US701535A - Double-bellows action for pneumatic piano-players. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 70|,535. Patented June 3, I902. T. P. BROWN & P. WELIN.

DOUBLE BELLOWS ACTION FOR PNEUMATIC PIANO PLAYERS.

(Application filed June 29, 1901.

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Patented June 3, I902. T. P. BROWN & P. WELIN.

DOUBLE BELLOWS ACTION FOR PNEUMATIC PIANO PLAYERS (Application filed June 29, 1901.)

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N0. 70l,535. Patented June 3. I902.

T. P. BROWN & P. WELIN.

DOUBLE BELLOWS ACTlON FOR PNEUMATIC PIANO PLAYERS.

(Application filed June 29, 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE PARKER BROWVN AND PETER \VELIN, OF WORCESTER,

' MASSACHUSETTS.

DOUB LE-BELLOWS ACTION FOR PNEUMATIC PIANO-PLAYERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 701,535, dated June 3, 1902.

Application filed June 29,1901.

To all whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that we, THEODORE PARKER BROWN and PETER WELIN, citizens of the United States, residing at WVorcester, in the county of WVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Double-Bellows Actions for Pneumatic Piano-Players; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automatic pianoplayers of that typein which a series of keystrikers are arranged to actuate the keys of the piano or other musical instrument, said strikers being operated by means of powerpneumatics and cofiiperating instrumentalities, the action of which is governed by a perforated music-sheet passing over a tracker, said sheet being provided with note-perforations representing the musical score or composition.

The present improvements relate more particularly to devices for producing a more expressive rendition of musical compositions than has heretofore been possible and in simulating closely the effect of manual playing, especially in the matter of the accentuation or individualizing of certain notes or series of notes in a chord or running passage without affecting the other notes of the passage which it is desirable should be spoken softly and in exact time with the accentuated notes in order to preserve strict harmony and accuracy of rendition. Briefly stated, the instrumentalities by which such a result is accomplished comprise what may properly be termed a low-pressure bellows, which is normally used to actuate the sound-producing devices and speak the notes with ordinary tone, and a high-pressure bellows,which is brought into action when it is desired to accentuate or emphasize any particular note or series of notes, the arrangement being such that the two bellows do not interfere with each other in any way, but are each independent and distinct in their action on the other cooperatingparts, so that while the hightension or high-pressure bellows may be acting to individualize one note of a group the Serial No. 66, 193. (No model.)

