US945888A - Expression mechanism for pianos. - Google Patents

Description

P. WELN.

EXPRESSION MECHNSM FOB. HANDS.

APPLIOATIQN FILED 1mm, 1905. REHBWBD .1mm 15, 1909.

945,888. Pasned Jan. il, 19M;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER WELIN, or NEWCASTLE,` INDIANA, AssiGNoa, ,BY ivinsnn ASSIGNMENTS, To

KRELL AUTO-GRAND PIANO CO. OF AMERICA, OF CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA A COR--r IORATION OF INDIANA.

EXPRESSION MECHANISM FOR PIANOS.

Specification of Letters Patent. patented 'JlL' 11, 1910.

Application vfiled. December 7,' .1905, Serial No. 230,750. Renewed .Tune 15, 1909. Serial No. l.

jTo all whom tt may concern: y Be it known that I. Parnu WELIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newcastle, 1n the county of Henry and State of Indiana, have invemed a. new and useful Expression Mechanism for Pianos, of-which the following is a specification. This invention relatesto a construction for softening the notes sounded on a piano.

The invention )relates especially to automatic pianos. i

The object of this invention is to varyingly soften the notes sounded by a piano, the maximum softening effect being produced on the lower bass notes, and from which maximum 'softening a gradual return to normal striki1igaction is secured-so that there -will be no marked breakin the entire compass of the piano betweensuccessive notes.

To this end-this invention consists of the modulating mechanism for a piano action. and of the combinations of parts therewith as hereinafter described and more particularlypointed out in the claims at the end oi.

this specification.

`In the accompanying drawing, Figure l isa diagrammatic perspective vieiv of sufficient parts of a piano action to illustrate the application of this 4invention thereto, and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the hammer-rail.

for striking all the notes Within the range of the automatic playing instrumentalities. In practice it. has been found impractical to produce the best artistic' results from these automatic pianos for the reason that when the notes are sounded with equal force the heavier bass notes will predominate. To overcome this, mostautomatic pianos are now providedwith a' divided action which permits the softening of all the bass notes within the range of the playing clevices,\\liile leaving the treble notes to be sounded With full force. vThe dividing of the action of an automatic piano in this wayis objectionable as the division must befmadeat some -arbitrarily selected note, and between two suecessive notes of the piano there is necessarily vforthe bass notes which will produce a varving softening` efl'ecthaving amaximum eli'ect onthe lower bass notes and comparatively little softening effect on the higher bass notes.

By means of this invention I have been enabled to produce an automatic piano in which there is no marked difference in the timbre or loudness of successive notes, but in which at the same time the bass notes will be sufficiently softened so that they will not drown out the air or be undesirably prominent.

'In the particular construction which I have shifted or moved from normal position when a modulating action is desired, and the hamnier shifting mechanism is so mounted and conihined with the hammers that the hammers of the lower bass notes will have a comparatively short stroke, while the hammers for the higher bass notes will be permitted to havey longer strokes, gradually 1nentire series of hammers of the bass notes of` the piano. .The hammers when in Inormal position are supported by the usual hammerrest rail R which is stiifened by a metal shell M. These parts may be of the ordinary or usual construction used in piano actions and need not be herein illustrated or described in detail. y

Fastened along the lower edge of the face l of the htgnmer rest rail isa felt-cushion 10. The upper edge of this cushion of felt 10 is leftunattached orv'free from the hammerherein illus'nted the hammers are- 9 @frases rail so that ine same can be swung forward as illustrated by dotted lines -in Fig. 2.

In order to s iving the :telt cushion forward to progressively .diminish the impact of the hammers, l have provided a rod ll carried by pivoted arms l2, l5 and 14. T he arm let nearest the center of the piano is comparatively short, While the arms 13 and 1:2 are each successively somewhat longer. By means of this construction when the rod 11 is swung or turned to move the felt cushion 10, the end of the rod. nearest the lower bass hammers Will be moved in the longer distance; While the end nearer the center of the piano will have but slight, if any, movement.

'The shifting of the -rod l'l is preferably controlled by connections from a hand-lever located in convenient position near the piano key-board. As herein illust'ate l, these connections comprise a link l5 which is con-` nected at one end to the rod ll by means of a slot 16. Atv its' other end the link 15 is connected 'to an arm l? fastened on a vertiealfroelt-shaiit i9. vCooperating with the arm 17 is a-holding spring 18 vfor holding the bar l1 in its adjusted position. Near its lower end the shaft- 19 is provided with an arm 2O connected by a linl 2l4 toa hand lever S22. ll'hen the hand lever 22 is shifted in the direction of the arrow the hammers will be moved to produce the desired progressive.modulated etlect, and the hammers will be -retained in their shifted positions by the spring 1S. When the parts are in normal position they will not interfere With the shifting of the hammer-rest rail by pedal aetioniin the ordinary Way producing sot? tening effects.

