US836827A - Circuit-controller. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906.

J. P. POOL. 1

I CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13,1905.

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J. P'. POOL.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13,1905.

No. 836,827. PAIENTED NOV. 27, 1906. J. P. POOL. QIRGUIT CONTROLLER. APPKCIIOATION FILED JUNE 13.1905.

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J. P. POOL. OIROUIT'GONTROLLER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13,1905.

10 w w W 9 f f 8 a a ta 6 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. POOL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

' CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.

Application filed June 13, 1905. Serial No. 266,009-

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, JAMES P. PooL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and for musical-instrument transposers operated through the agencyof a keyboard, such as a piano or organ; and it has for its particular object to provide transposing means whereby the pitch of the soundsproduced in accompaniment with the operation of the keys may be varied, so that without retuning the musical instrument, or in the case of pianos varying the condition of tensionof the strings, the pitch of the sounds produced ,in accom paniment with the depression of the keys may be varied throughout thewhole series of keys, hammers, and-their respective strings.

The invention has for itsflparticular object to provide musicalinstrumentsfof the chap acter described which will be relatively sim ple and inexpensive in construction and generally superior in pointof serviceability, simplicity in operation, and general efficiency. The invention will be generally described with respect to its broad features of improvements, then specifically described, and finally pointed out in a series of claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a sectional elevation of the action and keyboard of a piano constructed according to the invention, showing one of the keys, one of the hammers of the same, and one of the dampers of the same, the key and hammer being in inoperative position and the damper being in operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the key and hammer being in operative position and the damper being in inoperative position. Fig. 3 isa sectional elevation of the same, taken in a plane at right angles to that of Figs. 1 and 2 and showing the parts in the same position as in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detailed face view of a controlling and indicating member for showing the key in which the piano is to be played; and Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view of the same, partly in full lines, taken upon the line 5 5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of a circuit-controlling member constituting an essential element of the invention looking in the direction of the arrow in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal axial sectional view of the same, partly in full lines. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the same, taken at right angles to the plane of section of Fig. 7, upon the line 8 8, Fig. 6, and looking in the direction of the appended arrow. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical circuit system whereby the electromagnetic operative members are connected. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing a modified form of construction; and Fig. 11 is a detail View similar to Fig. 1 and showing a modified form of construction inclusive of the member illustrated in Fig. 10.

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

Referring with particularity to the drawings, in which the invention isillustrated as comprised Within and adapted to the use of a piano, and Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, A denotes the casing of an upright piano, of which casing a denotes the forward wall, through which extends the keys B, black and white, as in the ordinarily-constructed piano. 0 denotes the piano-strings, in connection with which operate the hammers D and the dampers E, said erence character F,) the action being inclosed within the casing A." In Figs. 1 and 2 the action complete for one of the strings C is illustrated, and the action for each of the strings is operatedby one of the keys B through the instrumentality of electromagnetic means G and a circuit-controlling member H, through the agency ofwhich latter upon depression of the respective key B a circuit is established through the respective electromagnet G. In the drawings a construction and arrangement of parts and members is illustrated which provides for rendering each of the hammers D operative when an electric circuit is closed through its respective electromagnetic .means G, the respective damper E being at the same time rendered inoperative.

The cirCu1t-controlling member H comprisesla plurality of sectlons it, one for each of the keys B, and each of the sections h is provided with a plurality of contacttermi l nals K, the number of said contact-terminals being preferably the same as the number of tones and semitones in an octave-namely,

12: C, C-sharp, D, D-sharp, E, F, F-sharp, G,

G-sharp, A, A-sharp, and Band each of the transversely of and beneath the keys B and is rotatably mounted'to permit of bringing the several contact-terminals K of each of the sections successively into the position for engagement by the contact-terminal L of the respective key B. In the drawings only a few of the strings C, action groups F, and keys B are illustrated, and the circuitcontrolling member H is shown as provided with a similar number of the sections it to represent simply the construction of the piano with respect to the production of the tones and semitones of asingle octave; but it will be understood that the invention contemplates the construction and provision of parts and members in suflicient duplication to provide a piano capable of being played half octaves or any other complement of octaves, as desired.

