US2274376A - Control valve mechanism for musical wind instruments - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1942. MQNTENARE 2,274,375

CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed June 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 o no 00- 5 .Rnlhon mohleriare 3nventor (Ittomegs Feb. 24, 1942. A. MONTENARE CONTRQL VALVE. MECHANISI'M FOR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS I I 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed June 21, 1941 montenare Bnnentor Patented Feb. 24, 1942 CON TROL VALVE MECHANISM'FOR. MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS Anthony Montenare, Reading, .Pa.

Application June .21, 1941, Serial No. 399,090

30laims.

My invention relates generally to musical instruments employing wind or air currents as the motive force for producing the musical sounds, and more particularly to new and improved valve mechanism for selectively controlling manipulated playing of desired notes either singly or in multiple harmony.

The practice heretofore, where direct finger manipulated control has not been possible, has been to employ valves of a lever type, intermediately pivoted, so that manipulation of one end thereof will act to lift the opposite end from its seated position covering an air passageway opening controlling :a determined sound. These lever valves have been necessarily seated by action of .a spring, which, if of sufficient strength, causes a tapping sound in closing, and if the spring tension is lessened, outward vflow of air will cause unintentional unseating of the valve.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide new and improved valve mechanism, free of the above stated inherent defects; and the nature of my improvements and the manner of their operation will be'more fully described hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective end view of an accordion having the valve cover removed and showing at the left side heretofore known valve construction, at the right side my new and improved valve construction.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding side elevation thereof, one end thereof being shown in iongitudinal cross section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view corresponding with the section shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modification of my valve.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the valve shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the valve as shown in Fig. 4.

My improved valve mechanism may be employed in many types of instruments where lever valves have heretofore been used, and in the drawings I have indicated its application to an accordion, as particularly benefitted thereby, and fully exemplifying the nature and use of my valve.

The accordion shown in the drawings is merely indicative of generally known construction of such instruments, and in Fig. 1, at the left side thereof, '1 have indicated a lever valve as heretofore commonly used, and at the right side my new and improved valve mechanism, which, as seen, may readilybe substituted for the old lever valves.

In the drawings, one end of the bellows chamber is indicated at' 5, on the end wall 6 of which are mounted, 'as heretofore, a plurality of cell blocks 1, which, as known, have separate air chambers 8, 8, for musical reeds 9, 9, mounted onopposite faces of said cell blocks and each in covering relation to a particular air cell of the latter. 'I'he'endwall B of the bellows chamber is formed with a series of aperturesylfl, l0, each one forming an air flow passageway to its respective air chamber 8, and through which air reversely surges with varying force in accordance with the force with which the bellows are expanded or contracted.

Selective vibratings of particular reeds, or harmonious multiples thereof, is effected, :as heretofore and well understood, by :air passing through said reeds either into or from their respective cell block chambers, and such selection is determined by opening and closing of determined apertures I0, heretofore acomplished by manipulation of a lever valve '11 shown to the left in .Fig. .1, which is moved, as by a finger key I 2, through a connecting stem l3. These valves II are necessarily tensioned to normally seat in closing position over their respective apertures, as by directly actingsprings, not shown, or preferably by spring tension'on the finger key 12 as seen in Fig. 2.

Such control'valves, asheretofore practically universaily used, have inherent defects and deficiencies, in that their 'tensionedclosing movements :cause more or less tapping sounds most undesirable and magnified through the resounding chambers into harmonious disturbance of the musical effects. Such valves, being seated by spring pressure, may, under stress of forced closing of the bellows, be unintentionallylifted from their seats by air pressure, producing a discord. And further, due to wear or imperfect fitting, such valves may be tilted or laterally shifted so as to fail to fully close their apertures, causing leaks that produce most inharmonious squeaky sounds.

