US2446378A

US2446378A - Automatic saliva key for trombones

Info

Publication number: US2446378A
Application number: US648137A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Maxwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-02-16
Filing date: 1946-02-16
Publication date: 1948-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 1965-08-03

Description

1943- w. H. MAXWELL 2,446,378

AUTOMATIC SALIVA KEY FOR TROMBONES Filed Feb. 16, 1946 Inventor 74 91/127??? 1 2. Maxwef/I Patented Aug. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTQMATIC SALIVA KEY FOR TROMBONES William H. Maxwell, Elberton, Ga.

Application February 16, 194$,SerialNo. 648,137

8 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to certain structural refinements and improvements susceptible of being incorporated in a conventional slide trombone'and has reference in particular to an improved moisture release valve or key.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the outer U-slide of a trombone is provided on its bend with a so-called water key. Ihis is a simple valve with a cork operating against a relief seat,

said valve being on an arm and said arm being pivotally mounted on the bend and provided with a suitable finger key. This water key, in actual practice is opened by hand whenever the user deems it advisable to drain the slide. Due to its position and construction it is difficult of access although it is susceptible of skillful operation by long experienced performers, it is possessed of considerable nuisance value to beginners and others who find it diiiicult to handle while playing.

The present invention has to do with a saliva or moisture relief valve of a similar construction located also on the bend of the U-slide, means being provided for automatically tripping and opening of the valve at a predetermined stage, and additional means being provided to cushion the mechanical action of parts and elements to render the overall result effective and conveniently reliable.

'In carrying out the principles of the invention I'have found it expedient and practicable to provide a curvature trip finger or cam, this being mounted on the terminal of one of the limbs of" the inner relatively stationary slide, saidfinger coacting with a release pin and said pin being carried by the cork equipped valve cup in order to accomplish the desired results in timed relationship,

Another object of the invention is to provide special spring containing cuffs these to telescopically receive the inner adjacent ends of the parallel limbs of the U-slide, these springs constituting cushioning elements and also serving to let the per-former know approximately when the U-slide has been pulled in to a point sufficient to trip the moisture release valve.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description on the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a trombone in which the U-slide is constructed with a so-called parts are all conventional.

automatic saliva or moisture release valve constructed inaccordance with the specific principles of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary viewfpartly in section and partly in elevation, of the-inner end portions of the innerand outersections-which go to make up the complete slide.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view-showing, in section, the bend of the U-slide and detailing the construction of the valve 'and'trip means.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference characters it will'be seen thatthe horn, generally speaking, 'is made up or theb'ell equipped section or unit A and the so-czilled swingable and shiftable slide unitB. Theilatter is detachable as a unit from the part -A and in itself composed of a so-called'inner slide 5 :and a companion relatively shiitable outer slide or so-called U-Slide B. The shank 1 on the inner slide is detachably connected with a socket fitting on the section A as indicated in Figure l a'nd a socket 3 serves to accommodate thesh'arlkpf the cup'mouth-piece 9. The spaced parallel tubular limbs In and f I are joinedasat [2. These It 'isito be notedfin Figure 2 that cuffelike'sleevesior adapters 31-are provided as a part of thepresent invention and these surround the inner end portions of-the arms or limbs H) and H and rest against the elbow .fittings [4. These sleeves serve to accommodate coiled cushioning and buffer springs 15 which serve in a manner to behereinafter more specifically set forth.

The relatively shiitable U-slide 6 includes tubularlimbsor arms Hijoined attheir outer or right hand ends by the customary U-bend 1'1. This part His-provided withthe usualoutstanding drain hole It for drainage of :saliva, and moisture. This part it constitutes the .usual drain hole and valve seatcombined. .The valve comprises a cup [9 with a cork padlll located therein and engaging the valveseat. Thecup is carried on an arm '2! and the arm is'hingedly mountedasat 22 on the bend. A closing Spring 23 is provided and this is aleaf-type spring and one end is fastened by set-screw 24 on the mount The other-end of the spring is attached to the cup. Also as brought out in'Figure 3, the cup provided with an integralrpin or stem which constitutes an actuating element and this isindicate'd at 26. It is formed integral with the central part of the cup and extends into and'interiorly beyond 'the'valve seat I8. Thelinner end thereof coacts with the .curvate trip or cam"?! on the limb H. The pin serves not only as an actuating element but also as a mount for the cork 20. That is to say, the cork can be fitted on the threaded portion 28 thus obviating the necessity of gluing the cork in the cup as is ordinarily done. Thus, the pin has a double acting feature in that it serves as a retainer for the cork and also as the actuating member for opening and closing the valve. This opening and closing movement is accomplished by the cam coaction of the trip or trigger finger 21 with the inner end of said pin.

