US451662A - stuart - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. H. STUART.

I I 1 I WWI-T125555 Fl '2 IPIJZflTEIK (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' A. H. STUART.

I PIANO ACTION. No. 451,662. Patented May 5,1891.

WITIJESEE5 p jywaz/zw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT II. STUART, OF BOSTON, MASSIXOIIUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO C. O. BRIGGS & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

Pl'ANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,662, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed October 25, 1890. Serial No. 369,317. (No modeLl To all whom it may concern: H, the hammer-butts; I, the hammer-stems,

Be it known that I, ALBERT II. STUART, of and K the hammer-heads.

Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of L is the soft action or pedal rod.

llrlassachusettshave invented certain new and M is the hammer-rail, and N is the bell- 5 useful Improvements in Piano-Actions; and crank lever, the upper arm of which is at- I do hereby declare that the following is a tached to the hammer-rail M and the lower full, clear, and exact description of the invenarm resting on the top of the rod L.

tion, which will enable others skilled in the All of the above-named parts are old and art to which it appertains to make and use well known,and consequently need nofurther IO the same, reference being had to the accomdescription.

. panyin g drawings, and to letters of reference Vhen the different parts are intheir normal marked thereon, which form a part of this positions, as shown in Fig. 1, the hammers specification. rest with their butts II upon the tops of the In the present construction of upright pijacks F, as shown in dotted lines, and conse- I 5 anos the operation of bringing into play the quently the rear portion of each key-lever soft pedal raises the lower arms of the hamwill sustain the combined weight of its rocker mer-levers or the hammer-butts and releases O, connecting-rod D, j ack-bed F, jack E, and the back portions of the key-levers from the hammer II I K. The mechanism is so conweight that they normally sustain. The constructed that said combined weight is about struction of the piano-action is such that said what is requisite to give the key-lever the necweight is necessary when the different parts essary resistance and elasticity whenthekey of the action are in their normal positions to is struck. hen, however, the soft action or give the requisite resistance and elasticity pedal is applied the rod L will raise the lower when the keys are struck. arm of the bell-crank lever N and force the 25 It is the object of my invention to provide upper arm of said lever and the hammer-rail means whereby there will always be the req- M forward, and consequently the ham meruisite amount of resistance and elasticity to stems I, which rest against said rail, will be the key-levers. To accomplish this object forced forward and the hammer-butts II will myinvention consists of ahinged leaf extendbe raised above the jacks F, (see Fig. 3,) thus o ing over the rear portions of the key-levers, releasing said jacks as well as the key-levers and also of means for keeping said leaf out. B from the entire weight of the hammer. of contact with the key-levers when the parts This loss of weight on the key-levers renders of the action are in their normal positions the resistance too slight to the action on the and condition, but which will release orlower keys when they are struck, and renders such 8 5 35 said leaf upon the key-levers when the soft action what is termed slushy. To remedy action or pedal is applied. this difliculty I adopt the following mech- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 111-, anism: lustratesasideelevationofapiano-action,part- For the purpose of my invention I have tly broken away, and wit-h one form of my inillustrated my improvements as applied to 4 Vention applied theretoand the differentparts only two key-levers of a piano, as the appliin their normal positions. Fig. 2 is a partial cation to all the key-levers would be the same plan of the same. Fig. is a similar view to as that to the two shown. Fig. 1, but showing the positions of the parts A is a strip or slat supported in a horizonwith the soft action applied. Fig. l is a partal position above and transversely across the 5 45 tial plan'of a piano-action with aslightly difkey-levers B back of the keys A and in the ferent form of my invention applied thereto. piano-case. The strip A" is removably se- Similar letters representlike parts in all cured in its position on uprights B, (only the figures. one being shown at one end of the key-hearth) A represents the keys; B, the key-levers; and held firmly on said uprights either by the too 5 C, the rockers; D, the connecting-rod; E, the upper end of the same being screw:threaded, jack-beds; F, the jacks; G, the back-checks; passing through holes in the strip A and held therein by nuts 13 or by screws passing through said holes in the strip A and into the uprights B. C is another strip or slat, which is hinged to the strip A back of the same, and D is a weighted leaf or flap, the weights being shown sunk into the leaf at (Z a, and said leaf being hinged to the strip 0 and back of the same. The rear portion of the leaf D extends back of the fulcra Z) of the key-levers B and over the raised portion of said levers, to which the rockers C are socured. Extendingback from one end of the strip A is a tongue 0, for a purpose hereinafter to be explained.

