US390385A - Mechanical musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

' J. MOTAMMANY.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 390,385. Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

INVENTOI? ATTORNEY N. PETERi Pholo-Llllwgnpher. Washington. D. c.

(N0 modem 3 Sheets-anew 2. J. MGTAMMANY.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 390,385. Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

lm w 00M A TTOR/VEY N PETERS. Phnh-Lilbognpher, Washington D. c

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. MOTAMMANY.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 390,385. Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

WITNESSES:

1 A T TOR/V5 Y N. PETERS. Phalollthognphnr. Wuhingwn. n. c; 4

UNITED STATES PATENT FFlQEQ JOHN MOTAMMANY, OF VORGESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.-

MECHANICAL MUSICAL lNSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,885, da October 88 Appicalion filed March 10, 1886.

To all whom it 11mg concern.-

Be itknown that I,JOIIN MoTAMMANYa citizen of the United States, residing at \Vorcester, in the county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Musical Instruments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automatic musical instruments which are operated by pedals; and it consists partlyin certain improvements, hereinafter described and claimed,in the mechanism for operating the winding and rewinding rollers of the music-sheet.

It also consists in the combinatiomwith a series of reeds and reed-valves, of a corresponding series of small pneumatic motors,

each of which operates by external atmospheric pressure to hold one of the said valves closed until an opening ofthemusic sheet comes over the proper reed-duct.

The invention also consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices for exhausting and filling said pneumatics by means of the main bellows of the instrument and causing them to raise and lower said valves; also, in divers additional details of construction and combi nation, hereinafter particularly set forth.

In the accompanying d rawings,Figu re 1 rep resents a central vertical section, from front to rear, of an instrument embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a similar section of the same on the line just within the outer case, on the side next the fan. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the greater part of said instrument. Fig. 4 represents an enlarged additional detail view illustrating one of the clutch-sleeves and the proximate parts of the roll-spindle and shaft geared therewith.

In the accompanying drawings, A designates the casing of the instrument; B, the two ped als; C,the main or reservoir bellows connected by suitable passages for exhausting air. from the interior of the wind-chest A; and D, one of the two feeder-bellows arranged side by side in front of it, all three bellows standing upright in the lowerpart ol' the case A. To

Serial No, 195.921. (No model) enable said pedals to operate said bellows and certain other devices to the best advantage, I provide a transverse shaft, E,which has upon it two ratchet-wheels, F, that turn therewith, motion being given to said shaft by means of pawls G. These pawls are attached to levers H, of the first kind,which are mounted loosely on said shaft, the outer ends of said levers being connected to said pedals, respectively, by links I. These pawls, ratchet-wheels, and attached parts are arranged to communicate a step-by-step motion to said shaft as said pedals are alternately operated by the players feet. Cords J,passing from said pedals,respectively, over pulleys j, effect the expansion of the respective feeder-bellows D for the purpose of ex hausting the main or reservoir bellows C. The contraction of said bellows D is caused by a spring, j, in each instance. It has not been deemed necessary to illustrate more than one of said feeder bellows, their construction and arrangement being well known.

The shaft E carries a loose drum, K, which is connected to said shalt by a coiled spring, L, the inner end of the spring being attached to the shaft and the outer end to the drum. Thus the power continuously stored in the spring by the rotation of the shalt is given out through the drum, the spring serving to make the motion regular and even. A belt, M, passes from this drum to apulley, t, on a small shaft, N, arranged in the upper part of case A, parallel to shaft E, This shalt N is provided with a gear-wheel, N, which meshes with a pinion, 0, on another shalt, G, bearing a gear-wheel, O, and a pulley, 0". Thislatter gear-wheel meshes with a pinion, 5-), on a fanshaft, P, and pulley O is connected by an endless cord or chain, q, preferably elastic, to a pulley, (1, on a shaft. Q. These four shafts N O P Q are journaled in the sides of a rectangular metallic case or frame, Q,so that they may all be removed together, with their gearing, from the instrument. Shafts N and Q extend through the inner wall of said frame or case, and shaft 1. extends through both walls, bearing a fan, R, outside of the outer wall, which serves as a fly-wheel. This fan-shaft P is movable endwise and provided with a spring, 2-, which tends to hold its pinion p in position to engage gear-wheel O.

S designates the winding-roll, and T the rewinding-roll, of the music sheet, the former being arranged in axial alignment with shaft N and the latter with shaft Q, each roll being provided with spindle N or Q? for engagement therewith.

