US300590A - Cornet - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

F. F. FRANCESGHINI.

CORNET.

No. 300,590i Patented June 17, 188

1277.1. C C 5C lNvENToR Y by i m Mmm, 1 7, uw y I vation of a cornet provided with my improveiii'nirnn rnfrns afrenta* einen.

CORNET.

:'SI-'ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,590, dated June 17, 1884.

Application filed November' 21, 1883. (No model.)

to all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, FRANK F. FRANCES- oHINI, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Philadelphia and State 'of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cornets-a- Piston, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

rIhis invention has reference Yto that class of musical wind-instruments, of which the cor` net-a-piston is a type, having reciprocating piston-valves; and it relates, specifically, to improvements in mechanism for elevating the valve-pistons upon removal of the pressure of the fingers upon the stops or buttons.

Figure l ofthe annexed drawings is an elements, the front of the central one of the three valve-chambers being removed, thereby revealing the invention as applied therein, the piston being depressed to about one-l1alf its full'stroke. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the valve-chambers detached, the piston being at somewhat less than half-stroke. Fig. 3 is a like section showing the piston and valve at the full limit of the downstroke. Fig. 4 is a section on line a a, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail of piston-rod and plate, through which the rod moves up and down7 showing the means for preventing the piston and valve from rotating. Fig. 6 is a section online b b, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents simply one ofthe endless rubber bands. Figs. 8 and 9 are views showing a modification of the means for securing the rubber bands to the piston-rod. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the piston-rod, with the top plate, through which it moves, detached, showing a modification of the invention.

As a practical musician, familiar with the usual construction of the class of instruments to which my present invention is applicable, I have observed that the ordinary metallic spiral compression-springs contained in the valve-chambers of the instruments for the purpose of retracting the pistons and valves soon become rusty `and foul from the moisture of the breath, and are then apt to stick and lose their sensitiveness. rlhey are also liable, comparatively soon, when much used to. sudden breakage. In addition to this, the mechanism or devices requisite to be used in connection with such spiral springs involves considerable friction, which of course prevents the valves from responding as freely and quickly as is desirable to the pressure of the fingers upon the buttons of the piston-rods, and when such pressure is removed. These are defects of no little moment, especially in rapid playing, and which this my invention, which I shall now proceed to describe, is designed to remedy.

Referring to the'drawings, in the several figures of which the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same letters where they appear, u is the valve-chamber or case; b, the valve; c, the piston-rod connected thereto; d, the plate through which the pistonrod reciprocates, which plate is sustained by the top or rim of the valve-case; e, the cap of case a andf the buttons on the tops of the rods.

In the preferred form of the invention Iemploy for the retracting-springs endless bands of india-rubber, X, such as shown by Fig. 7. The upper end of each of these bands (two being preferred, asV shown) is looped over a stud, s, projecting from the edge of a detachable'plate, d, which studs rest in sockets t in the top edge of the case a. The other or lower end of said elastic band is looped over ahook, h, iiXed in the side of the piston-rod for that purpose. A interior lug` or projection, g, of plate d, in cor junction with a vertical slot, t, Figs. 5 and 6, and with the studs of plate d resting in the s ckets ofthe case, serve to keep the piston-rod and valve from rotating.

The mode of operation of the device is quite obvious, and is'lffencrally similar to that of those heretofore in use. rlhe piston-rods and valve are depressed by the pressure of the iingers upon the buttons f, and when the pressure is released the springbands instantly raise the rods until stopped by the usual nuts, n, thereon. I iind, however, by actual experience, that a much improved result is effected by myinvention. rI he play ofthe piston-rods is now free and easy, and so continues regardless of moisture, until the rubber bands wear out, which they only do from the effects of the. frequent expansion and contraction. Vhen that occurs, however, it requires but a moment to replace the broken band with another of any desired size or tension.

IOO

Figs. S and Sl show other .means ot' securing the elastic bands to the piston-rod. This consists in making` notches o in the side ot' the ,latter l'or the recept-ion ot the bands, which are held in place by 'means of sliding plates j), that are fastened to the rod with screws q passing Athrough longitru'linal. slots r 'in said plates. iy loosening the screws the latter may be slid back, so as to uncover the slots, and then replaced alter the bands have been inserted7 as shown.

A modil'ication olf the invention is represented in lfig. l0, in which a rubber cord, zr, is employed as a retractor in lien ol` the endless band. rlhis cord `has knots or enlarge ments lr at each end thereol', while the studs .v ol' plate Z are notched, as are also the hooks h ol` the piston-rml, as clearly seen in said ligure.

The mode ol applying the cord is obvious, it being inserted in the notches and stretched alittle, so as to be taut, and is retained in place by the knots impinging against the sides ol the notches.

I have omitted to state that the studs s ol' plate (l and their correspomling sockets on the lop ol.' the ease c are made, ljnel'erably, ot' dil ferent widths, (see Figs. Lt and (5,) so as to insure the insertion ol' the valve in proper position within ils ease.

lt may also be observed that by the construction described l am enabled to use a. lighter piston-rod than is required in connection with the instruments-nsing metallic spiral springs. Vl` also have aless number ot'frietional parts or points7 and my india-rnl'iber springs are lighter than the metallic ones, advantages of no mean importance 'in an insti-lr ment ol' this character.

Vl-larintg thus described nl rinrention, lelainz.

as new and usel'ul4 and wish to secure by 'l'ielters latent" ll ',lhc improvement in eornelsa-jljiist-on and similar musical instruments, consisting in the combination, with the Valve, pistolnrod, and case, ol'thelal'eral elastic band or bands, the upper end ol' which is .secured to a Vlixelll support and the lower end thereol'to the 'pistone-ml7 all constructed andvadaptcd to operate substantially as andv Vforlhe purpose set l'orth.

2. The combination ofthe reti-actingspring, the piston-rod and atlinghed valve, the case, and the plate d, said rod and `plate beingI re spectirel)v provided with means, substantially as shown, l'or st cnriner said spring, all constructed and zulapted lo operate substantiall5r as and l'or the purpose slated.

il. rllie (combination ol' rase u, Valve I, rod c, prorided with hooks lf," plate d, provided with studs s, the cap f, and springsn-7 slibstantially as and for the purpose described.

The combination ol" the piston-roll hav ing the hooks /1 or their eipliralent, and the `longitrulinal. slot i', the case c, and the plate d, provided with the lng y, littine into slot i', and with the studs s, adapted to iit :into the notches on the top ol` case c, all constructed and adapted to be used substantially as and for the pi'nrposc specified.

In testimony whereof lhave hereunto a l'lixed my signature this Sth day ol'Xovinnber, Ar. ll. i883.

Jona Noi'ax, ANnlz'nw ZA N n, .i r.

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