US2230162A

US2230162A - Accordion

Info

Publication number: US2230162A
Application number: US306159A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lidblom Richard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-11-25
Filing date: 1939-11-25
Publication date: 1941-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 1958-01-28

Description

Jan. 28, 1941. R. LIDBLOM 2,230,162

ACCORDION Filed Nov. 25, 1939 4 Sheets-sheaf 1 Inventor RlCHARD L IDBLOM,

A iiorneys Jan. 28, 1941. R LIDBLQM 2,230,162

ACCORDION Filed Nov. 25, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I [nvenibr RICHARD L \DBLOM,

By and M 5m A iiorneys Jan. 28, 1941. R. LIDBLOM 2,230,162

ACCORDION Filed NOV. 25, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 so {1. f 4 Q r' l $2 I j l I ji J .2: J t J Z a]. a0 30 Inventor Rlc HARD LIDBLOM,

By My 5mm A iiorneys R. LIDBLOM Jan. 28, 1941.

ACCORDION 4 Sheets-Shee 4 Filed Nov. 25, 1939 5 f. GD

uEq mm Wu wfl H B E M 7 j g 7% b a 'R\HARD LIDBLOM,

Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in accordions, the general object of the invention being to so construct and arrange the parts that air will pass through the reeds in the same direction both as the accordion is contracted and expanded so that the leather shutters now in use can be eliminated, thus eliminating their initial expense of installation and also the frequent repairing of such shutters and also to provide means for so operating the tone valves by the keys that the air can readily pass through the openings when the valves are in open position, thus securing a free exit of the sound waves.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the improved accordion with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the diaphragm means for controlling a valve.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing how the valves of the treble section are controlled by the key shanks.

Figure 8 is a similar view showing how the valves of the bass section are controlled by a key.

In these views the letter A indicates the treble part or section of the accordion casing, the letter B .the bellows section thereof and the letter C the base section thereof, these sections being suitably connected together on the lines a. The section A has the extension A in which the keys I are arranged in the usual manner, the keys of the base section being shown at 2 and these are arranged in the usual or any suitable manner. The batteries of tone chambers are shown at I for the section A and at 8 for the section C, each chamber having an opening 9 in the end member ID of each of the sections A and C. These openings are each controlled by a valve I l for those of the section A these valves being controlled by the keys I and the valves for the openings 8 of the section C being controlled by the valves H which are actuated from the keys 2, these valves Ii and keys 2 being parts of the cord mechanism of the usual or any desired construction housed in the section C.

In carrying out my invention I provide an outer housing l3 which encloses the valves II and a similar housing I3 which encloses the valves ll and the outer wall of each housing has an elongated slot 14 therein which is controlled by an outwardly opening flap valve l5 which is hinged at one side edge to the housing as shown at It. The inner wall of each housing or the end wall ID of each of the sections A and C is formed with an elongated slot I! which is controlled by an inwardly opening flap valve l8 hinged at one side to an inner portion of the member iii as shown at l9. An inner housing 20 is arranged in each of the sections A and C and encloses the batteries of tone chambers though these housings 23 do not enclose the slots ll so that when these slots are open the outer housings l3 and [3' are in communication with the interior of the accordion and the bellows chamber or section. An elongated slot 2| is formed in the inner side of each housing 20 to communicate the housing with the bellows chamber and each slot is controlled by a flap valve 22 which opens into the housing 20 and closes toward the bellows chamber. Each valve 22 is hinged at one edge to an inner wall of the housing 28 as shown at 23. An elongated slot 24 is formed in the front wall of each of the sections A and C and opens out into each of the compartments or housings 2E! and is adapted to be closed n by an outwardly closing valve 25 hinged at one edge as at 26 to an inner face of said front wall.

Thus it will be seen when the accordion is expanded by moving the sections A and C away from each other to create a vacuum in the bellows chamber, valves 22 will be closed and valves 58 will be opened so that a suction will be created in each of the housings i3 and i3 which will close the valve l5 and if a valve H is open or a valve l l the suction will draw air through an opening 9, the tone chamber with which it is connected and the valve 25 will open so that air will flow into the compartment or housing 20 and will be caused to pass through the reeds 38 through the opening 9 which has been uncovered by the opening of a valve l l and through the housing l3 and opening ll into the bellows chamber. Then when the accordion sections A and C are pushed together valves 22 will be opened so that the air in the bellows chamber will enter the compartments or housings 20, the valves 25 will be closed and the air will pass through the reeds and through the openings 9 which have been uncovered by the valve members and then through the openings l4, forcing the valves l5 open, valves l8 being closed by the pressure Within the accordion.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the air will pass through the reeds in the same direction as the accordion is being contracted or the sections A and C forced together as well as when the accordion is being expanded by pulling the sections A and C apart.

Thus it will be seen that this arrangement eliminates one reed for each reed opening and the leather valve forming strip for such reed as are now in use and this also enables the instrument to be constructed with but half the number of reeds while retaining the original tone or the same amount of reeds can be used without increasing the size of the instrument and thus the tone will be doubly brilliant.

The housings I 3 and 20 are made of such material and as thin as possible, preferably of material such as sounding boards are made of so as to not dampen the tone but rather to make the tone broad and mellow.

The slots and valves are made long enough to furnish least resistance to the air and the flap valves can be made from light leather strapped down on seat by means of small rubber bands thus easily lifting or seating on pressure or suction.

