US214121A - Improvement in mechanical musical instruments - Google Patents

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vREST AVAILABLE CGP ssssssssssss t1 M. GALLY. Mechanical Musical Instrment. No. 214,121. PatntedvAprl 8,1879.

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M. GALLY. Mechanical Musical Instrument. No. 214,121. Patented April 8,1879.

BEST AVMLBL CO1` WITNESSES @EST AVALABLE CO1' M. GALLY. l Mechanical Musical Instrument. No. 214,121. Patented April 8,1879.

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MERRITT GALLY, OF lNTElV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT l'N MECHANICAL MUSlCAL i-NSTRUMENTS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. QXLXQH dated April 8, 1879,' application filed December 27, 1878.

To all whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known-that I, MERRITT GALLY,-of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented' certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Instruments, of which the 'following is a specification.

ln the' accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectionalV elevation, showing the principal features of the invention. Fig. l is a sec- 'tional view of the. device for operating' the ports of the ducts of the pneumatic key; Fig.

2, the same as Fig. la, showing the position of the ports when an unperforated portion of the music-sheet covers the duct B; Fig.- 3, the

same as Fig. l, showing the position ot' the ports when a perforation in the sheet opens duct B.' Fig. 4 represents a piecc'ot` th'e music-sheet. Fig. 5 represents a modified ar- 'T is adiagram representing the arrangement of a number of sets of reeds in groups, in such a manner as not only to be used for the ordinar stops77 of the instrument, but in conibination with a suitable arrangement of the pcrforations in thc music-sheet to produce music written in a wider range than represented by the number ot oct-aves ci' lines .of perforations in the sheet corresponding with the principal set of reeds.

In mypatcnt for improvement in .musicalv instruments dated November 26,1878,is described theco'mbination, with theprimary keys, of apneumatic key-action of sub-pneumatic keys, for the purpose ot' increasing the power of the strolre of the'primary keys, and also 'the ppe'ration of the valvciot' the air-duct of the sub-pneumatic, by means of the initial movement ot' the primary pneumatic.

The first part ot' my present invcntio'nconsists in so constructing andcombining the primar;T and secondary pneumatics as to use the movement ot' the primary for operating the'ports of entry and exiuot' the airductof the secondary without necessarilyvr connecting t-lic primary pneumatic with the striking de vice, and by using die primary only for suc-h purpose to be able to operate it by means of A t keymnch larger than A the duct-B, and there-V inuch sinallerperorations in the music-sheet,

and also to be able to use the perforated sheet in connect-ion with the vent .ofthe primary pneumatic instead of'the exhaust or supply duct which leads to the airchamber of thebellows.

In Fig. l the pneumatic striking-key is rep.- resented by A. AThe remainder of the gure represents the primary pneumatic very much enlarged, in order to distinctly show its construction. The airchamber L1-and follower a inight be constructed in the ordinary bellows shape,'like the primary pneumatic of my pair ent of November 2,6,1`878,and does not materially differ from it in its action. It, however, differs in the construction of its air-ducts and the connection of the perforated sheet with the vent-duct instead of the duct of the airchamber of the bellows. vThe perforated sheet N is drawn over the opening of the venbduct B, and the air isl exhausted from 'chamber al through duct D, which leads to the bellows through chamber KL The perforatedmusic-sheet N, air-duct B, and air-dnct D might be made to directly'opcrate the vpneumatic key A, if arranged as shown in the modification Fig. by the use of au additional duct, m', the ducts B D being represented by B D' 5 but this, although operative, wouldl require perforations in the music-sheet much larger than the duct {1n/,and equal to B', in'ordcr to prevent the 'exhaust of -t-he chamber .of thezkey, Fig. 5, while a perforation ot the sheet opened the duct B'.

