US578127A - welte - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 Sheet-Sheet I.

E. WELTE.

MEGHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 578,-127. Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

.- A s W /VVEIVTOH 621 %y (No Model.) 4 Sheets--Sheet 2.

v E. WBLTE.

MEGHA'NIGAL MUSIOAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 578.127. Patented Mar. 2,' 1897.

INVENTOI? m: NoRms PTERS :04 mm (No-Model.)

. 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. E; WBLTE.

MEGHANIGAL MUSIGAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 578 ,l27.

Patented Mar. 2, 1897. TW& ?q w /VVEVTOR BY ATT ;275-

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

E. WELTE.

MECHANICAL MUSIGAL INSTRUMENT. No. 578, l 27. P atente d Mar. 2, 1897.

y l v I ATT EYJ'.

UNITED STATES EMIL XVELTE, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

NElV YORK, N. Y.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPEGIFICATION forning part of Letters Patent No. 578,12'7, dated March 2, 1897.

Application filed February lZ, 1896. Serial No. 579,06l. (No model.)

TO (LZZ 'whom 'z may coucern:

Be it known that I, EMIL lVELTE, a citizen of the Empire of Germany, residing in the city, county, and Sta-te of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mechanical musical instrunents, such as pi pe-organs, orchestrions, and similar instruments, in which not only an improved Wind-chest of extra size is used in connection wi th an eXhaust-cl1est,but-in which improved pneumatic-actions for the registers and for the Valves of the sounding devices are employed and actuated in connection with the wind-chest and eXhaust-chest, so that a more compact arrangement of the pneumatic-actions relatively to the registers and sounding devices and a sinpler Construction and an easier working of said pneunatic-actions is obtained; and the invention consists of a mechanical musical instrument comprising the pneuniatic-actions of the registers and of the valves of the sounding devices, a wind-chest extending over the register-actions and the diaphragms of the valves of the sounding devices, an eXhaust-chest below the pneunatic register and valve actions, d ucts leading from said register and valve actions to the registerpneumatics and to the diaphragms of the valves of the sounding devices, said pneunatics being actuated by the register-actions, and means for connecting the pneumatics with the valves of the sounding devices, and of certain features of construction and comhinations of parts to be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the clains.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 represents a vertical transverse section through the wind-chest and suction-ehest of a Inechanical musical instrument, showing one of the pneunatic register-actions and the connection of the same with the tracker and its perfora-ted music-sheet and with a manual-key. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the relative ar.- rangement of the pneunatic register-actions and the pneumatic valve-actions of the sounding devices to the ducts and valves of the sounding devices. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the parts below the windchest on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, and of the parts within and above the wind-chest, also in vertical longitudinal section, but in a different vertical plane from the lower part; and Fig. t is a vertical longitudinal section online i 4, Fig. 2,

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding` parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the wind-chest, to which air is supplied under pressu re from the hellows and from which air under pressure is supplied to the different pneunatic actions, ducts, registers, and valves of an organ, orohestrion, or other musical instrument.

The wind-chest A is arranged below the ducts leading to the reeds, pipes, and other sounding` devices S and extended over the pneumatic valve-actions, the register-bellows, and the diaphragm-valves of the sounding devices, a larger or smaller number of registers being used according to the number of rows of sound ing devices in the instrument. lVhenever any one of the reeds or pipes is to be sounded, the bellows of its register, as well as the valve of the special sounding device,has to be opened, so as to supply the required quantity of air from the wind-chest and produce the sounding of the reed, pipe, or other sounding device. This is accomplished by means of separate ducts B', which connect the pneunatic-actions B with the different registers, said actions being arranged in line with the pneumatic-actions C for the Valves of the sounding devices. One register-action B is provided for two register-ducts and one Valveaction for every duct C' of the sounding devices, as shown clearly in plan View in Fig. 2.

