US515957A - Pipe-organ - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l. E. HOWARD.

(-No Model.)

PIPE ORGAN.

wnmwmon. o. c.

2.Sheets-Sheet 2. E. HOWARD.

PIPE ORGAN ('Nn Model.)

Patented Mar. 6, 1894.

UNTTnn STATES PATENT @Trina EMMONS HOXVARD, OF WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIPE-ORGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part oiLetters Patent No. 515,957, dated March 6, 1894. Application filed June 5,1893, Serial No. 476.574. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may con/cern,.-

Be it known that I, EMtroNs HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at lifestiield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Organs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to improve the mechanism which governs the stops of a pipe-organ. By the use of this improved organ apparatus individual valves may be employed which move bodily away from, and close against, the orifices of the passagesleading to the pipes, which are advantageous over the heretofore employed slides which move endwise of themselves and transversely to the axes of all or" the pipes of the respective stops; and, furthermore, the entire set of valves, such as just referred to, for all of the pipes of all of the stops may be placedin one common box or wind-chest, instead of in a wind-chest divided into separate compartments for the various stops, as have always been heretofore such individually operating valves for the pipes; furthermore, in the carrying out of the invention, I am enabled to employ pneumatic motors of improved construction in conjunction with the pipe valves which motors are controlled by the keys of the organ.

Other advantages are attained which will hereinafter be set forth, or be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

To these ends the invention consists in constructions and combinations of parts all substantially as will hereinafter fully appear and be set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view showing a part of the wind-chest, several of the pipes of each of the various stops, the controlling devices for the stop valves, andthe connections running from the keys to the mechanism for insuring the sounding of a pipe of one or more of the stops, Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the wind-chest. Fig. 3 is a plan and horizontal cross sectional view of an end portion of the wind-chest and contained devices, the plane of section being indicated by the line 3-3, Fio. 2. Fig. e is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the windchest on the plane indicated by thelinei-A, Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

ln the drawings, A represents the windchest which is here understood as one common, undivided chamber, having throughits top, in longitudinal arrangements, the openings, a, a, at which the lower ends of the several pipes, h, of the various stops are connected. Under, and normally closing, the opening for each of said pipes, is a valve, d, here shown as in the form of a disk or button with the depending ear-lugs,d2; a comparatively light spring d3 maintaining each of the valves closed.

B represents the trunk connection which leads to the wind-chest, from the bellows (not shown) whereby the pressure of the bellows is communicated freely to, and throughout, the interior of the wind-chest, as well as within the supplemental wind chamber, O, which is to one side of, and by the passagaf, always in communication with the wind-chest.

D represents what is herein termed a pneumatic motor,7 as many of these motors being located and longitudinally arranged within and at the bottom of the wind-chest as there are keys of the organ. Each of these pneumatic motors comprises a stationary bottom, g, (as constituted by the board or strip attached to the bottom of the wind-chest, or such motor bottom might be directly formed by the bottom of the wind-chest) the narrow top board, or strip, g2, which is parallel with the bottom, and the leather or other iiexible material, g3, which unites the bottom to the top and incloses the space intermediate between them. The collapsing movement of the bellows is such as to carry the top board always parallel with the bottom.

Each pneumatic motor carries the narrow bar, 7i, the ends of which overhang the ends of the top board, Lrfi-said ends being apertured longitudinally and vertically and having the steadying engagements with the vertical studs, h2. The light springs, h3, are applied under each end cf the said bars, h, to maintain the motors normally in their dis- IOO tended positions, the cleats or ledges, h4, on the front and rear sides of the Wind-chest limiting the upward 'extent of movement of the bars. Each of the bars, h, has a series of eyes, h5, standing above its upper edge, the different eyes of each bar being under pipe valves of several or all of the stops of pipes which are in a line across the wind-chest and which is coincident with the length of thel pneumatic motor. Each of said valves, d, has, pivoted to the ear pieces thereof, the depending leg, t', the foot, i2, at the bottom of each being adapted to be swung into engagement with one of the eyes, h5, of the bar on the top of the motor.

j represents several switch-rods or bars which areextended longitudinallyof the windchest, under, and corresponding to, the various stops or longitudinal series of pipes,- each of these switch-rods having such engagements with the aforesaid swinging legs, depending from the valves which are in a longi# tudinal row under the stop of pipes, that, on sliding the switch-rod in one direction the feet of the said valve-legs may come into engagement with all the eyes of the pneumatic motors which are under the corresponding stop of pipes. Each switch-rod has the attenuated extension, through and outwardly beyond the side of the wind-chest, the three sets of elbow levers, 10, 12, and 13, the conmeeting-rods, 14 and 15, and the drawrods with the stop-knobs, 16, Fig.1, constituting thev mechanism for operating the switch-rods.

