US712900A - Practice-clavier. - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Shoal l.

Patented Nov. 4, I902.

A. C. BERGHAN.

PRACTICE CLAVIER.

(A'pplicntion flled July 9, 1901.)

No. 7|2,9oo.

(Ila Model.)

1% EFF? WITNESSES m. 7|2,9oo.

A. e. BEBGIAII.

PRACTICE GLAVIER.

A u m e, 1001. (lo lodol.)

Patented Ngv. 4, I902.

a sum-sum a.

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMOS O. BERGMAN, OF NTHV YORK, N. Y.

PRACTlCE-CLAVIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,900, dated November 4, 1902.

Application filed July 9, 1901. Serial No. 67,608. (No niodelfi T (LZZ whom it 'lm'ty concern.-

Beit known that I, AMOS O. BERGMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing atNew York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Practice-Claviers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to practice-claviers; and it has for its object to provide an iin proved instrument of this class which shall possess features of superiority with respect to positiveness and smoothness of operation and facility of assembling and disconnection of parts and wherein the action will permit of increased delicacy and accuracy of touch and will simulate more closely the action of a pianoforte.

The present invention in its specific features of departure from the prior state of the art comprises certain improvements over the subject-matter covered by a prior application for Letters Patent of the United States, filed by me June 5, 1900, and upon which application Letters Patent were issued February 12,

1901, numbered 668,003; and said improve,

ments pertain more particularly to an upright type of action, in which the hammer elements normally occupy an upright position.

A further particular object of the present invention consists in the provision of an im-. proved hammer element ofincreased accuracy of adjustment and responsiveness of operation.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View, centrally broken away, of a-practice-clavier action and the casing thereof, the whole being constructed according to the present invention and parts being omitted for clearness of illustration. Fig. 2 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the improved hammer element embodied in the present invention. Fig. 4. is a detail horizontal sectional view of the improved hammer element, taken upon the line X X, Fig. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation, partly broken away and partly in section, of the primary sounding element and means for adjusting the same, the parts of the same being in operative position. Fig. 6 is a similar view, the parts being in inoperative position. Fig. 7 is a similar view, partly in section and partly broken away, of the see oudary sounding element and means for adjusting the same, the parts of the same being in operative position. Fig. 8 is a similar view, the parts beingin inoperative position. Fig. 9 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the secondary sounding element and the means for adjusting the same.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the bottom member, and 2, 3, at, and 5 designate, respectively, the front, rear, and side members of the casing or frame of theaction of my improved practice-clavier. The sides 4 and 5 are connected by a front plate 6, which is spaced above the bottom member 1 to accom inodate the keys 7 in the customary manner. Transversely of the bottom member 1 is arranged a balance-rail 8, upon which the keys are pivotally supported by the balancepins S). The bottom member 1 embodies a stop-plate 10 at the forward edge of the same, and said stop-plate is provided with the guidepins 11, which operate in the customary manner in connection with the slotted forward end portions of the keys. The front plate 6 is provided at its lower edge with a cushionstrip 12, which is thus interposed between the same and the keys. A stop-plate 13 is arranged transversely of the rear of the bottom member 1 and serves to limit the downward play of the keys. The keys 7 are preferably weighted at their rearward ends, as at 14, to cause the maintenance of the same in normal position, wherein their forward ends are elevated for operative depression; but to cause a variable resistance to the operative depression of the forward ends of the keys for the customary practice and exercise purpose I may employ a suitable touch-regulating mechanism 15, in which a plurality of spring-fingers 16, arranged to bear upon the rear end portions of the keys, are carried by a pivoted touch-bar 17, which latter may be moved by means of a regulating-arm 18, provided with a knob or head 19, and through the medium of suitable connection devices to 1 increase or decrease the tension of the springfingers 16 upon the rear end portions of the keys.

The touch-regulating mechanism described constitutes in its essential features the subjectonatter of a separate application for Letters Patent of the United States which was filed by me December 13, 1900, Serial No. 39,852, and while admirably adapted for the purposes in view constitutes'no part of the present invention and may be departed from as desired in practicing the latter.

Each of the keys 7 actuates a separate hammer element 21, which hammer elements are installed in a series transversely of the frame or casing of the action .and above the keys and are arranged to be operated in connection with a primary sound-producing element 22 and a secondary sound-producing element 23 to produce the customary clicks or toneless sounds. These sound -producing elements extend transversely of the frame or casing of the action and above the keys 7 and are capable of movement into and out of the paths of play of adjustable primary and secondary striker devices 24 and 25, respectively, and which are carried by the hammer elements 2], there being provided one of the primary striker devices and one of the secondary striker devices for each of the hammer elements.

