US1676780A - Control-carrying slide for self-playing musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

JulylO, 1928. 1,676,7{50

l E. A. HUsr-:BY

' CONTROL CARRYING SLIDE FOR SELF PLAYING MUSICALl INSTRUMENTS Filed May 15, v1926 millillhmlmWW Patented July 10, 1928.

haagse UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlCE.

` EDI/[OND n. HUSEBY, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs.

CONTROL-CARRYING SLIDE non SELF-PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filedMay 15,

This invention relates to the art of selfplaying musical instruments, more especially those of the pneumatically operated type, such as player pianos; and the invention has reference more particularly7 to an improved structure of drawer or tray carrying the various controls, such as'those governing expression devices, the tempo, the motor switch, and the roll motor.

In the earlier types of player pianos the levers, push buttons and the like through controls upon a movable support that, when the controls were not in. use, as during manual playing of the instrument, coul dheslid or folded beneath the keybed entirely lout of sight.

My present'invention relates `to the latter type of control ,supports or carriers, being more especially designed for use onI self- 'playing grand pianos.

The general obJect of the` invention is to provide va very simple and compact tray or drawer that may conveniently be slidably mounted on the under side of the key-bed, and -shall be adaptedto formA a carrier or support for all of the various controls used in a pneumatic player, with lthe manually operated control buttons, levers and the like so disposed that the device .may be brought into operative position by withdrawingonly the front edge portion thereotcarryingthe manually operated controldevices from beneath the key-bed.` Other more specific objects are, to provide a convenient and compact arrangement of the various controls on the slide, to provide an `improved motor switch thereon with manually `operable switch-closing andopeningmeans and an automatic pneumatically yoperated switchopening device, to provide an'improved control for the roll motor transmissionwith means, of which the current cut-off pneumatic may form an element, for actuating the same to throw the transmission in vfrom the switch-closing means so that the Aelec- 1926. serial No 109,293.

trie motor operating the pumps maybe energized andthe pneumatic roll motor simultaneously thrown into gearwith the rolls through the operation ot' a single push button, to providea simple and improvedpush button-operated vent for the various expression controls, to provide Van improved mounting and scale for the tempo lever, and

to provide an improved structure and mounting of tra or drawer.

Still ot er objects and `attendant advantages of lthe invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated a practical and preferred embodiment of the principle'ofthe invention, and wherein- 1 is a top planview 'of my improved control-carrying tray, and of the bearing blocks in which it is slidably mounted on the under side of the key-bed; 'A

FigfQiis a vertical section through the piano key-bed` showing my improved tray mounted therebeneath, the forward or `withdrawn position thereof being indicated vby dotted lines; Y Fig.` 3 is an enlarged vertical -section on the line 3-3 ot Fig. 1 through the push button-operatedvent of one ofthe eXpresl sion controls; and

Fig. t is an enlargedI yvertical lsectional view on the line t-t of Fig. 1 through the current shut-off pneumatic and the vent sion.

Referring to the drawings, the supporting body of the tray comprises a iiat rectangular plate 10 relatively narrow front and valve controlling the roll motor transmise,

rear strips 11 yand 12 attached to and overly- Y ing the front and rear edge portions respectively oflthe plate 10, land a `pair of slide rods 13 at their forward ends fitted into holes in the Jfront 4strip 11 and in rear thereof litted'to grooves in the ends of the rear strip 12, to which they are-attached'V by screws 14. The rods 13 are sl'idably supported in front and rear bearing blocks 15,` and 16 respectively attached, las shown in Fig. 2, to the under side of the key-bed 17. vLoose on the rods 13 are felt washers 18 to cushion the Contact of the rear rame'bar 12 with theS bearing blocks 15 when the slide is .fully withdrawn. i

Referring .now to the variou-scontrol de- Vdesigned vices carried by the slide, 2O designates the switch controlling` the circuit of the pump motor. The Structural details of' this switch7 being old and knowm are not herein illustrated, lbeyond the switch-actuating rod 21, the inward movement 'of which closes the switch and yieldably locks it in closed position against the opening thrust oi a compression spring 22 encircling the rod 2l and abutting at one end against a fixed bracket plate 23 mounted on the plate 1() and at its other end against a collar 24 fast on the rod 21. This rod 21 extends through a hole in the front bar-11 and terminates in a projecting fpush but-ton 25, appropriately marked On. The switch is manually opened-by a slide rod 26 likewisemountcd in a hole extending through the front bar 1l and coupled tothe switch-closing bary 21 by a lever 27; the push bar 26 likewise carryinga push button 27 appropriately marked Ofn- Y y Mounted on yand attached to the bottom plate 10 and nlying generaly lengthwise oit the latter is a pneumatic` 284 through which automatic opening oi the electric -motor switch 20, and consequent shutting off of the power, is effected, usually automatically from an aperture-in the` music sheet. The movable leaf 28 of the pneumatic 28 is connected through an L-shaped thrust rod 29 to the push-rod 21 through which the switch is manually closed', whereby, when thepneumatic 28 is collapsed, the push-rod 21 isthrust'rearwardly and the switch circuit is' opened.