M designates a controlling and indicating member whereby the circuit-controlling member H may be adjusted by rotation, so that the key in which the piano is played may be varied as desired without variation in the method and scheme of manipulation of the keys, and whereby the key in which the piano is set to be played is denoted when the circuit-controllng member H is in any given position.

A preferred form of construction, relative arrangement, and connection of parts and members of a piano embodying the invention is as follows: Extending longitudinally within the casing A at right angles to and above the keys B is an action-rail 12, with which the hammers D are pivotally connected, as at 13, in position for beingactuated into and out of operative contact with the strings C. The dampers E are also pivotally connected with the action-rail 12, as at 14, and are normally forced into engagement with the strings C by springs 15.

The hammers and dam ers may be of the ordinary or any preferred form, each of the hammers D being provided with a contacthead 16, a stem 17, and a butt 18 and each of the dampers E being extended below its point of pivotal support 14, as at 19. In their normal positions the dampers rest against the strings C and the stems 17 of the hammers rest in positions inclined away from the strings C and against a stop-rail 20, extending throughout the casing A, parallel with the action-rail 12.

The electromagnetic means G are carried by a bar or rail 21, which extends throughout the casing A, also in parallelism with the rails 12 and 20 and between the action-rail 12 and in the full complement of seven and one-' the front walla of the casing A. The electromagnetic means G comprise a separate electromagnet 22 for actuating each of the hammers D and its respective damper E, each of said electromagnets being connected with and supported by the rail 21. Said electromagnets 22 are closely grouped together in an extended series, as illustrated.

The construction of each of the action groups of the action F apart from the hammer and the damper E comprises in its particular adaptation to the requirements of the features of the invention an armature-lever 23, which is associated with the respective electromagnet 22 and directly actuates the respective damper E, and a jack 24, which directly actuates the respective hammer D and is operated by and pivotally connected with the respective armature-lever 23 through the agency of a connecting plate or plates 25. The armature-levers 23 are arranged in a se ries beneath and are each pivotally connected with the action-rail 12,v as at 26, and each of the same, rearward of its point of pivotal support 26, is provided with a foot 27, which is arranged to bear upon the extension of the damper E beneath its point of pivotal support 14 to withdraw the dampers from the respective string 0. The jack 24 is connected with the armature-lever 23 and supported thereby by means of the plate or plates 25 at its lower extremity, as at 27 at a point 28 forward of the point 26 of pivotal support of the respective armature-lever 23, the jack 24 extending substantially vertically and the armature-lever 23 extending substantially horizontally. The jack 24 is provided with a forwardly extending foot 29, between which and the armature-lever 23 is interposed a coil-spring 30, which tends to force said jack 24 rearwardly and toward the action-rail 12. The upper and operative end portion 31 of the jack 24 engages with the hammer-butt 18 in a notch 32, formed in the same, whereby upon elevation of the armature-lever 23 the hammer-head 16 is thrown against the respective string C. The armature-levers 23, of which two are shown in Fig.

2, respectively in depressed and elevated positions, are limited in their depression by a stop-rail 33, which ranges through the casing A parallel with the action-rail 12 and beneath the armature-levers 23. The forward or free end of each of the armature-levers 23 is provided with an armature-head 34, which is arranged directly beneath the core of the respective electromagnet 22 and is directly acted upon in the energization of said electromagnet to lift the respective armature-lever 23, causing the withdrawal of the respective damper E from the respective string C and the throwing of the hammer-head 16 against the respective string C through the instru mentality of the foot 27 and the lever 23.

