US2928309A - Playing key switch - Google Patents

Description

March l5, 1960 M. D. coRwlN 2,928,309

PLAYING KEY SWITCH original Filed Aug. 2e, 195o 5 sheets-snaai 1 8 41 E =-/42 u 43 f- 5 1J i .mi 5 e E Z9 4.5' 5 E 37 ik fr 5 i I 52 J8 4 I E Z g .ff-.5 N i l I dl l l,E

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March 15, 1960 M. D. coRwlN PLAYING KEY swITcH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 26, 1950 Summer C'oew/N,

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March 15, 1960 M. D. coRwlN 2,928,309

PLAYING KEY SWITCH Original Filed Aug. 26, 1950 5 Sheets-Speet 3 Snventor. IVe-Pra .a @amv/N,

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March 15, 1960 M.D. coRwlN 2,928,309

PLAYING KEY SWITCH Original Filed Aug. 26, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 (Ittornegg,

March 15, 1960 M. D. coRwlN PLAYING KEY SWITCH Original Filed Aug. 26. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A ZSnventor //fera/v Grew/N,

United States Patent" O PLAYING KEY SWITCH Merton D. Corwin, Cincinnati, (Ehio, assigner to The Baldwin lPiano Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corpora lion of @hic @riginal application August 26, 195i), Serial No. 131,63), now .Patent No. 2,734,416, dated February 14, 1955. Divided and this application January 25, 11956, Seriai No., 551m@ 3 Claims. (Ci. 534-4423,)

This application is a division of my copending applicafion, Serial No. 181,630, filed August y26, 1950, now Patent No. 2,734,416, entitled Construction of Photoelectric Organs.

My invention relates to electric musical instruments and in particular those of the photoelectric type. In a copending application of Edward M. iones, entitled Generator for Electric Pulsations of Audio Frequency, tiled August 6, 1,949, Serial No` 180,946, now Patent No. 2,558,653, issued lune 26, 1951, there is described and claimed a particular Asalt-contained generator device for photoelectric organs. In this device the shutters for the .individual notes are in the form of wires or strand-like elements moving in grooves in a shutter plate; and wires which are attached to the rst mentioned strand-.like elements form operating means for the note shutters. As the .last mentioned wires leave the generator, they are encased in sheaths `forming so-called Bowden transmissions. Similarly in the Jones generator there are various voicing shutters also having operating means in the form of Bowden transmissions.

in another copending application in the name of Edward M. Jones, Serial No. 117,239, filed Septemberk 22, 1949, now Patent No. 2,576,759issued November 27, 195i, entitled Method and Means for Producing Tones and Voices Photoelectrically, there is described a general arrangement of the generator including the shutter plate, pitch disc, voice disc, and the like, the arrangement being such that a single generator will provide all of the notes of rthe equi-tempered scale throughout a full range desired for a keyboard instrument, and in a wide variety of voices, plus a plurality of additional notes and appropriate voices which may either be employed for additional effects in the base section of a single manual instrument having a divided keyboard, or may be employed in connection with the provision of some of the pedal notes and voices or an instrument having a plurality lof manuals and a pedal clavier, As a consequence, and using substantially standard parts, generators may 'be manufactured which either. may be employed singly, say, in an instrument having a single divided Ymanual and no pedal clavier, or in multiples in more elaborate Vinstruments. Thus in an instrument having 'two manuals and a pedal clavier, two of the Jones generators are employed,

.one being primarily connected to the great manual, while the other is primarily connected to the swell manual, the extra notes 'and voices of the twol generators-being, however, combinedto furnish the necessary range for the pedal clavier.

While my invention is not so limited as will be evident hereinafter, l shall describe it in an exemplary embodiment employing the iones generators, and providing means for the coupling which will hereinafter be understood as necessary in the arrangement hereinabove set forth.

lt is an object ot my invention to provide mechanical .means for 'connecting photoelectric generators 'to the keys 2,928,309 VPatented Mar. 1,5, 1960 of one or more manuals, and where desired to the pedals oi a ypedal clavier.

It is an object of my invention to provide means for connecting generators to the stop tabs or voice selectors of instruments of this class, as 'well as to selecting and control means for a vibrato.

t is an object of my invention to provide a mode of mounting .generators in an electrical musical instrument such that they may easily be removed for repair or replacement.

it is an object of my invention to provide a mechanical arrangement wherein va set of manual keys, connected to Vthe operating elements :of the shutters of 'a generator, is mounted on a common support therewith, the whole being removable :as such .from an electric musical instrumenti.

it is an `object of my invention to provide 'a self-contained assembly otone or more Agenerators Jand one or more keyboards. The provision of 'such an assembly enahles me to construct, combine, and adjust all of the primary operating elements of a keyboard instrument on a bench or woi'ktable, and afterward merely 'to insert vthe assembly into a console prepared to receive it.

lt is `an object of my invention to provide a self-contained unit ot the type hereinabove referred to, of which tone color selecting means and vibrato selecting'and control means form an integral part, installed and removed from the console with the assembly as such.

