US3254553A - Reed organ - Google Patents

Description

June 7, 1966 YosHlAKl FUKUsHlMA 3,254,553

REED ORGAN 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 8, 1963 FIG 1 June 7, 1966 lllllllllllllll MA 3,254,553

RRRRRRR AN June 7, 1966 YcsHlAKl FUKusHlMA 3,254,553

REED ORGAN Filed Nov. 8, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1f .f 242 2,5 2f 36 342' 2 26 iii-3;" @wg 25 2# av 2/ a 39 9 39 INVENTOR.

BY Wfl/M azz@ June 7, 1966 YosHlAKl FUKUsHlMA 3,254,553

REED oRGAN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov' 8, 1965 FIG 5 1NVENToR.

United States Patent 3,254,553 REED ORGAN Yoshiak Fukushma, 1 Higashinocho, Saikaya-machi, Wakayama-shi, Japan Filed Nov. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 322,290 9 Claims. (Cl. 84--365) This invention relates to a pianoforte organ and its devices, in which the intensity of sound can be controlled by individual valve devices which respond directly to the speed with which individual keys are depressed, and in addition effects such as prolongation of sound can easily be accomplished even after the finger releases the key through a so-called sustain-pedal forprolonging sound.

The object of the .present invention is to provide a reed organ which makes it possible to control the intensity or volume of sound at the players will by changing the speed or strength with which the finger tip touches the key as is possible with a pianoforte. Another object of the invention isto provide a reed organ which is enabled to achieve a prolonging effect of sound through a sustainpedal or. prolonging-sound pedal, without vanishing instantly after the finger tip leaves the key, as is the case with a pianoforte. Still another object of the invention is to provide a reed organ which is made to accomplish a soft effect of sound by treading-down on a separate foot pedal (so-called soft-pedal) as well as pianoforte. Other features of the invention reside in the novel constraction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

With usual reed organs, the intensity of the generated sound has never been controlled yby changing the speed of key touch, as is possible with pianoforte and moreover do not have so-called prolongation effect of sound, that is, sound remaining even after the finger tip leaves the key. The usual reed organs are not perfect musical instruments for play, having the aforementioned serious deficiencies.

However, this invention is la reedorgan which enables its player to control the intensity of sound in proportion to the speed of key touch, as well as to prolong sound even after separation of the finger tip from the key, and therefore to play a more versatile and expressive tune 'at players own will. Thus, this invention remarkably and effectively improves the characteristics of reed organs as a musical instrument only by the installation of my simprincipal portion of this'instrument such as valves and their related parts.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front view showing valves and their holders in detail.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the state when generation of sound is minimized.

FIG. 5 is 'a'fragmentary cross sectional view showing the state when generation of sound is maximized.

Referring now to the figures, each valve 1 is a cube made of Vrelatively soft material such as synthetic resin, arranged so that it may completely check the flow of air by covering the upper open end (mouth) of the reed chamber 19 and it does not come in contact with the adjacent valves.` The bottom of the valve 1 has an air control projection 2 consisting of right-angled triangular and cylindrical faces which fits into the reed chamber to control the flow of air and hence volume of sound. The -front of the valve 1 has a convex face 3 and a stopper projection 5 in sequence from the top. The top of the valve 1 is fixed to the supporter 6 of the same width.

3,254,553 Patented June 7, 1966 perpendicular to the side and the holder 18 is fitted into the supporter 6 so that the valve 1 may freely rotate around the pin 7 as axis. The convex face 3 and the cylindrical face of the air control projection 2 are situatedV on arc(s) of circle(s) with the same or varied radii and the same center at the point on the pin 7. An adjust bolt 8 is screwed in from the upper to the lower side near the front end of the supporter 6. The lower end of the bolt 8 fits into the thrust-up receiver 9. Elastic material for cushioning is attached to the lower surface of the receiver 9 to eliminate occurrence of impulsive sound. Between the top of the adjust bolt 8 and the upper surface of the holder 6 as well as between the lower surface of the holder 6 and the upper surface of the thrust receiver 9, proper gaps are arranged so that keyboard and other obstacles. The support plate 12 for l -the thrust-up plate 13 is installed on the rear part 10 of the key 10 which is situated lower than the supporting pivot 11 of the key 1l). The thrust-up plate 13 is made of strong material such as metal and its center is securely attached to the *support` plate 12 by the screw bolt 16.