E is a rocking lever fulcrumcd ashort distance back of the tongue 0, and with the end of the shorter or front arm of said lever extending under said tongue. The longer or back arm of the lever E is provided with a yoke (Z, extending outward from its end, and this yoke spans the rod L. The lever E is fulerurned in a similar manner to the keylevers by means of a pin 6, extending upward through a V-shaped opening 6 in said lever. The rod L is provided with an annular flange or collar f, surrounding said rod above the yoke (Z. The collar f is made adjustable upon the rod L by means of a screw 9 passing through the collar and adapted to impinge upon the rod L. The collar)" should be so adjusted upon the rod L that when said rod is in its normal position and before it is raised said collar should be bearing down somewhat the yoke (Z and the long arm of the lever E, and thus raise the shorter or front arm of said lever, the tongue (2 overlapping said arm, the strip 0, to which said tongue is secured, and the weighted leaf D, which is hinged on its upper surface to the strip 0, said leaf being lifted from the rear portion of the keylevers. (See Fig. 1.) When, however, the soft action is applied by raising the rod L, the yoke (Z of the lever E is relieved of the pressure of the collar f, and the weighted leaf D will fall upon the rear portion of the keylevers, adding the weight of said leaf to the same, and by means of the tongue cthe short arm of the lever E is depressed, and the longer arm and yoke (Z will be raised (see Fig. 2) to bring said yoke and arm into position to be depressed by the falling of the rod L and its collar f.

The weighted leaf D may extend entirely across all of the key-levers, or it may be divided up into separate sections, as desired. If it be made into separate sections, (only one section being shown in the figures,) tensionsprings h h, secured to the strip 0 and bearing down upon the leaf D, assist the weights of said leaf, which otherwise might not be sufflcient,in giving the requisite pressure upon the key-lever.

If the leaf D be made all in one piece and extend over all of the key-levers, the depression of one key will cause its lever to meet with the resistance of said entire leaf, which resistance may be too much. If the leaf be divided into sections, however, the depression of one key will have the resistance of only ne sectionthe one over its l6YGl-1O overcome and raise. Hence, ifa long leaf or strip extending over all the key-levers be used, the weight of the leaf alone, without any additional weight, will be necessary and give the desired resistance, while if the leaf or strip D be divided into sections each section will not be heavy enough in itself and the additional weights willbeuecessary. If, however, it be desired to have the resistance to each key more independent of that on the other keys, the strip 0 is dispensed with, and the weighted leaf or strip F is hinged directly to the fixed strip A, as in Fig. t, and instead of said leaf or strip F being adapted to fall and rest directly upon the key-levers, said leaf is provided with tension-springs i Z, one for each key-lever, extending outward from the leaf F and over the rockers C, one spring extending over and adapted to bear down upon each rocker and its key. The tongue 0 extends back from a lateral projection of the leaf F and is acted upon by the lever E, as above described. The normal positions of the parts before the rod L has been raised will be as hereinbefore stated, and the springs Z Z will of course be raised when the leaf F is raised. \Vhen, however, the rod Lis raised the leaf F will drop, and each spring 71, with the added weight of the strip F, will bear down upon its own particular lever-rocker C and thus give an independent resistance to each key-lever as the key is struck. V

The strip C and theleaf or flap 1) of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 virtually constitute, together, a single weighted flap, as when the strip 0 is raised the leaf D will also be raised, and when the strip C is lowered the leaf D will fall.

In the above construction, the strip 0', extending the entire length across the key-levers is heavy enough to rest upon said levers unless raised by the tongue 0; but the flaps D are allowed to be lifted independently by the key-levers. In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the leaf or iiap F is of a sufficient weight to bear upon the key-levers indirectly through the springs Z, unless raised up by the tongue 0, and the springs Z are raised independently of said leaf by the key-levers. In both constructions, however, the springs 7L or z'assist the resistance or weight of the flap upon the key-levers.

My improved mechanism for raising the soft-action rod L, and consequently for operating the connecting parts, is the following: The rod L is provided with a flange or collar is near the bottom of the piano-case X.

G is a lever having its free end or a tongue extending outward from the same extending under the flange 7);, and having its other end fulcrumed near the front portion of the case at 7;.

H is a lever pivoted transversely to the side of the lever between its two ends, with the longer arm of the lever H extending upward and the shorter arm extending downward and beveled, as at Z, from its rear to its front edge, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) and with said bevel and lower end of the lever adapted to ride over the upper surface of the bottom X of the casing.

I is a stop rod extending horizontally through the front board Y of the casing and the rear end of said rod is connected with the upper arm of the lever II by a link m.

In the normal positions of the parts, and when the springs a are raised above the rockers O, the free end of the lever G will rest upon the bottom X of the piano-easing and the flange 75 will rest upon the free end of said lever or upon the tongue extending outward from the same. The lever H will incline backward and the stop-rod I will be drawn into the casing. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) To bring the soft action into operation, the stoprod .1 is pulled out and by this action the upper end .of the lever H is drawn forward and the incline or bevel Z will ride backward over the bottom of the casing, the fulcrum of said lever rising and causing the lever G to rise also and push up the rod L and by the intermediate mechanism before described bring the soft action into play and lower the leaf D or F to bring the pressure of said leaf D or the leaf F and its springs t 1 upon the key-levers.

