US1728370A - Musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

.Sept. 17, 1929. H. SCHWARZEL 1,728,370

MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT Filed June 22. 1922 28 5 tink r26]? i atentecl Sept. 17, 1929 PATENT OFFICE HENRY SCHWARZEL, OF CHILLICOTHE, OHIO MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed June 22,

This invention relates to musical instruments, and more particularly pertains to improvements in those of the wind type, especially saxophones.

Vlhile, for the sake of convenience, the improvements of this invention are illustrated as embodied in a saxophone, it will be obvious that the invention finds wide field of utility for other purposes.

This invention is particularly adapted to use on a saxophone, owing to the fact that it facilitates and improves the production of certain notes which, in the saxophone as heretofore constructed, have been diflicult to produce, as well as imperfectly rendered, evenby the most skilled players. This difficulty has arisen from the diameter of the horn at the particular location in the instrument, and efforts to remedy the defect by altering the diameter of the horn have been unsuccessful.

In the particular arrangement of keys, valves, and the operating mechanism therefor, this invention as here illustrated aims to improve the production of the notes known to saxophone players as G and G sharp in the middle register, but it will. of course, be understood that this is indicative of only one adaptation of the invention, and that the improvements afforded thereby may be readily adapted for the production of other notes in other similar musical instruments,

The principal objects and advantages which characterize this invention reside in the provision of improved means for simplifying the manipulation of a wind musical instrument; the provision of improved means for rendering more facile the production of certain notes upon a wind musical instrument; the provision of improved means for operating the valves of a wind musical instrument, whereby to improve the quality of the notes produced thereby; and the provision of improved means for per- 1922. Serial No. 570,166.

mitting of the rendition of a piece of music on a wind musical instrument with better results and with greater facility, such means embodying a. simple construction capable of application to a wind musical instrument, such as a saxophone, without material modification of the structure thereof.

This invention is further characterized by the provision of improved means for controlling simultaneously two octave notes on a saxophone when playing in certain registers; the provision of means for improving the rendition of the notes G and G sharp in the middle register on a saxophone; the provision of means for improving the rendition of certain notes on a saxophone by improved control of the octave valves; the provision of means for, improving the rendition of the notes G and G sharp in the middle register of a saxophone. by improved control of the first and second octave valves; and the provision of means embodying the foregoing characteristics which may be applied to the standard type of saxophone with but slight modification of the structure thereof. and at a low cost. As will appear as this description proceeds no change in the fingering of the instrument is required.

The foregoing and such other objects and advantages as may appear or be pointed out as this description proceeds are attained in one embodiment of this invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a saxophone illustrating the invention applied thereto, and those parts of the instrument concerned with this invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 83 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a part of the horn viewed from a different angle than that shown in Figures 1. and 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 5 is the horn of the instrument, such as a saxophone, the upper portion only being shown. As is common in this type of wind instrument, the horn is generally tapering and is curved at 6 for convenience in operation, said curved portion extending laterally at 7 and receiving a conventional mouthpiece 8, which contains the usual reed, not shown. The horn is provided with a loop 9, to which may be attached a strap for supporting the instrument. The right hand side of the instrument in playing position is shown.

The improvements which will be described presently are illustrated as applied to what is commonly known as a C melody saxophone, but these improvements may, of course, be adapted to instruments tuned to other keys, or, in fact, to other similar instruments. As is customary, the saxophone has two octave keys for playing the middle and lower registers, these keys operating two valves shown and designated 10, the middle, and 11, the lower. However, three registers may be produced, namely, high, when the first octave port 10 is open, middle when the second octave port 11 is open, and lower when both ports are closed. The horn is also provided with note or melody ports arranged in proper relationship and con trolled by suitable valves and keys, these ports, with the exception of those concerned with the improvements here involved, being omitted for the sake of clearness in describing. The notes, the production of which is modified and improved by this invention, are G and G sharp, in the middle register and the improvement applies here when these notes are produced in the middle regis ter, this being the most difficult register on which to produce these notes.

In former construction of the saxophone, the notes G and G sharp in the middle register were usually produced with the middle register valve open and the lower register valve closed, and as will presently appear, I provide means whereby these notes are produced with both the octave ports open. The key designated 12 was used for producing the notes G and G sharp and I retain this key and employ it here for this purpose so that I neither add keys to the instrument nor do I change the fingering in anywise. As here shown, the notes G and G sharp, in the middle register are produced by pressure on the key 12 together with certain other actions which will presently appear, said key 12 being fixedly mounted upon and laterally extending from a floating shaft 13, which shaft is fixedly secured to supporting lugs 1414. A main key shaft 15 extends longitudinally of the horn, and is mounted in a series of supporting brackets or posts 16, 17, 18 and 19, and said main shaft serves to pivotally support the supporting lugs l t-14, as seen in Fig. 1.

