US833995A - Mechanical musical instrument. - Google Patents

Description

No. 833,995. A I SPATBNTBD 0m23.190s.

. s G. P.' BRAND. MECHANICAL- MUSICAL I'NSI'RUMEN'I..4

1 m wf:

. 1.1i ui.. 1V :i

in *dw uw N9. 833,995.l PATENTE'D ocr. z3, 190e,

' `CHP. BRAND;

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. AP'PLICATloNHLED 00126. 1900.

` 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

:lill Ll l u r m ated. by pneumatic pressure or exhaust PATENT OFFICE.

. Geenen Reni-inn; onsA'n FRANoisco, catwomanA ',NiEoHANlcALMuslcAL'iNs-IRUMENT.'

y no. 833,995'.l

Specification of Letters Patent. i

Patented oet. a3, 190e.

" Application nei october ze, '1900. .serial No. Esi-,4.00.

'Toa/ZZ 'tl/7mm it may concern: Be it `known that L'GEonGE citizen ofthe United'Sta'tesand a resident of` the city. and county ofSan' Francisco State of ,.-Californiaf'have invented new and useful Improvementsin Mechanical l .\/Iusic' alv Instruments, of which the following isa speciflcation.` y

invention relates to 'improvements made iny devices oiappliances' that are operthrough the medium of a moving perforated. sheet to play mechanically a keyed'musical instrument', such as .a pianoor anorgan.

. improvement s, brieiiy stated are toguea different expression to different notesat the same moment ofy time, whereby Iam enabled to" obtain' the same or approximately vthe '20,y

` by mechanical means'as-are produced vliythe individual playerg'falso, to give eachindividual note or series. or combination 'of notes same individuality and variety: of expressionplayed at the same instant .dii-ferent degrees Lof owcr ranging from pianissimoto fortissimo separately and'independentlyof other fnote'siin the scale and to obtain such range of expression in any-noteor combination 'of notes throughout the scale through the rnedium of a single perforated sheetand a single tracker-board. 1'- X K l' f-To suchfendsand obj@etsiiniysaidinven-v tionconsis'tsin Ycertain novel parts and comb ination of parts, "as'jhereinaiter described,

' part hereof.

and pointed out in the claims" at the end of the specification', yreference being had thereinto the accompanying drawings, forming a lFigure 1 representsin elevation an arrangementof key-operating devicesy and pneumatic motors withactuating and controlling valves. Fig. 2is atop' view, partly 1n sectionjon an, enlargedl scale, ofthe tracker- -board. Fig. .Sisaside elevation, on an enlarged! `scale 'and` generally `in longitudinal' A se'c tion ,fc` f l the-pneumatic valves that. control the exhaust' apertures, valves, and passages-` f Fig. 3?' is' a 'sectionaldetail of one of the prin- .ci'palpneumatics a.' Fig. Li-isa top. plan of vthe valve-chest andnone 4of thepneumaticl motors, thetop ofthe chest being partly f broke passages andthe connections inside; top plan of two sets o f multiplying-- .i valves I that are-interposed between the 1).BRAND, a'

tracker-board, ychannel and the exhaust-controlling valves of the pneumatics, the rear set of' the first-'mentioned valves being shownV yin section.l Fig. 6- is` a sideelevation of oneA f. set ofmultiplying-valves and the exhaust- 'chest common to that set, the apertures ot the-valves and-exhaust-chest being shown inf? longitudinal section. Fig.- 7 is afront view? of a .portion of' the tracker-board with the outer facebroken away to expose the channels within.l Fig. 8 4is an elevation in transverse section of fthe inclosing case, showing the'chests and connections as the same are The 'objects sought to be attained by these arranged therein Jfor operation with the exhaust-bellows and conductors.

VIn the class of mechanical musical instrumore particularly thevv sounds are produced by thepercussiveaction of a iinger or striker upon the key of the instrument operated by'a *device commonly known as a pneumatic motor-7 .or a pneumat1c, to

vwhich the strikeris connectedV by levers and rods, the stroke being-produced either by in Hating or by collapsing the pneumatic.. In

the present construction and application of my improvements themotor isoperated on the exhaust principle, because the salneis generally better adapted for piano-playing attachments; but applying the improvements to reed-organs and instruments of kthat class the mechanism is better operated bypneumaticpressure.

In that part of the invention which 'coin-- prises means or devices, to give adierent expression to dnlfcrent notes that occur at the same instant the degree of force -or intensity of the stroke is regulated and modified, first,'by, varying the 'area of the exhaustaperture ofthe pneumatic-that actuates the lments' tov which these improvements relate striker, 21nd,'. secondly, by varying the dis.-

tance vof the -strikerfronithe key of the instrument either-infv advance ofl the. stroke or at'the moment the striker beginsto descend.

