US2874601A - Piano action - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1959 Filed Aug. 16, 1954 c. R. DOWLING 2,874,601

PIANO ACTION 2 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1959 c. R. DOWLING PIANO ACTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 16. 1954 INVENTOR BY 5 M ATTORNEY United States Patent PIANO ACTION Charles R. Dowling, Newark, Ohio Application August 16, 1954, Serial No. 449,829

6 Claims. (Cl. 84-240) This invention relates to piano actions, the primary objects of the invention being to provide a piano action timed operation and unusual compactness, particularly in its height dimensions.

' A further object is to provide a piano action which is formed to include a mounting post adapted to be attached to an associated action rail of a piano frame by a single, readily accessible screw, and wherein the post has pivotally mounted thereon a key-actuated whippen to which is directly hinged the shank of a hammer, the hinge employed being of such design as to cause the hammer to swing in one direction in unison with the whippen to strike an associated tuned piano string, and to enable the hammer to move in the opposite direction, independently of the whippen, out of engagement with the string following tune-producing contact therewith.

A still further object is to provide a piano action of the type indicated which includes in combination with the whippen and hammer elements a novel jack lever assembly whose function it is to cause the hammer hingedly mounted on the pivoted whippen to swing positively in unison with the whippen when the hammer is being moved into striking contact with an associated piano string, and wherein a release mechanism is provided in association with the jack lever assembly to cause the latter to assume a position releasing the hammer for rocking movement independently of the whippen on which it is carried, whereby to space the head of the hammer from said string immediately following its vibration-producing contact therewith and at the same time to return the hammer immediately to a position to be moved in unison with the whippen upon successive actuations of the assd ciated piano key.

These and additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through a piano frame, and illustrating in side elevation Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view disclosing the hinge union between the hammer shank and whippen bar of the action;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a similar view through the key mounting and levelling means.

Referring to the mechanism illustrated in the drawings, and the various detail parts thereof by reference characters, my improved piano action is actuated by the usual finger-operated keys, one of which is shown at 10. As illustrated, the construction includes the usual horizontal and stationary frame-supported key bed rails 11 on which rests an end rail 12. At the front of the bed rails there is' stationarily arranged a key slip 13 and to the rear of the latter and carried by the end rail 12 is a horizontal front rail 14. Projecting upwardly from the front rail are the usual front pins 15' for key guidance, the upper surface of the front rail, adjacent to the pins, being provided with front key cushions 16, which yieldably check key depression. The forward end of each key is equipped with the usual .top covering 17 of ivory or the like and a front covering 18. A cooperative sharp key is shown at 19.

In rockably supporting the keys 10, each key, interme diately of its length, is formed with a slot 20 having downwardly tapering and converging walls. Each slot receives the stationary upper portion of a vertically disposed balance pin 21. The lower end of each pin 21 is threaded into openings provided therefor in the bed rails 11, end rail 12 and a balance rail 22. Intermediately of its length each pin 21 is formed with a fixed collar 23 which forms a base on which an associated key rests and fulcrums. The upper end of each pin projects above the key associated therewith and is squared for the reception of a detachable turning wrench, not shown, whereby the pin may be raised or lowered in adjusting or levelling key action to obtain desired operation thereof and in a manner eliminating the use of shims and other removable raising and lowering means customarily employed in obtaining these adjustments.

The inner or rear end of each acuating key 10 rests normally, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, on a key rest strip 25 of felt or the like. The strip is carried by a key rest rail 26, which may be hinged as at 27 to the key bed rail 11. The underside of the key rest rail 26 may be engaged with the upper end of a vertically movable, foot-pedal actuated post 28 which is slidably supported in connection with the rearmost of the bed rails 11, and may be operated to soften hammer action, as will be presently explained.

Stationarily carried by the frame structure, not shown, of the piano and arranged adjacent to the rear or inner ends of the keys 10 is an action rail 29. The latter has its upper and forward longitudinally extending edge inwardly recessed at 30 to receive, in registry with the rear end of each key 10, the lower end of an upright mounting member or hammer assembly post 31. The lower part of the back face of each post 31 may be grooved to receive a positioning rib 32 formed with the vertical face of the recess 30. A single fastening screw 33 is preferably employed in securely joining the lower end of each post 31 with the action rail 29 and-to retain the same in its proper position thereon. The removal of this screw 35 enables the entire hammer action including its accompanying damper means, to be removed from the action rail as a unit.