low-tension or low-pressure bellows will at the same instant be speaking the other notes of the series softly, this resulting in a smoothness and exactness in the rendition of the composition which cannot be attained with the expression devices heretofore used.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a player embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the instrument, the front of the player being removed to illustrate the arrangement of high and low tension bellows and their cooperating parts. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the duct-board controlling the action of the high and low tension bellows to illustrate particularly the arrangement of the l1igh-tension-controlling ducts, whereby one accentuation-opening controls a series of pneumaties or any one of the series. Fig. 4: is a sectional view of the duct-board on line 4: 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail View to show the arrangement of pneumatic controlling-valves on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail'view to illustrate the arrangement of the controlling-valves for the high-tension devices on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a rear view of the bellows and their feeders. Fig. 8 is a view of the top of the tracker with a notesheet passing over it to show the accentuation-openings in the note-sheet and their relation to the note-openings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, like numbers indicating like parts in the several views, 1 designates a case or boxing of any desired form, in which the operative parts and mechanisms of the player are mounted. In the lower part of the case 1 are mounted the bellows above referred to as high and low tension bellows, the low-pressure bellows being numbered 2 and the high-pressure bellows being numbered The said bellows 2 and 3 are independent of each other in that there is no wind connection between them and are preferably placed at each end of the action or case 1, each of said bellows being connected with suitable feeders c and 5 of ordinary construction, said feeders being preferably tied together in pairs, (see Fig. 7,) so that they may be operated by each individual foot, and being connected with pedal mechanism 6 of suitable construction. The said feeders at and 5 are connected with the bellows 2 and 3 through the intermediate wind box or chamber 6, which is divided by a horizontal partition, so that its lower compartment, which is controlled by the feeders for the high-tension bellows, is in communication with said high-pressure bellows, while its upper compartment, which is controlled by the feeders for the low-tension bellows, is in communication with said low-pressure bellows, and from this it will be seen that the said bellows will be exhausted separately. The high tension bellows 3 is preferably made smaller than the lowtension bellows 2, and this is true also of its feeder, for it will be apparent that the high-tension bellows being brought into action only during the accentuation of a note the demand made upon it is of short duration and practically momentary, in consequence of which it need not have the exhaust capacity of the low-tension bellows to enable it to perform its work, and by thus reducing its size the exertion of exhausting it and operating the player is materially lessened. The said low-tension bellows is connected with a series of wind-trunks 7 by means of a vertical trunk or passage 2, which connects with the upper part of the wind-box 6, (see Fig. 2,) each of said chambers 7 being constructed for the most part in the usual manner in that they are provided with ports 8, which connect them with a series of separated diaphragmchambers 9 just beneath them, there being a chamber 9 for each note to be spoken and each of said chambers 9 communicating through a port 10 with a power-pneumatic 11, which in turn is operatively connected with a striker-rod 12, which engages a mechanical key-striking fingel-13 at its upper end. Port 10 is controlled by the usual puppet-valve 14, the stem 15 of which rests upon the flexible diaphragm 16 at its lower end, the pocket 17 below said diaphragm 16 connecting through the ducts 18 with a tracker, to which reference will be made hereinafter.

It will be seen that the wind-trunk 7 runs the entire length of the player, (see Figs. 1 and 6,) as is customary, while the diaphragmchambers 9 are separated from one another by means of vertical division-walls 19, and each of said chambers 9 has a port 20, which pierces its bottom and connects it with a second wind-trunk or vacuum-chamber 21, connected with the high-tension bellows 3 by means of a vertical wind trunk or passage 3, which enters the lower part of the Windbox 6, said port 20 being controlled bya puppetvalve 22, which serves also as the valve controlling the port 8, leading from chamber 7 to said diaphragm-chamber 9, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The said valve 22 is pro vided with a stem 28, the lower end of which rests upon a flexible diaphragm 241-, beneath which is a pocket 25, communicating by means of duct 26 with the puppetwalve box and tracker, to which reference will presently be made.

It has been stated that chamber or wind trunk 7 is connected with the low-tension bellows 2, and it will be apparent that when the said chamber 7 is in communication with any one of the diaphragm-chainbers 9 in the se ries that such diaphragm-chamber, and conse quently its power-pneumatie,will be under the influence of the said low-tension bellows and the notes will be spoken softly whenever the music-sheet selects a certain diaphragmchamher and primary pneumatic for action, the valve 22 under these conditions being in its normal lower position, with the port 8 open and the port 20 closed. If, however, a note is to be accentuated, the music-sheet will, in a manner presently to be described, break the vacuum existing in pocket and duct 26, whereupon the valve 22 will rise, putting the high'pressure wind trunk or chamber 21 in communication with a diaphragm-chamber 9 and at the same time closing a port 8 and cutting out the low-tension chamber 7. This will result in throwing a high tension upon the particular power-pneumatic 11, which is in communication with the diaphragm-chamher 9, and such power-pneumatic will give a more vigorous and stronger blow to the keystriking finger 13 with which it is connected, resulting in an emphasized or individualized note, all this being accomplished without interfering in the slightest with the selection and rendition of the other notes of the group or passages which may be simultaneously rendered. This independent action of the high and low tension bellows is secured both by the arrangement just described and also bya construction of tracker and duct-board, which will now be described.

