US1715162A - Thermoclarinet or the like - Google Patents

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Ma 2s, 1929. WSHAYNES I 1,715,162

THERMOCLARINET OR THE LIKE Filed March 19, 1926 I h Inventor mllialnfifiylwi Patented May 28, 1929.

, UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. HAYNES, OF BOSTQN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WM. S. HAYNES 00., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

THERMOCL ARINET OR THE LIKE.

Application filedMarch 19, 1926. Serial No. 95,817.

This invention relates to wind instru ments of the tubular type, such as clarinets,

flutes, oboes and bassoons, and particularly 7 to an arrangement whereby the temperature ment, particularly when made of metal, is

quite sensitive to changes in temperature, and unless the temperature ofthe instrument is adjusted to thatof the theater or other -place where the instrument is to be played, the pitch will not'be up to the proper standard. During cold weather, it is therefore customary for theartist to bring his instrument to the theater quite some time before he is scheduled to perform, in order that the instrument may become adjusted to the temperature of the theater. This not only results in the unnecessary loss of the artists time, but where the outside temperature has been unusually cold, it cometimes results that the instrument has not been sufficiently adjusted to the theater temperature at the time of the performance, and hence the performance itself is apt to be unsatisfactory.

To obviate the necessity for this loss of time and to insure that the tonal qualities of the instrument will always be correct, I have devised my present invention. According. to it, I arrange an outer tube over the barrelof the clarinet, which tube is sealed air-tight at its ends so that there is a dead air space between it and the barrel. When the artist is ready to perform upon the instrument he need only open the dead air space at its ends and expel the col dead air contained within the tube, as by natural respiration repeated sufiiciently to gradually warn the barrel of the instrument to approximately room temperature. This is only thework of a few moments and insures that the instrument will be in a satisfactory condition at the time of the performance.

The method of practicing my invention, together with an illustrative embodiment thereof showing a clarinet equipped in accordance with my general concept are described and illustrated in the accompanying specification and drawings, and the fundamental features of novelty particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a clarinet equipped in accordance with my in vention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing one ofthe valved vents for the enclosed air space. I have indicated at 1 themouthpiece, at 2 the barrel, and at 3 the bell of a clarinet of conventional type, the mouthpiece and bell being detachably'connected to'the ends of the barrel by the usual joints 4 and 5.

Sleeved about the barrel 'is a tube 6 which" preferably extends from joint to joint thereof and defines with thebarrel a dead air space 7 which is sealed at its ends by said joints 4 and 5. The barrel 2 is a flaring barrel, so that the air space gradually decreases in area as the bell end of the clarinet is approached. The usual tone hole defining flanges 8 are soldered, drawn or otherwise arranged upon the barrel 2 and extend'through the air space 7 slightly beyond the outer face of the tube 6, said tube being apertured to receive said flanges In order to provide for expelling the dead air entrapped within said air space 7, the tube 6 is provided at either end with valved vent ports 9 and 10 which are adapted to be covered and uncovered by manually-operated hinged clap valves 11. The valves 11 are hinged at 12 in suitable bearings carried by the tube 6, and the valves are preferably spring pressed, as indicated at 13, so that normally they are held closed but may be opened manually, as by engaging the finger projections 14 carried by said valves and swinging them on their pivots against the action of the springs, the arrangement being such that the valves may be swung to a position in which they will remain open until definitely engaged and reclosed, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.

Vith both valves open, the dead air contained within the air space 7 may be exhausted in any suitable manner, as for example by blowing through the upper vent opening 9, thereby expellin the dead air through the lower opening. This operation is repeated until the barrel is brought to substantially the temperature of the room in which the instru ment is to be played. The artist may apply his lips directly to the blow hole 9, or he may carry with him a short tube which he can insert in the blow hole for this purpose. i j Although I have shown-and describeda' construction in which the temperature of the piration, it is obvious that other 'means for expelling the air contained withinthe dead air space 7 may be employed, the substance of my invention being the prov sion or such a space audits proper venting. Similarly, I may arrange in such space'some'means oi ar-- tificially warming the barrel, as tor example an electric resistance wire extending along the barrel and adapted to be connected wlth a 1 suitable current source.

These and various other modifications in the constructlon and operation or my devlce "may obviously be resorted to 7 if within the limits of the appended claims. I

lVhat I therefore desire to secureby Letters Patent is: r

. 1. The combination with the barrel of a'tubularwind instrument,"of means associated with said barrel constructed and arranged progressively to raise the barrel temperature.

v j 2; lhe combinatioil with the barrel ofatubular Wind instrument, of ,ineans associated with said barrel constructed and arranged to permit a circulation of warm air therepast '3. 'lhecombination with the barrel of a tubular wind lnstrument, of a thermo-wpneu matic attachment therefor constructed and the barrel temperature.

5. The combination With the barrelof a tu-r bular wind'instrument, of a tube fitted over said barrel and defining therewith a closed '30 7 'whereby progressively to raise. the temper ap 7 'ture of said barrelJ barrel is adapted to be raised by natural resarranged to permit the temperature of the placed by warmer air so as gradually toraise air space having adjacent its ends valved vents adapted when open to permit repeated charges of warm air to be forced through said space whereby progressively to raise'the'temfperature'ot saidbarrel,

In testimony whereof I affi x my signature. S. HAYNES.

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