The sound-producing elements 22 and 23, the hammer elements 21, and the touch-bar 17 are all preferably mounted upon a plurality of upright supports 26, which rest upon the bottom member 1 of the frame or casing of the action and extend in a series or row transversely of the same, the keys 7 being properly formed and arranged to accommodate said supports in their upward projection.

27 designates means for moving or adjusting the primary sound-producing element 22 into and out of the path of play of the primary striker devices 2%, and 28 designates means for moving or adjusting the secondary sound-producing element 23 into and outof the path of play of the secondary striker devices 25. The primary sound-producing element is designed to be operated upon by the primary striker devices in the depression of the forward ends of the keys 7, and the secondary sound-producing element is designed to be'operated upon by the secondary striker devices in the elevation of the forward ends of the keys 7, and through the agency of the adjusting or moving means 27 and 28 both sound-producing elements may be so controlled as to permit of the customary click upon either the depression or elevation, or both, of the forward ends of the keys for the well-understood practice purposes.

The hammer elements 21 are carried upon any jumping or overthrow action of the same. Each of the hammer elements 21 comprises a hammer proper, 31, a pivoted supporting-flange 32, and a fixed'foot 33. The striker devices are carried by the hammer proper and at the upper or outer end of the same. Tensional means 34 are provided, which operate upon the flange 32 and the hammer proper, 31, and exert a tendency to maintain the hammer proper in normal position. The pivotal connection of the flange 32 and the hammer proper, as at 35, constitutes the operative pivotal support of the latter and permits the hammer proper to play in a path of movement longitudinal of the action and in a vertical plane. The hammer proper is actuated through the medium of the fixed foot 33, which is,directly engaged by an upright capstan-screw 36, fixed to the respective key 7. The tensional means 34: normally maintains the fixed foot 33 in contact with the capstanscrew 36 for immediate actuation upon depression of the forward end of the respective key.

Each hammer proper, 31, is provided at its upper end and upon its rear face with a cushion 3l ,which engages the primary soundproducing element 22 to limit the inoperative rearward movement of the respective hammer element.

Each of the fixed feet 33 may be formed integral with the respective hammer proper, 31, and projects forwardly from the lower end of the same at a general angular divergence from the longitudinal axis of the same of approximately ninety degrees. The said fixed feet are preferably of slightly downwardly curved longitudinal formation and terminate at their forward or outer ends in depending .contact-pieces 52, the lower operative surface working contact with the respective capstanscrews 36.

Each of the hammer elements is provided with an adjustable stop device 54, whereby may be regulated the normal position of the same for proper actuation by its respective key 7 to obtain the proper operative movement of the hammer element. The stop devices 54 preferably operate in connection with the support-rail 29, the forward longitudinal edge portion of which is rearwardly beveled, as at 55, to form a contact-surface beneath the flanges. Each of the stop devices 5a is carried by the respective fixed foot 33 of the hammer element at a point forward of the longitudinal axis of the respective hammer proper, the relative arrangement of parts being preferably such that the longitudinal axis of the respective hammer proper is intermediate ot the point of pivotal connection of the respective flange 32 and hammer proper, 31, and the position of the respective stop device. It follows from the association of parts that two lines drawn, respectively, between the u pper end of each hammer proper and the point 35 of pivotal connection of the respective flange and hammer proper and between the respective stop device and the point of piv- IlO otal connection of the respective flange and hammer proper will diverge at an angle at the point 35 of pivotal connection of the respective flange and hammer proper, and an increased leverage of the respective stop de-- vice upon the hammer proper in the contact of the stop device with the support-rail is thus obtained, causing an increased delicacy and responsiveness of action of the hammer element, due to a more positive termination of the movement of the hammer element to normal position.

Each of the stop devices 5% may consist of a screw-shank 56, which is threaded in the respective fixed foot 33 and carries beneath the same a button 57, the lower face of which is formed to fit fiat upon the beveled contactsurface 55 of the support-rail 29, the screw shank 56 projecting obliquely upwardly through the respective fixed foot 33 when the button is in engagement with the supportrail. The button-shank is provided at its upper and forward end with an eye or head 58, whereby the stop device 5i may be adjusted.