The catcher tongue 14, which is made of soft material such as synthetic resin and a little longer than the thrustup plate 13 is attached to the plate 13, protruding so as to nearly contact with the valve 2.

The thrust-up plate 13 with the catcher tongue 14 is attached to the support plate 12 by the nut 15 in such a manner that they may be adjusted backward or forward to someextent. The cushion felt is `set under the front end of the key for damping of the impact caused when the key is depressed. The sound prolonger 23 which consists of valve Stoppers 25 arranged in parallel on the lateral piston beam 24 extending the full width of the keyboard. Each valve stopper 25 and the corresponding stopper projection 5 face each other. The piston beam 24 is held away from the valve 1 by the pull spring 29. In order to advance the piston beam 24 toward the valve, the pull cords 26 are connected to both ends of the beam 24, and to the sustain-pedal 44 through the guide roller 27.

In order that the valve stopper 25 and the tip of the catcher tongue 14 are not resistive against upward pressure, but pretty resistive against downward pressure, the under faces of said stopper 25 and tongue 14 are notched, or on each upper face small pieces separated into two plates are joined together by a skin, and the notches or the joints are placed before the rear end 24 of the beam piston and the tip of the thrust-up plate 13 respectively, and moreover said stopper 25 and tongue14 are fixed by bolts ahead of the notches or the joints. Each adjust screw 34 is screwed into the cushion felt rail 36 for adjusting the key and is situated in front of and under the corresponding inclined plane 10l of the key, acting on the inclined plane 10 upward through the thick cushion felt 35 which covers the screw, so that the front of the key may be normally placed.

On the front of the main rail 530, the front lid l31 covering the keyboard is attached by hinges, under which are arranged `the book shelf 33. On `the rear of the main rail 30, the back lid 32 is similarly attached Iby hinges. By naising the back lid 32 such operations as repairing, tuning, adjusting and inspecting are `instantly possible. The raised lid also serves as a sounding board, making it possible to listen to the `sound satisfactorily as is just the case with a pianoforte.

On the upper -face of the .main nail 30, there is the convenient conca-vity 31 yfor holding a pen or others.

Now, let us describe on the reed 2x1. In order to improve the tone color and ttone volume as well as for reducing cost, several reeds are attached in parallel to one reed plate 24) in one reed chamber, while usual reed organs have a single reed )for :a single reed plate. The reed chamber has the open end rfacing upward and the plug 38 at the bottom in lorder to form the best air cylinder for pronunciat-ion of the reed. Th-is plug is -made of relatively soft material, but the hard resonance plate 38' for reectinig sound is attached to tthe top.

Sound `chamber 22 Iserves not only ttor `resounding but also reducing pressure as suction chamber. The resonance p-late 40 has the resonance hole 40 rfor taking out the sound internally generated. Covering the resonance hole 40', the resonance diaphragm 41 made of strong material such `as metal is attached in order to permit free propagation of sound and yet prohibit leakage of air. Furthermore, the circumference of the hole is strictly fixed by the fastener plate 42.

The mute y43 is arranged so that the vibration of the resonance ydiaphragm 411 may be restricted by the contact of the mute with the diaphragm through lthe medium of the pull cord 46 when the Sofft-pedal 45 is trodden down.

Pressure reduction wit-hin the suction chamber 2.2 can be accomplished by an electric blower. (The blower is not illustrated.)

In operation, prior to the performance ofthe instrument, the player -iirst works to lower pressure within the suction chamber 2 2 by drivin-g the elec-tric blower and then presses down the `fron-t part of the key. By `this operation, 'the rear pant 10 of the key is raised together with the thrustup plate 13. When the Ifront part 10" of the key is depressed by approximately one-third of `the entire stro-ke, the catcher tongue I14 attached tothe plate 13 impinges on the thrust-up receiver 9. rI`he intensity of the impact imparted `to the receiver 9 depends upon 'the intensity or speed of key touch. When the receiver 9 is pushed up at a very high speed then the valve 1 jumps up considerably hig-h and the air control projection 2 leaves the mouth of the reed chamber 19, thereby causing -full opening of the valve and consequently bringing about the loudest sound. (This condition is shown on `FIG. 5.) On the other hand, when the key is touched extremely slowly, the catcher tongue 14 touches the receiver 9 without impact 'and therefore lthe receiver 9 is raised slow-ly as if combined in one body with the catcher tongue and shortly stops and as sho-wn in IFIG. 4, the flow of air to the reed chamber t19 and accordingly propagation of generated sound are restricted, resulting in 'the weakest sound.