The pneumatic-actions for the registers and for the valves of the sounding devices are arranged at the central portion of the windchest A, the ranges or rows of sounding devices being grouped in any suitable nanner at both sides of said pneunatic-actions, as required by the special instrument. All the pneunatic-actions B and C of the instrument are so arranged relatively to the wind-chest A and to an eXhaust-chest E, which is located below said actions, that the pressure of the compressed air as well as the suction of the air operate together on the valves of said actions and assist thereby in the quick and effective working of the same. The exhaust- IOC) chest E is connected with the suction-bellows, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and by special ducts c e, passing through the bottom of said eXhaust-chest, either with a tracker and a perforated music-sheet moving over said tracker or with manual-keys, as shown in Fig. l, according as the instrument is to be played either neehanically or as an ordinary organ by keys and stops. As the wind-chest A extends over the pneumatie-actions B O and over the diaphragms of the valves of the sounding devices, it is of con'paratively large size, while the exhaust-chestE, which extends only below the pneumatic-actions E C, is of conparatively small size. The wind-chest is thereby enabled to supply all the actions and individual sounding devices with air in a uniform and reliable manner.

The Pncmatic-Acton of the Register&

Each register is connected by an independent duet B' with its pneumatic register-action B, which is located in a proper relative position thereto, the valves of said aetions extending from the wind-chest A into the eX- haust-chest. Each register-action B is composed of two valves, a setting-valve and an actuating-valve, the stems of which are suspended by means of adj ustable buttons b from an oseillating centrally-fulcrumed lever b', which is supported on a shelf b located on top of the exhaust-chest, as shown clearly in Flg. The actuating and setting valves of the register-action are each composed of two ordinary valves b h and b b", respectively, which are attached to the valve-stem with their faces toward each other, and of a diaphragm t which is attached to the lower end of the valve-stem, said diaphragm-valve extending over a ehamber which is connected by the d uct e' with the tracker or manual-key. On each side of each diaphragm b is located a small duet bfiwhich eonneets the space below the diaphragm b with the eXhaust-chest E, so as to permit the escape of the air from the space below the diaphragm, as soon as the connection with the tracker and music-sheet or manual-key is interrupted, and the return of the diaphragm to its normal position.

The actuating-Valve of each register-action B serves for opening or elosing the registerduets 1-3', connected therewith, while the setting-Valve has no connection with any duet, but only with the wind-chest and exhaustchest, and serves for setting the actuatingvalve, which on being set into open position places the register-duet in communication with the eXhaust-chest and produces thereby the actuation of a series of bellows or pneumatics 13 one for each sounding deviee in the range controlled bythe register. All the bellows B* controlled by one register are simultaneously acted upon bythe air-pressure in the wind-chest A and the suction of the exhaust-ehest E, so as to be quickly act uated. Each bellows or pneumatic B is connected by a forked extension-arm b with one ot the valves of the range of sounding devices controlled by the register-duet B', so as to hold said valve in closed position. Consequently none of the sounding devices controlled by the register can be sounded when the bellows of the register are actuated byits pnenmaticaction B.

hen it is desired to restore the register bellows or pneunatics B to their normal position, so that the valves of the sounding devices connected therewith can be released and the latter sounded, air is permitted to enter through one of the openings in the perforat-ed music-sheet to the duet e, connecting the tracker with the space below the (liaphragm of the actuating-Valve of the register-action B. The suction of the exhaustchest causes then the lifting ot' the actuatin gvalve, so that the connection of the registerduet B'with the eXhaust-chest is interrupted and simultaneously by the oscillating lever b' the setting-valve and its diaphragm lowered, so that the valves of the action assume the position shown in Fig. 1, whereby instantly all the bellows or pneumatics 13 of the register controlled by the duet B' are expanded by their sprin gs and the valves of the entire range of sounding devices controlled by the register released.

The changing motion of the actuating and setting valves of the register-action B is l'acilitated by the pressure of the air in the wind-chest on the upper valves b b and by the suction of the exhaust-chest on the diaphragm ?J at the lower end of the actuatingvalve. The upper openings of the setting as well as of the actuatin g valve of the registeraction B are slightly enlarged, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the raising or loweringof said valves is facilitated by the difference in pressures exerted on the same by the air in the wind-chest, and thereby the changing in the positions ot' the valves quickly accomplished. XVhen anyone of the registers is actuated by its controlling valve-aetion, the bellows of the register retain the valves of the entire range of sounding devices controlled by the register and prevent the sounding of any one of said sounding devices, while any one of the sounding devices in the remaining registers can be sounded. `When none ol' the registers are aetuated, as is the case in special forte parts of a music-piece, then all the registers are open and any sounding device in any one of the registers can be sounded.