In the presentv construction the first of the operationsi's effected by a pneumatic a', Figs. -1 and. 3, having'a plurality of exhaustingapertures d e if g,

connected with the 4exhausting-chamber to collapse it and hav- IOO through one orincre of lwhich the pneumatic 1s ing yconnection also with thefjatmos here through a common '1 airinlet 68,' t ugh which theniotor is iniated.

The valve controlling each separate exhausting-aperture is itseli controlled by a set or systemoi what is termed multiplyingvalves pneumatically operated by the vari.-

ations in pressure on vopposite sidesy of the valves, which variations ot' pressure are produced and regulated through the medium of a separate channel in the tracker-board for each valve. Q

The 'valve ol each exhausting-aperture is held to its seat by the excess of atiri'osph'eric pressure on the back of the valve, due to the ldifference of area between the tace of the valve directly exposed to the pressure and the Iopening beneath the valve, and, on the other hand, the exhausting aperture is opened by reversing the atmospheric conditions on opposite sides ol the valve, which is effected by cutting oii' the pressure that holds i the valve toits seat and opening the valve by the pressure beneathl it. The valves 'n employed for this purpose are of the kind known as "puit-valves, consisting of a block or body somewhat larger than the outlet it cov-ers and a diaphragm 5S, of `flexible material, such leather or rubber, securedon the top o'r the body and attached to the back or per part oi the chamber behind the 'valve d inclosing an opening 59, With` which the z of the valve is in line. The diaphragm tous serves to retain the valve in line with the apertiue' it controls and also allows limited movement of the valve toward and away vtrrfnithe seat, Whileit closes communication 5 het-Ween the chamber over the valve and the onein which the valve Works. The proper degree of pressure behind the valve'nl to hold the same normally closed is obtained by admitting atmospheric pressure to the chamber 59 through an air Way or passage having a separate port L tor each valve n and a valve i controlling it. This valve i is opened l'a'ni'l closed by putlcdiaphragms, which in turn is `held normally open by atmospheric pressure admitted behind the valve and is closed by the pressure of the atmosphere against the valve-disk 'i the moment the pressure is reduced or removed from above the putt-valvel s. To this space behind the valve s air is admitted to oppose the atmospheric pressure against the vvalve i, through a tubular conductor t, u, c, or w, terminating in a valve-chamber2l` at or contiguous to the tracleiboard y60. To this last-mentioned chamber atmospheric pressure is admitted or is out ol'by ineansot a balanced valve 35,' Fig. 5,'haying atmospheric pressure in viront and exhaust behinditi' This valve is itseli' actuated ii'iohedirectionfto admit `:itinospheric pressure tothe chamber 4e by producing an increasein the degree' otI exhaust behind the valve, while it is moved in the opposite direction to close the outlet to 'the atmosphere by increasing thepressure behind the valve. These' operations are effected through la channel in the trackerboard connected with the exhaust space or compartment in which the controlling-valve works, the air being admitted to or cut oli' from the channel in the usual Wayv by the traveling music-sheet 61, as Will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Every valve 1L controlling an exhaustingaperture is actuated and controlled from a separate channel inthetracker-board, and the channels required for the Whole number of exhausting-valves of the pneumatic are arranged in close order in the tracker-board, so as to be opened or closedin diiierent combinations oi two or more valves by making the slits or perforations in the music-sheet ot the required width. Varying the area of the exhaust-outlet of the pneumatic a in this manner produces different degrees of force or intensity in the blow given by the key-operating device, and many different eilects are thus produced in every notel independently of all the other notes in the scale.

The valves n when seated on the exhausting-apertures d e f g have atmospheric .pressure on both sides, but are held to their seats by the excess of pressure upon their back or bottom faces, due to the difference in area between the exhausting-aperture and the .back face of the valve, and, on the other hand, the valve is opened and held off its seat by cutting off the atmosphere from the chamber 59 behind the valve and connecting the same with a channel 66. Communication is established between the exhaust-chest 66 and the space 59 above the valve n by closing the valve 'isb y the action ot the puff-diaphragm valve s, or atmospheric pressure is admitted to the space behind the valve n by the opening of said valve i and the closing of the puffthe port h to the valve-chest 64. Its accompanying controlling-valve and connectingpassages are duplicates in construction of the other valves in the chest, so thatl a description of the, set of valves governing one exhaust, as d, will answer for all`the remaining valves. A