Each of the hammer assembly posts 31 includes a vertically extending slot 34 in which is positioned for oscillatory movement in a vertical plane the inner reduced end 34a of a bar-like whippen 35. A horizontal pivot pin 36 may be used in pivotally uniting each whippen with its associated post 31, so that the whippen may oscillate freelyin onedirection in response to vertical motion impartedtheretoby-a' key 10and torespondto adjustable capstan 38 carried by and arising from the rear end of each key 10.

Thus, when the outer end ofeachkey is depressed under finger pressure, the key so activated will rock verticallyi'on the balance rail'22 and the collar 23 f the associated balance-rail-carried pin 21. This-actioncausesthe elevation of the rear e'nd' of the depressed key so that the capstan 38 thereoffwill engage the cushion 37" to tilt the whippen about its pivotedaxis'36 'in" a mannerlifting'the forward end thereof from the position-thereof illustrated'in-Fig. l tofthatjof Figi 4E Pivotally mounted as at-"39 an, a hracket'j tmcarried byc'ach whippen. is" the lower endfof ahammer shankAl The hammer shanktextendssubstantially perpendicularly;

upwardly'frorn the whippen and is provided atits lower part with a rigid forwin'dl'y'and laterally-projectingjaclc support 42 which is arranged so that its long axis is perpendicular to thatof thehammer' shanle with which the jack support is. either integrally formed or securely attached. Disposed between the under side of eachj'acksupport and the upper-surface of'the associatedwhippen' is a coil spring 43, which serves normally to maintain the lower end of the hammer shank in contact with a cushioning pad 43a arranged onthe fiat upper-surfaceof the: whippen 35, so that the whippen and hammershank carried thereby may operate undercertaincondi-- tions asa rigid unitary construction.

The jack support 42- of my improved piano action is formed with a bifurcated forward end 44 forthereception of the intermediate portion of a lever-like pack 45, the latter being pivotally joined, as at 46, to the asso: eiated bifurcated end'of the support 42. The lower end of: each jack ispositioned to engage a shoulder or upper step 47 of a buckskin or felt-lined notch 48 formed in the extreme forward end of each whippen 35. 4

Itv will be evident that when a key isdepressed the rear or inner end thereof is elevated as a result of the rocking of the intermediate part of the depressed key on the balance rail 22. This upward movement of; the actuated key elevates the capstan 38 carried at the rear thereof. The capstan, through its engagement with the cushioned under surface 37 'of the whippen 35 at a position forwardly of the.- pivot- 36, rocksisai'd whippen and the, hammer shank 41', advancing the head 49, which is fixedonthe upper endl of: each shank, into striking contactwith: the associated vertically disposed tuned wire string 50 of the: piano. Aslong as the jack 45 remains in its position of engagement withthe. upper whippen shoulder or step 47, the hammer assembly, which in cludes the whippen, jack support, jack, and'hammershank and head, will function as a rigid or integral unit.

-HoWever, immediately after the hammer head strikes the string 50, further depressing movement of the key 10 in response to the playing touch of the musician, causes further rocking movement of the forward part of the whippen as a result of the lifting action of the capstan 38. The hammer shank, concomitantly with the head 49 striking the string-50, is further elevated with thewhippenand the head returns to a position in slightly spaced relation to the string, as; indicated by full lines in Fig. 4. In this operation a jack'trip, button or contact member 51 contacts the lower wedge-like part of a harp mer stop or earn member 52 disposed on the forward face and at the upperend of the hammer-supporting mounting member or post-31.. The button or contact member 51 of the hammer, assembly is. carried on he, inner end of a rod 53 which. is slidably mounted in a bearing opening 53a therefor; formed, in. the thickened lower or butt partof the hammer shank 41. The inner end of this rod carries a connecting block-:54 to which A}. I

- lever arm- 45.

pivoted, as at 55, the upper end ofthe associated jack As will be.- understood, the.-. button. 51,. rod 53 and block 54 provide a plunger means operable to disengage the lower end of the arm 45 from the upper step or shoulder 47 of the whippen.

