US822666A - Mechanical musical instrument. - Google Patents

Description

No. 822,666. PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

. W. HOSGHKE.

MECHANICAL MUSIGALINSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, i905.

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n UHU U m No. 822,666. PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

W. H. HOSCHKE. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H HOSOHKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE PIANOVA COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

, 1 Application an Iay1,1905. Serial No. 258,282

To all whom it may concern):

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Hosonxn, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the borough of Brooklyn and State 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 improvements in mechanical instruments, and more particularl y to automatic or self-playing musical instruments, in which the strings or other sounding devices are sounded by means of keys which are operated by an endless perforated music-sheet.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of improved mechanism for vibrating the strings. i

The invention also seeks to'provide improved damper-controlling mechanism and improved means for actuating the. music-' sheet.

With these and other ends in view the invention consists in the novel features, arrangements, and combinations of parts to ,be fully described hereinafter, and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved mechanical musical instrument, in which the perforated music-sheet is broken off at its upper part, so as to show the strings and the actions for the same. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail front elevation of the springs, actions and the spring motor for driving the music sheet, drawn on a larger scale; and Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the Y drawings.

The improved musical instrument is built on the style of an upright piano, but with a smaller number of strings, so as to bring them together within the reach of the perforated endless music-sheet employed for ac tuating the instrument. It is provided with an upright string-frame a, which is supported on a wooden frame I), on which the soundingboard I) is supported by cleats b in the usualmanner. At the upper part of the stringframe a is arranged a wrest-plank a, in

which the tuning-pins t for the strings s are inserted in the usual manner. The strings are applied at their lower ends to the usual straining pins 1) on the sounding board bridge and at the lower part of the stringframe and held in position near the upper tuning-pins by a well-known agraffe-bar p, which extends transversely across the strings. Each note within the range of the instrument is represented by two or more strings, each set of stringsbeing actuated by means of a double row of hammers h h, the shanks h of which are inserted at their lower ends into the upper socket-shaped ends of elbow-shaped hammer-butts J, which are pivoted to a common fulcrum-rod extending transversely of the strings and mounted in forwardly-pro jecting bracket-armsf, attached to a bridge B, which is supported on the string-frame a. The hammers are held normally away from the strings. The lower arms of the hammerbutts j are connected with the free ends of tension-springs j the opposite ends of which are applied to a transverse rod j which is supported in brackets 7' extending downwardly from the bridge B. The lower arms of the hammer-butts j engage the upper ends of spring-actuated damper-levers d for a single series of dampers (i, said damper-levers being applied to a fulcrum-rod (1 supported at the lower part of the bridge B, the lower end of said damper-levers being connected with the damper-shanks P, to which the dampers d are attached and with the movable members of a series of Pneumatics P, which are supported on a second bridge B below the bridge B, as shown clearly in Fig. 4, the bridge B being, like the bridge B, supported on the metallic string-frame a;

sharp point at their angles, their points being engaged by the teeth of star-wheels w, of the well-known construction, which are placed loosely on a transverse shaft f, supported onthe brackets f, as many starwheels being arranged as there are hammer butts. The star-wheels 'w are separated in the usual manner b metal disks or washers, or placed in slotte racks, so as to provide for the proper spacing of the same and hold them in their proper relative position toward the pointed. elbow of the hammer-butts. The

The elbow-shaped hammer-butts j form a v proved construction.

hammer-heads of the double rows of haml -rners are arranged one below the other, two for each string, the shanks of the upper hammers being bent or offset adjacent to the hammer-heads, so as to pass downward] between the shanks of the lower row of ammers, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. The hammers of each group are alined with the string or strings actuated thereb as shown. The dampers d are held norma ly in contact with the strings by the damper-levers and are moved away from the strings when the latter are struck by the hammers. The shanks of the dampers d are connected with the movable members of the pneumatics P, so as to move the same at each actuation of the hammer-butts away from the stationary members simultaneously with the removal of the dampers from the strings, the pneumatics servm on their collapse to retard the return 0% the dampers, which would otherwise take place quickly under the tension of the damper-lever springs and permit thereby the free vibration of the strings caused by the strokes of the hammers before tne, dampers are returned into contact with the strings. The pneumatics P permit the quick removal of the dampers from the strings, but the slow return of the same into contact therewith for interru ting the vibrations of the strings, as the collapsing of the pneumatics takes place slowly owing to the slow escape of the air from the same. The hammer-butts j, hammers h, dampers d, andpneumatics' P are actuated by a traveling perforated musicsheet m. The arrangement of a pair otha'mmers for each string permits the string to be sounded by the stroke of one hammer, or by the stroke of both hammers simultaneously or alternatelyin rapid succession by the alternating actuationsof the two hammers, so that the expression of the piece of music played on the instrument may be varied by producing pianoforte, sostenuto repetitions, &c., without requiring any special expression mechanisms.

The music-sheet m is made of suflicie'nt length and connected at its ends after being placed in position. It is guided over rollers m m, located at the upper and lower parts of the frame I). The music-sheet is provided with inwardly-projecting teeth of any ap- As shown, these teeth are bent up from the sheet, forming slots or openings therein. The endless musicsheet has, owing to its extra length, the advantage of permitting theplaying of pieces of music of greater length, such as overtures, operatic selections, &c., or dance-music, in which the movements are repeated, without replacing the music-sheet. This forms a main advantage of the instrument, as it not only increases the attractions, but also the practical utility of the same, as it can be used whenever select pieces of music are desired,

9 which are attached to a second bar 9 in bearings of the horizontal eaaeee playing for a music-sheet m, so as to hold it in engagement.

with the teeth of the star-wheels w. The retaining-bar g-is supported at the ends in links allel with the retaining-bar g, and supported brackets g, as shown clearly iIrFig; 3. As the bar 9 turns in the brackets 9 the-returning-bar g has a slight oscillating motion, so as to yield somewhat to the'music-sheet as the same is passed through between it and the star-wheels. The pivoting of the retaining-bar 9 also permits it to be swung up sufliciently when removing the music-sheet and replacing it by a new one without injury to the teeth of the same.