In-the present application of these improvements the pneumatic c takes air from the atmosphere outside the chest through'an inlet-aperture 68 in a compartment p, upon which the pneumatic is seated, In the top `of the same'compartment are the apertures d, e, f, and g, opening into an exhaust-chamber 63 above. The valve n, controlling the outlet d, is attached to the bottom of the chamber 59 immediately under a'passage 64 by its lexiblediaphragm 58 surrounding that opening, and that confined space 1s connected With'a second .compartment or chamber 62, by means of which either. atmospheric presdiaphragm s, the compartment 62 `Abeing open to the atmosphere outside byiway of lroo IIC

. vrieaees stuefi'r suctionjisifbrought togbearbehind the` valve by. opening and'closin'g v thev puppet- Q Coinmunica'tion is established between the Y 5 fexhaustfchest766' and 'the space 59 above the Vgl een 'z by raming the Vputt-diaphragm valve:

s', l thereby ,closing thevalve, or atmospheric pressure;is'adniitted to the space behind the*- Valve n by opening-the 'yalve t and closing the diaphragnisz the compartment 62 being t entaille atmosphere outside byfway of l tij-eports!)j and the valve-chest 6 5. Trachgvalye t 's secured' to a diaphragm- 1; valves `b.3 "a st'ern common toboth, the dia v duagnrbeingf attached to the top ot the eX-i heet 661. and being ysituated immediunderneathan aperture formed thereon" fu and ertorming the function ot a putt'4 to ophthe 'valvethy 'pneumatic pressure de-vv tbrough' an air-conduit" t; im), or The r aphragmwalve s also controls the port s be; :tween the. exhaust-chest 661 and the chamber -62 underneath.. The duct t, u, o, o'r w whenv iopenedffto he outside atmosphere transmits the-pressure,thereof to the space above the diaphragm s 'and' opens communication' thronglrtljie passage h between the space 59 v aboye the diaphragm 58 andthe outside at-` `ruospherei,'thereby holding the valve n to its l seat; i

-' .The pressure of the exterior atmosphere:

applied against the face of the valve u from beneath when the aperture 68 is'open is op posed the pressure that is admitted 35A thrfugh the' port L andv passage 64against the back t they valve, and the superficial area of the',b acl. being greater than thctace the valvenfs held toits seat aslong as the con- Aductorft is ,open to the' atmosphere` On the other hand.,when the passage t is closed the pressureon the back of the putl or diaphragm valve s is removed and the lower disk 't is lifjlaedand held to its seat by the pressure against Athe' lower face of Athat valve. The result'ofthis is 'to cut o't the pressure on.

fthe back of; the valve n and establish coml f muncation with the exhaust-chest 66 alone, Vso that the valve n is thenacted on by atmosphericrpressure from beneath. The eilect of, this isto insure a quick and delicate action of fthe valve. and make the same responsive to comparatively light degrees of pressure.

lThe inlet-valve r is common to all the ex.- haustingvalves, and the same is operated by each Valve t separately, as well as by different l combinations of two or more valves t, to admit atmosphere-pressure to the pneumatic a when the exhausts' are closed and to cut off 'thatpressure at the 'moment when any one or more ot the eXhaust-apertures may be OPG/tied@ I ver, controllingI the outlet 6fv, is v 1,( at nneeted b'yits stem to a'diaphragrn 67, 1nclosed 'in Y'a' chamber 69 at one end of the co rnof, partment p, andthe confined space m aboves partme'nts 62 by separate tubes"x 'in communication with vth ,of pressure ontheJ upper`f partment 62 over the end yott the pneumatic a is immediatelyen iaupst/'d`v the diaphragm 67 is connected b tubefm andp'assagemzwiththe ey l 4, the' space below the `di wat partrnen't 63 of the Valvet tube 17. The difieren-ce i valve r and the diaphragm,

phragm 67 .to hold the valv mediately on closing any 'of this pressure lis cut oli iro phragm 67 sothat the pressgu pliere against the diaphragm aperture. t, ,Q

A lap-valve 7c. is. arranged nehccom "l be necting said"c'oinpartment hecpa sage m2 for the purposepl clos gthe uba automatically by the air 'ressuA to its seat is sufficient tovred upon the diaphragm 67,

the valve fr, and as the val with the particulary eXhaju trolled by the valve i, whichh the eXhaust-valve'n gradually vlet itsy seat by gravity. yDur-ing{.thi the tension in the passage pil-,and t 69 is equalized throughithge vaper through which the-steruoptlie r'p jects, thereby causing the prie u rnatieu@l t main collapsed until the, reopeningofl valve Yt. t*