The operation of each key of the organ insures the collapsing of the pneumatic motor, corresponding thereto, in the wind-chest, by opening a passage leading therefrom to the outer atmosphere, whereby the equilibrium of pressure between the wind-chest and motor is terminated, although normally the chamber within the motor is in communication with the wind-chest, and closed against communication with the outer air, all as will be apparent, especially on reference to Fig. 2, from which it will be understood that there is a hole, Zr, through the bottom of the supplemental wind-chest, C, corresponding to each key, while angularly from the middle of each of these holes, 7c, a passage, m, runs through the bottom walls of the wind-chests, C and A, and terminates in the orifice, m2, opening upwardly into the pneumatic motor. Double valves, fn, n', with a common valve stem, fm2, are applied at each of said holes, 7o, the spring, n, for each of such double valves normally maintaining them in their elevated positions indicated, whereupon the equilibrium of air pressure in both wind-chests, and in the motors, is insured.

The connections between the valve stems, n2, and the key-levers, o, as shown, consist in the four sets of elbow levers, 17, 18,19 and 20, and the four sets of connecting-rods, 21, 22, 23 and 24 (see Fig. l).

Now, in playing the organ, the depression of any key will insure the collapse of its pneumatic motor, and the collapse of the pneumatic motor will draw down the valves of the pipes of so many stops as the switchrods for such stops have been switched on, that is, for instance, if the first, third, fifth, sixth, and seventh switch-bars are switched to bring the feet of the legs of the valves of the corresponding stops of pipes into engagement with the adjacent eyes of the pneumatic motors on the depression of any key, the motor for such key will cause in its collapse, the depression of the valves of the pipes corresponding to such keys in the first, third, fifth, sixth, and seventh stops. The collapsing movement of the pneumatic motor when the motor is opened to the atmospheric pressure, is so much stronger than the stress of the springs, d3 and h3, of the valves, d, and motor bars, h, as occasioned by the air pressure in the wind chest, as to positively overcome them. It will furthermore be apparent that while any one of the valves, n, opens to relieve the established pressure in the pneumatic-motor corresponding thereto the counter-valve, n', inwardly closes the hole, lc, so that the established pressure in the windchest may not then become dissipated.

It will be perceived that by properly operating the switches through the stop-knobs, either before playing, or during the playing of the organ, any of the infinite number of combination effects may be produced, the depression of any key of course bringing in the pipes of one or several or all of the stops, according to the capacity of the organ and the determination of the player. Even while a key and the motor are depressed and a valve or valves of one or more stops in line with such motor are open, one or more valves of other stops in line with such motor may be also opened by sliding the switch, corresponding to the additional stops to be brought in, whereupon the inclined feet of the valve-legs of the additional stops will act as cams relative to the eyes of the already collapsed motor, to draw down such additional valves, for the motor not giving to the valve, the valve must give to the motor. It is to be understood that even when the motor bars, h, have descended the eyes, h5, carried thereby, do not fall below the range of the adjacent valve hooks. As soon as the key is released the conditions for the equilibrium of air pressure in both wind-chest and motor are quickly re-established whereupon the pipe-valve will close, assisted by the springs, d5 and h3.

An organ constructed substantially as illustrated and described possesses many importantand practical advantagesoverpipe-organs which have been heretofore constructednotable among which may be mentioned that the valves for the pipes operate independently of each other, and instead of being slides, as most common heretofore, are movable bodily to and away from contact with the opening leading outthrough the pipe; therefore no shrinkage to leak, or swelling to bind are now IOO IIO

experienced; and the pipe-tone is also improved as speaking more quickly and decisively.

One motor serves for each key of the keyboard, and may operate a valve of all or as many of the stops as may be desirable and the construction of each motor whereby the motion of its top board is parallel to the plane of bearing of all the pipe-valves is a valuable novelty.

The switch mechanism acting between the valves and motors is simple, efficient, and altogether desirable, and the organization of the organ, generally, has been found unusually simple, economical, and satisfactory.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a pipe-organ, the combination with the wind-chest, and the series of pipes in communication therewith, a series of pneumatic motors having, with the wind-chest normally au equilibrium of air pressure th ercin, valves operated by the keys of the organ for closing each pneumatic motor against communication with the wind-chest and opening it to the outer air, valves for the pipes which are adapted to be detachably connected to the pneumatic motors, and switches for connecting at pleasure the pipe valves and motors, substantially as described.