It will be understood, of course, that the shaft 15 is merely a pivoting shaft or fulcrum, and that no motions originate in this shaft, that is, the shaft itself serves as a center about which and upon which the moving parts to be described later are pivotally mounted. It will be understood that the shaft 15 is provided with a plurality of sleeves, such as 20, and that certain of these sleeves carry keys for producing various notes and for performing various functions, only those concerned with this invention being described.

A port 21 is provided in the horn, and this portis adapted to be closed by a valve 22 carried by arm 23, said arm being fixedly connected to a sleeve 24 on the shaft 15, so that said arm 23 is, in effect, pivoted upon the shaft 15. A fiat spring 25, secured to the post 18 and to said arm 23 serves to normally maintain this arm raised and the port 21 open. This is commonly known as the B flat port, but is used in connection with the production of the notes G and G sharp, as will presently appear. A finger piece 26 is provided for closing the port 21 when independently depressing the valve 22 in producing B flat, as heretofore.

The ports for producing F and F sharp are designated at 27 and 28, the valve 28 (lower) being closed for producing F in the middle and lower registers. This valve 28 carries a finger piece 28 which overlies valve 27 so that the latter is automatically closed when producting notes such as F, E, D, and D sharp, or the usual F sharp in the middle or lower registers. However, the upper valve 27 may be closed independently of the valve 28 as is usual in a saxophone. This is all conventional.

The valve 27 is provided with a lug 27 which overlies the curved arm 28 fixedly carried by and extending laterally from the sleeve 29 so that when valve 27 is closed the sleeve 29 is rotated to the right as viewed in Figure 1. A spring, not shown, attached to post 30 normally tends to hold the outer end of the arm 28 against the under side of the lug 27. The valve 27 is, however, held open by independent spring element, not shown, as in the usual saxophone. In other words, in producing G and G sharp in the middle register the valves 27 and 28 are open.

Now there are certain other note ports, etc., on the saxophone, such as port valve 31*, which are employed in producing and G sharp, but as the only one which is actually physically connected to the mechanism of this invention is the port 21 and its valve 22, the others have not been shown for the sake of clearness. It is sufficient to state here that all of the ports above the upper valve 27 are closed in producing G in the middle register with the exception of ports 10 and 11 which I maintain open. In the production of G sharp the same condition exists with the exception that the first port above valve 27, namely 31 is open. With the exception of the opening both ports 10 and 11 the roduction of G and G sharp in the middle register corresponds with the usual saxophone operation. The upper valve 27 is closed in making F or F sharp as usual.

It will be observed that the valve 27 having its lug 27 overlying arm 28 limits rocation to the left of the sleeve 29. The latter is fixedly connected to a lug 30 which carries rock shaft 31, the latter being also additionally supported parallel. to and shiftable about the key shaft 15 by provision of lugs 32 and 33 to which the rock shaft 31 is fixedly secured. The lug 32 is fixedly secured to a sleeve 34 rotatable on the shaft 15, and the lug 33 is similarly fixedly secured to a short sleeve 35, also rotatable on said shaft 15, beyond the lug 14. The lug 32 is provided with an extension 36, carrying a laterally rojecting pin 37 which overlies the arm 23, so that when the rock shaft 31 is oscillated in the direction of the arrow A (Fig. 3,) the valve 22 will be closed. The shaft 31, however, is normally maintained in the position shown by a flat spring (not shown) and another spring (not shown) maintains the valves 27 normally open, so that closing of valve 22 does not affect position of valves 27 and 28.

As best shown in Figure 1, the shaft 15 extends upwardly beyond the bracket or post 17 and serves to support a rotatable sleeve 38 on which is fixedly mounted an arm 39 which carries a valve'40, which latter serves to close the second or middle octave (lower register) port 11, a flat spring 41 secured to the post 16 and to said sleeve 38, serving to normally tend to open said port 11 by said valve 40. A rocker arm 42, best seen in Figure 3, is formed on the upper lug 14, and normally assumes the position shown, a wedge 43 which I term a mitering pin, being pivoted at 44 to the rocker arm 42 and serving a purpose which will presently appear. The sleeve 38 is provided with a follow-up arm 45 having a laterally disposed pin 46, lying in back of and in contact with the rocker arm 42, so that when the latter is moved in the direction of the arrow .B" (Fig. 3), said follow-up arm 45, in response to action of spring 41,

will follow said rocker arm and thereby open the second octave note valve.