The flap valves may be positively opened and closed by diaphragms 39 extending over openings made in the exterior wall of the accordion so that the diaphragm will be actuated by either pressure within the accordion or suction therein and each diaphragm is connected to a flap valve by a rod 3| as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. Thus in Figure 5, for instance, when a vacuum or suction occurs in the accordion the diaphragm 30 will be pushed inwardly and thus the rod 3| will close the valve but when pressure occurs in the accordion the diaphragm 30 will be pushed outwardly so that the rod 3| will open the valve. When such means are used for opening and closing the valves the valves can be made from metal and the like and seats provided of soft leather or the like for the valves.

This arrangement will insure opening and closing movement of the valves so that the valves will offer but little resistance to the air flowing through the slots when the valves are open.

Since the tone valves H and H are located within the housings i3 and it improved means must be provided for operating such valves by the keys I and 2.

I prefer to make these valves of light metal and provide seats of soft leather or the like for said valves and they are arranged to work like doors. As shown more particularly in Figure 7 each tone valve H is connected to a rod 35 suitably supported for rocking movement on the end member ill of section A, this rod forming a hinge for the valve and the spring 35 tends to hold the valve in closed position. The free end of each rod 35 is formed with a crank 31 which is engaged by a crank 38 on a wire 39 fastened to the shank 40 of a key I so that by depressing this key the crank 38 engages crank 3'! will turn the rod 35 so as to open the valve H.

The same arrangement is used for controlling the tone valves ll of the base section, as shown in Figure 8. In this View the stem 4| of each key 2 is connected to an arm 42 extending from I a rock shaft 43, these rock shafts forming parts of the chord coupling now in use. Cranks M on the arms at engaging cranks :35 on the rods 46 of the tone valves II to open the valves in the same manner as are the valves l I in Figure '7.

Thus these tone valves being connected with the hinge rods will function rapidly without clatter and will fully open the opening so that the sound waves can escape freely without being retarded by the valves.

Thus it will be seen that this invention will greatly reduce the cost of manufacture and maintainence of accordions while increasing the tone qualities as it entirely eliminates the leather shutters and reduces the number of reeds required and the housings will increase the sound qualities of the accordions when made of resounding material such as material used in violin bodies.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an accordion including a bellows section and a second section, a battery of reed chambers carried by the second section and an end wall of the second section having openings communicating with the reed chambers, key actuated valves for controlling the openings, an internal housing in the second section enclosing the reed chambers for furnishing air to all the chambers, said housing having an opening therein for connecting the interior of the housing with the bellows section, a valve member for controlling said opening and opening into the housing, said second section having an opening therein communicating the housing with the exterior of the accordion, an inwardly opening valve for controlling the lastmentioned opening, an exterior housing common to all the chambers and enclosing the key operated valves and having an opening therein communicating said exterior housing with the bellows section and an exterior opening connecting the exterior housing with the exterior of the accordion, an outwardly opening valve controlling the last-mentioned opening and an inwardly opening Valve controlling the first-mentioned opening of the exterior housing, all of the valves of the two housings being opened and closed by the action of the air thereagainst and causing the air to flow by the reeds always in one direction.

2. In an accordion including a bellows section and a second section, a battery of reed chambers carried by the second section and an end wall of the second section having openings communicating with the reed chambers, key actuated valves for controlling the openings, an internal housing in the second section enclosing the reed chambers for furnishing air to all the chambers, said housing having an opening therein for connecting the interior of the housing with the bellows section, a valve member for controlling said opening and opening into the housing, said second section having an opening therein communicating the housing with the exterior of the accordion, an inwardly opening valve for controlling the lastmentioned opening, an exterior housing common to all the chambers and enclosing the key operated valves and having an opening therein communicating said exterior housing with the bellows section and an exterior opening connecting the exterior housing with the exterior of the accordion, an outwardly opening valve controlling the last-mentioned opening and an inwardly opening valve controlling the first-mentioned opening of the exterior housing, all of the valves of thetwo housings being opened and closed by the action of the air thereagainst and causing the air to flow by the reeds always in one direction, diaphragms acted upon by the suction and pressure within the bellows section and means for connecting said diaphragms to some of the valves for opening and closing said valves.

3. In an accordion including a bellows section and a reed chamber carrying section, the reeds of said chambers all opening in the same direction and the second section having openings therein leading from the chambers, key actuated valve means for closing said openings, an interior housing in the second section enclosing the reed chambers and having an opening therein leading to the bellows section and a second opening leading to the atmosphere, said housing furnishing air to all the chambers, inwardly opening valves controlling said two openings, an exterior housing common to all the chambers and enclosing the key operated valves and having an opening therein leading to the atmosphere and a second opening leading to the interior of the accordion, an outwardly opening valve for controlling the first-mentioned opening of the exterior housing, and a valve for controlling the last-mentioned opening and opening toward the bellows section all the valves, excepting the key-operated valves being opened and closed by the action of the air thereagainst and causing the air to flow by the reeds always in one direction.

4. In an accordion including a bellows section and a reed chamber carrying section, the reeds of said chambers all opening in the same direction and the second section having openings in its end wall leading from the chambers, key actuated valve means for closing said openings, an interior housing in the second section enclosing the reed chambers for furnishing air to all the chambers and having an opening therein leading to the bellows section and a second opening leading to the atmosphere, inwardly opening valves controlling said two openings, an exterior housing common to all the chambers and enclosing the key operated valves and having an opening therein leading to the atmosphere and a second opening leading to the interior of the accordion, an outwardly opening valve for controlling the first-mentioned opening of the exterior housing, and a valve for controlling the last-mentioned opening and opening toward the bellows section, all the valves excepting the key operated valves, being opened and closed by the action of the air thereagainst and causing the air to flow by the reeds always in one direction, rods supported for partial rotary movement on the end wall of the second section and connected with the side edges of the key operated valves for forming hinges for said valves and means for partially rotating said rods by the keys for opening and closing the key operated valves.

RICHARD LIDBLOM.