The tracker 27is of ordinary construction, with the exception that in addition to the usual openings or duct-mouths 28, which lead to the several diaphragm-ehambers of the player, it is also provided with what may be termed aceentuation-openings 20, which in the present case are shown as every fourth opening in the series, although it will be understood that this is an arbitrary arrangement and that such aecentuation-openings may be provided foreaeh note-opening, if desired, or they may be fewer in. number, it thought desirable. Said openings 2.) are slightly in advance of the note-openings 28 in the tracker 27, so as to insure the action of the high pressure on the note to be accentuated, though it is to be understood that such accentuated note is not by this arrangement sounded in advance of or out of time with the other notes of the chord or passage being played, for it is not until. the note-opening in the music-sheet reaches the tracker-opening that it will be aecentuated, the slight lead given to the accentua- Lion-opening being for the purpose of throwing the high-tension chamber into connection with the diaphragm-eha1nber and in readiness to give the more emphatic action to the ITO power-pneumatic which is selected by the note-opening almost instantaneously. Said accentuation openings communicate with and control the valves 22, which control the ports 20, joining chamber 9 with the hightension trunk 21, so that whenever an accentnation-opening in the note-sheet passes one of the said actuation openings 29 in the tracker the high tension is thrown onto the particular diaphragm -chamber and powerpneumatic which may have been selected by a note-perforation. Where a single accentuation-opening 29 controls more than one note, we provide a duct or passage 30, running through the duct-board 31 and connected with said accentuation opening 29, said duct 30 being provided with right-angle extensions 32, which run to the several valves 22 of the pneumatics belonging to the particular group of notes to which the accentuation-opening belongs, so that any one of said valves 22 of the particular group may be actuated from the accentuation-opening 29 and any one of the power-pneumatics belonging to that particular group may be thrown into communication with the high-tension windtrunk. (See Figs. 3 and 4.)

The tracker 27 is traversed by the usual note-sheet 31, mounted upon suitable delivery and take-up rollers 32 33, all in the usual manner, said note sheet having the usual note-perforations and the accentuation-openings 34, and said tracker communicates, by means of suitable passages, with a puppetvalve box or chamber 35, which is divided into two compartments 36 and 37, the said compartment 36 being in communication with the low-tension vertical wind-trunk 2, while the compartment 37 is in communication with the high-tension wind-trunk 3 said compartment 36 being provided with puppetvalves 38, controlling the ducts 18, leading from the note-openings in the tracker to the diaphragm-chambers, while compartment 37 contains the puppets 40, which control the ducts 30, leading to the high-tension chamber 21.

The parts being as above described, the operation of the player is as follows: The feeders being started by the pedal mechanism in the usual manner, the high and low tension bellows Will be put into action to exhaust the respective wind-trunks with which they are in communication, and the primary pneumatics will be actuated ordinarily from the low-tension bellows as the note-perforations pass the tracker-ducts, and the notes are played softly and with ordinary expression. When, however, it is desirable to accentuate a note, an accentuation-perforation in the note-sheet will be brought into communication with one of the aceentuation-ducts in the tracker, and through the puppet-chamberjust described and the accentuation ducts or passages in the duct-board the diaphragmchamber will be thrown into communication with the high-tension wind trunk or chamher, and the pneumatic corresponding to the particular note selected from a group of notes for accentuation will be emphasized, the high tension acting vigorously on the pneumatic and causing it to give a vigorous blow and emphasize orindividualize the note. It will be seen that the action of the high and low tension devices are quite independent, and there being no interference a simultaneous action of the same may be had, so that the necessity of retardation of any of the notes in order to shift from the low tension to the high tension, or vice versa, is done away with, this adding greatly to smoothness of rendition and aceu rate production of musical compositions.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with power-pneumatics and suitable key-operatinginstrumentalities, of alow-tension chamber communicating with said pneumatics, a high-tension chamber independent of said low-tension chamber communicating with said pneumatics, a single valve controlling the ports leading from said low and high tension chambers to each of said power-pneumatics, a low-tension bellows communicating with said low-tension chamber, a hightension bellows communicating with said hightension chamber,and feeders for said bellows.

2. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with power-pneumatics and suitable key-operating instrumentalities, of a low-tension chamber communicating with said pneumatics, a high-tension chamber independent of said low-tension chamber communicating with said pneumatics, a single valve controlling the communication of said tension-chambers with each of said power-pneumatics, a low-tension bellows communicating with said low-tension chamber, a high-tension bellows communicating with said high-tension chamber, a tracker having ducts controlling the valves which regulate the communication of said high and low tension chambers with the power-pneumatics, and feeders for the high and low tension bellows.

3. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with power-pneumatics and suitable key-operating instrumentalities, of a low-tension chamber communicating with said pneumatics, a high-tension chamber independent of said low-tension chamber communicating with said pneumatics, a single valve controlling the communication of said'tension-chambers with each of said pneumatics, a low-tension bellows communicating with said lowtension chamber, a high-tension bellows communicating with said high-tension chamber, and a tracker having separate ducts for controlling the valves which regulate the communication of said low-tension chamber and said high-tension chamber with said powerpneumatics.

4:. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with a low-tension bellows, of a hightension bellows independent thereof, separate feeders for each of said bellows, a low-tension chamber, a high-tension chamber, diaph raginchambers, means for cutting off communication between said diaphragm-chambcrs and said high and low tension chambers, and power-pneumatics in communication with said diaphragm-chambers.

5. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with a low-tension bellows, of a hightension bellows independent thereof, separate feeders for said bellows, a low-tension vacuum-chamber connected with said low-tension bellows, a high-tension vacuum-chamber c011- nected with said high-tension bellows, diaphragm-chambers in communication with both of said vacuum-chambers, a single valve controlling the port between each of said diaphragm-chambers and said low and high tension chambers, and power-pneumatics in communication with said diaphragm-chambers.

(5. In an automatic piano-player, the com bination with a low-tension bellows, of a hightension bellows independent thereof, feeders for said bellows, a low-tension vacuum-chamber, diaphragm-chambers in communication with said low-tension chamber through normally open valved ports, power-pneumatics having valved ports communicating with said diaphragm-chambers,a high-tension vacuumchamber having normally closed ports lead ing to said diaphragm-chambers, means for cutting said low-tension chamber out of communication with said diaphragm-chainbers, and putting said high-tension chamber in com inunication therewith.

7. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with a low-tension bellows, of a hightension bellows independent thereof, feeders for said bellows, a low-tension vacuum-chainber, diaphragm-chambers in communication with said low-tension chamber through normally open valved ports, power-pneumatics having valved ports comm unicati ng with said diaphragm-chambers,a high-tension vacuumchamber having normally closed ports leading to said chambers, a single valve controlling the communication of said high and low tension chambers with each of said powerpneumatics, and means for operating said valve to cut out said low-tension chamberand bring said high-tension chamber into action.

8. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with a low-tension bellows, of a hightension bellows independent thereof, separate feeders for each of said bellows, a low-tension vacuum-chamber in communication with said low-tension bellows, a high-tension vacuunr chamber in communication with said high-tension bellows, independent diaphragm-chambers communicating with both of said vacuum chambers, power pneu matics, pockets separated by the diaphragms from said diaphragm-chambers, a tracker having ducts communicating with the pockets of said diaphragm chambers, valve controlled ports senses leading from said diaphragm-chambers to said pneumatics, and means to cut out said lowtension chamber and simultaneously throw said high-tension chamber into action.

9. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with a low-tension bellows, of a hightension bellows independent thereof, separate feeders for said bellows, a low-tension vacuu iii-chamber in communication with said low-tension bellows, a high-tension vacuumchamber in communication with said hightension bellows, a series of separate diaphragm-chambers having valved ports leading to both of said tension-chambers, a series of power-pneumatics communicating with said diaphragm-chambers, means for selecting any one of said diaphragm-chambers and power-pneumatics for action, and means for cutting out said low-tension vacuum-chamber and throwing said high-tension chamber into communication with any of said diaphragmchambers so selected.

