US2107583A - Key mechanism for woodwind instruments - Google Patents

Description

Feiwq 8 1938. F. D. PLATZ KEY MECHANISM FOR WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS Filed May 2, 1956 *MH q 55 p ma.

Patented Feb 8, 1938 UNITED STATES v 2,lli'l,583

PATENT OFFICE KEY MECHANISM FOR WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS Indiana Application May 2, 1936, Serial No. 77,491

8 Claims.

This invention relates to woodwind musical instruments, and is illustrated as embodied in a clarinet.

The principal object of this invention is to 5 provide improved means for prolonging the utility of key mechanism for woodwind musical instruments.

Another object is to provide coacting spring and non-metallic means for the elimination noise and the prolongation of the utility and efficiency of certain clarinet key mechanism.

In the instrument illustrated, the invention is utilized to improve the action of a thrust device through which one of the keys, which is pivoted on one shaft, is operated by an arm on a different shaft.

Other and more specific objects of the invention are mentioned and described herein.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 illustrates a fragment of the upper branch of a seven ring Boehm clarinet in which the invention is incorporated;

Figure 2 illustrates the same clarinet section but rotated at approximately right angles;

Figure 3 illustrates a section taken on line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 illustrates a similar iragmental section taken on line 44 of Figure 2, much enlarged.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views on the drawing.

Referring to the details of the drawing the numeral I indicates one section of tubular clarinet body which is provided with the usual reduced portion 2 for telescopically connecting it with an adjacent section (not shown) as is well known in the art. The numeral 3 indicates the 40 B key which is rigidly carried upon the outer end of the tiltable key arm 4 rigidly connected with the rock shaft 5, the opposite ends of said rock shaft being journaled in the posts 6 and I which are fixed in the body I. Normally, the B key 3, which is adapted to close the tone hole 8 when depressed, is raised by a spring (not shown) as indicated in Figures 3 and 4, as is well known in the art.

The posts 6 and I carry a second rock shaft 9 which is arranged parallel with and above the shaft and adjacent thereto, said shaft 9 carrying a laterally projecting arm l0 rigid therewith and arranged above the B key arm 4 and tiltable toward the latter. The shaft 5 carries also the laterally projecting arm l2 on which the A ring- (Cl. 84-382l key ll is mounted, and upon depression of the latter the key 3 is actuated to close the tone hole 8. jecting arm l3 on which the B fiat ring-key i4 is mounted and by which the shaft ii may be rocked, and when thus rocked the arm Ill tilts the arm t inwardly, thereby causing the key 3 to ciose the tone hole 8. The shaft 9 may also be rocked by the arm l5 which carries the bridge element i 8 when the latter is lifted by a coacting lever element (not shown) but which is mounted upon the adjacent clarinet section, as is Well known in the art.

The upper edge of the B key arm 4 carries thin strip of cork, or other suitable non-metallic material, indicated by the numeral ii. This strip may be adhesively secured to the key arm. According to the present invention, said cork strip is coacting with a flat leaf spring is which is fastened to the under surface of the arm Ill in any suitable manner, as, for example, by the screw i9. Adjustment of the spring 18 toward the cork strip H is necessary, due to irregularities in the parts, to maintain the contact thereof, this adjustment being eliected by the adjust ing screw 20 which is mounted in the semi spherical head 2| of the arm I. The adjustment of the screw 20 may be maintained by a set screw 22 which is also mounted in the head 2!.

When the B key arm 4 is tilted by the depres sion of the arm ID to cause the closure of the tone hole 8, as described, and when both arms 4 and iii are retracted by spring action, there is a constant wiping, or frictional, contact between the flat spring l8 and the cork strip ll, whereby noise is eliminated and wear on the cork strip is negligible, thereby prolonging the utility of the latter indefinitely.

While one illustrative embodiment has been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit the scope of the invention to that particular embodiment, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a woodwind musical instrument, a movable key arm, a second movable arm arranged adjacent said key arm and adapted to actuate the latter, and coacting metallic and non-metallic elements carried respectively by said arms, the metallic element being of resilient material and having a part urged yieldingly away from the arm which carries it and held constantly in engagement with the non-metallic element.

2. In a woodwind musical instrument, a movable key arm, a second movable arm arranged The shaft carries the laterally pro 1 adjacent said key arm and adapted to actuate the latter, and coacting metallic and non-metallic elements carried respectively by said arms, said metallic element being a resilient leaf spring having one end secured to the arm which carries it and having its other end yieldingly urged into engagement with the non-metallic element.

3. In a woodwind musical instrument, a movable key arm, a second movable arm arranged adjacent said key arm and adapted to actuate the latter, and coacting metallic and non-metallic elements carried by said arms respectively, and means for adjusting the position of the metallic element upon the arm which carries it,

metallic element comprising a member extending along and secured at one end to the arm which carries it and the other end of which can be moved away from said arm by adjusting said means.

a. In a woodwind musical instrument, a tiltable key arm, a second tiltable arm arranged above said key arm and adapted to actuate the latter, and coacting metallic and non-metallic elements carried by said arms, said metallic element being a resilient member extending along the arm and secured thereto at one point an in wiping engagement with the non-metallic elc ment, the arm carrying the resilient metallic e1c-- ment having an adjustable thrust member in supporting engagement therewith.

5. In a woodwind musical instrument, a tiltable key arm, a second tiltable arm arranged above said key arm and adapted to actuate the latter, one of said arms having a flat metal element secured at one of its ends to the arm and which is engageable adjacent its free end with the other arm, and said one arm having means engaging said element adjacent its free end and which is adjustable to vary the spacing between said free end and said one arm.

6. In a woodwind musical instrument, a tiltable key arm, a second tiltable arm arranged above said key arm and adapted to actuate the latter, and a flat resilient metallic element adjustably carried by one of said arms and secured thereto at one end, in position to engage the other of said arms, said one arm having means for springing the free end of said element more or less toward the other arm to adjust it.

7. In a woodwind musical instrument, a tiltable key arm, a second tiltable arm arranged above said key arm and adapted to actuate the latter, an adjustable element carried by one of said arms, and a leaf spring secured to said one arm at its end and supported by said element and arranged to engage the other of said arms.

8. In a woodwind musical instrument, a tiltable key arm carried on a rockshaft, a second tiltable arm carried on a second rockshait and arranged above said key arm, said second tiltable arm being adapted to tilt said key arm, a resilient metallic element carried by said second arm, and having one part fixedly secured thereto, and screw means carried by said second arm and engaging another part of said element for adjusting said metallic element.

FORD D. PLATZ.

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