US944034A - Pneumatic actuating unit. - Google Patents

Description

A. G. GULBRANSEN.

PNEUMATIC AOTUATING UNIT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20,1909,

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

Ivww/fw. M qquLa/m nae/v UNITED AXEL G. GULBRANSEN.

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO GULBBANSEN 6k DICKIN- SON COHPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC ACTUA'IING UNIT.

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

Application tiled latch 20, 1909. Serial No. 454,834.

To all whom it may concern:

llc it known that I, Axon. (l. GrrLnaANsnx, a citizen of the [hated States, residing at Chicago. in the county of Cook and State of Illinois. have invented a certain new and useful improvement in Pneumatic Actuating Units for Use in Pneuniatically-O eratcd Pianos, of which the following is a all, clear. concise. and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to pneumatic actuating units for use in pneumatically operated pianos aml its object is to provide improved construction and arrzmgenu-ut, particularly of the primary valve. mechanism.

In pneumatic actuating units the primary valve is operated rn )idly and suddenly and should have. thereiore. great freedom of movement. The seats for the valve should be rigid and Secure and should be constructed to insure good engagement and to prevent leakage. The construction and arrangement should also be such that the engagementbctween the valve and its seats is noiseless. All these various desirable fea- (tlleH are obtained by any construction and arrangement. which is clearly shown in the au'com muying drawing. in which Figure I is a top view of a pneumatic actuating unit: Fig. 2 is a section view taken on plane 2-2. Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section view taken through the valve on plane 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an underside view of the valve. parts being broken away; and Fig. 5 is a to view of a ring forming a seat for the va ve.

The actuating unit frame comprises the main supporting block 1 and the valve block :2 mounted on the main block and removably secured thereto as by means of screws 3. llinged at the left lower edge of block 1 is the movable member or plate 4 having at. its right end an extension or shelf 5 for engaging directly or through connecting mechanism with the abstract rods 0| striking mechanism of the-piano. (lined about the edges of the block I and )lttlt 4 is flexible fabric (5. which with said block and plate forms a bellows chamber 7. The block I is recessed from the top to form the upper and lower diuphru m chalulx-rs 8 and 9. so mruted by the diap u'aglu 10. lliugcd at he left. end of the. upper diaphragm chamber and extending diametrically across said chamber and over the diaphragm is a lever 11 secured at an intermcdnlte point; to the center of the diaphragm by means of a felt disk 12.

Into the valve block 2 is cut the cylindrical valve chamber 13 whose u )per end is covered by the annular metallic seat 14 cashioned by a leather washer 15, the opening 16 communicating with the atmosphere. The lower wall 17 of the valve chamber has the central owning l8 connecting the valve chambenwitll the upper diaphragm chamber. The sides of this openiu taper downwardly the entire distance and are lined by a n'letal ring 19 correspondingly tapered and whose upper edge is finished to form a smooth annular valve seat. The ring is glued in the opening and thc'tapercd arrange. ment assists in rigidly and securely holdmg the rin in place and also prevents the ring from alling into the diapln-a u chamber. should it ever become loosene This arrangement also causes the seat ring 19 to he conumnsating as should for an reason the opening 18 become larger and t e ring ltKI:-icned as by contraction of the block 2, the valve 20 which is under ahnosphcric pressure will force the ring downwardly into firm and close engagement with the opening, thus maintaining at all times a perfectfit between the ring and the opening.