The Pncmnatz'c-Aclions of the ;Somali ;m Devces.

Separate pneumatic-actions C and ducts C' connect the eXhaust-chest E with the valves j" of the sounding devices, as shown in Fig. 4. The construction ofthe actions C for the valves of the sounding devices is similar to that of the register-actions B--that is to say, each valve is composed of two individual valves (Z (Z, which are applied to the Valvesten with their faces toward each other, so

IOO

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as to close the upper and lower openings of the ducts C' and of a diaphragn (W, applicd to the lower end of the stern. The space below the diaphragni d' is connected by a separate duct 6 with the tracker or manual-key. Small side ducts d connect the space below the diaphragm d' with the exhaustchest. The upper end of the stem of each valve C is Suspended from-the free end of a spring d against the tension of which the pneumaticaction is set into open or closed position. As soon as the atmospheric air enters through the duet 6 froni the tracker or key into the space below the diaphragm d' the valve C is raised by the suction action of the exhaustchest, the exhaust is shut off from the duct C', and air under pressure passed from the wind-chest A through the duet C@ so that an equilibrium of pressure is established on both sides of the diaphragms of the valves of the sounding devices, Whereby the springs at the upper endsof the valves can lift the same into raised position ready for the actuation of the sounding devices, as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 4:. As soon as the atmospheric pressure is removed from the diaphragm (Z of the action C the air quickly passes 'from the space below the diaphragn through the small relief-duct CF into the eXhaust-chest, and the diaphragm, as wellas the valve C, is lowered, so that the uppervalve d closes the duct C' by the pressure of the air in the wind-chest The access of air into the duct C is therebyinterrupted, and all the diaphragms of the sounding devices are lowered by the simultaneous pressure of the air in the wind-chest and by the suction action of the eXhaust-chest, so that the valves of the sounding devices are held in closed position against the tension of their springs.

The valves F of the sounding devices are composed of a stem f, a valve f on said stern, a button f adj ustable 011 the uppcr end of the stem f, a helical spring f interposed between the bottom of a Valve-cap f* for each valve F, and a diaphragni f to which the lower end of the stern is attached. The duet C' communicates with the space below the diaphragm f above which a cushion f of felt or other soft material, is arranged for the extension-arni b of the bellows 13 The helical spring f assists mainly in opening the valve F, so as to produce the quick actuation of the sounding device when the pneumaticaction O is raised, as shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 4.

In some cases, especially when extra pressure is required for the sounding devices, such as the reeds of brass instruments and the like, the modified valve Construction shown at the upper right-hand side of Figs. 3 and 4: is used. This Valve is intended for the purpose of preventing the objectionable prolongation of the sound, due to the gradual cessation of the pressure in the trunk of the sounding device. This is accomplished by an airduct f which extends through the cover of the structure, so that the valve-cup f is connected with the atmosphere. In this case in place of a helical spring a spiral spring f s employed, which has larger convolutions at the lower than at the upper end. The upper valve f' used in this case is ar *anged as a double valve, which is adapted for closing or opening the duet leading to the sounding device, as well as for opening or closing the opening in the bottom of the valve-cup f which communicates with the air-ductfi passing to the atmosphere. hen the valve f is closed and the sound of the sounding devicc interrupted, the body of air still contained in the duet leading to the sounding device and in the tru nk of the sounding device has a chance to pass off instantly to the atmosphere, so that the extra pressure on the sounding device is relieved, and consequently the objectionable and annoying prolongation of the sound immediately and effectively obviated.