Fig. 3 shows the positions of the parts when the above operation has been performed, and when the lever 11 has been drawn to a vertical position. Pins 02 n extending outward from the side of the lever G on either side of the lever H serve to limit the play of the latter lever in either direction.

A coil-spring 0 (see Fig. 1) encircles the rod L and has its lower end secured to said rod, and the upper end of said spring bears against the upper surface of the top guide K, through which the rod L passes, this springbeing for the purpose of bearing the rod L down, so as to keep the parts in their normal positions, the rising of the rod L to put into operation the soft action being against the tension of the spring 0.

As is customary in piano-actions, the different bearing or striking parts of the mechanism are furnished with pads to soften the contact of the same with each other.

The parts shown in the drawings which are not specified by reference-letters are common in piano-actions, and therefore need not be described, the illustrations of the same being simply to show the relative operative positions of the other parts of the mechanism.

In place of the yoke d the back end of the lever E alone might extend under the flange f, and the front end of said lever might extend under the hinged lid itselfinstead of under the tongue projecting from said leaf. The back end of the lever G may also extend under the lower end of the rod L, if said rod terminates at the bottom of the piano-casing,

instead of using the flange 7.: and having the lever G extend under this flange.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the key-levers of a piano, of a leaf or flap hinged over said key levers and with its free portion extending back of its hinges and back of the fulcra of the key-levers, and means for lifting said leaf or flap above its hinges and above the keylevers and for lowering it directly upon the rear of the levers, all as set forth.

2. The combination, with the key-levers of a piano, of a spring leaf or flap hinged over said key-levers and with its free portion extending back of its hinges and back of the fulcra of the key-levers, and means for lifting said leaf or flap above its hinges and above the key-levers and for lowering it directly upon the rear of the levers, all as set forth.

3. A new and useful means for giving the necessary resistance to the key-levers of a piano when said levers have been deprived of their normal weight or resistance caused by bringing into operation the soft action of the piano,eonsisting of a strip or leaf hinged over the key-levers and extending over and back of their fulcra points, and means connected with the soft action for automatically lowering said leaf upon the back portions of the levers when said action is applied and for automatically raising said leaf above the key-levers when said action is not in use or is released, all as set forth.

at. The combination, with the key-levers, of a strip or leaf hinged over said levers and extending back of their fulcra points, the rod L, having the flange or collar f, a rocking lever, one arm of which extends under said flange, and the other arm of the lever extending under the hinged leaf or under a projection extending out from said leaf, all as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In combination with the vertical softaction rod, the lever G, fulcrumed near its front end and its back end engaging with said rod, the lever H, having the incline Z for riding over the bottom of the casing, the stoprod 1, and link on, all as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In combination with the vertical rod L, the lever G, fulcrumed near its front end and its back end engaging with said rod, a lever fulcrumed transversely upon the side of the lever G and having one of its arms extending below said lever G, and means connected with the upper arm of said transverse lever for drawing it back and forth, all as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In combination with the key-levers, a leaf or flap hinged to a support over said levers and extending over the back arms of the same, and a tongue extending outward from said leaf to form means by which the leaf may be lifted, all as set forth.

8. In combination with the key-levers, a leaf or flap hinged to a support over said levers and extending over the back arms of the same, a tongue extending outward from said leaf to form means by which the leaf may be lifted, and tension-springs attached to said leaf for assisting the latter in its resistance upon the key-levers, all as set forth.

9. In combination,the strip A, adapted to be secured transversely over the key-levers, a Weighted leaf or strip hinged to the strip A and adapted to extend over the back arms of the key-levers, and the tongue 0, extendin g backward from a lateral projection of said weighted leaf to form means by which said leaf may be lifted, all as set forth.

10. The combination, with the key-levers, of a strip extending transversely over said levers back of the keys and adapted to be secured in such position, and a weighted leaf hinged to said strip and extending back of the same and over the back arms of the key-levers and divided transversely into sections or a series of small leaves for operating on one key-lever or a set of key-levers, all as set forth.

11. The combination, with thekey-levers, of a strip or leaf hinged over said levers and extending back of their fulcra points, the rod L, having the flange or collar f, a rocking lcver, one arm of which extends under said flange and the other arm of the lever extending under the hinged leaf or under a projection extending out from the same, the lever G, the lever 11, and means for drawing back and forth the upper arm of said lever, all as and for the purposes set forth.

Witnesses:

CHARLES C. Braces, J12, PENNINGTON ITALSTE Am.

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