Referring again to the bufier springs I5, these not only function as cushioning elements, but primarily as warning means. That is to say, as the arms l6 telescope into these sleeves l3 and rest against the springs, the springs are put under compression. When a certain stage of compression is reached, this indicates that the trigger or trip finger 21 has now reached the pin 26 and is about to press against same and to force the moisture valve open. Hence, the spring means is both a signal and warning as well as a cushioning feature.

- The normal operation of the U-slide on the inner slide section during regulation play does not operate the moisture valve means. When, however, the slide 6 is completely in and the arms l6 compress the springs I5, the coils conlel tubular limbs, an outer U-slide having corresponding tubular limbs telescopically receiving and slidable upon said first named limbs, the bend of said U-slide being provided with a moisture drain hole, a spring pressed Valve coactin with and normally closing said hole, an actuating element mounted on said valve extending interiorly into the bend by way of said drain hole, and a coaoting element on the adjacent end of one of the limbs of said inner slide engaged for operation with said first-named element.

3. In a trombone of the class described, a slide embodying an inner slide including spaced parallel tubular limbs, an outer U-slide having corresponding tubular limbs telescopically receiving and slidable upon said first named limbs, the

bend of said U-slide being provided with a moistinue to compress until a predetermined stage ings and description, is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the adjoined claims.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A-more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a trombone, a standard type slide embodying inner and outer telescoping slides, the outer slide being a customary U-slide, said U-slide being provided in its bend with a moisture drain hole, an exteriorly arranged spring closed valve coacting with and normally closing said hole, and coacting means between the inner slide drain hole and valve for opening the valve, under predetermined circumstances and at a predetermined stage of relative movement of said slides, whereby to automatically drain moisture by way of said I drain hole.

2. In a trombone of the class described, a slide embodying an inner slide including spaced paralture drain hole, a spring pressed valve coacting with and normally closing said hole, an actuating element carried by said valve extending interiorly into the bend by way of said drain hole, and a reciprocatory element on the adjacent end of one of the limbs of said inner slide coacting with said actuating element, said last named element being in the form of a longitudinally bowed trigger finger.

4. In a trombone construction of the class described an inner slide unit including spaced parallel tubular limbs, the outer end of one of said limbs being provided with a projecting longitudinally bowed finger, said finger constituting a trip and being adapted, when in use, to slidably contact and impart motion to an actuating element on a saliva drainage valve.

5. As a component part of a slide construction for trombones, a U-slide including the customary spaced parallel tubular limbs and adjoining U-bend, said bend being provided with a drain.

hole and an outstanding seat forming neck, an arm pivoted on said bend, a cup carried by said arm, a pad in said cup engaging said seat, and a pin carried by said cup and extending into the interior of the bend by way of said drain hole and neck.

6. As a component part of a slide construction for trombones, a U-slide including the customary spaced parallel tubular limbs and an adjoining U-bend, said bend being provided with a drain hole and an outstanding seat forming neck, an arm pivoted on said bend, a cup carried by said arm, a pad in said cup engaging said seat, and a pin carried by said cup and extending into the interior of the bend by way of said drain hole and neck, and an elongated leaf spring anchored at one end on the exterior of said bend and having its opposite end connected with said cup in a manner to press the pad against said neck.

7. In a trombone slide construction of the class described a U-slide including a bend having a saliva drain hole, an arm pivoted exteriorly on said bend, a valve cup carried by said arm, said cup being provided with a laterally projecting pin centrally mounted in said cup, said pin extending concentrically into the interior of the bend by way of said drain hole, said pin being screw-threaded, and a centrally apertured cork fitting into said cup and mounted and fastened on the threaded portion of said pin, in the manner and for the purpose described.

8. In a trombone of the class described, an inner slide including spaced parallel limbs surrounded at their inner ends by sleeves, coiled springs surrounding said limbs and confiined in 5 6 said sleeves, a U-slide having tubular limbs slid- REFERENCES CITED able on said first named limbs, the inner ends of said U-slide limbs telescoping into said sleeves, a drain valve on the U-bend, and a trip finger on The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

one of the first named limbs, together with an 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS operating connection between the trip finger and Number Name Date valve.

1,646,059 Hebs et a1 Oct. 18, 1927 WILLIAM MAXWELL 2,071,022 Burke Feb. 16, 1937