On spindle N is a sliding clutch-sleeve, U, longitudinally slotted at u to engage a pin, l on shaft N, which causes it to turn with said shaft. This sleeve is also provided at its outer end with a lug, a and at its inner end with a lug, 10 the former being for the purpose of engaging a pin, a, on shaft N, and the latter for engaging a pin, a, on spindle N". It is not necessary to use both of these pins n n. The one employed must be attached to the spindle N to be practically operative, provided the pin N and slot it connect the clutch-sleeve, as above described, to shaft N. Of course they may connect it to spindle N instead. A feather and groove or prismatic shape of shaft and sleeve interior may be substituted for this pin and slot. Shaft Q and spindle Q are provided in like manner with pins Q Q5 q, and united by a clutch-sleeve, U, having a slot, at, and terminal lugs u u", these parts all being constructed, arranged, and operating as the corresponding ones on the other shaft. Clutch-sleeve U has an annular flange or collar, U and clutch-sleeve U has a similar one, U a shifting-bar, V, which is fulcrumed at its middle, being slot-ted or recessed at each end to fiton said flanges. hen said bar is vibrated so as to shift one of said clutchsleeves out of engagement, so that its roll will not be operated, it throws the other sleeve into engagement. Thus when the shaft N is rotating the winding-roll to move the musicsheet for governing the playing of the instrument the shaft Q and the rewindingroli are not in gear, but when the clutclrsleeve of the former shaft and roll is shifted out of gear the other clutch -sleevc, U, is simultaneously shifted into gear, so that the rewinding-roll will be driven by the shaft Q. This latter shaft turns in the opposite direction from that of shaft N. The arrangement of the gearing is such as to make its motion more rapid. Thus the operation of rewinding is greatly shortened.

The fan-shaft P is of course useless during the operation of rewinding, and to get it out of the way and lessen friction I employ an endwisemovalole bar, V, which bears against the inner end of said shaft and forces it out ward, so as to remove the pinion p from engagement with the gear-wheel 0 against the resistance of spring r. This bar is arranged to be struck and moved endwise by the shifting-lever when the latter puts the clutch-sleeve Uin position for the shaft Q to operate the rewinding-roll. \Vhen the pressure thereon is removed, the spring 1' replaces the shaft]? and endwise movable bar V in their former position, so that the former will be in readiness for operating simultaneously with the winding-roll and acting as a fly-wheel therefor.

1V designates the tracker-range over which the perforated music-sheet is drawn as it runs from the spool or rewinding-roll T to the winding-roll S. This tracker-range is disposed centrally of the action-board and wind-chest A,and extends down through the top or action board,A ,and connects with the bottom board, X, the spool T and winding-roll S being located at right and left of the tracker-range, as indicated. The tracker is provided with the usual series of windways or ducts, w, at intervals corresponding with the lines of openings in the music-sheet, and said ducts to at the lower edge of the tracker'range connect in alternate order with channels or windways w, formed in the bottom board, X, and extending right and left to positions beneath the sets of reeds, where they communicate with passages wflformed vertically through the bottom board.

Two separate sets of reeds, \V, are employed, which are arranged in tube-blocks A upon the top of the wind-chest A, the airpassages a from the respective reed-cells passing down through the action-board A in the usual manner of reed board construction. The reed-valves W are seated upon the under side of the actionboard for closing the passages, and are confined in place by wire pins passing through slots in their ends, the valve being free to drop from its seat when unsupported by the actuating devices.

Ledges or bars 3/ are arranged beneath the ends of the valves V to prevent either end thereof from falling too far away from their.

seats when released for opening.

A series of pneumatic motors,X. corresponding to the number of reed-valves \V" and openings w", which latter are directly beneath the valves,are disposed beneath said openings and attached to the lower side of the bottom board, X, of the wind-chest, as illustrated. Said pneumatic motors are respectively connected with the air-channels w and with the windchest chamber by way of the passage 20 and are collapsible by external air-pressure whenever partial vacuum is induced within them.

Pitman rods or pins XV Xtend up from the pneumatics X to the valves W for operating them Said pitmen pass through the openings to", their lower ends resting against the back of the valve in such manner that the collapse of the pneumatic will close the valve and expansion of the pneumatic will allow the valve to open by its gravity and the air-pressure from above. The upper part of the pitinan passes through a guide, G or perforated strip fixed at a short distance below the valve, which guide serves to keep the pitmau end in proper relation to the valve; and also, if desired,acts

as a stop for the downward movement of the valve. The only passage for inlet and outlet of air to or from the chamber of each pneumatic motor is through the space around the pitman or rod Wiwhich is made of a sectional area somewhat less than the area of the passage w, and any flow of air through said passage tends to carry the pitman in the direction of the flow or to assist the pitman in moving freely and quickly.