'ithin the valve chamber is the cylindrical valve 20, whose detail construction is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The main member is a wooden disk 21 having the annular flange 22 extending downwardly from its cd e. A diaphragm or disk 23 of air tight faliric. such as rubber. is glued at its edge to the end face of the flange and said disk is reinforced Irv a diaphragm or disk :24 glued thereto at its edge. said disk it being preferably of leather. 'ithin the compurtnn'ntformed by the flange and the disks 2i and '33. some soft cushioning material is placed and this may he in the form of a felt disk inserted before the rubber disk 23 is applied to the flange. The upper end of seat rin I ill extends a short distance allure the wul l7 and the valve is nornudly seated thereon. the inner diameter of the flange being gl't'ttltl than that of the ring and the outer diameter of the disk Ll being sulliciently less than the linnu-ter of the valve chamber to allow perfect freedom of operation of the valve. Glued at its a per end to the center of the leather disk 24 18 the valve stem 26, which extends downwardly through opening 18 and into the upper dia hragm chamber, its lower end being secure to the right end of lever 11 by means of a felt disk 27.

The left ends of blocks 1 and 2 are in vertical register and are secured to the wall 28 of a vacuum chamber frame 29, a washer 30 of leather being interposed. A passageway 31 connects the 11 per diaphragm chamber with the vacuum cliamber and a passageway 32 connects the lower diaphragm chamber with the vacuum chamber, this connection, however. bein throttled by the small opening 33 through disk 34 applied over the end of said passageway. T 1e passageway 32 also connects via passageway 35 with a conductor 36 leading to an opening in the tracker board over which the music sheet travels, this tracker board not being shown. A passageway 37 connects the valve chamber with the bellows compartment 7.

W hen the tracker board openings are closed, both diaphragm chambers connect with the vacuum cl1a1nl)cr;-tlie diaphragm is down and the valve is held against the ring seat by atmospheric pressure. \Vhen a tracker board opening is exposed by the sheet, air under atmospheric pressure rushes through passageun and 32 to blow up the diaphragm an: to raise the valve, the diaphragm force bcing multiplied by the lever connection between the diaphragm and valve which has already been described. 'lluvalvc now closes atmosphere outlet 16 and allows the bellows compartment to conncct with the vacuum chamber throw-ll opening 18 and passageway 31. The pl ate 4 is therefore raised and the piano striking mechanism having connection with the extcnsion 5, is actuated. When the tracker hoard opening is a ain closed, the pressures in the diuphra c lambers equalize through opening 33 nor the valve returns to its lower scat to disconnect the bellows chamber from the vacuum chamber and to reconnect the hollows chamber with atmosphere, whereupon plate 4 drops and the striking mechanism is rrlcascd. 'lhc upward throw of the plate I is cushioned by a pad 38 which strikes the abutment screw 39. this abutment screw also allowing adjustment of the actuation of the striking mechanism by the plate l.

True and accurate engagement of the valve with its seats is always assurct'l on account ol the flexible felt connection mtwcrn the stem and lover, and the flexible connection ol' the stem with the leather disk or diaphragm 24. 'lhosc connections allow the valve to move freely and practically indopomh-ntly of the lever 11. The cushioning material 25 absorbs all shocks and softens the en 'ugcment of the valve with its seats. The ru ibcr disk 23 prevents leakage of air through opening 18 when the valve seats on ring 19. The opening 18 bcii v tapered thron hout its length, the taper-t seat ring 19 wifi at all times be held with perfect fit in the opening by the valve pressing against the ring.

The result of the various features described above is to produce very efficient and noiseles operation.

As changes both in construction and or rangemcnt could be made without departing from the s irit of my invention, 1 do not. limit; myse f to the exact construction and operation shown, and I desire to secure the following claims by Letters Patent:

1. In a pneunnitic actuating device of the class described, the combination with a valve having an opening and a diaphragm secured over said opening, of a seat for engaging said diaphragm within the edge of said opening.

In a pneumatic actuating device of the class described, the combination of a frame forming a valve chamber, a valve in said chamber having a cavity and a diaphragm secured over said cavity, a diaphragm tlllllllbcr below the valve clulmlu-r, a diaphragm in said chamber, a valve stem having coma-ction at one end with the diaphragm in said diaphragm chamber and at its other cud being connected with the valve diaphragm, and a passagcwav controlled by said valvr.

