US844985A - Automatic playing mechanism in pianos. - Google Patents

Description

No. 844,985. PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

- P. WUEST, JR.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING MECHANISM IN PIANOS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 19, 1904.

.WIITNESSES: j 1 INVENTOR:

UNITED sTATEs PATENT orrron.

PHILIP VVUESI, J R., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE.

AUTO-MANUAL PIANO ACTION COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PEN N SYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING MECHANISM IN PIANO S Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Applioatioii'filed May 19. 1904. Serial No. 203,766;

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP -Wunsr, J12,- of

Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, I

have invented certain new and useful Improvements "in Automatic Playing Mechanism in Pianos, whereof the following is'a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

- operativevrelation with their sounding de- My invention relates to pianos, organs, and similar mstruments compr sing automatic playing mechanlsm permanently ad usted in vicesfor instance, mechanism of the class controlled by a web ofperforated paper which is progressed with respect to a pneumatic tracker-bar provided with a series of a ertures corresponding with a series of soun -'ng devices in the instrument. In such instruments as ordinarily constructed the" strike pneumatic motors of the automatic playing mechanism are designed to he supported by the key-bed, and their connection ,with the latter is necessary preceding the adjustment of the playing mechanism in relation to the' hammer-action of the instrument. Such construction and arrangement is of further disadvantage in that whenever'it is necessary to remove the key-bed the playing .mechanism must be disconnected from the hammer-ac tion, and readjustment of the same is necessitated upon reassembhng the devices. Moreover, any disturbance of the relation of the piano casing 01 key-bed with respect to the piano-actionioi instance, by expansion or contraction of the wooden partsof course disturbs the adjustment of the automatic playing mechanism. There fore it is an object of my invention to provide automatic playing mechanism of the class described so constructed and arranged that when adjusted in operative connection with the action of the instrument which it is to play it is so far-independent of the instrument casing and key-bed that the latter may be removed to facilitate repairs, &c., without disturbing the adjustment of said mechanism.

A further ob'ect of my invention is to provide'combine hammer-actions and automatic playing mechanisms which may be made and-marketed independently of piano string-flames and casings and dye inserted and removed with respect to the latter with the same facility as ordinary pi ano-actions.

The aforesaid objectsare attained, as here- 'inafter described, by providing automatic playing mechanism which is arranged to be supported upon the metal string-frame of a piano independentl of the wooden casing and key bed, an preferably comprising metal frames which are either integrally connected with or secured to the metal frames of the piano-action, so as to be conveniently supported and adjusted with respect to the latter withont'regard to the key-bed. Such construction is advantageous, first. in that all of .thenecessary adjustments ofthe playing mechanism with respect to the hammeraction may be primarily effected before said devices are inserted in the piano-casing; second, the relative eX ansion and contraction of. the casing and ey-bed with respect to the pi ano-action does not afiect the ad justment of the hammer-action with respect to theplaying mechanism, and, third, any adjustments or repairs of -theinstrument reguiring the removal of the key-bed do not playing mechanism shown in Fig. I. Fig.

II shows a modified form of my invention wherein the side frames of the piano-action and playing mechanism are relatively independent, although provided with common supports extending from themetallic stringframe Fig. IV is a fragmentary front elevation showing the adjustable connection between the action-frame and playing-mechanism frame shown in side elevation in Fig. III.

In said drawings the piano-casing 1 com-v prises the key-bed 2, on which the digitals 3 are supported by the balance-rail 4. Each of said digitals 3 is provided with an adjust-- able stud 5 in operative relation with an extension-rod 6, depending from the jack-v whip and pivoted to an extension-lever 8, iulcrumed on the small action-rail 9 in connection with a hammer 10., arranged to strike the string 11 on the metallic string frame 12, which latter is provided with the usual wooden back supports 13 and sounding board 15. Said casing" 1 also comprises the usual upper lid 17, the removable front panel 18, inclosing the action, the hinged cover for the manual comprising the digitals 3, 'andthe'removable front panel 21., inclosing the chamber 22 below the key-bed2, in which chamber the main bellows, chest, &c., of the playing mechanism may be conveniently mounted. However, the last named parts of the playing mechanism may be of ordinary construction, and therefore are omitted from the drawings.

' Referring to Fig. I, the vertical metal frames 25 (of whichthereare two on opposite ends of the piano-action) are mounted on the studs or brackets 26 and 27, extending from the metal string-frame 12. Said frames 25. 'incloseiand support the group of three pneumatic-valve shelves 30, which are also conveniently connected by the end strips 31 and bolt-s32, the latter being engaged with the respectively upper and lower frame members'33 and 34. veniently supports a series of levers 36, corresponding with theseries of digitals 3 and each provided with an adjustable stud 37, operatively connected by a rod 38 with an arm 39 on the hammer-action rod 6. Each of said shelves is provided with a series of respectively independent strike pneumatic motors 41, and the individual motors of the three groups respectively local to said three shelves 30 are each connected by a rod 42 with one ofthe series of levers 36, so as to uplift it, and thus effect the operation of the hammer 10 connected therewith whenever its motor 41 is exhausted and collapsed. The means for effecting the above .described v action of the motors 41 may, as aforesaid, in:

clude a pneumatic tracker-bar controlled by the traverse of a perforated paper web; but I have omitted such devices from the drawings, as it is to be understood that any suitable means may be employed to insure the operation of the playing mechanism.

