US858263A - Pedal for self-playing grand pianos. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907. J. W. DARLEY, JR.- PEDAL FOR SELF PLAYING GRAND PIANOS.

APPLIOATIGN FILED 00'1.19, 1906.

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" W24 Mw Gum/@4 No. 858,263. PATENTED JUNE 25, 190vv J. W. DARLEY, JR. PEDAL FOR SELF PLAYING GRAND PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.l9, 1906.

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PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

J. W. DARLEY, JR. PEDAL FOR SELF PLAYING GRAND PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.19, 1906.

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swam H306 WWW/am UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JoHN W. DARLEY, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO ERNEST J.

A KNABE, JE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Original application filed July 9, 1906, Serial No. 325,409. Divided and this application filed October 19, 1906- Serial No. 339,712

To all wit/0112 itmay concern.-

Be it knoun that I, JOHN IV. DARLEY, Jr.,

- a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pedals for Self-Playing Grand Pianos; and -I dohereby-declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in pedals for self-playing grand pianos, this applicationbeing a division of a former application Serial No. 325,409, filed July 9, 1906,

The object of my invention is to provide pumping pedals, which when not in use may e folded up completely out of the Way, so that the piano may be played by hand in the ordinary manner.

With this object in view, my invention consists in the construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing s'-Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the front of a grand piano, parts being shown in dotted lines Fig. 2 is a detail View showing the pedals and connected parts; and Fig. 3 is "a partial.

front view of a grand piano.

0 represents the case of a rand piano provided with a hinged lid 1), t e front part of which as shown at c is hinged to therear part.- d'represents the supportin leg. The ianois also provide with the usual 4 sound oard e, and the ordinary keys, and

any approved type of piano action. It is also provided with the usual lyre 'h, in which are carried the ordinary loud and soft pedals, the loud pedal being shown at 3'. The parts heretofore describe are of the usual construction.

Underneath the folding lid 0 is arranged the box is, in which the music rolls are placed.

This box is provided with a cover m hinged at n, and having a front 0 hinged to. the cover m, so that it may fold entirely back, or may be folded up to form a musicrest'. Within the boxlc are located the music rolls 1" and s, and the tracker board t, connected by the tubes at with the pneumatic portion of the ap aratus. The box 7: containing the music rol s, is only the front part of a larger box a, a partition 'w separating the music roll por- -'tion from the box'proper. This box contains the tubes it, already referred to, leading to, the tracker board. These tubes all run. backward and pass into a header w, and this pumpers 3. These pumpers are provided withthe usual discharge openings and valves, movable covers and suction openings and valves, which are no part of the'present invention. the box an to the top of the pumpers, normally keep the uinpers closed, and by the use of'the peda s, the movable members of the said pumpers are lifted against the tension of said springs. v

2 represents the strin supporting-frame, provided with the usua tuning pins 1, to which the. strings are secured.

To the pumpers 3 the air passes'up through the passage 8 1n the bracket 9. The air comes from the passage 12 through the air trunk 13. Provision is made to insure an air tight joint between the bracket 9 and the upper part of the air trunk 13.

14 represents the pneumatic box connected with the air trunk 13 so that there will be a free passage for the air from the box 14 to the pumpers. The pumpers are connected with the ordinary equalizer for maintaining a constant air pressure in the air trunks, and the main trunk is connected to the motor (not shown) for driving the rolls r and .9, said connections included therein the usual governor for controlling the speed of said .motor, 1 X

7' represents the'loud pedal which operates in the usual manner. -The ordinary soft pedal 'i operates to shift the key-board laterally in the usual manner; The lyre h has'on its rear side near the bottom thereofia bracket 154, provided with bearings in which is mounted a shaft 155. 156 and 157 re resent bent arms, one end of each of whic is mountedon said shaft. 158represent bosses made integral with said arms 156and 157,