The apertures d e f g ai a vol di ent varea in order to. furnish -asgreaterpuumber of exhaust-outlets of dil'lierentfjaasjby. nperaf't ing two or'more of the valvesin varyingeor; bin-ations at the same instant than could ,be obtained by the use ot. theisa1ne3l'1-1jtnlbefof apertures having equal areasi Each of the conductorsitr/Jenu teL in an individual chamberror,conipar in a Valve-chest 21 ad'acentgtQnthe t board, and each one is supplied witha the outside. through 'an inletpportinthaside ,of the chest. 21,`said portibeing;controlled by a balanced disk valvel 35. lniadditioir to tlre pressure admitted through that inletg the 4- connecting-passage communicates `lwith `an eXhaust-coinpartment43, A, 5011.tIQlled `byjtlre same valve` l x 'f sl y. :141,-: i

In one position the v alvecu municati'on between theoxh'austgt one of the set of conductcrsltat n connected with it and opensfthepassag of the -atmosphere7 and inthe-'other positionfvit reverses theconditions and-connects the Qonductor t, u', Q2,- 01 w. with the: compartmentgl?) and .the corresponding A' dianphr'ag In s of: Athe mentioned puff' 70 is one of a set of valves controlling ports that decrease in area and are interposed between the channel in the vtracker-board 'and the'valve 35, .controlling theinlet to the conductor leading tothe lvmain valve-chest. In this lprimaryA chest as .many valves are combined in series as may be found necessary. to give an initial-pressure inlet of the 1smallest area practicable in the end of the tracker-board. In the `resent construction four valves, each contro ling anA inlet for the atmosphere outside'the chest, are Varranged in a graduated series lfin a common valve-chest havinV a separate compartment ,for each valve an an exhaust-chamber 37 common to al1 the valve-compartments, the Whole number forming. a multiplyingvalve. series having the peculiar feature and function of gradually increasing the area of the primary inlet through the channel in the tracker-board until therequired degree of pressure is obtained to. operate lthe valve i,

controlling the exhaust-passage, by the ini= tial atmospheric pressure admitted through the inlet-aperture in the tracker-board, 'and the whole set is arranged in al single chest. mounted on or connected with a common exhaust-chamber.

The valve-chest 21 is divided by transverse partitions into as many sections as there are pressure inlets and valves employed, and each section is divided by longituidnal partitions, as shown in Fig. 5, into three lines or series of compartments, of which the middle ones, 27 38 41 43, are continuously opento the exhaust-chamber 37 beneath through apertures in the floor of the compartments, while the two outer compartments of. the section are in communication With the 'atmosphere outside the chest through inletports in the outer Walls of said chest, said ports being controlled b v puppet-valves 29 3l 33 35. (hie of those outer compartments in each section is also connected with the middle compartment through a. port 18 32 34 36 in the dividing inner wall, and bot-h that port and the inlet-port in the outer Wall are controlled by a' valve composed of the outer disks before mentioned and a disk 72 on the same stem operating by a short move.- ment to open one port and close theother. 'lhe valve-stem is attached to the button 30 ol` a pull' or diaphragm 70. covering an opening 71V* in the partition ol` the.exhaust-couipartment and having one siiltixposid to the exhaust and the opposite side to the condition or degree of pressure existing in the saches outer passage ,when the latter is opened to the atmosphere outside the chest. The 'construction and arrangement ci these passages and valves are the same ati the sections of lthe chest excepting in the tiret two sections of the valve-chest-nearest the traclr-boerd, in which the outer compartments behind the diaphragme of the valves are in communication with the exhaust-chest. By virtue .of this construction the actuating-diaphragm of each valve is Abalanced by the exhaust on both sides as longas the compartment behind the diaphragm is cut oil from theoutside atmosphere, and the outer disk or head of the valve is then held to its seat on the inlet-port'v by the atmospheric pressure outside, and this condition remains as long as the inlet at the tracker-boardis closed to the atmosphere by the music-sheet. @On the other hand, the equilibrium between'the two exhaust-compartments in the same valvesection--as, for example, in the two spacer 24 27 in the/first section-is broken by admitting the outside atmospheric pressure'to the compartment behind the diaphragm v through the passage .25 from pipe 45 and that pressure on one side in conjunction with the exhaust on the opposite side of the diaphragm being greater than the pressure board channel' is uncovered. Through this opening the outside pressure isadmitted also into the compartment behind the diaphragm 3() ofthe next valve 3 l, as the adjoining spaces or compartments are connected through an aperture 74 in the cross-partition between them. The valves operate in this manner one upon the other throughout the series, producing a gradual increase of pressure by increasing the area of the airinlets and the exhaust-a ertures progressively until the required egree of power is obtainedv in the last section of the valvechest to shut ofi the atmospheric pressure and [open the communication between the exhaust-passage 44 and the exhaust-chest 43. In the last section of the multiplyingvalve chest the inlet andv exhaust valves 35 72 are setto operate contrary to those in the remaining sections, whereby the pressureinlet stands normally operi and the exhaustaperture is elosed,tn'hile the other valves hold the contrary positions as long 'as the channel of the tracker-board 6() is closed. This construction is illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, Where the multiplying-'valve series.` is composed of four sections with air inlet and exhaust apertures of gradually-increasing areas, giving an accumulation of power through which the atmospheric pressure that is admitted thrtuigh a minute aperture in the nose or end ot the ehaunel-htmrd titl is regulzuly increased through the action of one valve upon the other in ascending 'against the valve-disk 29 the port governed 95 lby that valve is opened Whenever the tracker- IOO IIO

