US247846A - Reed-organ - Google Patents

Description

(No' Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. L.` MUNDY.

REED OMAN.

Y lIIWENTOP ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 4, 1881.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(Nl) Modem.

E. L. MUNDY.

REED ORGAN.

Patente Oct. 4,1881

INVENTOR WITNESSES n i TTORNEYS mgm". u. c

N PETERS. Pham-mn UNTTED STATES PATENT Ormea.

ELLIS L. MUNDY, OFv NORWALK, OHIO.

REED-ORGAN.

SPECIFICATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,846, dated October 4, 1881.

Application tiled April 16, 1881.

To all whom @t may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLrs L. MUNDY, ot' Norwalk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Organs, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to reed-organs or analogous reed'instruments; and it consists in the arrangement and construction of parts, substantially as hereinafter specified.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan View, showing a set of reed-cells constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is an isometric view ot' the same, showing a few ot' the cells provided with reeds. Fig. 3 is a view, in vertical cross-section, of the device shown in Figs. l and 2, illustrating two methods of introducing the reed. Fig. 4. is a front elevation of a portion of the device shown in Figs. l and 2. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the manner of tti'ng a reed into its cell. Fig. 7 shows a device of my invention, whereby the'air-vent ot' a cell may be made adjustable in its position for the purpose of voicing, as will be hereinafter explained.

A is a reed-board, of any suitable form, dimension, or construction.

B B are partitions, having lateral grooves B', into which the reeds O slide, and by which they are retained in their position.

D is a valve, of any suitable type or construction. These valves are connected with the keys of the instrument in any appropriate manner, and are opened by pressure upon said keys. A spring, D', operates to maintain the valve in a closed position, except when opened as above explained.

E E are air vents or escapes, and it is in these air-vents, as constructed and applied by me, that my invention in one of its most iinportant characteristics consists.

In reed-organs as 'hitherto constructed the vent E has usually extended throughout the entire or major portion of the length of the reed-frame or its tongue. When thus constructed the air in sounding the reed is permitted a free and direct passage. This results (No model.)

in a more or less harshness of tone, which is avoided wit-hout a loss of volume or quality of tone by providing a limited vent, E, ata singie point or localitybeneath or behind the reed. Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings illustrate such a construction. When delicate voicing is required it is often of great advantage to vary the aperture of the air-vents E. This I accomplish by means ot' sliding plates E', as shown in Fig. 7 ofthe drawings. These plates, which are provided with apertures equal in size to the size ofthe vent-aperture, in order that when desired the full effect of the unobstructed vents may be obtained, are adapted to be longitudinally adjusted to vary the aperture ofthe vents E, and this movement will not only operate to change the amount of nir forced through the reeds, but also to change its direction of im pact, thus exerting a twofold inuence on the tones produced by them. The susceptibility of the plates to many and delicate changes adapts the instrument to be most harmoniously voiced.

I do not limit myself as to the precise construction or method of adjustment of the plate E'. It may be placed upon one side or the other of the reed-board A, as convenience may dictate.

The manner of placing any reed will depend i upon the relation desired between its tongue and its vent E. It" the free end of the tongue is placed over the vent E, then the air will pass directly across the ton gue and through the vent; butif the heel or fixed end of thetongueis placed over the vent E, then the air will be more impeded orbroken in its passage through the vent E, and a modilied tone thus secured.

From what has already been specified it will plainly appear that the position of the vent E beneath or behind the reed C will iniiuence the tone produced.

For the best effects in prompt speaking and for other manifest reasons the reeds should be incased as nearly air-tight as practica ble, and for this reason theyshould be made to tit snugly between their grooves B', and the frame or cas ing against which they abut should be formed in counterpart of the shape of the reed-frames, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, Fig. 5 illustrating a square-shaped, and Fig. G a curved or circular-shaped, frame.

Another feature of my invention consistsin IOO a construction whereby the necessity ot' a sep-,1- rate pigeon-hole cell for each reed is obviated. This is accomplished by providing the beveled partitions B with lateral grooves B,into which the reeds slide, and by which they are retained in position.

In the socallcd pigeon-hole7 cell the air from the air-chamber is not allowed a free and unimpeded access to the reed. In my invention this objection does not exist, as the air may come into immediate and directcontact and action with the reed whenever its valve is opened; and in order to assist in the concentration of the air upon any reed that is in action I bevel the top of the partitions B, as indicated in Figs. 2 and et otl the drawings. The depth or extent ot' the bevel given to the top of the partitions B in'tluenees the quality of the tone ot' a reed. Therefore this bevel, according to the eteet desired to be produced, may be made more or less shallow, orits depth may vary so that the free end ot' the reed-tongue may be in a more or less shallow recess between the ridges of the partitions B.

The operation ot an organ constructed ac cording to my invention is as follows, assuming that said organ is of the type wherein air is drawn or sucked through lthe reeds rather than blown or driven through them: When a key is pressed its valve D is opened and air allowed to escape by passing from the airchamber above, down through or past a reed, and out through the vent E. As already explained, if the reed be placed so that the free end of the tongue is directly over the vent E, a different tone will result than if said reed were so adjusted thatthe heel or fixed end ofits tongue would be over the vent. The air in pass ing from the air-chamber is concentrated upon the reed by the bevels of the partitions B, the depth of said bevels iniuencing and determining to a certain extent the quality of tone ot' the reed.

It' it is desired to repair or readjust a reed, it may be drawn longitudinally from its groove between the partitions B and adjusted or repaired, as may be necessary. It' the tone is too harsh, the reed may be either reversed. or the vent adjusted until the proper voice is secured.

What I claim isl. The reed-cellshavingbeveled partitions situated between them and communicating above with a single or common air-chamber, substantially as set forth.

2. In a reed-organ, the partitions B, constructed to retain the reeds in their position and formed or provided with inclined or beveled tops, substantially as and for the purposes shown.

3. In combination with the reed-cells, the independent adjustable slides arranged to vary the apertures of the individual air-vents, sub stantially as set forth.

It. In combination with the reed-cells, theindependent perforated slides arranged to vary the apertures ot` the individual air-vents, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofIhave signed my name to this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ELLIS L. MUNDY.

Witnesses:

J No. GRowELL, J r., ALBERT E. LYNCH.

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