It is an object of my invention to provide a console having a pedal clavier and operative connections 'from the keys thereof to certain positions at which automatic connection may bemade to self-contained assemblies as above characterized.

it is an object of my invention to provide in a keyboard musical instrument having a console with a generator therein of the ytype employing note-selectors respectively operable by linear forces, a pedal clavier which kcan be tii'ted upwardly against'theconsole without disengagement ci the vclavier therefrom.

it is .an object of my invention to provide novel connections between Bowden transmission elements and o'perating and operated means to be used therewith.

These and other objects of my invention, which will bc set forth hereinafter Aor will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish hy that certain construction and arrangement `of parts of which i shall now describe the aforesaid exemplary ernbodiinents. Reference is 'made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a top plan View with parts in section of a consolearrangement embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation with parts in section of i the same assembly.

Figure 3 is a partial vertical section Vof the lower 'front part of a console and pedal clavier, the section being taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view of Bowden 'transmissions connected to the keys of a pedal clavier, the

section being taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial velevational view with parts in section of apparatus by means of which the keys of a pedal clavier can automatically be connected with Bowden transmissions from a generator, the section 'being taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a mode of connecting a Bowden wire to a pedal.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a sheath holding device.

Figure 8 is a partial perspective view showing a mode of attachment vof a Bowden element 'to a spring element.

Figure 9 is a partial elevational view showing a mode of connection of a Bowden wire to a lever-like operating means.

Figure l is a plan view thereof.

Figure 11 is a partial perspective view showing a mc-de of connecting Bowden transmissions to stop tabs.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view showing modes of connection of a pair of generators to operating meansused with the tone selectors or stop tabs.

Figure 13 is a partial plan view with parts in section of operating means used in connection with the tone color selectors.

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of a stop tab slide element.

Figure 16 is a partial vertical section taken through the console, and is related to the section line 16--16 of Figure 2.

Figure 17 is an enlarged perspective showing apparatus for controlling the rise of the keys of a keyboard.

Figure 18 is a partial perspective view showing a front end of a plate to which the sheaths of Bowden transmissions may be anchored.

Figure 19 shows in perspective a Bowden shea anchor.

Figure 20 is a partial elevational view of a key pivot post.

Figure 21 is a perspective view of a pivot post keeper member.

Figure 22 is a partial plan view of a shutter plate showing a mode of connection of Bowden transmissions to shutter elements.

Figure 23 is a partial sectional view taken along section line 23-23 of Figure 22.

Figure 24 is a partial vertical section transverse the organ console showing the upper manual and associated generator assembly in upraised position and the pedal clavier in upraised position.

Figure 25 is a partial plan view of a shutter plate the `showing a form of vibrato shutter which I may use.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, I have therein shown an organ console having side frame members l md 2 and a top element 7. The console, if desired, may be provided with a removable back closure, indicated generally at S in Figure 1.

Within the console, and on either side, there are rails fastened to the side frame elements 1 and 2 for supporting the structures hereinafter described. These rails are shown in Figure 2 at 9 and 9a. The organ also has a ylower front board indicated at 16, which will usually be perforated as at 12 to provide a space for a volume control pedal l5. This pedal operates an electrical volume control which may be connected to the main arn- `plilierof the instrument (not shown) by a plug-in connection. In instances where it is desired that the main amplifier and the loud speaker or speakers be encased 1n the organ console, it will be usual to mount the speak- .ers behind the'lower front board ld of the organ and the amplifier upon a platform (6 in Figure 3) and to provide a suitable grille or grilles in the lower front board for the emission of the sound.

In the preferred form of my instrument, the side frame vmembers 1 and 2 of the console have appropriately shaped extensions la and 2a reaching forwardly to accommodate the keyboards. Where the keyboards are of lesser length than the distance between the side frame members 1 and 2 of the console, filler blocks 17 and l,

-joined by a member 17a, will be employed to lill out the space. The extensions la and 2a of the side frame members are also interconnected by a key strip 22 at the front of the keys in the lower keyboard while a key strip 20 at the front of the keys in the upper keyboard extends between the ller block assemblies.

In the particular embodiment, the console is shown as having a lower or great manual having a keyboard 24 and an upper or swell manual having a keyboard 25. There is a top front board 26 for the organ, which is perforated at intervals for the acceptance of a plurality of stop tabs 27. The stop tabs are ordinarily arranged in groups, such as a group for the pedal clavier, a group for the swell manual and a group for the great manual. The keyboards24 and 25, the front board 26, and the stop tab elements 27 together with a vibrato control element hereinafter described, and such electrical switch elements as may be desired on the upper front board of the organ for starting and stopping the generators) are all removable with the unitary construction hereinafter described, and hence do not form permanent or non-detachable parts of the console in this sense.

