US340636A - stone - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-sheet 1.

F. STONE.

SUB-BASS ATTACHMENT EOE REED oEGANs.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

' $.ST0NE- SUBQASSATTAGHMBNTIUR.REBDORGAN& No.34036. PatentedApr.27,l886

\ATNE55EE INVENTUR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK STONE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MUNBOE ORGAN REED COMPANY, OE SADIE PLACE.

SUB-BASS ATTACHMENT FOR REED-ORGANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,636, dated April 27, 1886.

(No model.)

To LZZ 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK STONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vorcester, in the countyot' Worcesterand State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sub-Bass Mechanism for Reed-Organs; and I declare the following to be a description of my said invention sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable others 1o skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a pneumatic sub-bass for reedorgans,

which can be manufactured as a separate article of merchandise and furnished to organ- :manufacturers to be applied in simple and ready manner by them, as desired, in the con struction of any style of reed-organ in which an exhaust bellows is employed; also, to provide a sub-bass action that can be connected with and controlled by the manualheys without materially interfering with the delicacy ol' touch at that part of the manual where the sub-bass connections are located; also, to provide a sub-bass of superior quality and power, and which will respond in a prompt, efficient, and fulltoned manner; also, to provide for the reduction of the spacings or scale from that of the sub-bass to conform to the scale of the regular action, and allow connections to be made direct with the manual or action, as hereinafter explained. These objects I attain by a pneumatic subbass mechanism, constructed and organized for operation as illustrated and set forth, the particular subject-matter claimed being hereinafter deliniiely specified.

In the drawings, Figure l. is a plan view of my improved pneumatic sub-bass, a part be` ing shown in section, and the pointers of the manual-keys in relation to the valve-levers being indicated. Fig. 2 is a view showing part front part vertical section atlineww; and Eig. 3 is a vertical transverse section at line a' w, showingthe pneumatic subfbass and its relative relation to the manual and organ action.

In reference to parts, A denotes the actionboard of a reed-organ ortop of theair-chamber A', from which the air is exhausted bysuitable means or in ordinary manner.

B denotes the box or case inclosing achamber, B, that contains the sub-bass mechanism, which casing is adapted to stand upon t-he top of the action-board A, one or more air-pas` sages, u., being formed through said board, so that the chambers B and A are connected and the airpressure equalized therein.

C indicates the tubeboard, containing the 6o sub-bass reeds R, which are inserted in cells, disposed as shown. The tubeboard is sup` ported Vwithin the chamber B', so as to allow space at both front and rear thereof and beneath its lower edge, the mouths of the reed 65 cells opening through the top ot' the board, and a suitable mute, M, is arranged in connection therewith for stopping off the action of the subbass when desired.

In the rear part of the chamber B are arranged -the series of Valves D, that close the passages e from the reed-cells into said chamber, and in the front part thereof are arranged a corresponding series of pneumatic motors, F, constructed and disposed inthe manner in- '75 dicated, for opening or expanding toward the Valve D, while a series of reciprocating tracker pins or rods, I, are arranged along the lower edge ofthe tube-board, which tit between the ends ofthe pneumatic motor-fingers F and the lower ends ot' the valves D, as imilicated. The length of said pins I is made equal to the distance between the valve audits corresponding pneumatic, so that the opening or expansion of the pneumatic will force open the valve. S5 The pneumatic is made of thin pieces of wood with sides of soft dexible leather or similar material. A small hole is formed through the back to allow airto leal; through su'liicient i'or closing the pneumatic motor when the external air-pressure is stopped off by the pressure exerted from the spring d oi' the valve D transmitted to the pneumatic by the rod I.

At the front of the case Bis a tracker-board, H, having a series of openings, J, spaced to 95 correspond with the spacings or scale of the manual-keys K, and from these openings pas` sages extend downward in variously-inclined order, (see dottedlines in Fig. 2,)so that their lower ends, which lead into the respective pneumatics, correspond in position to the spacings or scale of the sub-bass reeds.

On the exterior surface of the board I-I, in connection with the openings LT, is a series of ICO valves under cont-rol of the manual action for admitting the external air into the pneumatics, so that they will expand in the exhausted chamber B and open the sub-bass valves aecordingly as the keys are depressed.