The circuit-controlling member H is arranged within an inclosing casing 35, disposed beneath the series of keysB, and is rotatably mounted by means of end bearings 36, of which but one is shown in the drawings, the member H being illustrated, as above set forth, to disclose in full but a certain number of the sections h. is extended exteriorly of the casing 35 and provided with a hand-wheel or knob 37-and indicating disk or wheel 38, which together constitute the controlling and indicating member M, the disk or wheel 38 being pro vided upon its periphery with musical scale characters arranged to correspond with the longitudinal series of contact-terminals K of the circuit-controlling member H, so that the proper scale character will appear through the sight-opening 39, formed in a cylindrical casing 40, inclosing the disk or wheel 38, to indicate the key in which the piano is set to play. In the drawings the controlling member M and the circuit-controlling member H are in positions of adjustment to permit of playing the piano in the key of C, the character c appearing in Fig. 3 through the sight-opening 39. The cylindrical casing 40 is arranged exteriorly of the casing 35 at one end of the piano.

The circuit-controlling member H comprises, as above recited, a plurality of sections it, each of which is provided with a circular body or disk 41 of insulating material, which disks are arranged side by side with faces opposed one to the other and slightly spaced one from the other, being tied together by a plurality of tie-rods 42, extending longitudinally of the member H parallel to its axis of rotation and resting in notches 43, cut in the peripheries of the bodies or disks 41. The tie-rods 42 are bolted at their ends to end plates 44, with which the bearings 36 are connected. The bodies or disks 41 are annular in form, providing circular central openings 45, which register throughout the entire series and in which lie a plurality of electrical conductors or electrical connections 46, each of which is electrically connected with one of the contact-terminals K upon one of the sections 71 of the member H and is also electrically connected with one of the electromagnets 22. As there is one of the electromagnets 22 provided for each of the roups of the action F, in a seven and one half octave piano there would'be ninety of the conductors 46 of the circuitcontrolling member H and correspondingly ninety of the electromagnets 22. Each of the electromagnets 22 is also electrically connected with a source of electrical energy O, which is in turn electrically connected with each of the contact-terminals L of the several keys As previously stated, the contact-terminals K of the several sections 71. of the circuit-controlling member H are arranged in series longitudinally of said member H, and there are,

One of the end bearings 36 as illustrated, twelve of such longitudinal series, which when respectively arranged in po-- sitions for the engagement of their several units by the contact-terminals L of the keys of any given octave of tones will enable the piano to be played in the keys designated by the characters appearing through the sightopening 39 in the casing 40, thus permitting of the transposition of the key without changing the lingering of the keys of any one octave of the piano.

' One of the longitudinal series of contactterminals K, being in the drawings that one which is arranged at the top of Fig. 6 and being the series which is arranged to be engaged by the contact-terminals L when the character c appears through the sightopening 39 in the casing 40, is electrically connected with the several electromagnets 22 by means of the electrical conductors 46 in the following manner: The bodies or disks 41 are of insulating material, the contact-terminals K being set into the peripheries of the same. The contact-terminal K of each disk or body 41, which is electrically connected with one of the electrical conductors 46, is directly electrically connected, as at 48, with an annular plate 47 by a circuit-wire 49, and the respective electrical conductor 46 is at one end connected, as at 51 with a supplemental annular plate 50, which surrounds'the group of conductors 46 and bears upon the plate 47 in electrical contact. The plates 47 and 50 are of conducting material, the plate 47 rotating with the respective disk or body 41 and the plate 50 being held against rotation by the respective electrical conductor 46. Each of the disks or bodies 41 is thus provided with a conducting-plate 47, which is electrically connected with one of the con tact-terminals K, which it carries and which rotates with the said disk or body 41, each plate 47 also being in electrical contact with aseparate electrical plate 50, which is electrically connected with one of the electrical conductors 46, which in turn is elec-' IlC trically connected with one'of the electromagnets 22. As each of the electromagnets is electrically connected with a common circu'it-wire 52, which extends to the source of electrical supply 0, and as each of the keys is electrically connected with a common circuitwire 53, which extends to the source of elec trical supply 0, it results that if the longitudinal series of contact-terminals K, which are electrically connected through the plates 47 and 50, carried by their respective bodies or disks 41, with the respective electrical conductors 46, are arranged in positions for electrical engagement by the contact-terminals L of the keys B the depression of any one of said keys will cause the closing of an electrical circuit through one of the electromagnets 22 and the actuation of the respective hammer D and damper E. The electrical connections of the contact-terminals K of the said longitudinal series which are arranged for electrical engagement by the contact-terminals L when the piano is to be played in the key of O are such that when any one of the keys of the piano is depressed its normally associated tone will be produced by the energization of the proper electromagnet 22 for the actuation of the proper hammer D and damper E.