S rings 7 attached to the top of and secured to said shaft by pins 159. The

construction is substantially the same on both sides, and, therefore, only one will be described. The arm 157 has at its other end a laterally extending cylindrical part 160, on

which the pedal 161 is loosely mounted, the

washer 162 keeping the pedal in place thereon. The washer 162 is arranged so that when the partsare folded down, as shown at Fig. 2, its flat portion will rest upon the floor, and

the outer end of the arm 157v is similarly 165 and 168. .25

- pedal is folded up, and an angled portion 168,

and also with a long power transmitting portion-169, arranged at right angles to the parts The part 169 is journaled at one end end in a bracket 170, which is bolted or otherwise secured to the'rear of the lyre, and extends backward about the center of the pneumatic box 14. The other end of said )art 169 is pivoted in a bracket 169 on the right leg of the piano. Thepart' 168 of the lever 165 isprovided with a horizontal extension 172, on the reduced' portion of which a vertical rod, 17 3 is pivoted, being secured thereon by a pin 174. This rod 173 extendsnp-through the casing and box and contacts with the under part of a projection on the pumper 3 to lift it against the tension of the spring 7. in Fig. 3, the pedals are locked upand the means for releasing them'will now be described.

17 8 re resents the key sliphinged to the front of t e key bottom of the iano and extending backwardly therefrom is the rod- 17 9,

the-outer end of which is pivoted to. said key slip as at 179 and the inner end of. which is bent down, as shown at 180. The rod 179 i's located at the lefthand end of thepiano, and

the lower down turned end of this arm is pivoted to the upwar dly'extending'arm181 on the shaft 182, which extends underfthe key bottom and terminates near the middle of the lyre in the outwardly projecting lever arm 183, the outer end of whichis located immediately above the top of the vertical rod 184., The rod 182 is secured to the'key bottom in suitable bearings, one of which is shown at 185. The rod 184 isslidable in suitable bearings secured on the rear'of the.

lyre and terminates at its lower end ina hooked portion 186, which. is adapted to be engaged by pin 189 secured on the shaft 155.

Obviously, aslong as the hook 186 en gages the pin 189*, the pedals cannot be moved down, but when the rod 184 is moved In the position shown- ;pneum'atic mechanism and eeaees downward, this looking engagement is broken, and the pedals are then positively forced outward by the tension of the spring 188, which is coiled around the shat t 155, and is fastened at one end to said shaft, and at the other end to the bracket 154. A spring 189 normally keeps the rod 184 in its upper position, that is, interlocked with. the pin 187. The spring 188 performs two 11110". tions. As soon as the pedals are unlocked it forces them outwardly until the con tor of the bearing 160 is about in line vertically with the center of the shaft 155. Gravity then acts upon the pedals, drawing them down, and the spring then resists the action 01. gravity and allows the pedals to slowly drop to the floor into the position shown in Fig; 2. The arm 157 is bent as shown, in order to provide clearance around the inner end of the pedal 161, which connects with the link 163.. The links 163. and 164, and-the arm 157 have their bearing points so arranged, and their operativelengths so proportioned,, that the pedals will automatically move from the folded position shown in 1 to the operative position shown inFig. 3, the loci of the centers that move during this folding opera tion, being shown by-broken lines in Fig. 2.

By the construction described,-it is obvious thatthedepression of the pedal 161 will, through theconnections described, operate portion of thepiano. 7

V The'skeleton form of construction of the pedals and their location, as shown in Fig. 3, that. is to say, practically under the pneumatic box, does not detract from the usual appearance of the piano when the pedals are folded up.

The operation of the pedal locking (lG'v'lCO is fully set forth inmy application filed July 9, 1906, Serial No. 325,409, and it is unnecessary to describe it further in this application;

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire'to secure by Letters 1 Patent ofthe'United States is 1. in a self-playing grand piano, the combination with a horizontally disposed case pneumatic mechanism and a dep pedal support, of, pedals and. c actuating the pneumatic nice pedals being fo'ldably secured i 1 support, substantially as described.\

2. in a self-playing grand piano, the comthe'pumpers, thus operating the pneumatic bination with a horizontally disposed case,

depending 1 y i l pedal support, of pedals and folding connectrons for actuating the pneumatic mechanism, said pedals beingfoldably secured to said pedal support, substantially as described.