In the present instance the connection of the sub-bass and manual action isetfected by a series of levers, L, corresponding in number with the pneumatics and valves, which are furnished at their rear ends with stop pads or valves L', for closing the respective openings J'. The levers are fulerumed on a suitable supp0rt-bar, N, with their forward ends in position to respectively engage with buttons P, fixed on the pitman-pins P of' the regular organ-action, and by means of which the motion 'ofthe manual-keys istransmitted to the inletstops L as the said keys are depressed for opening the valves D of the regular organ.

The forward end ofthe levers L may be separated horizontally, as at m, and a set-screw, s, fitted in the lower part to press against the upper portion for effecting adjustment thereof in relation to the button P, for regulating the throw of said levers, and cause the inlet stops or valves L to open at the proper instant of time. If preferred, the air-inlet openings .I might be at the front ol" the board H, and the opening and closing of said passages might be effected by other simple devices (in lieu of the levers L) arranged in a manner to be controlled by the action ofthe manual-keys.

rlhe sub-bass can be secured to the actionboard A by angle-clips, as shown, or in` other suitable manner.

The operation is as follows: The air being exhausted from the chambers A and B', as when playing the organ, the keys K being depressed, the button P presses down the end of the lever L, thereby releasing a stop, L, from the air-inlet opening J. Air being thus admitted to the interior ofthe pneumatic F, it is, owing to the exhaustion of the `air in the surrounding chamber B', caused to immediately expand or swing outward to the position indicated by dotted lilies, Fig. 3, pressing back the pin or rod I, and thereby forcing open the valve D, so that the air can enter through the sub-base reed tube,as indicated by arrows, Fig. 3, for sounding the reed It. Then, when the key rises, the lever L being released, again closes the passage J, and equilibrium of air pressure being restored within and without the pneumatic, the valve D is permitted to close by the action of its spring d.

Among the advantages incident to my invention may be mentioned the extreme simplicity of application to use, as the sub-base can be made up quickly and at comparatively small expense, and can be arranged on the organ with little labor, and without interfering with the other parts of the organ, by simply boring through the sound-board and securing the ease B in place thereon.

Another advantage is the delicacy and lightness of the touch, since by the arrangement and use of pneumatic mechanism, as herein described, the manual is relieved from the work of opening the valves D, and no extra strain is brought against the keys with which the sub-bass is attached other than that required for simply working the inlet-stops L', which is practically imperceptible in the touch of the keys.

Another advantage is the promptness of response, since the least movement of the key K and inlet-stop L permits air to pass into the motor F, and the valve D is instantly thrown open to its full extent by the pneumatic action under the effect of the exhaust, and a volume of air is thus put into action through the sub-bass reed-cell before the keyactuated valves' are fairly open, which is sufficient to excite vibration in the heavy sub-bass reed and give sound therefrom as soon as the sound from the reeds controlled by the regular key-operated valves commences. Y

That I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A, sub-bass for reed-organs, provided internally with an exhaust-chamber, as B, surrounding the tube-board, and within which are arranged valves for closing the several reed-cell passages thereinto,and a corresponding series of pneumatic motors, as F, severally connected for operating the respective valves, with air-inlet passages leading into said pneumatics from the exterior of the casing, and a series of stops or valves closing said inlet-passages, and adapted for connecting with the manual action in a reed-organ, substantially' as set forth.

2. The combination, substantially as hereiubefore described, of the casing B, inclosing the air-chamber B', the tube-board C, having cells for containing reeds supported within said chamber, the valve D, the spring d, the tracker-pins I, the pneumatic motors F, having passages leading to the exterior of the case, theinlet-stop valves, the levers L, con- -trolled by the manual-keys, forthe purpose set forth.

'3. The combination in a sub bass for reedorgans, ofthe tube-board C, containing reeds R, the valves D, pneumatics F, and trackerpins I, arranged for operation substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the sub-bass section B, provided with reed-cells C and passages J, disposed as shown, the valves D, trackerpins I, pneumatic fingers F, adjustable levers L, carrying valve-pads L', the fulcrum-support N, pitmen P, having buttons P', and manual-keys K, for the purposes set forth.

Witness my hand this 15th day of May, A. D. 1885. l

FRANK STONE.

Witnesses:

GHAs. H. BURLEIGH, WM. MUNROE.

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