The motion of the perforated'music-sheet is controlled by a spring-motor M, which is wound up in the usual manner by a detachable hand-crank c and intermediate gearing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3', the winding-gear of the motor being provided with the usual check-pawlfor preventing the unwinding of the spring-barrel. The barrel of the motor M transmits motion by a gear-wheel transmispar-.

sion to the regulating-fly M and to an intermediate shaft n, the fly mechanism serving to regulate the speed of the motor and of the intermediate transmitting-shaft n in the manner well known in music-boxes and similar instruments. The spring-motor and the intermediate shaft n are supported in bearings of brackets n M, attached to a supportingplate B and the opposite end of-the bridge B. A suitable clutch mechanism (not shown) is employed for stopping or starting the motor. The springmotor can also be started by means of a coin-operated attachment when such an attachment is desired to be used in connection with the instrument. On the intermediate shaft 'n are mounted driving-gear wheels n which engage equidistant marginal perforations n arran ed along both sides of the traveling music-s eet, so as to move it around its guide-rollers until the entire piece which is represented in the music-sheet is played. The motion of the music-sheet pro duced by the intermediate shaft n in connection with the pressure of the retaining-bar and rollers on the same produces the proper engagement of the projections of the musicsheet with the star-wheels w and by the same the proper actuation of the hammers and dampers, the star-wheels following the motion of the teeth and perforations of the music- 'sheet and forming the transmitting mechan isms for the hammer and damper actions.

The music-sheet can be readily changed by separating the ends of the same and then removing it from the instrument by the I by an endless music-sheet driven by a longs rin -n1otor. The entire mechanism is inc ose in a case which may be provided with glass doors in the front so as-to be protected against dust; that long pieces of music or several short pieces of dancemusic can beplayed by one music-sheet, as the same is about five times the length of the ordinarymusic sheets or disks heretofore employed in such instruments; that by one win of the spring-motor the instrument will p ay for from twenty-five to thirty minutes without rewinding; that electrical motors, which are not always available and which require spe cial electrical connections, are dispensed with that the instrument can be used in all public places where piano-music is desired for entertainment without requiring a professional piano-player, such as refreshmentarlors, cafes, dancing-pavilions, and other p aces of amusement; that it is also attractive for family use owing to the better selections of music which can be produced that the musicsheets can be conveniently wound up on a roll so as to be immediately ready for insertion and use in the instrument, and that the actuating mechanism is simple in construction and not to be liable to get out of order, while the music produced is that of a sweettoned piano played by an accomplished musician.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a mechanical musical instrument, the I combination, with the string elements, of a group of hammers for each element, the hammers in each group having a common axis of movement and being alined with the .string element actuated by said hammers.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the string elements, of

. hammers for actuating saidelements, said 7 hammers being arranged in groups, one

group for each element, and having a common axls of movement, and means for simultaneously actuating the hammers of each 3-. a mechamcal musical instrument, in

combination with strings, hammers. for actuatmg the same arranged in groups, one group for each string, the hammers'in each oup having a common pivot but being inependently operable.

4. In an instrument of the class described,

a plurality of strin V s, a group of hammers for each string, all of t e hammers having a common pivot, and means for simultaneously or independently actuating thehammers 1n each group.

5. In a musical instrument, in combination,

' a plurality of strings, and a group of hammers for each string, the hammers in each group having a common axis of movement.

6. In a musical instrument such as described, the combination of the strings, the hammers arranged in transverse rows and in groups made up of .hammers in alinement longitudinally with respect to the strings, all

of said hammers having, a common pivot, and the means for actuatm hammers in each row simultaneously with or independently of the hammers in the other row.

7. The combination, with the strings, of

hammers arranged in transversely-disposed rows and m groups made up from hammers in both rows, the hammers in each group having a common axis of hammer-actuating means.

8. In a musical instrument, the combination, with the dampers, of suction-operated means for retarding the return movement thereof.

movement, and

9. In a musical instrument, the combination with the dampers, of suction-operated retardin means in operative connection with eac of the same. I

10. The combination, with the dam ers and damper-shanks, of suction-o erate retarding means attached .to sai dampershanks.

11. In a musical instrument, the combination, with the dampers and damper-shanks, of pneumatics ttached to said dampershanks.

12. In a musical instrument, the combination, with the strings, of a row of dampers extending transversely strings, and pneumatics mounted on said bridge and having their movable members attached to said dampers. I

13. In a musical instrument, the combination of the strings, a brid e extending across the same, elbow'shaped 'ammer-butts pivoted upon said bridge, means said hammer-butts, a second bridge below the first, dampers mounted on said second bridge, and damper-levers pivoted on the first brid e and attached at one end to the damper-s anks, the opposite end of said leacross the same, a. bridge also extending transversely of saidfor actuating ses eee tary actuati dex icesfilpi v oted hammermy invention I have signed my name in p resbutts engaged y sald actuating devices and ence of two subscribing witnesses.

, in operative connection with said dampers, v and a pneumatic connected with each WILLIAM HOSCHKE' 5 damner-lever for retarding the return move- .Witncsses:

ment of the dam ers. n PAUL GoEPEL,

In testimony t at I claim the forego ng sis: HENRY J. SUHRBIER.

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