Thus, when the button 51 of the hammer assembly contacts the wedge stop 52 during upward swinging movement of the hammer shank-41, the button rides upwardly over the outer cam surface 52 2 of the stop 52 and the rod 53 is forced inwardly movingthe block 54 therewith and rocking the associated jack arm 45.. in; a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, to disengage theslower end-of the arm 45- fromthe uppenstep or shoulder 47. This action releasesthe hammer shank 41 and permits the same to rock a slight distance backwardly out of engagement with the string 50. In the same movement, the hammer shank 41 at the button 51 and the jack 45 are clamped firmly in the lower step or part of= notch 4840 prevent anyrebound-ing-ofjthehann men-head against thetuned'string 5i Also; during elevation of the outerend portion ofithe. whippen und'er: key-actuation, the innerve nd-l ortion there of is rocked downwardly, causing a cushioned face.- cam, shoe 56 thereonlto engage the head'of an adjustable-screw 57 carried by the lower end of an associated'damper lever 58. The. lever 58. is pivotally. supported, as; at 59,- on the outer end of' a forwardly directed extension 60 0f thetpost 31; A wire spring 61 is used to apply a force to thetlever, 58. normally maintaining the damper. pad'64. carried thereby in contact with the associatedtunedstring; 50. The upper end of each lever 58; carriesa verticafi stem 62 on which; is. adjustably supported, a-damperhead 631having the pad 64: for vibration-damping,engagements with itsassociated string 50.

Whenthe key 10 is depressed, as shown in Fig. 4, the;

shoe 56.0f the=key-actuated whippen.will besmovedd'owm wardly to an extent inwhich it fullycontacts. theiheadr of the. screw 5.7 of the associated. damper lever 58, there.-. by rocking the latter about its. pivot 59. to withdraw-the; damper head '62 slightly from vibrationvarresting con tact with the string 50; Suchwithdrawal takesv placeima mediately prior to the engag'ementof the. hammer head with the string and is maintained until the actuatingke-y' 10 isreleased.

After the key it? has been released by the musician, the; forward part of the whippen 35. descends gravitationally through rocking movement of the. whiph n about its pivot-36.011 post-3i. This action resultsin lowering; the hammer-mechanism to, the normal positionflshownin. Fig. 1, At thistirne, the spring 4.3;..and its associated u e. spring-45m return. the jack 4.5. to its normal engage eat; with. theupper shoulderor-notch 4.75 of 'tlte, h PPn.- re.-s'eati.ng-.- of the.- jack takes, place. quiekl upon hey;- re. lease and within appz m'mately neeigb h ofi nch keyitravel, allowing; quick. repetition for a succe dingh mercontact. with string 50 without requifng th key-to he fully-releasedor lifted to its extreme elevatedrestposition, The.- post. 28 in the usual manner, is-connected to be actuated or elevated by the soft, pedal, not shown, oi the piano. The post 28, in turn, raises the hinged key rest strips. 25 and 26 which are hinged, at at 27-, to the rail. 11. This operation serves to partially elevate the forward end of the key ltland brings the action closer to the strings 50, shortening the hammer; stroke enQJQQ l: equently. softening the tone. By. the same, action-the outer, finger-engaging ends of the. keys 1.0. are lowered, and the operating travel thereof shortened.

In view of the foregoing, it will be evident the present invention provides a simple yet efiicientpiano reduction in overall height of the, complete action. This end; is chieved by arranging most of the lever. compo nents laterally of the hammer shanks rather than below the same. In so doing, I am enabled to construct a piano of reduced height dimensions as compared with one containing a conventional action, making feasible the use of a smaller outer case.

It will also be noted that each complete hammer action, following removal of a registering key, may be quickly and conveniently detached from the action rail 29 merely by the removal of a single readily accessible screw.