3. In a pneumatic actuating device of the class descrlbcd, the combination with a valve comprising a disk having a cavity, cushioning; material filling the cavity, and a diaphragm closing the cavity, of a frame forming a valve chamber for said valve, a stem secured to the diaphragm and extending therefrom, actuating mechanism for said valve connected with said stem, and a passageway controlled by said valve.

4. In a pneumatic actuating device of the class described, the combination with a valve comprising adisk having a cavity, cushioning material Ill said cavity, and a die hragm covering the cavit and sccurcd to t to disk, of a stem secure at one end to the diaphragm, actuating mechanism having flexi- )ll' connection with the other end of said stcm, and a passageway controlled by said valve.

In a pneumatic actuating device of the class described, the combination of a disk having a rim formin' a cavity with said disk, an air tight diu ilu'a un secured to the rim over the cavity, a reinfdueing din Jhragm also secured to the rim on to) of tie lirst mentioned din ihrugm, said disk and diaplu'u ms constituting a valve structure, a seat or said valve struutin-c, a. slum secured at. one cud to the reinforcing diaphragm,

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lllt) and actuating mechanism having flexible connection with the other end of said stem.

6. In a pneumatic actuating device of the class described. the combination of a body part having a rim forming a cavity therewith, a diaphru m sccnrec to the run over the cavity, said isk and diaphragm constitutiug a valve structure, and an annular valve seat for engaging with the diaphragm within said rim.

7. In a pneumatic actuating device of the class described. the combination of a body part having a rim formiu a cavity therewith, a diaphragm secure to the rim over the cavity, said disk and diaphragm constitutiln a valve structure, an annular valve seat or engagin with the diaphragm within said rim, a vfive stem secured to the diaphragm. and actuating mechanism having connection with said stem.

8. In a pneumatic actuating device of the class described, the combination of a body part having a rim formin a cavity therewith, a diaphragm secure to the rim over the cavity, said disk and diaphragm constituting a valve structure, an annular valve seat for engaging with the diaphragm within said rim, a valve stem secured at one end to the diaphragm. and actuating mechanism having flexible connmztion with the other end of said stem.

9. In a pneumatic actuating device of the class dcscrila-d, the combination of a rigid disk having a rim formi a cavity there with, a flexible disk secure to the rim over the cavity, cushioning material in the cavity, said disks and material constituting avalve structure. and an annular valve seat for engaging with the flexible diaphragm within the rim.

10. in a pneumatic actuating device of the ('lllSS described. the combination of a rigid circular valve disk having an annular flange on one face foru'iing a compartment therewith. a flexible disk secured to the flange end and coveriu the compartment, and an annular seat. or engaging with said flexible disk, the diameter of said scat being less than the inner diameter of the flange.

11. in a pneumatic actuating device of the class described, the combination of a rigid circular valve disk having an annular flange on one face forming a compartment therewith, a flexible disk secured to the flange end and covering the compartment, an annular seat for engagin with said flexible disk, the diameter of said seat being less than the inner diameter of the flange, and cushioning material within the compartment.

12. In a pneumatic actuating device of the class desicribed, the OOIlllJlllAtlUll of a rigid valve disk having a flange extending from one face thereof and forming therewith a coinlpartment, an inner flexible disk scoured to tie flange end over the compartment, an outer flexible disk superposed on the inner flexible disk, and an annular valve seat for enga iug the outer disk and having a diameter less than the inner diameter of the flange, said inner flexible disk being iinpcrvious to air.

13. In a pneumatic actuating device of the class described, the combination of a rigid valve disk having a flange extending from one face thereof and forming therewith a compartment, cushioning material within the com artment, an inner flexible disk secured to t to flan c end over the compartment, an outer flexible disk superposed on the inner flexible disk, and an annular valve seat for enga ing the outer disk and having a diameter lees than the inner diameter of the flange, said inner flexible disk being impervious to air.

in witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 17th day of March. A. l). 1909.

Witnesses:

JULIA C. Looms, Wmnnmn L. Flsll.

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