10. In an automatic piano-player, the com bination with a low-tension bellows, of a hightension bellows independent thereof, separate feeders for said bellows, means for operating said feeders, a low-tension Vacuumchamber in communication with said low-tension bellows, a high-tension vacuum-chamber in communication with said high-tension bellows, a series of diaphragm-chainbers in communication with both of said vacuumchambers, a single valve controlling the ports leading from each of said diaphragm-chambers to said vacuum-chambers, power-pneumatics having valved ports leading to said diaphragm-chambers, a trackerprovided with ducts through which said power-pneumatic valves are controlled, said tracker having independent ducts through which the valved ports leading from said diaphragm-chainbers to said vacuum-chambers are controlled.

11. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with a low-tension bellows, of a hightension bellows independent thereof, feeders for said bellows, a low-tension vacuum-chamber in communication with said low-tension bellows, a high-tension chamber in communication with said high-tension bellows, diaphragm-chambers having valved ports leading to both of said vacuum-chambers, power pneumatics having valved communication with said diaphragm-chambers, and a tracker controlling said valved connections between the diaphragm-chambcrs and their power pneuinatics, and between said diaphragmchambers and said low and high tension vacuuni-chambers.

12. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with key-operating instrumentalities, of a low-tension bellows and a high-tension bellows, adapted to be placed in commu nication with said key-operating instrumentalities, valves for controlling the ports leading from said bellows, valves for controlling the ports leading to the key-operatinginstrn mentalities, and a tracker having ducts for IIO controlling the valves which regulate the action of said key-operating instrumentalities, and separate ducts for regulating the valves which control the said high and low tension bellows.

13. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with key-operating instrumentalities, of a low-tension bellows, a high-tension bel1ows,power-pneumatics connected through valved ports with said high and low tension bellows independently of each other, valves in said ports, a tracker having selecting-ducts for controlling the valves which regulate the action of said power-pneumatics, said tracker having accen tuation-duots for controlling the valves which regulate the action of said hightension bellows.

14. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with key-operating instrumentalities, of a low-tension bellows, a high-tension bellows, power pneumatics independently connected through valved ports with said high and low tension bellows, valves in said ports, a tracker having selecting-ducts for controlling the valves which regulate the action of said power-pneumatics, said tracker having accentuation-ducts for controlling the valves which regulate the action of said hightension devices on one or more of said powerpneumatics.

15. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with high and low tension windchests, of the sound-producing instrumentalities operable from either of said chests, a tracker having a series of note-selecting ducts, a series of accentuation-ducts and a ductboard having a series of accentuating-ducts communicating with the aforesaid accentuation-ducts and each provided with a plurality of branches whereby two or more of the soundproducing instrumentalities are controlled from a single accentuation-duct.

16. A tracker for automatic piano-player having a series of note-selecting ducts therein and an accentuation-duct, combined with a duct-board having a plurality of passages or ducts in communication with said accentuation-duct.

17. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with high and low tension windchests, of power-pneumatics operable from either of said wind-chests, valves for controlling the action of the high and low tension wind-chests, valves for controlling the action of the power-pneumatics, a tracker provided with ducts to select and bring into action the valves that control said powenpneumatics, said tracker being provided with separate ducts for controlling the valves that regulate the action of said high-tension wind-chest on a plurality of said pneumatics.

18. In an automatic piano-player, the combination with key-operating instrumentalities, of power-pneumatics, diaphragm-chambers having valved communication with said power-pneumatics, a low-tension chamber normally in communication with said diaphragm-chambers, a high-tension chamber, controlling means for cutting out said lowtension chamber and throwing said high-tension chamber into communication with said diaphragm-chambers, a tracker, connections between said tracker and said diaphragmchambers, and connections between said tracker and said controlling means for the low and high tension chambers.

In testimony whereof we ailix our signaturcs in presence of two witnesses THEODORE PARKER BROIVN. PETER WVELIN.

lVitnesses:

Burns 13. Doncu, Jr., A. Janvrs.

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