US1837201A - Wind musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 22, 1931. P. J. BURKLE 1,837,201

WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1396- 1931. P. J. BURKLE wnm MUSICAL mswnuusm Filed Sgpt. 18, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 ain 3 2 Patented Dec. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHILIP J. BURKLE, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 C. G. CONN, LTD., OF ELKHART, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA W'IND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed September 18, 1930. Serial No. 482,735.

This invention relates to improvements in musical instruments normally keyed to a single tone, as for instance to bugles.

It is an object of the invention to provide an instrument of this type facilities for changing readily from one tone to another, so as to alter, for instance, a tone to which a bugle is keyed, selectively from G to D or vice versa.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an instrument of this type in which the alteration from one tone to another may be effected without material alteration of the appearance of the instrument.

It is another object of the invention to provide in an instrument of this type selective different paths for the sound, and to maintain one of said paths inactive or closed to the advance of the sound when the instrument is set to its normal key, an additional path or by-pass for the propagation of the sound being freed at the time when the normal path of the tone is closed to the propagation thereof.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide an instrument of this type with a by-pass of relatively great length selectively insertable into the path of the sound, whereby through the additional length through which the sound has to travel the key thereof is altered.

It is furthermore an object of the invention to provide in abugle of the character described a plurality of rigidly interconnected similarly operable valves adjustable to permit the passage of the sound in either one of two predetermined ways.

With these and numerous other objects in view an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings to which reference is made in. the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved bugle of this character.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same instrument viewed from the opposite side.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the valve structure in normal position.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of said valve structure.

Figure 5 is partly side elevation and partly section of the valve structure and pertaining portions of the instrument.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation and detailed sectional view similar to Figure 5 showing the valve structure in adjusted position, and

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view on line 77 of Figure 6.

The instrument comprises a sound tubing made up of straight portions which are interconnected by bent portions to form one continuous path for the sound produced by the application of the mouth of the player to the mouth piece 1. The straight portion 2 of the tubing connected with the mouth piece merges into the bend 3 to communicate with a parallel straight portion 4, the bend 5 whereof establishes communication with another straight tube portion 6 having a sharper bend 7 in which the improved valve assembly 8 is inserted and this bend 7 which establishes communication with another straight portion 9 leads through the gradually enlarged path 10 to the sound outlet or bell 11.

The valve assembly which is inserted in the bend 7 is primarily illustrated in Figures 3 to 7 inclusive and comprises a stationary casing in the form of a straight tube 13 from which at fixed distances short tubular ex tensions or nipples 14 and 15 project at right angle to the tube 13 in opposite directions parallel to each other. The straight portion 13 is provided, in axial alignment with the nipples 14 and 15, with transverse openings 16 and 17 respectively.

The nipples 14 and 15 maintain in axial alignment with said openings 16 and 17 the tubes 18 and 19 respectively which are firmly united with the straight casing 13 so as to constitute together with the tube 13 and the short nipples 14 and 15 a rigid self-contained structure adapted to be positioned between the straight portions 6 and 9 of the tubing.

Each of the fixed tubes 18, 19 contains a short slidable tube 20, 21 respectively intersecting the tube 13. Each of these short slidable tubes 20, 21 is provided with a transverse short tube 22,23 respectively adapted to be normally maintained in alignment with the fixed tube 13. The slidable tubings 20,

21, however, are extended beyond their intering 27 having its center in the lowermost line 4 of contour of the tubing 21.

It is obvious, therefore, that upon the tubes 20, 21 being positioned as indicated in Fig ures3 or 5 a directsound passage is pro vided through the sound tubing as shown by the arrows and no communication is established between this tube 13 and the tubes 20,21. a i

If, however, both of these tubes 20 and 21 are shifted to the left (Figure 3) to assume the position shown in Figure 7 the cross walls of the tubings 20, 21 and the closure walls 24, 25 will obstruct the propagation of the sound towards the left but will provide a different path since the openings 26 and 27 are now in alignment withthe tube 13. V For the purpose of facilitating the simultaneous adjustment of the valve tubes 20 and 21 to provide either a straight passage 30, Figures 3and 5, or to obstruct this straight passage, there is provided a connecting bend 28 secured by a'nipple 29, 30, Figures 6 and 7, to said slidable tubes 20 and 21, and disposed to facilitate the gripping of the two tubes for the purpose of adjustment.

When, therefore, the direct passage through the tubing 13 is obstructed upon movement of the two valve tubes 20, 21 to the left this tube 13 is in communication with a bypass '31 of relatively great length, as

' shown in Figures 2 and 5. This by-pass comprises the two straight portions 32 and 33 and the bend 34. The straight portions are both 7 parallel to each other and connected each at the sound will travel through the straight portion of the tube and then continue, in a direct path to the discharge of bell 6 of the instrument. When the movable valveshave been adjusted to the position shown in Figures 2, 6 and 7 respectively, however, the straight path through the tubing 13 is obstructed and the sound is by-passed through thetube 31, as indicated bv the arrows,

ure 7 over arelatively long path which will naturally alter'the pitch or key of the tone.