iig

the last valve to 'operate quickl y the `diaorder' untill the required area is attained 'at phragm-valve s, through the medium of which first valve, connects With the channel inthe an aperture 26 and space 24.5 On theIoppoQ tracker-board 60 and is in c'ommu'nicatior'i also withv the exhaustphamber 37 throug'h site side of `the same diaphragm the compart ment 27 opens into the chamber' 37 through f an aperture in {the bottom, and thesame' comp artment has vcommunication; with 'the outer passagethrough the port 28, controlledlbythe valye-disk72. An aperture 74 in the Wall between the' same outer'pa'ssa'gev andthe similar outlet-passage behind the"diaphragm' of the second valve 31 connects thetv'vo passages together, 'so that atmospheric pressure is'. admitted behind the second diaphragm through the port controlled the irst'valv'e In the samey Way thepressur'e istransferred from one sideo the diaphragm to the other in the several sections 'throughoutfthe series by the opening or kclosing'movement of one 'pressure-.inletvalva and thus vchangingv the conditions of pressure or'exha'us't onfopposite sides of the diaphraginof'the' next adjacent valve. In avalve thus constructed it will beseen thatthe atmospheric-inlet valve will beheld to its seat by atmospheric pressure as long as that pressure exceeds the vdegree of tension in the middle compartment;

-but .as soon as the sp ace'behind the'actuating The numb'eroi multiplying-valves"series.

diaphragm is' opened to the atmosphere the lpressure'against theyouter face of the inlet-V valve is opposed by theair admitted "behind j the diaphragm, and the loW tension in the Y vmiddle compartment then. allows' the atmos- .thereuponcloses the port 28;

pher ic p ressure' to operate the'valve lthat 'required to-operat'e' separately and independ# ently the four exhausting-valves fn, covering ports d e fg 'ofthe pneumatic motor, 'are arranged one above ,another upon'individual `:exhaust-chests'37'in convenient position `between-the mainvalve-chest and the trackerboard 60, and the chests 21 are connected by the pipes or conductors tu uw with the -sev-*- eral compartments behind the diaphrag'ms connected with the valves i inthe main chest- 'and by tubes 45 46 47 48 'With the four channels 51 52 53 54 in the trackerboardthe latu ter tubes being connected individually to the first chamber of the'primary valve 29 in each chest.

The channels terminating in' thev trackerboard are arranged in closerelation and at such short intervals apart that the Whole 'number can beiI uncovered to 'adr'n'itftheqexta` rior-atmosphere'through a relatively-"narrow slit not exceeding in Width the' 'slitus'ed `in theordinary musicgsheet at the present `time in instruments of this'cla'ss.' I nipracticelthe,

.upon the key "are produce" b vdistance between thestri @either yin advance' 0i.'y 'itshnovern'entft ar the' keyv or at some point'thern beforefitz is# brought fin 'Contact withfth alsefby checking '.or retarding 'thi--str'oke orffimo'v ment of the'leve'rtowhich'the"strikerlisiatL tached. These ei'e'cts are' produced through the medium of auxiliary pneumaticstmountsig; ed '.on 'the valve-chest of' tllreprinipaltjpneu matic or'in proximity ther'eto; so asitjo' behelpen f; t. eratred directly from the sfatn'eexhaust-chest 1: orv conductor leadingv from? the "iexfhtrust-heli.-il 'lows or through passages connecting-theau iliary pneumatic therewithff These`=add1\ tina'ldevices to modify thecharactenohtha A'strokea'r'e'illustrated in the'z-detai1s',,Figsui i and 4 of the drawings; Theg pneu-matic be ing'with an exhaust compartmente79-iby a; port 77- andalso 'with thefouteratmosphere; 4through a port'78, takesin air. Whengthelatterg .port is uncovered; :Theseaffportssi arlcong covering *theouter 'port :afgdikz'i :QIlfhc -same' stemcontrolling the eh'allSt-pontV Thevv `movementsgot that valveyaraproduced het variations in the pressureibneopposite sldes ...at chamber-43 in the multiplyingvalvdh brought into communicationlwfi'th th of the diaphragm S() through th established When-'the port :valve,isopenedV The result of stitute an exhaust for atniosphe -up'ori thatsideof the diaphrag-niSO :l