' It is very desirableto have the perforations in the music-sheetl as small as possible in order to have the sheet narrow. -1 therefore use the ducts B D in connection with a very small.

chamber, a,`Fig. 1, which may be much smaller than that shown in the figure, while the duct G i'or exhausting the pneumatic may be made as large as desired to operatethekeyAthrough m, and till it .again very quickly by using thev primary pneumatic a al B D in connection with the music-sheet N simply for operating the valves ot' the'air-ducts to and from key A,

The perforation in themnsic-sheet may now bc made as much smaller than an opening large enough to exhaust'properly the chamber ot' key A as chamber u* is 'smaller than A.

- In the device of actual working size for a 'fore the perforations in the sheet, do not re x qnire to be more than one-twentieth of an incli in diameter or width, as shown in Fig. 4,

.and theduct D requires to be not morethan one-tli'rty-second of an inch in diameter, while the ducts O m canbe the sizes shown.

When an unperforated part 'of the music sheet closes duct' B follower a takesjthe po.. sition shown in Fig. 2, and valve h is open to fill 'key A with air... When a lperforation opens duct B the follower ci drops, and with it the rod of the-valv'es,'whiclf closes valvesli 'and' opens valve g, as shown in Fig.' 3. When Athe valves are-closed they are held to their seats bya stop on the valve-rod for the purpose. i

exceedingly sensitive and 'quick in its action, which is desirable.

` The follower e is smaller thanl follower a, and

-hasa exible connection with the sides'of the chamber in like manner to a. This forms the chamber el under the chamber t.

The chamber b in both modes ,of construction is constantlydilled with air from the external atmospherethrough the opening V.

When the small .follower is not used, the partition H is' made to extend across the chamber from side to side, as shown by the dotted lines',

an opening being left only suieiently large for the rod to slide in, thus separating the chamber b'from the chamber below' the 'parti-,

tion H.A

When the device is'. constructed with the small follower e, the followera representing a greater surface for air-pressure than follower e, the smaller one is carried upward with the larger, and held in such position until a perv'foi-ation in the music-sheet renders the larger .one inoperative, wherithe exhaust from below draws down the small follower with a -quick movement, closing and holding firmly valve hV 2f; to its seat until chamber a1 is again exhausted. The device thus constructed is exceedingly sensitive and quick in its action.

^ .A single set of these primary pneumatics may be made to operate a number of sets of pneumatic keys, as' the chamber in which the valves 'are placed may lead to any desired number of pneumatic keys, which may be arranged to act separatelyor in groups, as required. j

By changing the valves g 7i to the opposite Sides of their ports, the device may beoperated by a pressure current of air instead of exhaust, if desirable; or the parts may be arl ranged to operate with a pressure current for en the follower e .is nsed'the rod andv vvalves may be very light, and the device be v2 214,121 BEST VAlL/BLE @Op the pneumatic .key A and exhaust for the chamber a; or currents of diherenttensions maybeused for the two chambers, thus necessitating the use of only the follower a with chamber a.l ouA one side of it and chamber el .on the lother side.- I In my patent `for improvement in musical instruments dated May 7, 1878, there was shown abalanced-valve for the reed-opening ot an organ; but the same was reserved for a future speci iication. I now present a balanced valve in an improved form.

. Fig. 1 the partition between. the air-chest Kandreed-chamber lczhas two openings, closed by the two valvesei and e. These valves are bot-li connected with the push-pin and operate in unison. The valve c3 opens into reedchamber k, and valve c* opens into air-chest K. The exhausto'f `the bellows tends to open valve e, butto close valve e. The air-surface pressure of valve e is made to slightly exceed that of e, taking into account their dlerence of leveragaso that the valves areheld closed byair-pressure, but are very easilyopened.l A slight spring may be added to secure their prompt closing, if desired.

y The-.pushpin is provided with. a screw and ,adjusting-nut, as shown, to adj ust the valves so that they willstrike their seats in uniso'n.