It is the primary purpose of my present invention to produce a new and improved valve, free of such stated defects, readily substituted for such heretofore known lever valves, producing increased tonal sounds, and which cannot musical sound. Each hood [5, as shown, has an open end formed with parallel side grooves or guide ways l6, H5, in which a closure plate H is mounted to slide, so as to tightly close said hood, or open such end for the admission .or.

escape of air through its respective aperturefor apertures, ll]. Each plate 11, as shown, extends beyond its slide way, when closed, and such extension is shown as engaged by a connecting stem l3 to a finger key [2. As'before, closing action for the plate ll, may be insured by the usual spring tensioning the finger key in lifted operative position; or, it may be desirable in certain cases, to provide an additional or substitute spring, directly acting on plate [1, to normally seat the latter in closed position, as indicated at I8. Finger manipulation of the keys 1!, or other like finger manipulated push buttons as common in accordions, will selectively open their respective slide plates IT to air operation of the reed or reeds having apertures l covered by a hood I5 carrying such slide plate.

The slide plates I! may be a simple flat sheet, requiring full lifting in its slide way to desirably open the end of the hood [5; but where less movement is found essential or desirable, the end of the hood 15 may be formed of a series of apertures l5, and the plate I! with a corresponding series of apertures 11, so that little movement of said plate would cause said apertures 15 and I1 to register to open said end, or to overlap to close said end.

The boxes or hoods l5 not only provide a mounting for the slide plates H, but they form additional air chambers desirably increasing the tonal value and volume of their respective musical reeds. found most efiective and in accordance with the number of apertures l0 they are intended to cover, and may be made of any suitable material, as aluminum or a plastic, though not limited thereto.

While the drawings show the hoods [5 with end openings, it may be found desirable for certain needs, or in other instruments, to position said slide openings in the sides of the hoods, or on the top surface thereof; also the plates may be inclined so as to slide at a more or less angular relation, as indicated at 20 in the modified hood I 5 indicated in Fig. 6.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that my primary object will be accom- They will of course vary in size as plished, as the plates will slide silently in their guide ways, will act fully and effectively at all times, and cannot be unseated by air pressure. My improved valve mechanism not only accomplishes my objectives, but may be simply formed of sturdy long lived construction, readily substituted for heretofore known valves, and will insure improved results in tonal sounds and volume. And while I have disclosed my valve as applied to an accordion, it is not limited to use in such instruments, but may be effectively employed in other instruments requiring like valve control of wind apertures.

" What I claim:

1. In a musical wind instrument having a sound producing means and a wall having an aperture for directing the flow of operating wind thereto, a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of wind through said wall aperture comprising a hood having walls forming a chamber mounted in covering relation over said wall aperture, a valve opening in one wall of said hood having a slide valve mounted thereon, and manually operable means adapted to slidably move said valve to open and close said valve opening.

2. In a musical wind instrument having collapsible walls forming a wind chamber, a cell block mounted on an interior wall of said chamber, a recess in said block forming an air cell, a musical reed mounted on said block over said air cell, a chamber wall aperture opening into said reed covered cell to direct air from and to said bellows chamber through said musical reed, and a valve mechanism for controlling air flow through said chamber wall aperture comprising a hood having walls forming a chamber mounted in covering relation over said wall aperture, a valve opening in one wall of said hood having a slide valve mounted thereon, and manually operable means adapted to slidably move said valve to open and close said valve opening.

3. In an accordion having a cell block mounted interiorly on an end wall of its bellows and provided with a plurality of recesses each forming an independent air cell for a musical reed, and a plurality of apertures in said bellows wall each communicating with an air cell to direct air flow to said bellows through its respective musical reed, a valve mechanism for controlling air flow through selected bellows-wall apertures comprising a plurality of hoods each having walls forming a chamber and mounted in covering relation to one or more of said wall apertures, a valve opening in one wall of each hood having a slide valve mounted thereon, and manually operable means adapted to slidably move said valves to open and close their respective valve openings.

ANTHONY MONTENARE.

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