theadmission-valve g to c lose b y'fat pressure- The movement ofthe.

`being mounted overa channel==tconnect195 f .f

trolled'by la puppet-values '-,ffhavinghmdisk Io produced by its alternate inflation and collapse operate on a stop-lever 10, ivoted at'12 .cn-a fixedsupport and attache to apost 15 i 4'on the head .of the pneumatic'b Anadjustable stop 13 inthe free end of thelever 10 rests directly under the. outer end of the lever 1', actuated by the princi al pneumatic, and by-contact with that en of the lever it fraises'or lowers ,the end of the striker-lever 5 to a .greater or less extent, according to the inflation or defia'tioncf the pneumatic b.

By that means the finger 7 on the free end of the lever 5 is set toward or away from the'key .a greater or lessdistancevand-the length ofthe' 'stroke is lvaried accordingly. This 4adjustnient may be effected either in advance of the downward movement of the striker orA during "themovement of its descent by uncovering the .controlling-channel? 56l in the ltracker- 'board in proper time'with relation to theother 1 channel or channels that are brought into play,4 to actuate 'the pneumatica, in which -case the admission of air through the trackerboard channel 56 and duct y acts through the` valve g to deiiate the pneumatic b, thereby raising the free ends'of the levers 10 and 14, so that they protrude into'the path ot the lever 1 and retard its action. The movement ofA the lever 1 at such time also regulates or modifies the length of movement ofthe principalpneumatic, because the lever 1 is --pivotally attached at 3 to the lpost 8 of the pneumatic. An additional stop-lever 14 is sometimes employed to check or control lthe' movementof the lever 1, and thereby further modify the characterof the stroke given by the lever --as, for example, for cushioning or checking the movement of the lever 1 to produce piano effects. This lever 14 is piv- ,Oted to a iixed support 16 and is pivotally'attached at the out-er end to the post 15 of t-he 20 on theouter end'.

of ,the principal'pneuinatic-has a shoulder 81y pneumatic b. I The character of the blow made by the striker is also furtheriiiodilied by a chec'kor retarding device consisting of a'- lever 1S, pivoted at 1Q to a fixed support on th'c principal valve-chest and carryingr a stop The head ot' the post 8 projecting over and in line with the stop 20 on the outer end of the lever 18, and the opposite end of thc lever is att-ached to t-he post 9 on the head of a pneumatic motor c, so as to throw upward the stop 20 to meet theshouldci" on the post 8 whenever the lauxiliary pneuiiiat-icc is collapsed by connection with the exhaust. The action of this stop-lever on the lever 1 has the eil`ect to retard the movement of the lever in i ts dowiistroke, because the principal pneumatic u in its collapsing movement compelled to pull againstthe.

pneumatic c, to vwhichthe lever 18 is coiiiiected. `This last-iiieiitioiiedpneumatic motor c is mounted on a chest 82, to which air is admitted to inflate the pneumatic, through a port controlled by a puppet-valve 11, and thc said-chest is connected with an exhaust-chainber 86 ,through 'a port 84 in the dividing-Wall.

A disk valve 85, iixedoii the stem of the valve 11', controlsthe exhaust-port- 84 and opens the chamberv82 tothe exhaust 86 when the inletfort 83 is closed, the valve being operated y a-diaphragm 88 on the back of the valve-disk '85. Atmospheric pressure is admitted to the-space behind the diaphragm 88 through'ac'onductor y, leading from a'sepai rate multiplying-valve chest 21 at the tracker board, in addition lto those that control the v4.actuationof the striker and modifyits' stroke.

