US813769A - Tuning instrument. - Google Patents

Description

No. 813,769. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

I N. BRYANT.

TUNING INSTRUMENT.

APPLIOATIOK FILED M10, 5, 1902.

O O G O G 9 O B 1 O O Q 9.. O Q

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2'7, 1906.

Application filed December 5, 1902. Serial No. 133.9%.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NILEs BRYANT, a citi- I zen of the United States, residing at the city of Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tuning Instruments, of which the following is a specifica- I The objects of my invention are to provide an improved device for use in tuning pianos and like instruments which 1s convenient to use and by the aid of which a piano can be properly tuned by a person unskilled in the art second, to provide an improved device for use in tuning musical instruments and the like which is light and compact and simple the storage-chamber by a suitable passage T.

and economical to produce.

Further objects will definitely appear in the detailed. description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the.

following specification.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accomi panying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which I Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a structure embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure appearing in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is ,a detail transverse sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line A B of Fig. 2, the operating means being shown in connection therewith. Fig. 4 is a front elevation view of a modification corresponding to the view shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modification corresponding to the view shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line A B of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view corresponding to that shown in Fig.- 2, a portion of the casing being broken away to show the arrangement of the parts. Fig. 8 is an-end elevation view of a connecting tip I. i ig. 9 is a detail'longitudinal sectional view of the same.

All apparatus in Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, I provide a reed block or boX D, having a series of thirteen chambers K therein to receive the reeds P. Openings G are provided for each of these chambers toward the rear end thereof for the passage of air to the reeds. The reeds are placed in position in the chambers G and a face-plate C, which is provided with a series of air delivery passages F, adapted to register with the series of chambers in the block D. This face-plate is detachably secured in position by screws II, so

that, if desired, the same can be readily removed. The plate C is also provided with a series of passages E, which open into the passages F. This vents the passages and permits the unobstructed vibration of the reeds, and clear and even tones are secured.

I provide a bellows O of the usual or any desired construction which is arranged to deliver air through the passage S into the rubber storage-chamber M or directly to the reed-chambers. Acheck-valve m is provided to prevent the same passing back into the bellows as it is operated. A flexible tube J is secured to the delivery-tip N, leading from The flexible tube J is provided with a tip piece I, adapted to be inserted into the airdelivery passages F in the face-plate of the reed-block.

In using my improved device it is evident that the tip I can be inserted in any of the openings F desired and that the bellows can be operated by the foot of the operator, and, the hands of the operator are free to adjust the instrument. By means of the elastic storage-chamber M an even continued pressure is secured, so that the tones produced are clear and even and may be sustained at an even pitch as long as desired.

In the modified structure shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 instead of the lateral passages E in the face-plate I separate the face-plate from the block, and so provide a slot R, which embraces all of the reed-chambers. By this arrangement of passages the air can be supplied through an elastic tube or any other means and the tones will be clear. If de sired, the air can be supplied by the operator blowing the tube J, although of course much better results are secured if the bellows with the elastic air-chamber is used, as the tone can then be sustained at an even pitch for an indefinite length of time.

I preferably provide my improved reedblock with thirteen reeds, as these can be arranged to include what is known to musicians as the equal temperament, the several reeds being adjusted to produce the exact tones desired. What is known to musicians as the equal temperament consists of thirteen notes within the scope of one octave. Piano-tuners usually lay the temperament within the octave F in the middle of the keyboard, beginning with the note called middle C, which is first tuned to a tuning-fork or pitch-pipe. F below middle C is then tuned, not to a perfect fifth, but slightly sharp, until there results three beats in five seconds. Next the fourth below middle C, which is G, is tuned slightly fiat of C until there results one beat per second. All fifths and fourths must be tuned likewise slightly flat or imperfeet. By so doing the result is a perfect octave when the temperament is finished. This is necessary to produce harmony in all the octaves when completely tuned, which requires a delicate musical sense and the most careful attention. My invention includes the whole equal temperament with the reeds so equal ized as to give the operator an absolute guide.

As before stated, with the air-passages and vents so arranged the reeds can be blown with a rubber tube, using the foot-bellows, leaving both hands of the operator free to accomplish the proper adjusting. The tone produced can be sustained at an even pitch practically as long as desired when the bellows is used and a sufficiently long time for all ordinary work when blown by the mouth of the operator. Experiments with. this device demonstrate that a proper vibration cannot be secured without the presence of the vent E or some other provision being made to permit the vibration of the reeds. By stopping the vent and blowing into the tube a very irregular tone is produced, if any, and very frequently, owing to the pressure against the reed, vibration is entirely impeded.

I have illustrated and described my improved device for use in tuning musical instruments in the form preferred by me on account of its simplicity and economy in construction and convenience in use. I am aware, however, that the structure can be very greatly varied without departing from my invention, and I desire to claim the same broadly as well as specifically.

I am aware thatin the construction of organs a pipe is sometimes made to speak by boring a hole through the boot. This, however, appears not in the instrument for tuning, but in the organ itself. I believe I am the first to produce a structure disconnected and separate from an organ and organ-pipes which has the features specified in my claims. I do not claim, broadly, the idea of venting a pipe in an organ. There is no pipe adapted to produce resonance in the instrument I have here produced.

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

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a reed block or box D, having reed-chambers therein; openings G for said chambers arranged toward the rear thereof; reeds suitably supported in said chambers; a face-plate for said reed-block having airdelivery passages F opening into said reedchambers; vent-passages E in said face-plate opening into said passages F; a bellows; an elastic storage-chamber therefor; a flexible delivery pipe connected to said storagechamber, having a tip adapted to be inserted into said air-delivery assages F, all coaeting for the purpose speci ed.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a reed block or box D having reed-chambers therein; openings G for said chambers arranged toward the rear thereof; reeds suitably sup orted in said chambers; a face-plate for said reed-block having airdelivery passages F opening into said reedchambers; vent-passages E in said face-plate opening into said passages F; a suitable airsupply; and a flexible delivery-tube adapted to be connected to the air-delivery passages of said air-chambers, all coacting for the purpose specified.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a reed block or box D, having reed-chambers therein; openings G for said chambers arranged toward the rear thereof; reeds suitably supported in said chambers; a face-plate for said reed-block having airdelivery passages F opening into said reedchambers; vent-passages E in said face-plate opening into said passages F; suitable means for delivering air under pressure to the said air-delivery passages of said chambers, all 00- actin for the purpose specified.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a reed block or box D havin reed-chambers therein; openings G for said chambers arranged toward the rear thereof; reeds suitably supported in said chambers; a face-plate for said block having air-delivery passages F for said reed chambers; ventopenings connected to said passages F; a bellows; an elastic storage-chamber therefor; a flexible delivery-pipe connected to said storage-chamber, having a tip adapted to be inserted into said air-delivery passages F, all coacting for the purpose specified.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a reed block of box D having reed-chambers therein; openings G for said chambers arranged toward the rear thereof; reeds suitably supported in said chambers; a face-plate for said reed-block having air-passages F for said reed-chambers; vent-openings connected to said passages F; an airsupply; and a flexible delivery-tube adapted to be connected to the air-delivery passages of said air-chambers, all coacting for the purpose specified.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a reed block or box D having reed-chambers therein; openings G for said chambers arranged toward the rear thereof; reeds suitably sup orted in said chambers; a face-plate for sald reed-block having airdelivery passages F for said reed-chambers;

ro vent-openings connected to said passages F;

suitable means for delivering air under pressure to the said air-delivery passages of sald chambers, all coacting for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my [5

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