The instrument of the specific embodiment also has a pedal clavier, comprising a series of frame elements indicated generally in Figures 3 and 24 at 2S, and a series of pedal keys 29. Since the pedal keys are to be connected to operated means through flexible Bowden transmissions, an advantage of my construction is that the pedal clavier as a unit may be hinged, and hence may be swung upwardly to a position underneath the manuals of the instrument when desired, as for cleaning and adjustment and for making the transportation of the console easier. Accordingly, in Figure 24 l have shown the pedal clavier frame 28 connected with the front board element lil of the console by means of a hinge dal. his may be a continuous hinge of the so-called piano hinge type, or a plurality of separate hinges or end pivots may be employed. To hold the pedal clavier in upraised position, I provide a suitable latch or lock. This may he a sliding rod tdt) an end of which may enter a socket member 101 on a rail 23 behind the key strip 22. The other end of the rod may be bent as shown to form an operating handle, while resilient engagement devices 162 and N3 may be provided to retain the rod in two positions. in the embodiment shown, the handle of the rod is turned to cause it to enter either of the engagement devices.

As shown in Figure 2, each of the generators cornprises a base in the form of a shutter plate 31 or 44. The ether mechanisms associated with the generator are either mounted to this plate or to upper and lower housing -members shown generally at 32 and 33 or i5 and 45 respectively. The interior structure of the generators need not be particularly described in view of the reference above to the copending applications Serial Nos. 108,946 and 117,239, now Patent Nos. 2,558,653 and 2,576,759 respectively.

For mounting a generator I provide a frame element such as 41. This is preferably made of lightweight metal tubing welded into a closed rectangular frame with rounded corners, although the frame may otherwise be made. Across the narrower dimension of the frame, I provide struts or supporting rails 42 and 43 preferably in the form of metal anglebars welded at their ends to the frame 41. The generator is mounted by means of its plate 44 on the bracket elements 37a, 33a and 39a welded or otherwise fastened respectively to the rails 42 and 43 and to the rear element of the frame. At the two ends `of the frame, I aix to it channel-shaped metal members,

one of which in indicated at 47 in Figure 2. These metal members rest directly or indirectly, as will be described hereinafter, upon the wooden rails 9 and 9a aflixed to the vside frame elements 1 and 2 of the console. The members ege-eases 'a single generator will normally be employed. 'In this event there will be but one frame 41 with its generator 44, 45, 46 supported thereonin an on center position, and with an associated keyboard, top front board, stop tabs 'and the like, as hereinafter described. In the event the organ has a pair of manuals and a pedal keyboard, I provide a second frame 34 of the same length but of somewhat greater width than the frame 41. This is provided with cross rails 35 and 36 for supporting a second generator comprising a base plate 31 and upper and lower housings 32 and 33, the oit center positions of the two generators permitting them to be supported substantially `side by side with one somewhat higher than the other. Channel vmembers 4t are also affixed to the ends of the frame 34 as 'will be evident fr'omfFigure 2, and these channel Ymembers under the channel members 47, providing a 'unit comprising Vthe two generators, their frames and associated parts which may be installed in and removed from the consile as a unit and afterward disassembled. 'With the understanding, in the light of this explanation,

that vthe organ, depending on its design, may have one or two orvmore generators depending upon its manual arrangement and the presence or absence of a pedal clavier, I shall proceed hereinafter to describe a two-manual, pedal clavier instrument in detail. The single manual instruyment will die'r from it essentially only in the omission of certain parts such for example as the frame 34, the second generator, the second keyboard, the pedal clavier (unless one is desired), certain oi the voice selectors andthe like. yThere will be some changes in the specific connections between the operating elements 'of the generator and the key elements, for example, but these will be clear t'o the skilled worker in the art in the light of the requirements of the two instruments, and inthe light of the differences .in the arrangement of the generators as outlined in the 'second of the copending applications mentioned above.

The generator assemblies are inclusive of the manuals as will later be described. In a two-manual instrument, as shown in Figure 24, I prefer to pivot the channels 47 of the upper generator assembly to the channels 40 of they lower generator assembly at the rear, one such pivot being marker 104. The forward ends of the channels 47 are connected to the channels 40 through lever linkages comprising a link element 105 and a lever 106. The lever is pivoted to the lower channel and is provided with an operating handle 107. A stop 108 on the lower channel, or on the side frame member 2 enables the lever linkage to act as a dead center device to retain the upper `generator assembly in the upraised position` of Figure24, whereby access is given to the lower assembly as well as to permit adjustment of theupper assembly. Moving the operating handle 107 inthe counterclockwise direction will permit the upper channel 47 to be brought to rest upon the top of the lower channel as in Figures 1 and 2.