. 'The pneumatic `motors a b c diti'er from those' used in mechanical musical instruments of thisy class in having the movable board or .hea'd90 united to the stationary board by a collapsible diaphragm 91 of uniform Width on a'll'sidesby virtue of which the movable head maintaining practically a horizontal position iin its risingand falling motions or part connecting the pneumatic with the gives'a dil-rect vertical 'movement the post lever or part to be actuated and applies the vpower always in a vertical direction. Thus the mot-ion is always uniform for the entire superiicial surface of the head, and in the collapsing movement the weight of the head is with and is not opposed to the collapsing force. A pneumatic of this construction is particularly sensitive to variations in pressurel and exhaust and is quite delicate and rapid in its action. y

ln the complete instrument to which these improvements as above described are applied lv alve chests 1 are coiiii/.fcted hv pipes io common exhaust-chests 9G 97, which are in turn connected with thc conductors 05 'o v pipes 9S 99.

A pedal-operatinglever'100, actuated h; :i pneumatic 102 through comiecting-lever 1o?, and rod 104. is attached to the back ol' the case, the connection with the exhaust-hcllou's being made b v a conductor 105 through a valve-( haiiiber 106. lia-ving an iiilct toi' the atmosphere controlled h v a puppet-valve 'lhis valve is thc f ouiitci'part ol thc pressure-inlet valves employed iii the valvechests ofthe principal piicumatics. li is operatedxiii the same manner also through a diaphragm .orn puil' and a tube s, comici-1mg the space behind thc. diaphragm with a con- ICO trolling-.valve 35 72.- in a separate chest y21 at the tracker-board," By means of this either pressure or exhast is transmitted through the conductor e, 'and the valve y10-7. is opened or closed.

. The pedal-operatingV attachment is secured to the case by 'an adjustable bracket 108', so constructed as to permit both vertical and lateral adjustment of the pedaling-leverl tosuitldifferent styles .or makes of pianos..

' The key-actuating levers orstrikers5'extendhoriZontallyrom the-.body 'of the case to'lie over and at a shortdistance from the keys,'the top of the'case being carried over the Whole'setto incl'ose them 3on theltop and nponthe sides.v

The rollersfor the note-sheet. are provided,` With bearings in the u per partiof the. case, and provision is made fior operating thesame to Wind the sheet .from one rollery upon the other in usual manner of. operati-ng the notesheetl in instruments of. this class. Motive powerior Athis purpose -isusuallyk derived from the princi al bellows -11.0 of the instruy ment; but as t e construction o such operatingmeans forms no part of the present in verition a detailed description is considered l y v In amechanical musi Pneumatic motor having exhausting-outlets `Having thus ullydescribed invention,

..What Ifclaim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ise A lca linstrument7 a .lapse of the'motor. l. y ,v v

o motor for musidal instru# 3. A pneumati ments having a plurality of eXhausting-out lets, and means .controlled by a tracker-board and a .note-sheet forl opening said outlets singly and in varying combinations of two or more outlets. i

' 4. In a pneumatic motor for musical instruments a plurality, of exhausting-apen tures of differentA areas having separate con-` trolling-valves, and means for operating said .valves in varying combinations to produce an exhausting-outlet of greater or less extent of area. `v

5. In a. mechanical musical'instrument, a pneumatic motor having a--pl'urality of eX- hausting-a ertures ofvarying areas, a controlling-va ve to each outlet and pneumatic means actuating each v'alve independently.-

and .controlled by a separate channel in a uncover two or more ofthe said channels at thesame instant.

pneumatic motor having a plurality .of valvecontrolledinlet-a ertu're, '.in'eans" for actuat..

through the medium offa Atr'aifeliiig note-'sheet Ina mechanical musical instrument a controlled exhaust-apertures 'and .'avalvefje..

. 179-91.' ing said 'exhausting-'valves and inlet-valve and .a tracker-board having a separate chan? nel for each yalve-actuating means-f; Y 7..l The combination, with .a pneumatic motor, of an exhausting and inlating passage?.

having a .valvecontrolled 'pressure-'mlet', a`

plurality of exhausting-apertures,*pneumat- 4ically-acti'iated valves to said eXhausting-apertures and to said pressurefin'let and means..

for automatically controlling and actuating said-valves. y I .8.- A valve-chest, `for a 'pneumatic motor; having a passage communicating With the. at-r mosphere through a valve-controlling'inlet,

rality of aperti'ires a neumaticallyfoperated .valve controlling each) ertures, a compartment behind 4the pneumatic of each-valve, a passageiconnectin'g of'said exhausting-apa said "compartment'with ,a chamber/Which is y in communication alternately' Withthe outer atmosphere and 4With/ an exhaust-chamber.gx

through separate ports, a valvefcontroll'ng l said ports and operating to.close'one'portA andf operi-the other whereby the ressure is ad.l

mitted'to cris-cut off from t e 'backfof the.' L

exhausting-valve according to the directionin which t. pneumatic means operated by a channel in'a said controllingvalve.` A-

e controllingaklve is moved, and- L1 OO tracker-board and. a note-.sheet.for'actuating-.- y