The lug 33 is disposed between the rocker arm 42 and follow-up arm 45, and is provided with an angular extension 47, provided at one end with a lateral pin 48, which latter normally underlies the medial portion of the mitering pin 43, for a purpose which will presently appear.

The upper octave (or middle register) port 10 is closed by a valve 49, carried by the upper end of a curved arm 50, pivoted at 51 on the curved portion 6 of the horn, the lower end of said arm having a ring 52 fixed thereto, which ring encircles the horn just below its curved portion. A rocking lever 53 has its upper end underlying the ring 52 guided by fork 53 and said lever 53 has an extension 54 which underlies a curved arm 55, the latter being fixedly carried by a shaft 56 rotatably mounted upon and between bearing posts 5757. The lever 53 is itself fixedly secured to sleeve 58 rotatably mounted in bearings 5959, and a flat spring 60 normally tends to rotate the sleeve to open valve 49. A lever or key 61 is fixedly secured to the shaft 56.

As best seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the sleeve 58 is provided with an arm 62 having a laterally bent portion 63 overlying the outer end of the mitering pin, but normally out of contact therewith. By virtue of a spring 61, which maintains finger piece 61, shaft 56 and arm in normal position, and by the provision of an enlargement 55 on the arm 55, which overlies a short arm 54, and fixedly carried by levers 53, said sleeve, the portion 63 and valve 49 are maintained in normal closed position against the tension of the weaker spring 60. Depressing key 61 lifts arms 55, and provided that the portion 63 is not held in normal position by wedge 43, permits spring to act upon part 63 to move same to dotted position and raise valve 49 through sleeve 58, rocking lever 53, ring 52, and arm 50.

The mitering pin serves to return the part 63 to normal position, that is, to the full line position shown in Figure 3. However, to do this the arm 47 must engage beneath the mitering pin to move it away from the horn into contact with member 63. The arm 47 is actuated whenever the port valve 27 is closed by action of extension 27 on curved arm 28", sleeve 29, arm 30, rocker shaft 31. Normally, however, in forming G and G sharp in the middle register the mitering pin will not prevent movement of the lever 62 to the dotted position shown in Figure 3, because the valves 27 and 28 are open during rendition of these notes. The curved arm 55 furthermore extends to a point overlying the arm 39 which carries the valve 40.

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To produce G in middle register depress finger pieces 12 and 61. Motion is thereby imparted in counter clockwise direction (Fig. 3) to arm 14 which displaces lever 12 and mitering pin to left. Depressing finger piece 61 raises arm and projection 55 (see Fig. 6), thus releasing arm 58 to move away from horn under action of spring 60, and act on ring 52 to thereby open port 10 or maintain valve 49 in open position.

Depression of lever 12 causes the arm 42 to be displaced to the left with its mitering pin or wet ge 43. The follow-up arm 45 by its pin 46 under action of spring rotates sleeve 38 counter clockwise and there by raises valve 40 and opens middle register port- 11.

No effective action is imparted to mitering pin by this action for the reason that arm 47 must be rocked by shaft 31 when closing valve 27, this valve, however, being open during rendition of G and G sharp in the middle register.

In this manner both octave ports 10 and 11 are open when G is made in the middle register. The valve 31" is closed during formation of G but is opened in the usual manner when G sharp is formed, the other elements remaining in the position de scribed above.

The upper octave port 10 must be closed in producing certain notes, and therefore, the mitering pin and its actuating connections to valve 27 are provided.

It will be seen that when producing B fiat the valve 22 is depressed against the tension of the spring 25 by applying pressure on the finger piece 26, this valve 22 being thus arranged for movement independently of the shaft 31, but being operable with said shaft when depressing keys 2'? 27.

The arrangement provided permits of production of the notes G and G sharp in the upper register much more easily and efficiently without changing the fingering or elimination of any notes now on the saxophone. The parts shown in Fig. 2 permit of independent movement of the B flat note and the arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4:, permits of much better automatic operation of the octave notes when playing notes in other registers.