In mounting the two generators on their respective frames, their orientation may be slightly varied as is shown .in Figure 1, for the purpose of giving a straighter path to the various Bowden transmissions. However, these transmissions are ilexible, and their directions may be substantially varied.

Turning to Figures 22 and 23, I'have there shown a 'fragment of a shutter plate 31 which is grooved and Vprovided with certain light openings 48. Strand-like shutter `elements 49 lie in the grooves of this plate and are moved longitudinally to cover and uncover the light openings 48. Operating elements in 'the form'of wires 50 are connected with the several strand-like elements 49. This may conveniently be done by forming an eye 50a on the end of each operating element 50 and by turning down the end of the strand-like shutter element 49 as at 49a and engaging the turned down end in the eye. Surrounding each of the operating elements 50 there is a sheath 51 completing the Bowden transmissions. A plurality of suchsheaths 'will be anchored to the plate 31 by a cast block or other suitable anchor means 52. vFurther details of the gener 6 ator assembly need 'not be given here; but it will 'be realized that a large number of the Bowden transmissions 5t), 51 will leave the generator substantially at the level of the plate 31. The greater number of these require connection with playing keys either of a manual or of a pedal clavier or both. Certain of them, operating voice shutters such as those described in the second copending application referred vto above, and usually leaving the plate on the under side, will require connection withvoice 'selecting means such as stop tabs hereinafter described. @ne Bowden transmission from each generator assembly will require connection to a knob which controls vibrato.

Referring now 'to Figure 16, I have again shown 'the upper'frame 41`with the plate 44 of its generator mounted therein by brackets in the way described, one of these brackets being indicated at 39a (Figure 1). The generator has an upper housing 45, 45a, vand a lower housing 46. The end channel element on the frame is vshown at 47. On bracket elements, one of which is shown at 53, attached to the end channel elements 47, I mount 'the top front board 26 of the organ. At its lower edge theremay be provided a toe strip 54 to overlie the rear ends of the keys in the manual 25. Also between the opposed channel elements 47 I mount certain rails indicated at 55, 56 and 57. The key strip 20 may be mounted vto the rail '57 Yby `means of brackets 20a.

The white and black keys Y25a and b are mounted on the key rail S6 by means of individual pivot elements SS in the form et pins. "These pins lie in part in enlarged openings adjacent the key ends; but these 'openings tern 'minare belowI the tops of the key bodies, as shown, so that the ends `of the pinslie in smaller, locating holes. Annular grooves 58a (Figure 20) are formed in the pins, and resilient keepers 58b (Figure 2l) are engaged in the grooves as will be clear from Figure 16. The

rkeepers are wider than the enlarged openings mentioned above, so that their engagement portions lie in transverse slots 'or saw-cuts in the key ends. Thus the keys are pivoted to the pins 58 and vcannot be disengaged therefrom solong as the `keepers are in place.

The keys 25a and 25b are guided on conventional key pins 5% and titi in the rail'element 57, as will be clear. In order to provide stops for the white keys 25a in their Vuppermost positions, I provide downwardly extending screw pins 6i at their outer ends. These pins, as shown in Figure 17 kare preferably in the form of Washer-headed screws. The heads engage beneathk slotted abutment plates 62, preferably of length corresponding to an octave, afixed to and extending along the guide rail 57. A felt washer tila etectively deadens sound in this construction. A slotted back edge is vprovided on the plates 62 for the K black keys, which have depending screw pins 63 at their ill) forward ends, the heads of these pins engaging the back slots 62a.

Where I have spoken of rails, such as the rails 5S, 56 and 57, it will be understood that these may be unitary or 'made up of a'plurality of parts. The rails will be fastened in 'any suitable way between the channels 4?.

The keys 25a and 2512 are provided with capstan screws -tidon their under sides, and these capstan screws bear against felt pads 65a on leaf spring members 65 affixed at their ends by screws to the key rail 5S. rEhe construc- Y tion and mounting of the keys and associated parts is similar for both keyboards, as will be evident from Figure 16. The key strip 22 and rail 23 ofthe lower keyboard may, however, be mounted directly to the side frame elements la and 2a of the organ, instead of to the channels 40.

For connecting the wires 5t) of the several Bowden transmissions with the keys, I make use of a construction shown in Figures 8 and 16. Beneath the leaf springs 65, I alx to the rail other elements comprising a leaf spring body 66. The free ends of these bodies may be reinforced as at 67 (Figure 8). A shorter leaf 68 is aixed to the upper side of the body 66 as by'a rivet 69.