While -have illustrated and described one particular form in-.\vl'1ich this invention may be embodied, l am aware that many modifictitious may he made therein by any person skilled in the art Without departing,v from the 'scope ot' the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, l. do not Wish to be. limited to the particular form of construction shown, butA 'll/That l do claim y i.' In a piano, the combination With a series of striking devices, of means for reducing the-.normal length ot stroke of all the strihingdevices and reducing the length ol stroke oi those at one end in a maximum degree and or" those on the other end in a minimum degree while all the others are re-v` duced to intermediate degrees gradually varying all the Way fromioneend ofthe seriesto-the other, and meansfor holding said redueing'means in adjustedpositions.

QQIn a piano, the combination with the hammers of means for adjusting the rear- Ward position ,of the hammers.toward the strings to secure a reduction of the length of stroke of all the hammers from the normal, varying all the way -from the treble end to the bass end, the maximum reduction being at the bass end and means. for frictionally holding said adjusting means in any adjusted position, whereby the adjusting means may be left in any desired position, and the maximum reduction at the bass end may be ot' any desired amount.

In a piano, the combination with the hammers and a series of strings, of means for supporting the hammers normally at equal distances from the strings, and means ior moving the hammer-supporting means toward the strings to a position at-an angle with respect to its normal position, the Isupporting means when adjusted being rnearest the lstrings at one end ot' the series, Whereb)v the reduction of the length of stroke of all the hammers ivill be secured gradually all the Way from one end to the other end witl a maximum reduction at one end andv a mini mum amount of reduction at the other end and means for t'rictionallv holding the sup porting means in any adjusted position.

l. -In a piano, the combination ot the ham mers, a hammer rest rail, al flexiblc'cushioi'i mounted on theface of the hammer rest rail. and means for moving the '.lcxible cushion to an angular position ivith respect tothe han'mier rest rail.

ln a piano, the comlgiination ot' the hammers, the hammer rest rail, a flexible cushion 'mounted on the face ot' the hammer rest rail, and means for moving the cushion to an angular position with respect to the hammer rest rail so that the cushion will be nearest the strings :it the base end of the notes.

6. In a piano, the combination ot` the hammers, a hammer rest rail, a 'felt cushion mounted on the face of the hammer rest rail, and means for moving the felt cushion to an angular position with respect to the hammer rest rail, comi'nising an operating rod, arms of different lengths supporting said operating rod, a hand lever, and connections fron the hand lever for swingingthe rod on theI fastened along its lower edge to the hammer rest rail, a rody for shifting the felt cushion, arms -o'f dili'erent lengths supporting said rod, a hand lever, a rock shaft operated' therefrom. and a slotted connection between the rock shaft andthe rod, permitting the llos.

lll)

swinging of the hammer rest rail independently of the adjustment of the rod.

9. In a piano, the combination of the hammers, the swinging hammer-rest rail, a flexible cushion carried by the hammer rest rail, and means for setting the flexible cushion at an angle to the hammer rest raill and still perlmitting the swinging of the hammer rest rai 10. An adjusting device for the hammers of a piano comprising a hammer rest rail,

means connected therewith for supporting the hammers in a retracted position, and means for adjusting the position of the supporting means to cause the line of hammers to assume a position oblique to its original osition, whereby a gradual varying ot' the ength of the stroke ofsaid hammers from one end of the line thereof to the other may be secured, the hammer-rest-rail being lettfree to swing during the adjustment of the supporting means.

11. An adjusting device for the hammers of a piano, comprisingfa` hammer rest rail, means connected therewith for supporting hammers in a retracted position, and means for adjusting the position ofthe supporting means to cause the line of hammers, resting on said support, to assume a position oblique to its original osition, whereby a gradual varying of the ength of the stroke of said -armsv being of ditferent hammers from one end of the supporting means to the other may be secured, the hammer rest rail being left free to swing during the adjustment of the supporting means.

12. An adjusting device for the hammers' of a piano, comprising a hammer rest rail, a flexible cushion carried by the` rest rail and free to move from it at one side, a rod for moving said cushion, and arms on said rod, each arm being pivotall supported, said lengths and Varying from one end of the rod to the other, I, whereby when the rod is swung on the pivvmy hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PETER WELIN.

Witnesses:

EDWIN B. PFUN, CHARLES L. DENGLER.

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