Besides these two extreme sounds as ab-ove-mentioned, also several steps of intermediate sounds can be obtained corresponding -to the 4speed of key touch, I-f the catcher tongue .14 were not provided in the reed organ, temporary outbreak of sound would instantly vanish because the valve i1 rap-idly would fall down due to its gravity as seen in FIG. 4, thus leaving the situation remarkably different from such cases in pianoforte as is imparted sound `of gradually-damping eiect of sound. In this invention the catcher tong-ue y14 is devised in order to create a reed organ which would emulate either in damping or pro-longing generated sound or mainta-ining the intensity or volume of the generated sound as it is. Even aifter the catcher tongue 14 completes the raising of the receiver 9 through the aid of the thrust-up plate 13 and thereby raising the valve .1, the sprung state will continue until the player ceases the depressing action of the iront part 10 of the key to return to its original position. The ability to continue the sprung position arises from the fact that by pressing down of the front part y10 of the key the catcher tongue 14 advances a little toward the valve 1 as well tas rising vertically because the position of the catcher tongue 14 is made lower than that of the supporting pivot `1'1 of the key. Moreover, as the tip of the catcher tongue |14 is made tolerant against the upward pressure, resistive against the downward pressure, so the upward jumping of the valve 1 is not restricted. The useless excess jumping, however, can be avoided, because the stopper projection 5 is so arranged as t-o hit the hard tip of the thrust-up plate 13.

The operation of the sustaining (or prolonging) sound device of this invention is described as follows:

In case of need to sustain the generated sound even after separation of the nger tip tfroim the depressed key, the sustain-pedal 44 is tto .be trodden down, so that the piston beam 24 is advanced a little toward the valve 1 by the pull cord 46 connected to the pedal. As also the valve Stoppers 25 arranged in parallel on the piston beam 24 are 'made so that they may be non-resistive Iagainst upward pressure but remark-ably resistive against downward pressure, it is easy for the stopper projection 5 of the valve 1 to be raised pushing up the advanced valve stopper 25V, while the valve stopper 25 resisting the downward force prevents the raised valve from falling down below a preestablished point even when the valve 1 is released from the catcher tongue =14 and .about to close the mouth of t-he reed chamber 19. Thus, the generated sound may be sustained instead of vanishing. When the player stops treading down the sustain-pedal 44, the piston beam 2`4 leaves the valve 1 by the force of the pull spring 29 which is pulled away to separate the piston beam 24 from the valve .1, and therefore the valve 1 'becomes free from the valve stopper 25 which has preventedV the valve 1 from `falling down up to this instant. Thus, sound is terminated.

Thus, according to this invention as is obvious from the `foregoing descrip-tion, the intensity or volume of sound produced at the players own will can be controlled eX- actly by changing the strength or speed, with which the `finger tip touches the key .10. The playing condition of key Itouch is completely responsive resembling that of pianoforte, because the valve 1 and the keyboard 10 are .individually Xed tfaoing each other. Furthermore, sustaining and damping of the sound produced can easily be accomplished by the operation through the pedals, prolongation of sound which has been impossible in usual reed organs being realized to be possi'ble at the players own will and also possible to play very versatile and expressive tunes. Besides, this invention has many other advantages such as simplicity in the construction and lowness in the production cost and others, as there is no place to require repairing in the interior of the structure, and lit is conveniently laccessible for repairing, tun-ing, adjusting, and inspecting. Thus, this reed organ of my pianoforte organ according to ythis invention has many remarkable effects of specially improved and new performance.

I claim:

1. A reed organ comprising a plurality of reed chambers, air evacuation means coupled to said reed chambers for evacuating air therefrom, said reed chambers each having an air inlet opening therein, a plurality of valve members, one covering said opening and movable away from the opening for admitting a progressively greater amount of air to the reed chamber, and a plurality of valve actuating keys resiliently pivotally suspended at a point intermediate the length thereof, one key for each reed chamber, one end of each key being adap-ted to be pressed by a finger of a player on the organ for pivoting the key from a lirst position and the other end of the key being positioned `adjacent said valve member and abuttable with the valve member immediately the said one end of the key is moved from said first position for moving the said valve member relative to the reed chamber opening a progressively greater distance as the said one end of the key is moved further from said rst position.