Vhen the circuit through the pump motor is closed by closing of the rswitch 20,

the normally disconnected rollinotor transmission is simultaneously thrown into gear through avent valve operated by the movable 'limb/28 ofthe pneumatic 28. yThis 'is best illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein 8O designates .a tube leading to a primary valve in the pneumatic action of the instrument through which7 on the admission of atmospheric pressure thereto,a pneumatic is energized. to throw in the' transmission of the roll-driving mechanism. The tube 30 is fitted onto a nipple 31 mounted in and crosswise of the rear frame bar 127 said nipple containng a normally spring-closed air valve 32 having a projecting stem 33 by which it maybe opened; the valve structure being identical with that of the well-known automobile tire valve.` The valve stemkr 33 lies opposite the movable'side 28 oit the pneumatic-28, the'outer facev of said movable side being preferably-supplied with a striki-ngplate-34. lVhen the switch 2O of the pump motor is closed by pressing. the button 25 .all the lway in, the; pneumatic `is expanded through theconnecting member V29, and .the plate 34 strikes the valve stem 33 and opens the valve, admitting atmospheric pressure, and the pneumaticwhich throws in the roll motor transmission is thereby energized, so that the roll motor is coupled to its work sin'iultaneously with thel energizing oit the pump motor. The function of' the 'spring'22 is to partially retract the switch push rod 21 sufliciently to withdraw the movable side 28 of the pneui'i'iatic 28 from the stem ofthe air valve 32 and permit said valve to close, without opening the switch. y

The playing and reroll movements of the music sheet are` controlled through an oscillating valve 35 of known Vconstruction that is mounted on the bottom plate 10 and is formed with a group of nipples connected to corresponding air conduit tubes 36. 3T, 38, 89 and 40 that extend along onthe bottom plate 10 to connection with the nipples 41, 42,437 44 and 45, respectively mounted in and extending through the rear frame .bar 12; said last-named nipples communicattwo pins 47 and 48 on a sliding rod 49 mounted in a hole in thevfront bar 11 of the frame and equipped with a push button 50 bearing on its face the symbol On, By pushing the button 507 Vthe-valve 35 vactuated in a direction. to shift the transmission clutch to effect thewinding of the music .sheet on the receiving' spool as the piece is being played. The valve actuated in the reverse direction to shift V the transmission clutch and` drive the music spool to effect the rapid rerolling of the musicr sheet by a sliding rod 51 mounted in thel front bar 11 andxcarrying the push button 52 appropriately marked Off; the rod ,51 being coupled to the rod 49'` by a'lever 53 which relatively reverses the directions ofinovementof the two rods when either isactuated.' 1 y Also mounted on the tray vis a groupof manual controls forr the variousr expression devices of the instrument.` These controls are all structurally identical and are, therefore, identified by identical reference numeralsv in the drawing. By reterence to Fig. 1 it will be observed that the front bar V11 of the tray is somewhat widened in a forward direction at its intermediate portion? 54. On the lower end of the stem 58 is secured a. plunger 59 equipped 'on its lower side with a facing60 of soft rubber or the like that isnormally pressed upwardly by a leaf spring 61'attached as by screws 62 to the rear-'portion of the under side Vofthe bar 11. To the under side of the bar 11 above the spring 61 is glued a washer 62 of felt, rubber or like soft material, the central aperture of which regi-sters with an air duct- 63 formed in the bar 11, said duct communicating with a nipple 6afitted therein and projecting sufficiently beyond the rear edge of the bar 11to permit the telescoping attachment of a rubber tube: 65, which lat ter extends across the tray and at its other end is telescoped` over a similar nipple 66 mounted'in and extending through the rear bar 12 of the tray. To the rearl ends of the nipples 66 are connected flexibleitubes (not shown) which extend tothe several pneumatic actuating mechanisms of` the expressiondevices lof the instrument.` The admission-of atomospheric air to -the duct- 68 actuates the expression mechanism cont-rolled by said duct; and the admission of such atmospheriepressure, when desired, is manifestly obtained by a simpledepression of the pushibutton 59 which bendsvthe spring valve `61 out ofclosing-contact with the washer-"62 andthus opens the vent duct 63.