The primary and secondary sound-producing elements 22 and 23 may consist each, as set forth in the prior Letters Patent initially herein referred to, of a rigid bar or rail 59, preferably of wood and provided with a projecting operative contact portion 60, of metal, rubber, or other suitable material, which latter is in operation engaged by the respective primary or secondary striker devices to produce the required clicks or toneless sounds. Said sound-producing elements are pivotally carried by the supports 26, as at 61 and 62, respectively, and are respectively moved or swung into or out of operative position by the means 27 and 28, respectively.

Each of the supports 26 embodies three brackets or members 63, 64, and 65,1'espectively, by means of which the sound-producing elements 22 and 23, the support-rail 29, and the touch-bar 17 are respectively supported or carried, and said members for the proper and convenient association or assemblage of parts vary in altitude from the forward to the rearward member, the member 63 constituting the forward member, the member constituting the rearward member, and the member 64 constituting the intermediate member. The entire support may be of integral construction, as illustrated, and be inexpensively cast or otherwise formed of suitable metal. The bracket 65 consists of a rearwardly-projecting arm 74, with which the touch-bar 17 is pivotally connected.

The means 27 for moving or adjusting the primary sound-producing elements 22 may consist of a thumb-lever 76, pivotally connected, as at 77, with one side member 5 of the casing or frame at one side of the key board 73, consisting of the forward ends of the keys 7, and an adjusting-bar 78, which is slidably supported upon a block 79, mounted upon the bottom member 1 of the casing or frame, said adjusting-bar being pivotally connectcd at its forward end, as at 80, with the lower end of the thumb-lever 76 and pivotally connected at its rearward end, as at 81, with a toggle 82, which latter is in turn pivotally connected at its upper end, as at 83, with a fixed arm 84, which is secured to the top of the bar 59 of the primary sound-producing element 22, as at 85. The adjustingbar 78 is capable of reciprocation longitudinally of the casing and is maintained in adjusted position by means of a flat spring 86, one end of which is fixed, as at 87, to ablock 88, mounted upon the bottom member 1 of the casing or frame. The th umb-lever is provided with a finger-piece 89, by which it may be oscillated to reciprocate the adjusting-bar 78 and swing the primary sound-producing element 22 upon its pivotal support either into or out of operative position with respect to the primary striker devices 24.

The means 28 for moving or adjusting the secondary sound-producing element 23 may consist of devices the duplicate in construction and arrangement of the parts and features 76 to 89, inclusive, and are designated by the reference characters 76 to 89, inclusive; but the means 28 are arranged at the opposite side of the casing or the frame. Vith the parts of the means 27 in inoperative position the toggle 82 extends substantially vertically beneath the sound producing element 22, while with the parts of the means 28 in operative position the toggle 82 extends substantially vertically. The two sound-producing elements thus swing toward each other into operative position and away from each other out of operative position.

Each of the finger- pieces 89 and 89 of the thumb- levers 76 and 76 is moved rearwardly to bring the respective sound-producing element into operative position and forwardly to bring the respective sound-producing element into inoperative position.

It will be noted that the hammer elements 21 extend in a continuous series transversely of the action and respectively in vertical alinement with the keys 7, and the sound- producting elements 22 and 23 also extend transversely of the action atright angles with and above the keys. By disconnecting the support-rail from the supports 26 the hammer elements in their entire assemblage may be removed from the casing or frame, permitting the keys to be removed. The several parts of the action are then conveniently assembled or disconnected in manufacture or for repair.

The adjusting means 27 and 28 are provided each with separate adjustable stop devices 90, each of which latter may consist of a stopscrew 91, which is mounted in the frame of the action at one end of the keyboard 73, as at 92, and is arranged to bear upon a contactpiece 93, carried by the respective lever 76 or 76. By means of the stop devices 90 the throw or pivotal movement of the sound-producing elements may be finely regulated to obtain the properoperative contact of the striker devices with the same.

The operation and advantage of my improved practice-clavier will be readily under- I stood.

The methods of use for practice, technical and instructive, of the improved practice-clavier is well known and fully disclosed in the prior art, being similar in general principle to the methods of use of the practice-clavier covered by the prior Letters Patent initially herein referred to. The keys 7 are operated upon by the fingers at the keyboard '7 3 in the same manner as the keyboard of a piano, and the depression of the keys at the keyboard serves to actuate the hammer elements through the medium of the capstan-screws 36, and the hammers proper, 31, are oscillated rearwardly to cause the operative engagement of the primary striker devices 24 with the primary sound-producing element 22. The impact of this engagement causes the repulsion of the hammers proper, which repulsion, together with the tensional action of the tensional means 34, causes the operative engagement of the secondary striker devices 25 with the secondary sound-producing element 23.

