise the floating lever, and a second stopper carrying lever coupled to the other arm of said floating lever.

14. In a wood wind instrument, an octave key mechanism comprising stopper carrying levers, a floating lever articulated to both stopper carrying levers, a single spring acting and reacting between said floating lever and one of the stopper levers, a carrier pivotally supported from the instrument and on which the floating lever is mounted, and key mechanisms organized to apply pressure and transmit motion to said carrier and to one of the stopper levers, respectively.

15. In a musical instrument of the wood wind type having a body tube and a detachable mouth tube, two octave holes in the math tube, stopper carrying levers for said holes pivotally supported from the mouth tube, a floating lever carrier pivotally supported from said mouth tube, a bar connected to said carrier and partially embracing the mouth tube, abar connected to one of said stopper carrying levers and partially embracing the mouth tube, afioating lever pivoted to said carrier and in motion transand one of said'stopper mitting connection with both stoppercarr ing levers, and key operated arms projecting from the body tube between the instrument body and said curved bears for applying motion controlling force to said stopper carrying lever'and floating lever respectively.

16. A key mechanism comprising stopper carrying members, a floating lever articulated to both said stop-per carrying levers, a'springacting and reacting'bet-ween one of said stopper carrying levers and said-float ing lever, withtendency to close both stop-- persand to exert a stronger closing'force on-one of thestopper carrying levers than on tlie'other', a-ca-rricr on which said floating lever is mounted, a key mechanism having means for exerting force on said carrier in adirection tending to move thefloating lever in opposition to the force exerted by said spring, and akey controlled"displaceable obstructer for that one of the stopper carrying levers on'whieh said spring acts with less force.

17. In a musical instrument of the wood wind type, levers pivotally supported from the body of the instrument,a floating'lever connected toone arm of each of the first named levers, ai carrier pivotallysupported from the instrumentbody and pivoted to the floating lever at a point between the engagement points of the floating lever with the first named levers, a spring interposed between the floating lever and one of the first named levers secured to one of them and reacting against the other, and tending to raise the floating lever as a whole and those arms of the first named levers with which the floating lever is engaged.

18. In a musical instrument of the wood wind type, levers pivotally supported from the body of the instrument, a. floating lever connected to one arm of each of the first named levers, a carrier pivotally supported from the instrument body and pivoted to the floating lever at a point between the engagement points of the floating lever with the first named levers, a spring interposed between the floating lever and one of the first named levers secured to one of them and reacting against the other, and tending to move the floating lever as a whole and those arms of the first named lovers with which the floating lever is engaged, the spring arranged to exert a greater force upon one arm of the floating lever than on the other, means for depressing said carrier and thereby the fulcrum of the floating lever, and a displaceable support for resisting movement of the one of the first named levers on which the said spring exerts the less force.

19. In a key mechanism for wood wind instruments, two levers pivotally supported from the instrument body on nonalined axes, a floating lever engaged with one arm of fill Ill)

each of the first named levers and crossing the axis of one of them, a floating lever carrier pivotally supported on the body of the instrument and pivotally mounting the floating lever at a point between the points of engagement between the floating lever and such point being also the first named levers, between the pivot of -the lever which is crossed by the floating levers, as above set forth, and the engagement of said lever with the floating lever, and a spring secured to the floating lever near the last named point of engagement and reacting on the named lever at a point at the oppositesi de of the pivot thereof from the engagement point between said lever and the floating lever.

20. A key struments comprising a ported from the instrument body,

mechanism for wood wind inlever pivotally supa floatlng lever engaged with one arm of said lever and extending to I pivot thereof from such point of engagethe opposite side of the ment, a spring extending across the pivot of the first named lever and pressing thereon at one side of'such pivot, being rigidly connected to the floating lever atthe opposite side of said pivot, a second lever pivotally-supported from the instrument body and having one arm pivoted from said body,

both the prev ously named levin engagement withv the floating lever at the opposite side of the pivot of the first named lever from thepoint of engagement between the floatinglever and said first lever; the-before named spring. being applied and acting with tendency to raise the entire floating lever and thereby those, arms of the first and second levers with which the floating lever is en gagedpand a carrier pivotally su ported from the body and pivotally connectedvjwith; the floating lever at apoint between the pivot oi' the said first lever and the point of engagement between said first lever and thefloating lever.

21'. In amusical instrument of the wood Wind type having atubular body, two levers a floating lever engaged with ers, a carrier pivotally supported from the body and to which said floating lever is pivoted, and curved bars connected, respectively, to saidcarrier and to one of said first named levers, each bar partly circling the body and forming substantially a semi-ring in approximately the same plane with the other. i I v r In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature. 7

' AL EN Looivns,