.The forward end of the leaf d8 is turned downwardly as at 70; the leaf is perforated as at 7l to accept the Bowden wire Sil; and a screw 72 passes through the members 68 and 66 and is threaded into member 67. With the Bowden wire threaded as shown, it may be clamped in any adjusted position by tightening the screw 72. It will be seen from Figure 16 that the device of Figure 8 underlies the leaf spring 65. A sponge rubber or other resilient body 73 may be interposed between the two, so that as a playing key is depressed, the motion will be imparted to the device of Figure 8 and thereby to the Bowden wire Sil.

Extending downwardly from the guide rail 57, I provide a metallic plate '74. This can be supported at its front edge from the rail by means of screws as shown. rl`he plate on its inside or upper surface may be covered with felt or some other sound deadener. The Bowden transmissions including their sheaths l lie above this plate and a substantially horizontal prolongation 74a thereof` and. traverse them in various directions. rl`he forward edge of the plate 7d, as most clearly shown in Figure 18 is slotted at intervals, there being a slot 75 substantially beneath each of the playing keys 25a and 25h of the manual. For fastening the outer ends of the Bowden transmission to the plate l provide suitable anchors. These may take various forms; but l prefer to provide the soft metal anchor blocks 76 shown in Figure 19. A threaded screw 77 will have its head end engaged in each of the blocks, and the blocks will further have a locating tongue or stud 78 formed of the soft metal of the body of the anchors. To the rear, the anchor blocks are formed with spaced bifurcations 79 and Bowden sheaths are ordinarily of wire formed into contiguous helical turns, and it will be understood that when the ends of such sheaths are placed between the bifurcations 79 and Sil of the anchoring blocks 76, and these bifurcations pinched together, the sheaths will be irmly fixed therein. As will be evident from a consideration of Figures 16, 18 and 19, the anchors 76 may be affixed to the plate 74 by passing both the screw 77 and the locating stud 73 through one of the slots 75, and then threading a nut 8T; onto the protruding end of the screw. The slot further provides tor substantial adjustment of the position of the anchors on the plate 74.

In the event the range of movement of the key actuated member to which the Bowden wire is attached is greater than the permissible linear movement of the Bowden wire in actuating a shutter or the like, various expediente may be adopted. For example, it is within the scope of my invention to relieve the tension in an adlacent end portion of the Bowden sheath by slightly stretching it. rEhe tension referred to tends to hold the wire convolutions of the sheath tightly together. When this tension is appropriately relieved, the idowden wire will be actuated as before by the key mechanism, but at the point where resistance is encountered at the end of a linear movement of the wire in opening a shutter, further movement ot' the key mechanism will be taken up in longitudinal expansion of the said adjacent end portion of the Bowden sheath, without producing relative movement of the wire and sheath at the non-adjacent end.

A similar arrangement is made for the lower keyboard, using a similar plate d2, the extension 83 of which is wider, due to the offset positions of the keyboards. The same type of connecting means for the Bowden wires is used, and the same type of anchors for the Bowden sheaths, all as will be evident from Figure 16.

in the double manual instrument, as has already been described in part, certain of the Bowden transmissions connected with strand-like operating elements for note selection in the shutter plates will be connected to the keys of the pedal clavier instead of to various parts of a divided single keyboard. Reference may now be made to Figures 2 to 5 inclusive for details of a mode of accomplishing this. First of all, it will be noted in Fig- 8,. ure 2 that transmission elements indicated by a series of dotted lines 8d from the left half of the pedal keyboard 2d are brought upwardly behind the lower front board ill of the organ to a unit indicated generally at 85, while other transmission elements indicated at 86 are brought upwardly from the right half of the pedal keyboard to a unit behind the lower front board l0 and indicated at 87. inasmuch as other elements such as loud speakers by way of example may be desired behind the lower front board lil, advantage may be taken of the flexible characteristics of Bowden transmissions to carry them laterally and then upwardly as indicated at the right hand of Figure 2. A plurality of transmissions may be bound together in a single cable-like construction 38 if desired.

In Figure 3, l have shown a Bowden sheath 51h having its lower end anchored by a screw and washer or other suitable means to a rail which is part of the pedal clavier frame, and its upper end anchored to a rail 39 mounted in an elevated position behind the lower front board lll of the console as by means of brackets 89a. The'wire of the Bowden transmission is affixed at one end to a pedal key 29 in a way hereinafter described and at its other end it is fastened to a lever-like operating means 9d. This means may be a wooden element with an enlarged forward end We covered with felt or leather. it may be pivotaily mounted to a member 91 on the rail $9. These pivotal mounting members may conveniently be the so-called flanges of conventional piano actions, although other pivotal mountings may be adopted if desired.

At any rate it will be noted that as the pedal key 29 is depressed, its motion will be transmitted by the Bowden transmission lb to the operating lever 9d, and will result in a raising of its enlarged forward end. The elements 9d, ill, 92 are a permanent part of the organ console, and the action of the structure just described is to provide a separable connection at a very much higher level than the level of the pedal clavier by means of which the pedal clavier may operate Bowden transmissions from the generators. Elements such as those described constitute in part the units and 87 diagrammatically indicated in Figure 2.