The sound-producing elements may be readily moved or adjusted into and out of the paths of play of the respective primary and secondary striker devices by the respective adjusting means 27 and 28 and will be positively retained in operative position partly through the media of the respective springs 86 and 86, which bear operatively upon the respective adjusting- bars 78 and 7 8. The touch-bar 17 may readily be operated upon by the touchregulating means 15 to vary the tension of the spring-fingers 16 upon the keys according to the resistance with which it is desired to 0ppose the operative depression of the keys. The weighting of the rear ends of the keys at 14 causes, normally, the return of the same to normal position, in which the forward ends of the keys are in elevated position for operative depression.

In the detail operation of the hammer elements, in which operation the novel construction and association of parts embodied in the present improvements permit of a highly perfect simulation of the hammer action of a pianoforte,the fixed feet of the same engage with the capstan-screws previous to the completion of the excursions 0f the keys, and thus cause simulation of the same effect produced in pianoforte-playing. The tensional means 34 yieldingly oppose the initial oscillation or actuation of the hammer elements, and thus cause an efiect similar to that produced by the inertia-opposed movement of the parts of a pianoforte. The adjustable stop devices 54 may be adjusted with respect to the degree of projection of the buttons 57 beneath the fixed feet 33 to regulate the forward play of the hammer elements 21 and provide for the proper contact of the contact-pieces 52 with the capstan-screws. The arrangement of the stop readily be adjusted to compensate for wear and tear of the parts and to provide for the perfect operative con tact of the same with the sound-producing elements 22 and 23.

By providing the supports 26, embodying unitarily the three members or brackets 63, 64, and for the respective support of the sound-producing elements, the hammer elements, and the touch-bar-17, I obtain superior advantages in point of rigidity and braced relationship of parts, together with facility of assembling and disconnection of parts.

The entire action closely simulates in use the action of an upright pianoforte and as a practical instrument is productive of superior results from a standpoint of technique.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specific form, construction, and arrangement of parts as herein described and shown, but reserve the right to vary the same in adapting the improvements to varying conditions of use within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an improved practice-clavier, a support; and a hammer element pivoted to the support and consisting of a hammer proper, a projecting fixed foot adapted for engagement to actuate the hammer proper, and an adjustable stop device carried by the fixed foot and arranged to coact with the support to limit the movement of the hammer proper.

2.-- In an improved practice-clavier,a soundproducing element, a hammer element, a key, and touch-regulating means for the key; and a support consisting of three projecting and connected brackets with which the soundproducing element, the hammer element and the touch-regulating means are respectively means for the keys, and a plurality of se-' rially-arranged supports; each of said supports consisting of three connected brackets with the forward of which the sound-producing element is pivotally connected, the rearward bracket consisting of a projecting arm with which the touch-regulating means are pivotally connected, and the intermediate bracket extending in a horizontal plane and supporting the support-rail for the hammer elements.

5. In an improved practice-clavier, a support, a hammer element pivoted to the support, a key, a sound-producing element, and means for adjusting the same with respect to the path of play of said hammer element; said hammer element consisting of a hammer proper provided with a striker device which in operation engages said sound-producing element to produce a click, and a projecting fixed foot arranged for actuation by said key and provided with an adjustable stop device arrangedto coact with the support to limit the movement of the hammer proper.

6. In an improved practice-clavier, a support, a hammer element pivoted to the support, a key, and a sound-producingelement; said hammer element consisting of a hammer proper provided with an adjustable striker device disposed for engagement with said sound-producing element, and a projecting fixed foot arranged for actuation by said key and provided with an adjustable stop device arranged to enact with the support to limit the movement of the hammer proper.

7. In an improved practice-clavier, a hammer element, comprising a hammer proper provided with oppositely-directed adjustable striker devices, and a projecting fixed foot provided with an adjustable stop device.

8. In an improved practice-clavier, ahammer element, comprising a hammer proper provided with oppositely-directed adjustable striker devices, a flange with which the hammer proper is pivotally connected, tensional means interposed between the flange and the hammer proper, and a projecting fixed foot provided with an adjustable stop device.

9. In an improved practice-clavier, ahammer element, comprising a hammer proper provided with a striker device, and a fixed foot provided with an adjustable stop device; and a key arranged to actuate said hammer element through the medium of said fixed foot.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

V AMOS O. BERGMAN.

\Vitnesses:

RAYMOND I. BLAKESLEE, GEORGE KNOESEL.

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