The characters `of the various expression controls are .shown by suitablesymbols on the plate 54 associated with the several push button-s, Vas clearlyindicated inlig. 1. To

facilitate the attachmentuof the; spring valve 61, the forward edge portion of the-bottom plate 10-is countersunk, as: shown at 10 in Fig. j y i The tray also carries 'the tempo lever. This latter, indicated by 67 inthe drawings, is pivoted at 68 on the rear bar 12, and extends forwardly across the bottom plate, its forward or handle portion 67 being downwardly offset and extending through a horizontal slot 11 in the front bar 11. On said front bar above the slot 11 isl attached a metal plate 69 bea-ring on its upper surface the usual tempo scale 70. Overlying and co-operating with said scale is a pointer 71, the stem or shank portion of which is attached to the lever 67 as by screws 72. The rear arm 67 a of the tempo lever lying beyond the pivot 68 is connected, by suitable flexible means permitting the limited in and out" movements of the tray, with the usual throttle or choker valve of the tempo box.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be observed that the distance between the washers 18 and the front bearing blocks 15 in which the tray, is mounted is equal to the central or maxi mum width of the front bar 11 of the tray carrying the push buttons and the tempo lever handle; in consequence of which, when the tray is fully Withdrawn from beneath the key-bed, only the front bar 11 and the control-operating devices mounted thereonare exposed to view. -lt will also 'be noted that the described mechanism, with the exception of the tempo lever, dispenses entirely with handle levers for actuating they various controls, substituting therefor slide rods rand push buttons which are much simpler and less obtrusive in appearance and require less space forv manipulation.

Vhile I haveherein shown and described one simple and practical embodiment of the linvention well adapted to effectuate the stated purposes and objects thereof, vit is manifestthat numerous changes and variation-s in the structural details and relative arrangement of the parts may be resorted to without Iinvolving any substantal change in the structurev itself or sacrificing any of the meritsand advantages thereof. Hence, I donot i limit the invention tothe particularv embodiment shown for purposes of illustration, but

Vreserve all such variations, modificationsA mechanicaliplaying instrument, and a tray slidably mounted beneath said bed, of an electric circuit switch mounted on `'said tray, and a pair of push-rods for closing and opening said switch slidably mounted in and projecting forwardly of the front edge vof said tray and coupledk for simultaneous movements in opposite directions.

3. The combination with the key-bed of a mechanical playing instrument, and a tray slidably mounted beneath said bed, of an electric circuit switch mounted on said tray, a manually operable member for closing said switch projecting beyond the front edge of said tray, a normally closed valve controllingmechanism for throwing in the roll motor transmission mounted on said tray, and means actuated by said manually operable member for opening said valve simultaneously with the closing of said switch. i

4. The combination with the key-bed of a mechanical *playing instrument, and a tray slidably mounted beneath said bed, of an electric circuit switch mounted on said tray, a push-rod for closing said switch projecting beyond the front edge of said tray, an automatic switch opening device comprising a pneumatic mounted on said tray having its movable side connected to said push-rod, and a normally closed valve controlling mechanism for throwing in the roll motor transmission mounted on said tray opposite the ,movable side of said pneumatic and adapted-to -be struck and opened by said movable vsidewhen said push-rod is actuated to close said switch.

' 5. The combination with the key-bed of a mechanical playing instrument, anda tray slidably mounted beneath said bed, o'l an electriccircuit switch mounted on said tray,

a push-rod for closing' said switch projecting beyondtlie Yfront edge of said tray, an a'utomaticswitcl'i opening device 'comprising a' pneumatic mounted on said tray and a thrustfconnection between the movable side of'said pneumatic andV said push-rod, a

spring-closedl valve controlling mechanism for throwing in the roll motor transmission mounted on said tray opposite the movable side of said pneumatic and adapted Jto be struck and opened by said movable side when said pusli-iod'is moved inwardly to close said switch, and a spring actingtopai'- i tially retract said push-rod suliciently to retract said movable side Jfrom said valve and permitthe latter to close withoutopening said switch. I

6. Thecombinatioii with the -kjeybed o't' a mechanical playing instrument7 anda tray Yslidably mounted beneath said bed, of a play bottomv thereof, and tubes communicating' with said air ducts, of leaf spring valves attached to the under side of said tray normally closing said air ducts, and manually operateddepressible plungers mounted in said tray bearing at'tlieir lower ends of said valves. f

8. The combination with the key-bed of a mechanical playing instrument, and a tray vslidably'mounted beneath saidk bed, of a tempo scale on said tray, a tempo lever pivoted on said tray formed with a handle poi',- tion projecting forwardly of the front edge ot' said tray, and a pointer on'said lever overlying said scale. j Y I s 9. The combination with the key-bed. of a mechanical nplaying instrument, and a tray Vrslidabl'v mounted beneath said bed formed with a horizontal slot in its front v-edge portion, Aof a tempo scale on said tray overlying said'slot7 a" tempo lever pivoted on saidtray formed-'with a downwardly otlset handle port-ion extending through and'beyond said slot, and a pointer on said lever overlying said scale. y f Y 10.- The combination with the key-bed of a mechanical playing instrument, of front and rear bearing blocks attachedto `the under side 'of said bed, a tray comprising a bottom plate, front and rear bars attached to said bottom plate, andv rods attached to and crosswise of said bars and slidable in said bearing blocks, said bars and bearing blocks constituting co-operating stops to limit the in and out sliding movements of said tray, and instrument: controls mounted on said tray equipped with .manual operating devices mounted in said front ybar of the tray. y

` EDMOND A. HUSEBY.

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