The advantages of in y improved pneunaticactions 'for musical instruments are, first, the i'acility by which the bellows or pncumatics of the registers, as well as the valves of the sounding devices, are actuated by the joint action of the air under pressure in the windchest and the suction action of the exhaustchest on the actions of the register and on the valves of the sou n ding devices; seeondly, the compaet arrangement of the actions for the registers and valves of the sounding devices, by which considerable space is saved, inasmuch as all the actions are arranged cen trall y to the different registcrs and sounding devices; thirdly, owing to the arrangement ot' a wind-chest of large size which extends over the action-valves, as well as over the register-bellows and over the diaphragms of the valves of all the sounding devices, the re- IOO quired quantity of air necessary for sounding any one of the same can be readily supplied from the wind-chest without affecting the pressure of the air in the wind-chest, so that a uniform supply of air to the soundin g device is provided whether a larger or smaller number of the same are actuated at one time; fourthly, the Construction of the pneumatic register-actions, as well as the pneumatic-actions of the valves of the sounding devices, is greatly simplified, so that the expense of the instruments can be considerably redueed, and thereby a mechanically-played pipe-organ or orchestrion placed within the reach of people of moderate means; fifthly, by the simultaneous action of the compressed air in the wind-chest and the suction action of the exhaust-chest on the bellows and diaphragmvalves of the actions of the registers and valves of the sounding devices a quicker response of the bellows and valves of the instrument is obtained, and the same thereby played with greater case and perfection.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- IIO 1. In a pneumatic musical instrument, the conbination, with the pneunatic-actions of the registers and for the valves of the sounding devices, of a wind-chest extending over the register-actions and the diaphragms of the valves of the sounding devices, an exhaust-chest below the pneunatic register and valve actions, ducts leading fron said register and valve actions to the register-phennatics and to the diaphragns ot' the valves of the sounding devices, said pneumaties being actuated by the register -aetions, and means for connecting the pneumatics with the valves of the sounding devices, substantially as set forth.

'2. The combination, with a number of registers, of a pneunatc-action for each register, each action being conposed of a setting and actuating valve, acentrally-fulcrunied lever connecting the setting and actuating valves of each action, a wind-chest extending` above the pneunatic-actions of the registers, an eXhaust-chest located below said aetions, ducts connecting` the wind and exhaust chests with the register-pneunaties, and pneu n atics aetuated by said actions and adapted to retain or release the valves of the sounding devices, substantially as set forth.

3. In a pneunatic-action for the registers of organs, and similar instruments, the combination of a setting-Valve connected with a diaphragm at its lower end, an actuating-valve also connected with a diaphragn at its lower end, a eentrally-fulcruned lever conneeting the upper ends of the setting and actuating Valves, and duets leading froni the actuating- Valves to the registers, the upper portions of said Valves being located in the wind-chest and the lower parts of said valves in the eX- haust-chest, substantially as set forth.

4. In a pneunatic-aetion for the registers of organs and similar instrunents, the combination of a register-action conposed of a settin g-valve and an actuating-valve a cent'allyfulcruined lever eonnecting the upper ends of the setting and aetuating valves, and ducts leading froni the wind and exhaust ehests to the registers, the ends oi' said d uets terminatng in the wind-chest being made sonewhat larger than the ends terninating in the exhaust-ehest for facilitating the actuations of theregister-Val ves, substantially as set forth.

5. The conbination, with the sounding` devices and the Valves of the same, of pneunatieactions for Operating the valves of said sounding devices, ducts leading` from the pn eu naticactions to said valves, a wind-chest extending over said pneunatic-actions and the diaphragns of the valves of said sounding devices, and an eXhaust-chest located below said valve-actions, the wind-chest and exhaustchest being connected with the duets leading fron the pneunatic-actions to the Valves of the sounding devices, substantially as set forth.

0. A valve for the sounding, devices requirin g a heavypressure of air, such as tru npets dac., eonsisting of a stern, a double ValVe on the upper part of said stern, a diaphragn at the lower end of the stern, a valve-cup open at the botton and connected at its upper part with the atnosphere, a button at the upper end of the stern, and a spring between the button and the bottom of the valVe-eup, substantially as set forth.

In testinony that I claim the foregoing` as my inventon I have signed ny name in presence of two subseribing witnesses.

EMIL lVELTE. lVitn esses:

PAUL GOEPEL, GEO. W. JAEKEL.

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