To enable the key of the piano to be changed without changing the fingering of the several keys, by merely rotating the circuit-controlling member H by means of the controlling and indicating member M the contact-terminals K of each of the longitudinal series of said contact-terminals are connected together in the following manner: Each contact-terminal of each said longitudinal series, with the exce tion of those of the longitudinal series whicii are arranged to be engaged by the contact-terminals L when the piano is to be played in the key of C, is connected electrically with the contact-terminal in the section it, which lies next adjacent to its own longitudinal series and next forward in the direction of the arrow at the left-hand endof the circuit-controlling member H in Fig. 3. When the member H is rotated in the direction denoted by the latter arrow from the position denoted in the drawings, it necessarily follows that as each succeeding longitudinal series of contact-terminals K is brought into position for engagement by the contact-terminals L the depression of any key B will cause the energization of the proper electromagnet 22 to actuate the hammer D as many places removed from the hammer actuated By the depression of the same key when the longitudinal series of contact-terminals (illustrated in the drawings) is in position for en agement by the contact-terminals L of the keys B as is the longitudinal series of contact-terminals K at any time arranged beneath the contact-terminals L removed in serial count from the longitudinal series of contact-terminals K, illustrated in the drawings contact-terminals L. In other words, when the character C appears through the sight-opening 39 in the casing 40 the de ression of the white C key will cause t e C- string C to be sounded, and when the character (J-sharp appears through the si htopening 39 the depression of the white ey C will sound the O-sharp string C, because the contact-terminal K, which its contactterminal L engages, is electrically connected with the contact-terminal K, which is in turn electrically connected through the respective plates 47 and 50 and the respective electrical conductor 46 with the respective magnet 22, which controls .the group of the action F, which actuates the hammer D and damper E of the C-sh arp string C.

as beneath the i ssasav The several circuit-wires which connect the contact-terminals K of the several longitudinal series of the same together electrically in the manner and according to the systern described are designated by the reference character 54.

All of the conductors 46 are grou ed together to form a cable lying within t e central openings 45 of the sections h, and said cable (designated by the reference character extends through the bearing 36 at one end of the member H, which is formed hollow to accommodate the same, said cable 55 being thence led in its several conductor units to the proper and respective electromagnets 22. c

In the diagrammatic view constituting Fig. 9 the method of wiring is clearly illustrated, and the several circuit-wires are dis tributed within the casing A in the manner providing for the most convenience and economy. In said diagrammatic view the armature-levers 23 are shown in their proper operative arrangements with respect to the electromagnets 22.

In the modified form of construction illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 the circuit-controlling member P is illustrated as arranged within a casing 56, arranged above the keys B, and the twelve longitudinal series of contactterminals K of the same are shown as occupying the segment of but one-half a circle'in the cylindrical formation of the entire member B. The arrangement and connection of the circuit-wires 54 are shown as being the reverse of that illustrated in the other figures of the drawings, the direction of rotation of the member P being reversed. The con struction of the member I is otherwise identical with that of the member H, with the exception that the circuit-wires 49, connecting the contact-terminals K with the plates 47, are connected each by a separate Wire 57 with the respective plates 50,'which are connected with the respective electrical conductors 46 to insure unfailing electrical connection of the electrical conductors 46 and their respective contact-terminals K. The casing 56 is rovided with a sight-opening 57, throug which the longitudinal series of contact-terminals K may be directly viewed to permit of noting the key in which the piano is set to be played, and to this end the several longitudinal series of contactterminals K or one of the contact-terminals of each of such series may be marked with or bear the key character or symbol, as indicated on one of the contact-terminals K at the left-hand end of one of the longitudinal series of the same in Fig. 10.