These valves thus constructed and arranged will operate with uniform touch, whatever the tension of the exhaust may be or under chan-ge of its 'tension, and are very usefulin instrn ments provided with expression-bellows.

The third part of my invention' consists in 4 an improved expression-bellows. 'The receiving-chamber G Gll has two or more compartments communicating with one another, and

opera-ted alike by air, either under pressure or exhaust. The chamber has a part cut away in Fig. 1 to show the two internal compartments, and Eig. 6 represents their positions. The4 compartment G does not necessarily require any spring, and in this respect dilers materially from expression-bellows depend# .ing on springs-of different tensions. When both compartments are opera'ting in connec tion with the air-current, they communicate with each other, securing a consta-nt equilibrium .iu'the air of the air-chest- K, with an easy transition from one air-tension to another,

however sudden it maybe, without the use of air-pads or regulating-springs, or any thing,r of the kind, and therefore thedevice diiers in every respect from the use of an additional bellows, havingr no air -cominunication with the receiving-chamber proper. The pumps E operate only in connection with compartment GJ, and compartment Gf takes the -air from compartment G through an intervening passage, into which open the ports Z Cempartment Gz opens into the duct leading to airchest .K through an opening represented by dotted lines at I.

In the passage leading from compartment G to Gr2 are two valves, one to open and close the passage between the compartments, and

- thefother connecting` the passage with the er terna-l atmosphere. The spring` ot' the chamber 1s represente-d by Si. When valve i is open and valve -t closed, the entire receiving- .chamber is operative, and the tension of the air 1s that of the spring, taking into account the area of the entire movable surface of the chamber. Vhen valvet is open and valve -i closed, compartment G is rendered Vinoperative, and the air-tension is that of the spring, taking into account only the movable surface ofthe remainder of the chamber. Thus, it the compartments were of equa-l size, and the entire movablesurface of tle chamber be three square fleet, and the spring-pressure thirty pounds, .the air-tension would be ten pounds to' the foot when both compartments are operative, but twenty pounds to the foot whenonly one compartment is operative.

Any number of compartments may be used, so that a varietyof air-tensions may be secured The.chamber' thus constructed may bc used either for exhaustor pressure,'as the case may require. The valves may be operated byan attachment for knee or hand, in connection with rod h3, at h2, or byv means ot' the music-sheet through the pneumatic f. The air-duct to this pneumatic is represented by dotted lines Y. The valves maybe otherwise :mechanically opera-ted in connection with the music-Sheet-for example, by means of levers connecting -with depressions, elevations, or perforations i`n the sheet.- i I use the tension-bellows for two .distinct purposes: First, to operate the pneumatic key- Vaction with di'erentdegrces of tension for -dierent powers of stroke when required, the action being adapted to sounding devices otherthnnreeds or pipes, such as strings, bells, and the like.A It is alsgdesirable to be able 'to vary the stroke ofthe keys when used with reeds or pipes. Secondly, I use the expression-bellowsfor different degrees of air tension4 on the reeds or pipes. In Fig. l the air-chest K, irr which the airteusion is changed by the expression-bellows, is shown connecting' directly both with the pneumatic keys and the reed-ch amber L2.