' 9. In `aria-ttach'ment for. playing a ianoqor .a similar keyed instrument, theoom ination. u

of a striking device 'for eachulkey,` a pneu; lmatic motor actuatingthe same,A and means controlled byja tracl'rer -boardz and a'rnoteysheet for vai'fyingthe-length of; movement of the striking device ofA each key to graduate -i 'io` and independently of the corresponding dethe action thereof upon thel key separately.

vicesi'of the other keys,

10,. In an attachment for playing a piano or similar instrument, a pneumatic motor having exhausting-outlets Aof diierent areas yoperating to' graduate ,the force of stroke thereof, means connecting the motor With a key-striking device, and .means operated by a tracker-board and note-sheet lorvarying thecxhaust. y

11. The, combination with the principal pneumatic a/and its valve-chest and controlling-valves, the striker-lever 5, and means connecting the movable head of the pneumatic With the striker; of the auxiliary pneu'- inatic b, stop-lever 10 attached to the head tli/reof, and pneumatic ,means controlled by 'traokenboard and a note-sheetadapted to`1 a channel in a tracker-board and a note- .devices, having a plurality sheet for operating the auxiliary pneumatic with relation to the .princi )al pneumatic, as described, toivary the le'ngtih4 of stroke of the striker-lever.

12. The combination With the principaly pneumatic, a striker-lever 5 and means con.- nectmg the lever with the movable head of the pneumatic; of the auxiliary pneumatic b,

vsto -levers 10,y 14, mean's connecting the sai levers with theheado the 'auxiliary pneumatic', and means lactuating the principal pneumatic and auxiliary' pneumatic through the medium of separate channels in the tracker-board anda note-sheet.

18. In a' pneumatic action for an automatic ormechanical musical instrument or player; a pneumatic motor for each of a se-l ries of the sound-producing devices kof a musical instrument; a tracker having a pluralityof apertures, comprising a separate group for each sound-producing device; the' `neumatic motor having# a plurality ofloutets with exhaustingva ves an, inlet to reinate the m'ctbr, having a valve normally openand means for closing all ofthe 'outlets when the inlet is opened.

14. In'a pneumatic action Afor an automatic or mechanical mus-ical .instrument or player; a pneumatic motor for each of a soriesof the soundreducing devices of the in strument;` a trac (er having a plurality of apertures, comprising a separateg'roup for each sound-producing device, and a perforated music-sheet therefor,

the pneumatic motor for any. one

orl the sound-producing of exhaustingoutlets with valves therefor; an inlet-valve normally opened 'tracker and a perforated music-sheet, for o'p'- erating the exhaust-valves 'singly andin varying combinations of two lor more valves.

15. A pneumatic key-motor, having a plurality of exhaust outlet-valves.: inlet means for inflat-ing. the motor; and means for cutting oil' the inflating supply of air When any one or more of the outlet-valves are open.

16. A pneumatic key-motor, having a plup rality of exhaust-valves: an inlet inlatingvalve; said inllatingvalve being helld closed A ,pneumatic trackergya collapsible l Apneumatic key-motor, having a dplurality of exhaust 'outlet-valves controlle' maticl tracker; the motor normally inflated and opcnto the outside air and the eXhaust-- valves closed; a reimlating-valve; 'to be collapsed by the opening of combined number of' the exhaust-valves;4 'and reini'lated by the reiniating-valve' when the exhaust-valves are closed.

' 19.- A pneumatic tracker; a pneumatic key-motor having a pluralityy of exhaust/outlet-valves controlled by a plurality of. apertures in the pneumatic tracker; and an in- ',flating-valve, to act in' combination lwith any said motor and means controlled by the one, or combined number of the exhaust outlet-valves.

20. A pneumatic tracker; a pneumatic key-motor, having a plurality4 or exhaust- Ioutlets for collapsing the motor, controlled by a plurality of tracker-meansyandian'in- Hating-valve acting in common with one and all of the exhaust-valves.

21. "Phe combination with the pneumatic, 'and .a striking therewith, of an auxiliary pneumatic, a checking-.lever having a stop on the head of the pneumatic, said 'lever being attached to the auxiliarypneumatic, and pneumatic ,means yadapted'l to operate the principal pneumaticand the said auxiliary pneumatic throughthe medium of separate channels in a tracker-board and a note-sheet.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

GEORGE P. BRAND.

Titnessesz prin-icipal EDWARD E. OsBoRN, M. REGNER.

any one orI by a corl, responding number of apertures inthe pneudevice connected

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