It will be readily understood that the circuit-controlling member P may be rotated in the same manner as the member H and that a piano in which the modified form of construction illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 might be installed would be provided with the remaining features heretofore described to constitute an operative mechanism.

The operation, method of use,- and advantages of a piano constructed in accordance with the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. and the following summarizing statement: In order to transpose in the use of a piano constructed as ,described and illus-. trated, it is onlyv necessary to manipulate the controlling and indicating member M so that thecharacter which is exposed through the sight-opening 59 in the casing 40 will be that which indicates the key in which it is desired to play the piano. The longitudinal series of contact-terminals K, which are arranged beneath and in position for electrical engagement by the contact-terminals L of the keys B, determine which of the strings 0 shall be played by the depression of the several keys of the keyboard, and in going from one key to another it is not necessary to depart from the one system of manipulation of the keys of the keyboard which holds uniformly throughout the playing of the piano in various keys.

By the peculiar construction and method of electrical connection of the electrical conductors 46, constituting the cable 55, the said cable remains stationary in spite of the rotation of the remaining portions of the circuit-controlling member H, permitting unfailing maintenance of circuit conditions in all ositions of adjustment of the circuit-contro ling member H. I

The construction is not unduly complicated and is adapted for long-continued use without derangement of the working parts, and the number of moving parts of the action is'relatively decreased with respect to that of the ordinary piano-action, assuring an accuracy and responsiveness of operation which is of advantage in musical instruments of the class described.

Although I'have'described the invention as applied to a piano, it is manifest that it may be equally readily adapted to musical instruments and other mechanisms and apparatus of a wide range of types.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat-' cut, is

v 1. In mechanism of the character described, an adjustable circuit controlling. member, comprising a plurality of annular sections each of which is provided with a plurality of contact-terminals, electrical connections extending between contact-terminals of one of said sections and contact-terminals of another of said sections, and a stationary cable passing through said annular sections and comprising a lurality of separate electrical conductors e ectrically connected wit said contact-terminals of said sections.

2. In mechanism of the character described, an adjustable circuit-controlling member, comprising a plurality of jointly- Inovable annular sections each of which is provided with a contact-terminal, and a plurality of separate stationary electrical conductors passing through said annular sections and extending respectively from said contact-terminals.

3. In mechanism of the character described, an adjustable circuit controlling member, comprising a plurality of annular sections each of which is provided with a contact-terminal, and a stationary cable passing through said annular sections and comprising a plurality of separate electrical conductors extending respectively from said contact-terminals. 7

41 In mechanism of the character described, a rotary circuitrco'ntrolling member, comprising a plurality of annular sections each of which is provided with a contact-terminal, a separate plate upon each of said sections and electrically connected with the respective contact-terminal, a stationary cable passing through said annular sections and comprising a plurality of separate electrical con uctors, and a plurality of other plates electrically connected respectively with said conductors and respectively in electrical contact with said plates upon said annular sections. Y

5. In mechanism of the character described, a rotary circuit-controlling member,

each of which is provided with contact-terminals K, a separate late 47 fixed upon each of said sections an electrically connected with one of the res ective contact-terminals K, a stationary cab e 55 passingthrough such annular sections and comprising a plurality rality of other plates 50 electrically connected respectively with said conductors 46 and respectively in electrical contact and in' sliding engagement with said plates upon said annular sections, and a plurality of circuitwires each of which electrically connects one of said latter plates with one of said former plates.

-nameto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES P. POOL.

Witnesses:

RAYMOND M. LEsLEE, M. R. MATTEO,

of separate electrical conductors 46, a plu' comprising a plurality of annular sections In testimony whereof I have signed my I

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