2. A reed organ as claimed in claim 1 in which each said valve member has a projection thereon extending 5 into the air inlet opening of the corresponding reed chamber and 4having a cross section which decreases in a direction away from the valve member.

3. A reed organ as claimed in claim 1 in which said air inlet openings open upwardly, said valve members being pivoted on said organ on one side of the air inlet openings and said keys being pivoted on the other side of said. air inlet openings, said valve members each having a thrust receiving projection thereon extending toward .a corresponding key and engageable by said other end of said key for pivoting the valvemember about the pivotal mounting thereof.

4. A reed organ .as claimed in claim Sin which each said key is pivoted about a point which is at a lower level than the pivotal mounting of the corresponding valve member, and the said other end of said key is spaced Y laterally of said thrust receiving projection on s-aid valve member in the said first position of said key, whereby when said one end of said key is depressed, the other end of the key moves upwardly and toward said thrust receiving projection.

5. A reed organ as claimed in claim 3 in which the said other end of each key has a support plate mounted thereon and projecting toward the corresponding valve member, a substantially rigid thrust plate mounted on the bottom of said support plate, and a partially flexible tongue secured between said thrust plate and said support plate and projecting further toward said valve member than said thrust plate, said tongue being the portion of said key engageable with said valve member, said thrust Aplate being adjustably mounted on said support plate for stopper projections when said valve members are in the fully open position, and valve' stopper actuating means connected to said valve stoppe-rs for moving said valve Stoppers toward and away from said valve member.

7. A reed organ as claimed in claim 6 in which said valve stopper actuating means comprise a spring connected to each valve stopper urging said valve Stoppers laway from said valve members, and a foot pedal and coupling means coupled between said foot pedal and said valve Stoppers for moving said valve Stoppers toward said valve members against the action of said springs when said foot pedal is actuated.

8. A reed organ as claimed in claim 3 in which the pivotal mounting for said keys each comprises a spring steel plate secured to the key and to said organ and eX- tending in a substantially vertical plane between the organ and said key.

9. A reed organ as claimed in claim 2 in which said reed organ has reed openings in said reed chambers, and further comprises a resonance chamber into which the reed openings open, a resonance opening in said resonance chamber, a diaphragm over said resonance opening, a mute member movable Vagainst said diaphragm and away from said diaphragm, and mute moving means connected to said mute member for moving said mute member.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 812,995 2/1906I Herrmann 84-366 1,232,744 7/1917 Wisker 84-365 1,831,734 l1/1931 Arostegui 84-425 2,974,555 3/ 1961 Andersen 84-225 X 3,064,517 ll/l962 Choshi Enya 84-357 X 3,141,368 7/1964 Von Gunten 84-245 X LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner.

C. M. OVERBEY, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A REED ORGAN COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF REED CHAMBERS, AIR EVACUATION MEANS COUPLED TO SAID REED CHAMBERS FOR EVACUATING AIR THEREFROM, SAID REED CHAMBERS EACH HAVING AN AIR INLET OPENING THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF VALVE MEMBERS, ONE COVERING SAID OPENING AND MOVABLE AWAY FROM THE OPENING FOR ADMITTING A PROGRESSIVELY GREATER AMOUNT OF AIR TO THE REED CHAMBER, AND A PLURALITY OF VALVE ACTUATING KEYS RESILIENTLY PIVOTALLY SUSPENDED AT A POINT INTERMEDIATE THE LENGTH THEREOF, ONE KEY FOR EACH REED CHAMBER, ONE END OF EACH KEY BEING ADAPTED TO BE PRESSED BY A FINGER OF A PLAYER ON THE ORGAN FOR PIVOTING THE KEY FROM A FIRST POSITION AND THE OTHER END OF THE KEY BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID VALVE MEMBER AND ABUTTABLE WITH THE VALVE MEMBER IMMEDIATELY THE SAID ONE END OF THE KEY IS MOVED FROM SAID FIRST POSITION FOR MOVING THE SAID VALVE MEMBER RELATIVE TO THE REED CHAMBER OPENING A PROGRESSIVELY GREATER DISTANCE AS THE SAID ONE END OF THE KEY IS MOVED FURTHER FROM SAID FIRST POSITION.

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