The operative action of the several pneumatic motors and reed-valves throughout the sets being similar, it will be sutlieient to ex plain asinglc action,whieh is as follows: \Vhen the air in the windchest is exhausted by action of the main bellows and the tracker-duct is closed by the musie sheet, the chamber in the pneumatic is exhausted through the pas sage w to the wind-chest and the pressure of external air collapses the pncu matic motor and forces up the pitman \V, thereby holding the valve \V" closed so long as partial vacuum exists within the pneumatic motor. Then the duct of the tracker is opened bya perforation of the music sheet passing over its mouth, the air passing in through said duct and the channel w and down into the space around the pitnan pin equal izes the pressure externally and internally of the pneumatic motor, and the superior pressure then being on the valve XV" and acting in the direction with the gravity of the valve and pitman,efieets the expansion of the pneumatic and allows the valve to fall, so as to open the passage for the flow of air through the reed, which thereupon sounds. WVhen the unpe'rforated part of the musicsheet comes over the mouth of the air-duct and the inlet of air thereto is prevented, the exhaustion is again established within the windway and pneumatic X, which latter is imme diately collapsed by external atmospheric pressure, and by reason ofit-s larger area overcoming the downward pressure on the valve, forcing upward the pitman and reed-valve and effecting the closure of the passage a to stop the sounding of the reed. Each reed-valve and reed is operated in this manner according to the arrangement of the openings in the musicsheet and consecutively as the openings pass the tracker-range \V.

The pneumatic and valve mechanism, constructed as herein shown, operates withoutthe aid of springs for either opening or closing the pneumatic or valve, and is very simple, convenient, and practical for construction, and is not liable to derangement or to get out of order when handling or transporting the in struments.

Having thus described my inventiomwhatl claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The, combination, with the wind -ehest and traelier-range in an automatic musical instrument, of a reed the ainpassage for which is provided with a reed-valve seated upon the inner side of the top board of the wind ehest and free to rise and fall, a pneumatic motor located externally upon the bottom of said wind-chest opposite said reed-valve, a windway leading from the trackei range into said pneumatic motor, and also into the wind-chest, and a pitman extending from the interior of said pneumatic motor to the back of said reed- [valve, and disposed within the passage or windway through which air is supplied to or exhausted from said pneumatic motor, substantially as set forth.

2. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of an exhaust chamber or windchest having a series of openings through its bottom board, channels within said bottom board leading to said opeui ngs, a tracker-range the ducts of which respectively communicate with said channels, a series of pneumatic motors disposed externally, and respectively covering the openings in said bottom, and a series of actuating pitmen or pins passing through said openings from the interior of the wind-chestiuto 'the interior of the pneumatic motor for receiving motion therefrom, substair tially as shown, whereby the entering and outgoing air is utilized to assist in the actuation of said pitman, as set forth.

3. A windchest which has two series or sets of reeds on its upper side, two series of externally-disposed pncu matics on its under side, series of reed valves beneath said reeds, pit manrods extending direct from said pneir matics to the respective reed-valves through passages in the bottom of the wind-chest, and a tracker range the air-duets in which are alternately connected with channels extending to the respective series of pueumatics, and a bellows mechanism for inducing exhaust-pressure within said wind-chest, substantially set forth.

4. In an automatic musical instrument, a

tracker-range provided with a series of ducts or air-passages which connect alternately with two series of passages formed in the bottom board of the wind-chest and leading to series of pneumatic motors X, disposed on said bottom board at the right and left of said tracker, combined with a double series of reeds and reed-valves disposed upon the top of said wind-chest, and connections for operating said valves from the respective pneumaties, as set forth.

5. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination, as described, of a windchest the top and bottom boards of which are provided with air-passages, a series of reeds disposed upon the exterior of the top board, a series of inwardlyopening reed-valves disposed on the interior of said top board, covering the airpassages opposite the respective reeds, a series of pneumatic motors disposed upon the exterior of the bottom board and collapsible by external atmospheric pressure, a trackerrange having a series of aird cts connecting with passages leading into said pneumatic motors through the bottom board of the wind chest, a perforated music-sheet acting as a valve for said trackcr ducts, and pitmau-pins connecting the respective pnenmatics and reed-valves in their order for closing said valves when the pneumatic motor is collapsed by reason of the exhaustive force upon the pneumatic being overcome by llow of air let IIO in through the tracl cr-dnct as a perforation rewinding roll, two shafts respectively arot' the musicshect passes over said duct, substantially as set forth.

6. lhe combination of a pedal, a drivingshaft, a ratchet-wheel on said shaft, a lever carrying a pawl which engages with said ratchet, alink connecting said pedal with said lever, and connections between said shaft and the bellows, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a pedal, a drivingshaft, a ratchctwvheel, a lever carrying a pawl which engages with said ratchet-wheel, a link connecting said pedal to said lever, a spring-drum wound by said shaft, a shaft which is belted to said drum, and a windingroll for the mnsic-sheet,which is connected to the latter shaft, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination with the windingroll and ranged to be clutched therewith, ashifting-lever and a pair of clutch-sleeves for effecting this clutching alternately, a sliding bar arranged to be operated by said lever when the winding-roll is unclutched, a fan-shaft normally in gear with the shaft which drives the Winding-roll, but arranged to be thrown out by said bar, and a spring for replacing said fan-shaft in its normal position, substantially as set forth. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MOTAMM ANY.

Witnesses:

D. H. DRISOOLL, WM. H. BABCOCK.

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