The hammer-action and playing mechanism being supported in the end frames 25, which are common to both devices, all of the relative adjustments of said devices required to render them cooperative may be effected before they are inserted in the piano- I casing 1 in engagement with the brackets 26 and 27, and to facilitate the insertion, precise adjustment, and removal of said frames 25 they are conveniently provided with hemispherical sockets 43 at their lower ends, which are fitted upon Vertically-adjustable studs 44, having correspondingly shaped upper ends. The upper ends 45 of said frames 25 are conveniently bifurcated to embrace the screw-threaded ends of the brackets 'l'heframe member 33, con- 26 and are secured thereon by the nuts 46. Although I find it convenient to employ said side frames 25, which are common to both the pianoaction and the pneumatic playing mechanism, as above described. the playing mechanism may be supported directly from the metallic string frame 12 without permanent relation to the hammeraction. For instance, the hammer-action may be provided with end frames 50, as shown in Fig. III, supported by brackets 51 and 52, projecting from the metal: string-frame 53, and retained by nuts 55 and 56, and the playing mechanism may be provided with opposite end frames 57, whose bifurcated upper ends 58 are supported by the brackets 52 in engagement with said nuts 56, and whose socketed lower ends 59 are supported by the brackets 60 in engagement with the vertically-adjustable studs 61.

The construction last described isadvantageous in that the adjustment between the hammer-action and the playing mechanism may not only be effected (like the other construction described) regardless of the keybed 2, and, in fact, before either the action or the playing mechanism is inserted in the instrument, but also because either device may be afterward removed independently of the other and without disturbing their cooperas tive relation, which relation may be restored by replacing said frames in the adjusted relation shown in Fig. III, it being noted that the rods 38 of the hammer-action merely rest upon the studs 37 of the playing mechanism, so that said two devices may be readily separated. Moreover, in the arrangement shown in Fig. III the playing mechanism may be adjusted as a whole toward and away from the hammer-action as distinguished from the form shown in Fig. II, wherein they are permanently related, it being noted that the upper ends 58 of the frames 57 comprise elongated slots or notches 63 to receive the brackets 52, as shown in Fig. IV.

Although in the form of my invention chosen for illustration only three separable valve-shelves 30 are shown in the group supported on the string-frame 12, it is to be understood that other parts of the playing mechanism, such as themain bellows, 850., may be similarly supported; but of course it is not necessary to maintain suchelements in precise relation with the hammer-action, like the strike-motors 41, and such elements may be conveniently supported upon the floor of the outer casing 1. t

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications maybe made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention.

I'claim 1. In a'piano, the combination with agme- IOC tallic string-frame; of an automatic playing ,tallic string-frame; of a bracket'projecting mechanism, supported by said stringframe independently of the key-bed, substantially as set forth.

I 2. In a piano, the combination with a me from said frame; and, an automatic playing mechanism supported by said bracket, substantially as set forth.

3. In a piano, the combination with a metallic string-frame; of a bracket projecting from said string-frame; an automatic playing'mechanism. supported by said bracket; and, means adjustably connecting said bracket with said mechanism, substantially set forth. 4. In a piano, the combination with a metallic string-frame; of a bracket projecting I from said string-frame; an automatic playing mechanism' supported by said bracket; and, means adjustably connecting said I bracket with said mechanism, comprising an adjustable screw-"stud, pivotally connected with said mechanism, substantially as set 1 forth.

5; In piano, the combination with a stringeframe rovidedwith brackets above and below t 1e key-bed; of metallic side frames supported by said brackets; and, a hammer-action and automatic playing mechanism supported in cooperative relation in said side frames, substantially as set forth.

6. In a piano, the combination with a metallic string-frame; ,of a hammer-action; automatic playing mechanism operatively connected with said hammer-action; mctallic side frames supporting said action and l mechanism in cooperative relation; and, means on said string-frame supporting said i a l i l l l l side frames independently of the key-bed, substantially as set forth.

7. In a piano, the combination .with a metallic string-frame; of a bracket projecting from said string-frame; a hammer-action provided with side frames; automatic playing mechanism provided with side frames; and, means common, to'the side frames of said action and playing mechanism, connecting them in relatively adjustable relation to said string-frame, substantially as set forth.

8. In a piano, the combination With a metallic string-frame; of a hammer-action; automatic pneumatic playing mechanism operatively connected with said hammeraction; metallic side frames supporting said action and mechanism in cooperative relation; and, means on said string-frame supporting said side frames independently of t e key-bed, substantially as set forth.

9. In a piano, the combination with a metallic string-frame;, of a bracket projecting from said string-frame; a hammer-action provided with side frames; automatic pneumatic playing mechanism provided With side frames; and, means common to the side frames of said action and playing mechanism, connecting them in relatively adjustable re lation to said string-frame, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto. signed my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 17th day of May, 1904. Y

PHILIP WUEST, JR.

Witnesses: I

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, ANNA F. GE ZFREAD.

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