It will, of course, be understood that various modifications must be made when applying the principle here involved to the different styles of saxophone, but in each case, while the operating mechanism may be changed, the function performed is identical, namely, opening of both octave notes or ports when producing G and G sharp in the middle register for improving and simplifying the rendition of these notes. The necessary modifications are, of course,

to be within the spirit of this invention and scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a saxophone, a horn portion, having ports for playing the middle and lower registers, valves for controlling said ports, said horn also having ports and valves therefor for producing the notes Gr and G sharp in the middle register, and means for automatieally opening two of said ports simultaneously with the production of said notes.

2. In a saxophone, a horn portion, having ports for playing the middle and lower registers, valves for controlling said ports, said horn also having ports and valves therefor for producing the notes G and G sharp in the middle register, and means for opensimultaneously the lower and middle of sa' l ports upon production of said notes (1 and G sharp.

ln musical instrument, a. horn having a plurality of ports therein for playing the middle and lower registers, a plurality of etc ports in said horn, valves for controling said register ports, valves for said note )orts, and means for auton'iatically controlii two of the register port valves when .ting the note valves in the upper reg- 1'. in saxophone having a horn, said being provided with normally closed s for playing the middle and lower regs, a plurality of note ports in said horn and valves for controlling said ports, and means for automatically opening said register ports when certain of said note ports are in operation.

5. In a. saxophone having middle and lower registers and normally closed octave ports for regulating said registers, and bias for opening both the first and second octave ports when the notes G and G sharp in the middle register are produced.

6. In a saxophone, in combination, a horn portion having ports therein for playing the middle and lower registers, said horn having note ports therein, and means for automati cally controlling said note ports and said lower and middle register ports simultane- Oi'aslju'.

7. in a musical instrument, in combination, a horn, a plurality of ports for playing the middle and lower registers, a plurality of note ports in said horn, valves for controlling said register ports, valves for said note ports certain of which are adapted to produce notes in the middle register, and means for automatically opening said middle and lower register valves when playing in the middle register.

8. In a device of the character described, in con'ibination, a horn having ports therein for playing the middle and lower registers, said horn also having note ports, a valve for each of said register ports, and

means for automatically actuating said register valve for opening two of said register ports when certain of said note ports are closed.

9. In a saxophone, a horn having ports for playing the middle and lower registers, valves for said ports, a plurality of note ports, valves for said note ports, means for connecting said register and note valves, whereby the lower and middle register valves are automatically opened when certain of said note valves are closed.

10. In a device of the character described, in combination, a horn having register ports therein, and means for automatically opening both of said ports when producing the notes G and G sharp, in the middle register.

11. In a saxophone, means for producing the notes G and G sharp thereon, and means cooperating with the first mentioned means for improving the rendition of such notes without altering the normal operation of said first mentioned means.

12. In a musical instrument of the character described, a horn having ports for playing the middle and lower registers, valves for controlling said ports, said horn also having ports, and valves therefor for producing the notes G and G sharp in the middle register, means for controlling the last named valves including a pair of parallel relatively rotatable shafts, an extension of one of said shafts controlling the upper octave note valve, an extension from the other of said shafts controlling the middle octave valve, and said extension having means for providing movement of the other shaft when in normal position.

13. In a musical instrument of the ehar acter described, a horn having ports for playing the middle and lower registers, valves for controlling said ports, said horn also having ports, and valves therefor for producing the notes G and G sharp in the middle register, means for controlling said last mentioned valves including a rotatable shaft having a lateral extension engaging one of said valves, spring means tending to hold said extension to keep said valve normally closed, an auxiliary rotatable shaft having an extension therefrom for actuating another of said valves, a spring member tending to move said auxiliary shaft to open said valve, and means on the extension of said first mentioned shaft for normally preventing action of the second mentioned valve by said auxiliary shaft.

14. In a musical instrument of the character described, a horn having ports for playing the middle and lower registers, valves for controlling said ports, said horn also having ports and valves therefor for producing the notes G and G sharp in the middle register, means for controlling the middle and upper octave notes to produce G and G sharp in the middle register in cluding a rotatable shaft having a lateral extension overlying the middle octave valve, a spring holding said valve to keep said middle valve closed, an auxiliary shaft having a lateral extension connected to open said upper octave valve, a spring tending to actuate said auxiliary shaft to open said upper valve, and means on said extension of said first named shaft for preventing the auxiliary shaft from moving in response to the action of said spring.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY SGHWARZEL.

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