Hence by means of a slight adjustment of a'valve structure the key of the entire instrument may be varied. While the normal key may be G, the key to which the instrument may be altered will then be D and in a very simple way the restoration to the original key G may be effected. V

For the purpose of determining the proper position of the'valve structure upon alteration of the instrument means are provided for limiting the shifting movement of the movable valves in either direction. A lug 40 is secured to the stationary tube 14 adjacent the end thereof. A similar lug structure 4'1 is fixedly mounted on one of the shiftable tubes as 20, this lug 41 for instance being secured as shown in Figures 5 to 7 on the nipple 29 through which the bend 28 is connected with both of the tubes 20 or 21.

A pin 43 extends through the two lugs '40 and 41 and may be secured fixedly as 'by'soldering or In some other suitable way to the movable lug 41. This pin is provided at the opposite end where it projects from the lug 40 with a head 44 which may be adjustable thereon and it is obvious, therefore, that the maximum extension obtainable is determined by the variable effective length of the pin 43. The maximum inward extension also is limited,'as indicated in Figure 5, by that position in which the ni ple 29 abuts the outer end" of the stationary tubing 14. 7

From the above it will be seen thatthe alteration of the instrument from one key to another can easily be accomplished at any desired instant through the proper adjustment of the movable valve structure, for utilizing the by-pass 31 to alter the'cha'racter of the tone, or for shutting oif the bypass from utilization by not only providing the path through the straight tube 13 but also directly obstructing the inlet to the by-pass 33 through the transverse walls 24 and 25 respectively. V

I claim:

1. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a sound tubing, a valve assembly forming apart thereof, a pair of fixed guide tubes extending from said valve assembly, a by-pass in open communication with said guide tubes, and valve tubes slidable within said guide tubes, said valve tubes containing means for opening the path through said valve assembly, and means for obstructing a path through said valve assembly and opening a path through said by-pass.

2. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a-sound tubing, a valve assembly inserted therein, tubular extensions in said valve assembly, a relatively long by-pass tube mounted on said extensions, valve tubes slidable in said extensions, and means for simultaneously adjusting said valve tubes to the same extent relatively to the valve assembly.

3. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a sound tubing, a valve assembly inserted therein, tubular extensions on said valve assembly, a by-pass connected with said extensions, valve tubes slidable in said extensions, and a bend connecting said slidable valve tubes, said valve tubes containing transverse tubings in alignment with the sound tubing when said slidable valve tubes have been shifted to a predetermined position and also containing transverse closure walls adapted to obstruct the sound through said valve tubes when the latter have been shifted to another predetermined position.

4. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a sound tubing, a a valve assembly inserted therein, tubular extensions on said assembly, a by-pass permanently in communication with said extension, valve tubes slidably within said extensions and a bend connecting the portions of the slidable valve tubes which project from said extensions, the valve tubes enclosing transverse tubings in alignment with each other and the sound tubing when the valve tubes have been moved to a predetermined position to provide a straight passage for the sound through said valve assembly and sound tubing, said slidable valve tubes also enclosing a transverse obstruction and being provided withcircular openings, whereby upon a diflerent adj ustment of said slidable valve tubes said obstruction is in alignment with a wall of the sound tubing and said circular openings are in alignment with the bore of the sound tubing to provide a sound passage through the by-pass and to obstruct the direct sound passage through the sound tubing.

5. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a sound tubing, a valve assembly inserted therein, tubular extensions on said valve assembly, a by-pass communicating with said tubular extensions, valve tubes slidable in said extensions, and means for connecting said valve tubes, said tubular extensions each containing a transverse tubing held in alignment with each other, and each valve tube also containing a transverse wall and having a circular opening, the circular openings on the two valve tubes being located at diametrically opposite points of said tubes, whereby upon selective adjustment of said valve tubes a straight sound passage through the sound tubing is produced, or said straight sound passage is obstructed and a sound passage through the by-pass is produced.

6. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a sound tubing, a valve assembly inserted therein, transverse extensions on said valve assembly, a by-pass communicating permanently with said extensions, valve tubes slidable within said extensions, and means in said valve tubes for selectively providing a straight sound passage through the tubing and valve assembly and for providing a by-pass for the sound, respectively.

7. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a sound tubing, a valve assembly inserted therein, a pair of tubular extensions on said valve assembly, a by-pass in communication with said extensions, slidable valve tubes in said extensions, means for simultaneously adjusting said valve tubes to produce a direct passage through the sound tubing or to close the direct passage and simultaneously produce a sound passage through the by-pass, respectively, and means for determinmg the extent of adjustment of said valve tubes.

8. In an instrument of the character described, the combination of a sound tubing, a valve assembly inserted therein, tubular extensions on said valve assembly, a by-pass communicating with said tubular extensions, slidable valve tubes within said tubular ex tensions, means in said valve tubes for selectively establishing a direct sound passage through the sound tubing, a sound passage through said by-pass, respectively, common means for adjusting said valve tubes, and variable means for limiting the extent of said adjustment.

PHILIP J. BURKLE.

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