Clamps which may be used to attach the Bowden transmission sheaths to the rails 28a and S9 are illustrated in Figure 7 and comprise a piece of metal 92, perforated as at 93 for the acceptance of screws, and having ends bent over as 94. While l have illustrated a double clamp, single clamps may be made by simply transversely dividing the structure of Figure 7 into similar parts. An advantage of single clamping elements is that they may be swung about the attaching screw as a pivot so that the Bowden transmission sheaths can be anchored to the rail aslant as well as straight away. A convenient mode of attachment of the Bowden wire to the ends of the pedals is illustrated in Figures 3 and 6. Here the end of the wire 50a is bent over as at tlb and is inserted in a longitudinal perforation in the end of the pedal. A bracket element 9S having an angularly related part 96 is provided with a perforation 98- whereby it may be attached to the under side of the pedal. The upwardly extending angular portion 96 is of such length that it will engage the straight part of the Bowden wire Sila and therefor hold the bent part ilb in the perforation in the end of the pedal. A piece of felt or other frictional substance 97 may be attached against the angular portion 97 so as to engage the straight away portion of the Bowden wire.

A convenient mode of attachment of the Bowden wire Sila to the lever operating element 9i) is illustrated Figures 9 and l0. A longitudinal bore is formed inwardly of the end of the lever element 9S and a bentover end of the Bowden wire 56a is inserted in the bore as shown at 50c. A transverse bore is formed in the of spring wire 104 has its longer leg inserted in this upwardly, thus pushing on the `Bowden wire. arrangement, including Vthe members 1.09, is a part of the "lector mechanism for that clavier. swell/manual generator B there is agroup 1130i voicing 12,-cameos ,.transversebore. The shorter lleg fis bent `to'form alockzing notchas shown at lM95.

floop formed in ythe Bowden wire as shown `is aduvantageous for preventing undue lstress on the ends of ythe wire.

Iln .order to effect an automatic connection between the Bowden wires from the generator or generators and :the operating elementsconnected with the pedals, l malte a construction which will be appreciated from Figures .3 and 5. Bracket 166 (see also Figure l) is affixed to the portion of the rail 107 by clips simii-ar to 92 illustrated -in Figure 7, inthe manner shown in Figure i5. To a wooden rail ltl mounted on the member 197, I attach leaf spring members 109 similar to the devices of Figure 8,

one rfor each Bowden transmission or the yparticular group. The Bowden wires S are attached to the members T169 in the way'already described.

lThe arrangement is such that when the generator or generators, including their frame elements and keyboards, are inserted in the console, the individual members 108 will lie respectively above the individual lever lmperating elements 9i), as will be readily understood from Figures 3 and 5. As apedal 29 is depressed, its lever 9i) will be rocked -as previously described, fand the enlarged end 90a of the lever will move the member ibi! Yet the yren-lovable generators units; and thus, so far as the pedal keysare concerned, the generator unit may be removed 1,without disconnection.

The top front board 26 of the console is perforated `as at 26a (see Figure l-6), to accept the operating ends of stop tab elements or voice selectors 27. These .have :a substantially standard construction which need not be described in detail. They are pivoted respectively on a rail81 ,or on individual supports, and are spring actuated in suchqa manner as tobe capable of passing in either the upraised or depressedfpositions beyond a dead center.

.A mode of connectingthese to the transmission elements of voice shutters -will hereinafter be outlined in detail. lt'may bepointed out that insa single manual instrument If the reference is lnow made to the diagrammatic 'Figure 12, it will be seen that there are sets of stop tabs or voice selectors in my two manual Ainstrument respectively 'for the pedal clavier, the swell manual and the .great manual. These sets are diagrammatically indicated, and are so marked. Thek generator `for the great manual .tones is indicated at A, while the generator for the swell manual tones is indicated at B. But as stated above, in the particle embodiment, while each of these generators takes care of all ofthe tones-and voices for its particular manual, each hascertain extra tones and voices which are utilized for the pedal clavier. Thus from the great manual generator A, l have indicated by dotted lines a series of Bowden transmissions 110 going directly to the #stop tab mechanism for the Vgreatorgan voices. is, however, another set conveniently divided into two groups, 111 and HZ, of voicing transmissions appropriate There to the-pedal clavier and shown passing to the voice se- Similarly for the transmissions going directly to thevoicing mechanism for the swellfmanualaand another group, again iwitlr two parts `114i .and M5 .going to various `ones yof Athe pedal clavier voice Vselecting devices. :lt will :be noted .that Bowden transmissions from bothggenerators A and Bipass yto the same individual :voice selecting mechanisms -in vthe pedal clavier. This is because for the range orfgamut of the pedal clavier, Vsome of the vnotes are to ;be found on the pitch ldisc yof :generator A and some'onithe `pitch `disc of generator B; Vand-since these notes must 1sound in the .same voices, voice'shutters in both `generators must ksimultaneously be actuated by Athe same stop tabs.