Theobject of the fourth part of my invention is to be. able to use the additional sets oi' reeds which are required for the stops of a eed-instrument, to perform music by mea-ns ot thev pneumatic keys beyond-the range of octavos given to the width of the music-sheet tbr'cxample, a sheet with three octaves ot perforations aud the stops to perform music written on 4five or more octaves of notes. The levers L' L2 may be operated by means of the pneumatic key-action as rapidly as the reedvalves. The levers L L2 operate the shutters l l, which are the ordinary stops of the organ. All the stops" of .a reed-organ, except 'what are called the ffancy stops, simply open to sets of reedsfi'n octaves ranging above or below the principal set. The violina bein g the principal set, the'fpiccolc would be the same an octave above, and tlie trumpet the same BEST AVAlLABLE COF "3 an octave below. lt", then, n manual performer were able to manipulate his stops as rapidly' as his keys, and manipulate both in unison, he would be able to perform music beyondthe range ot' his keyboard.. lhis is what I- accomplish with the pneumatic keys and the groups of sets of reeds ol"` Fig. 7. The musicsheetis only wide enough to operate three oc-v taves of' pneumatic keys and seven stop's. ly arranging the-sets of reeds for theprincipal set, and those for the stops in groups,- as shown, to be operated upon by the three oetaves of keys for the notes, and having seven shutters, one for euch stoplpneuimttic, s'uch combinations muy be made by meansfof the perforations in the sheet as notl only to produce the ordinary eect ot' stops, but-,toperform music written on ve, six, or even seven octavos. Each note-key opens all the valves of its letter in all the sets ot' reeds ot`- its group; but only the letter of such 'set' 'is sounded in the group as may be opened by z-acorresponding action of-its shutter-key. ifa. letter-keyy be operated in the third group, for example, and the stop-keys be operated for six and seven, the letter would be in thc sixth octave with violina and piccolo stops.

Many pieces on even seven o'ctaves can be rendered properly with the effect of the stops perforated in sheets for three octavos in width. All solo passages can thus be rendered in seven octaves. A greater or less number of sets of reeds may make up each group, according to the desired limitoflthe range ot' the iustrument.

It is unnecessary to entei` into a long explanation as to the method of combining 'the different sets for different results, as it is a fact well known that a' great many combinations are possible from a very few numbers.

The ducts B, Fie'. 1, converge, requiring only anarrow sheet.

The devi-ces of my invention are applicable not only to reedorgans, but to musical instruments provided with strings, bells, or other sounding devices. They are also adaptable either to complete instruments or to attachments for playing on musical instruments. Many of the devices are also applicable either to mechanical musical instruments or to those mann-ally operated, or to those which are adapted to be operated manually or mechahically at will. I do not therefore wish to linlit myself in their application to musical instruments of any particular description.

ihat I claiiuas my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, withthe valves g h, of follower a, air-ch amber a), follower e, and aircha-mber el, substantially as and for the pnrf pose specified.

2. The combination, with follower a, and its air-chamber', follower c, and itsair-chamber, ot' valves g h, the followers littering in area, for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with follower a andai!)- chamber'a, of the perforated illusie-sheet N;

4 A sexsuel air-duct B, and air-duct D, the duct/B being largertban duct I), in order that the air passing through the music-sheet may be in excess of that passing through duct D, to secure the properA action of follower a.

4. The combination, with air-chamber a and .follower ai, of valve h, Asubstantially as andfor the purposespeced;

5. In a pneumatic key-action formusical instruments, the air-ducts B, D, and C, di'er- Y speci fled.

7. The expression bellows having two or lmore connecting compartments, and having a valve for establishing or cutting off snch'commuuication at will.

8. The expression-bellows having two or more' compartments, and a valve for establishing or cutting. off their communication, o ne 4 coinpartmenthaving a spr1ng,tl1e others with or without springs, constructed to operate sub s tantially as specified.

BEST AVAlLABLE COI 9. The combination, withI the expressionbellows, of the perforated music'sheet, whereby the different degrees of air-tension of the bellows are controlled, substantially'as specified. l

10. The expressionbellow's and its valves t i, incombination with the pneumatic substantia-lly as specified.

11.' The combination, with a perforated mu- 'sic-sheet and stopsoperated thereby, of' a group'or groups of reeds, each group containing more than one octave -of notes, 'operated by a single octave of perforetions in the inusic-sheet.

12. The combination, with the push-pin a, of the valves cn e for the reed or `pipe of a musical instrument, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as specified.

13. The combination, with a mechanical' musical instrument, of an expression-bellows, substantially as and for the 'purposes specified.

MERRITT GALLY.

Witnesses: i

JOSEPH MossMAN, C. P. Buss.

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