It will be understood that the novel features of construction and arrangement of parts of the present invention may be embodied in other structural forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same have been defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A unitary mechanical piano action comprising: a mounting member for detachable connection with a stationary frame element of a piano, a cam formation on said mounting member, a shouldered key-actuated whippen pivotally mounted on said member, a hammer having a shank and a string-striking head, means pivotally uniting one end of the hammer shank directly with an intermediate part of said whippen in a manner providing for bodily swinging movement of the hammer with said whippen when the latter is oscillated in an advancing direction to cause the head of the hammer mounted thereon to strike an associated tuned piano string, lever means pivotally carried by said shank and normally engaged with a shoulder of said whippen, and plunger means slidably carried by said hammer shank, said plunger means being disposed to contact the cam formation of said mounting member immediately following percussive contact of the hammer head with said string to release said lever means and produce independent limited return movement of said hammer about the axis of pivotal connection thereof with said whippen.-

2. A unitary mechanical piano action comprising: a mounting member, means for detachably uniting said member and the piano action bodily carried thereby with a supporting piano frame, a key-actuated shouldered whippen pivotally mounted on said member, a hammer including a shank having a string-striking head .on one end thereof, pivotal means mounting the opposite end of said shank directly on said whippen, said means producing movement of the hammer in unison with the whippen when the head of the hammer is moved into striking contact with an associated piano string; and means for causing positive independent reverse movement of the hammer relative to the whippen immediately following head contact with said string, said last-named means comprising a jack lever pivotally carried by said shank, said lever having one end thereof engaged normally with a shoulder on said whippen to cause the hammer to move in a string-striking direction in unison with said whippen, and plunger means movably carried by said shank and pivotally connected with said lever, said plunger means being engageable with said mounting member following string contact by said head to effect release of said lever from engagement with said whippen shoulder and to produce reverse swinging movement of said hammer in a direction spacing the head thereof from the associated string.

3. A unitary mechanical piano action comprising: a relatively stationary mounting member having a wedge formation thereon, a key-actuated whippen bodily carried by said member for pivotal movement thereon, said whippen being provided at one end thereof with a vertically offset shouldered portion, a hammer comprising a shank and a string-striking head, means pivotally uniting the hammer shank at one end to said whippen, pivoted jack means carried by said hammer shank and having normally locked engagement with the shouldered portion of said whippen to retain said hammer positively for swinging movement with said whippen during forward movement of the hammer into striking contact with a piano string, a plunger slidably carried by said hammer shank and pivotally connected with said jack means, said plunger including a contact member engageable with the wedge formation of said stationary mounting member as said hammer reaches a string-striking position, said plunger being operable upon engagement of said contact member with said wedge formation to release said jack means from its normally locked engagement with the shouldered portion of said whippen and to produce positive, limited reverse movement of said hammer in a direction away from the associated piano string.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, and wherein spring means are provided serving to yieldably resist turning movement of said hammer in response to forces applied thereto by said plunger means in rocking said hammer in a direction removing the head thereof from string engagement.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, and wherein spring means are provided serving to yieldably resist turning movement of said hammer in response to forces applied thereto by said plunger means in rocking said hammer in a direction removing the head thereof from string engagement, and additional spring means cooperative with said jack lever and urging the same in a direction to maintain contact thereof with the whippen shoulder normally engaged thereby.

6. A unitary piano action comprising a single mounting post for attachment to a stationary frame element of a piano; a key-actuated whippen pivotally connected with said mounting post for swinging movement in a vertical plane, said whippen being formed at one end thereof with vertically offset upper and lower steps; a hammer including a string-striking head portion and a shank portion; means connecting the shank portion of said hammer with said whippen and providing for limited pivotal movement of said hammer with respect to said whippen; a jack lever pivotally connected with the shank portion of said hammer and having an end normally engaging the upper step of said whippen, said jack lever serving to support said hammer for unified swinging movement with said whippen to a string-striking position; cam means carried on said mounting post; and plunger means slidably carried by the shank portion of said hammer and pivotally connected with said jack lever, said plunger being arranged on the shank portion of said hammer to engage said cam means as said hammer reaches its stringstriking position and being movable upon engagement with said cam means to rock said jack lever to disengage the end thereof from the upper step of said whippen and to rock said hammer backwardly away from its stringstriking position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 132,709 Brooks Nov. 5, 1872 693,131 Hamilton Feb. 11, 1902 827,952 Battalia Aug. 7, 1906 2,657,608 Wolfe Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 126,837 France Oct. 5, 1878

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