There is also a transmission indicated at E16 vfrom the swell manual generator B toa vibrato selectingy and 'controlling-means, so marked, and another :transmission 1 2 ft, voices.

actuated by a single stop tab.

117 from the great' manual generator ,tothe same device. Yet again, fasrmore fully explained in the secondoff the copending applications referred Ito above, /thefseveralzgenerators are so @arranged as Ato have loft., 8 tt., :4 tt.,f`and Gn occasion, a.2ft. voice is employed in .such generators to .supplementi-the range `of alrft. voice etc., there being similar voicing tracks lfor theservoices. This again entails a coupling problem, .since ai single voice selectingfmechanism will in this instancealso. have to operate a plurality of voicing shutters in one of Athe generators. For all of these reasons, coupling must be provided at the voice selectors.

The stop tab Velements 27 may be caused in vvarious ways to actuate Bowden transmissions connected to the voicing shutters'of the :generators l have .devisedzand have illustrated in Figures 11 and 1'3-15 a simpleand effective way of accomplishingnot only-the actuation of the voice shutter Bowden transmissions, but also the tandem operation thereof. Behind the front board y26 of ,the organ and by means of suitable brackets '1118, l mount panels vfor slides ,to which the Bowden transmissions may lbe connected. The panels as shownmost .clearly in Figs ure 1l are preferably made in two-spaced portions `119 andrlli. The space between vthese elements is spanned jby members l'Zl, laterally grooved to provide -waysfor the slides, the members being spaced one from thenext a proper distance to cause side edge 'portions of y.the slides to engage in the-grooves. A slide element is shown at '122 in Figure 4ll yas comprising a sheet metal'body with its .ends angularly ibent. The bent ends provide stitfening and ralsogtprevent removal of the slides longitudinallyffrom engagement with the members 121i. The slides 122 are perforated, `as at .123 and 24, and ythe stop tab elements 27 :are provided with rearwardly extendingrod-like actuating elements 125, the outer ends of wh-iehengage in one ofthe periorations ofthe slides. it willbe :evidentthatas the stop tabs are rocked upon their pivots, the slide element in "connection with :each will be moved Vup for down "by the actuating element iZS. Bowden transmissions such `as Sla' may Vbe'fastened to the panel element as by means of clampdevices 92 previously described and theiowden wires may be con- .nected with the -slides in any suitable vfashion so as to be driven thereby. A convenient way of accomplishing the connection is illustrated in Figures ll and 14 and comprises merely bending over the ends of the 'Bowden wires Sd and passing the bent ends Ythrough small perforations 12d in the slides. Since morey than one Bowden wire may be connected to an individual slide,

.thissarrangement offers a mode of coupling. Such cou. pling is particularly useful where two or more Bowden wires `from the same generator are to be simultaneously But for disassembly and ,repair of the orgarnl find it preferable so to arrange Vthe coupling means that the generator assemblies in the organ may be separated from each other with'a minimum-of disconnecting operations. For this reason, where a single stop tab is to actuate simultaneously aplurality of Bowden wiresfrom different generators, as occurs particularly in connection with the `stop Vtabs for `,the -pedal voices,

prefer to adopt a construction shown at the left-hand end of Figure 13. Here a panel assembly, such as has been described in connection with Figure 1l and indicated generally at 127, is mounted directly upon the brackets 118. Instead of using bolts for mounting purposes, I use spacing posts 128, and on theseposts spaced from the panel assembly 127, I mount another similar panel assembly designated generally by the numeral 129. The slides of assembly 129 are elements 122e, similar to slides 122. However, the slides 130 in assembly 127 are also similar to 122, but modified by the insertion of a rod-like post 131 in perforation 124, which engages perforation 123 of assembly 129.

The slides 130 of the first panel assembly will be actuated by the operating rods 125 of the stop tabs; but the slides 122:1 of the second panel assembly will be driven 'similarly from the first slides by the means described above. The Bowden wires of transmissions from a different generator may be connected to the slides 122e.

In this arrangement when it is desired to separate the generators, the panel assemblies 127 and 129 are sepa- .that the connections from the individual generators to the pedal clavier, including the assemblies 85a and 87a (Figure 2), are separate so that they do not interfere with the separation of the generators.