3. in a seli-pla1ying grand piano, the combination with a' iorizlontally tispose I pneumatic mecharnsni and a depending with folding connections, and means for supporting said edals beneath the frame, substantially as escribed. a

5. In a self-playing grand piano, a horizpntallydisposed case, strings and a string supporting frame a pedal support, a bellows mounted above the strings of said piano and overlying the front portion of the string supporting frame, a lever for 0 erating said' bellows. extending forwardly eneath said case, a bellows pedal, and links connecting said pedals to said support and to said lever,

whereby said pedals may have movement from an operative to a non-o erative position, substantially as describe 6. In a self-playing grand piano, ,a horizontally disposed case, strings and a string supporting frame a pedal support, a bellows mounted above the strings of the piano and overlying the front portion of the string supporting frame, a lever for operating said bellows and extending forwardly beneath said case and links," one of which is jointed, connecting said dals tosai'd 'su port and to said lever, w ereby said pedas may have movement from an operative to 'a non-operative position, substantially as described;

.74 In a self-playing grand piano, a horizontally dis osedcase, strings and a string supporting f fa'me a pedal su port, a bellows mounted above the strings 0 said piano and I overlying the front portion of the string suporting frame, a lever for operating said belows and extending forwardly beneath said case, a bellows pedal, a. link connectin said pedal to said support, and 'a jointe link connectin said pedal to said lever, whereby said peda may have movement from an operative to a non-operative position, substantially as described.

8. In' a self-playing grand piano, a horizontally dis osed case, strings and a string supporting ame a pedal su port including two vertically dis osed portions, a bellows mounted above t e strings and overlying the front-portion of v the string supportin frame, a lever for operating said bellows, an

extending forwardly beneath said case, a bellows pedal, a link connection from the rear end of said bellows pedal to said lever, and a second link connection from the forward end of'said bellows edal to said pedal support, whereby said bel ows pedal may be moved downwardly into operative position,

and upwardly and rearwardly into inverted position. between said vertically disposed portions, substantially as described.

9. In a self-playing'grand piano, the com bination with a hOIlZOIllZtLllY disposed case, pneumatic mechanism and a depending pedal support, of pedals and connections with actuating pneumatic mechanism, said pedals being foldablysecured to said pedal support,,means for locking said pedals when folded up, 'andgme'ans for resiliently resisting the action of gravity on said pedals when unlocked, substantially as descrlbed.

10.- In a self-playing grand piano, the combinationvwith a horizontally disposed case, pneumaticmechanism and a depending pedal support, of pedals and connections for actuating the pneumatic mechanism, said pedals being foldably secured to said pedal support, means for locking said pedals when folded up, and means for forcing out the said pedals from the piandcase when unlocked, substantially as described.

11. Ina selfplaying grand piano, the combination with a horizontally disposed case, pneumatic mechanism and a depending pedal support, of pedals and connections for actuating the pneumatic mechanism, said pedals being foldably secured to said pedal support, means for locking said edals when folded up, and a single means or throwing out said pedals a'short distance when unlocked, and for then resisting the further opening movement of said pedals, substanfamily as described.

12. In a self-playing grand piano, the combination with a horizontally disposed case, pneumatic mechanism and a depending pedal support, of pedals and 'means for actuating the neumatic mechanism, said pedals being f0 dably secured to said pedal support, means for locking said pedals when f 1 ed u and a springfor forcing said pedals outwar a'short distance when unlocked, and

for resisting the further 0 ening movement of said pedals, substantial y as described.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. HARLEY, JR.

Witnesses:

W. Max. UUYALL, MYRON G. CLEAR.

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