2. In a pipe-organ, the combination with the wind-chest which is open throughout, and which has openings through one of its walls for several longitudinally arranged stops of pipes, and an individual valve for each pipe opening, of a pneumatic motor for each key of the organ arranged transversely of the arrangement of the pipes and adapted for detachable engagements with the adjacent pipevalves, said motors with the wind-chest having normally an equilibrium of pressure, and means operated by the keys for exhausting and collapsing the pneumatic motors, and

switches for connecting at pleasure the pipe valves and motors, substantially as described.

3. In a pipe-organ, a wind-chest with a series of openings through its top and stops of pipes connected therewith, and valves individually movable to open and close said openings, ot a series ot bellows-like pneumatic motors, each consisting of abase and a top board, and the lieXible inclosing and uniting material whereby the top-board is caused to move parallel with the base,-parts of the top of each motor being adapted for detachable engagements with one valve of one or more of the stops of pipes, normally open passages for insuring an equilibrium of the air pressure between the motors and wind-chest, and key-operated valve devices .for closing the motors against communication with the windchest and opening them to the outer air, and switch devices whereby at pleasure the motors may be connect-ed with a valve of one or more stops of the pipes, substantially as described.

Ll. Inapipe-organ,in combination,the windchest, the stops of pipes communicating therewith through the top of the wind-chest, the pneumatic motors in the wind-chest and passages leading therefrom to communication with the wind-chest, and to the outer air, the double key-operated valves respectively provided t'or these passages normally leaving open communication between the motors and wind-chest, and closing the communication between the motors and the outer air, but movable to reverse these conditions, individual valves for normally closing each of the pipe openings, having the depending and articulated legs which may be swung into and out from engagement with the motor thereunder, and switch-rods controlling said legs for swinging them into or out of the motor engagements, substantially as described.

5. In a pipe-organ, in combination, the Windchest with the longitudinally ranging stops of pipes opening to the top of the chest, and the supplemental chamber, C, freely open to the wind-chest having the openings, 7t,correspond ing to the keys, and pneumatic motors corresponding to the keys arranged in the bottom of the wind-chest transversely to the run of the stops of pipes,-the bottom boards of the main and supplemental wind chests having the passages running from the motors to the middles of said holes, 7o, the key-controlled double valves a, n', at each of said holes, 7;., individual valves for each pipe opening,which are adapted for temporary connection with the motors, and switches for temporarily connecting at pleasure a motor with the adjacent valve of one or more of the stops of pipes, substantially as described.

6. In a pipe-organ, the combination with a valve of oneormorestops of pipes, each consisting of a button with the depending leg pivoted thereto, of a bellows-like pneumatic motor ranging below the valve or valves and having the top board movable parallel to its base and means for switching the pivoted legs into temporary engagement with the motor, substantially as described.

7. In a pipe-organ, the combination with the pipe and individually applied pipe valves, d, having the ear-lugs, d2, and pivoted depending legs with angularly turned eXtensions, of the bellows-like pneumatic motor having its top-board provided with eyes and the switch-rod engaging the said legs, substantially as described.

S. In apipecrgan in combination,the windchest and the stops of pipes opening thereto, and individual spring-closed valves, therefor, the bellows-like pneumatic motors having the top-bars, h, upwardly spring-pressed and having the guide-studs for insuring their movements parallel to the bases of the motor, the stops, h4, h4, and passages leading into the motors, substantially as described.

9. Inapipe-organ,incombination,the windchest having the openings, a, through its tops with which are connected the longitudinally IIO arranged stops of pipes, andthe supplemental rods, j, engaging said legs and having extenchamber,0, open tothe wind-chest and having sions to the exterior of the wind-chest, double the hole, k, and the main and supplemental valves, n, n', at each of the said holes, la, the I5 chests having the passages, m, each terminatkeys, and the stop knobs, and connections be- 5 ing at one end at the middle of one of said tween the keys and said double valves, and holes, the series of bellows-like pneumatic connections between the stop knobs and said motors transversely arrangedinto which said switch-rods, all substantially as described. passages lead, and having at its top the bar,

h, with eyes, h5, and the springs, h3, the in- EMMONS HO WARD' ro dividual spring-closed valves for the pipes, with the depending pivoted legs, adapted to engage adjacent ones of said eyes, the switch- Witnesses:

WM. S. BELLoWs, H. A. CHAPIN.

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