The specific nature of the generators is not a limitation upon this invention. For suitable generators reference is made to the copending applications set forth above. In Figure 16 a voice disc 132 overlies the grooves of the shutter plate 44 and serves to keep the shutter wires in the grooves. The voice disc bears suitable wave form patterns in the appropriate places for imparting tone color to light passing through the performations 48 of the shutter disc. The shutter wires control the playing of the individual notes and are individually connected to Bowden transmissions as Vset forth. The tone colors are controlled by door-like voicing shutters coupled to those Bowden transmissions which go to the stop tabs. A pitch disc 133 is shown in Figure 16 as pivoted for rotation on the shutter plate at 134. It, of course, bears appropriate pitch tracks. Peripherally it carries an armature element 135 acted upon by the windings of an eddy current motor (not shown) mounted upon the shutter plate 44. A source of illumination and a focusing mirror are mounted in one of the housing elements 44 or 46 and the other contains a photoelectric cell and a focusing mirror. The generators preferably have the speed control means described in the copending application of Edward M. Jones and George F. Williamson, Serial No. 117,240,

vtiled September 22, 1949, now Patent No. 2,576,760,

issued November 27 1951 and entitled Systems for the Production and Use of Electric Oscillations for Control Purposes; and vibrato is obtained by producing variations in the otherwise uniform and constant speed rotation of the pitch disc. A vibrato pitch track (not shown) is incorporated in the pitch disc 133 and is provided with a shutter. A separate photoelectric cell picks up the pulsations produced by the vibrato track and causes them to act upon the speed control means so as to produce a pitch vibrato as aforesaid. The vibrato shutter may take various forms, but in Figure 25 I have l shown the shutter disc 44 as having a light opening 136 closed and opened by an arcuate shutter element 137 pivoted to the shutter plate as at 138. A Bowden transmission 51e is connected to the shutter element and suitably anchored as at 139. Since, especially as to the pedal clavier, vibrato will simultaneously be desired as to all of the notes of the pedal clavier, it will be clear that the Bowden transmissions 51e from each generator A or B must be simultaneously actuated. An arrange- 12 ment for doing this is shown in Figures 12 and 13. Slide elements 13th: and 122b are respectively mounted on the panel assemblies 127 and 129 and coupled as previously described. These slides will be connected with the Bowden transmissions 51e (diagrammatically indicated at 116 and 117 in Figure 12). With the type of shutter shown in Figure 25, the degree or intensity of the vibrato may be varied by the extent to which the shutter 137 is opened. Instead, therefore, of coupling the slides :1 and 122b to a stop tab, I prefer to journal a shaft 140 as shown. An operating knob 141 is mounted on the end of this shaft which passes through the organ front board 26. I mount a post 142 on the inner slide 13051 and actuate the slides through the engagement with this post of a bifurcated driving element 143 non-rotatively aixed to the shaft 140. Alternately for providing vibrato, I may employ the knob 141 to vary an electrical resistance connected in an appropriate circuit, such as that disclosed in the above mentioned Jones and Williamson application.

Modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it. Having thus described my invention in certain exemplary embodiments, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination, a playing key, arail located therebeneath, a pivotal connection between the rear end of said playing key and said rail, a leaf spring mounted beneath said playing key on said rail and bearing upwardly against adjusting means extending from the under side of said playing key. a second leaf spring underlying the first leaf spring and arranged to be dellected thereby during a portion of movement of said key, and a Bowden transmission having an operating wire and a sheath, said wire being in connection with said second mentioned leaf spring, and anchoring means for said sheath adjacent said second mentioned leaf spring.

2. The structure claimed in claim l wherein the pivotal connection comprises a pin mounted in said rail and extending through a perforation adjacent the rear end of said key, and a clip element having engagement with said pin and with said key to prevent axial withdrawal of said pin from said perforation. v

3. In combination, a playing key, a rail located there beneath, a pivot connection between the rear end of said playing key and said rail, a leaf spring mounted beneath said playing key on said rail and bearing upwardly against adjusting means extending from the under side of said playing key, a second leaf spring underlying the first leaf spring and arranged to be deflected thereby during a portion of the movement of said key, a Bowden transmission comprising a wire and a sheath, said wire being operatively connected to said second mentioned leaf spring, a slotted plate beneath said key, and means for anchoring said sheath to said plate, comprising an anchoring means having a body. a guide pin on said body passing through the slot in said plate, a bolt engaged with said body and also passing through said slot, and bifurcations on said body between which said sheath may be placed, said bifurcations adapted to be brought into clamping engagement with said sheath whereby to anchor it, said body being adjustable on said plate.

Reerencesfited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 466,956 Russell Jan. 12, 1892 1,137,485 Heey Apr. 27, 1915 1,157,451 Stuch et al. Oct. 19, 1915 1,230,521 Ross June 19, 1917 2,470,148 Demuth u May 17, 1949 2,555,040 Jordan May 29, l 2,612,812 Greenleaf et al. Oct. 7, 1952 2,744,433 Rooms May 8, 1956

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