US983012A - Violin-piano. - Google Patents

Description

J1 L. WARNER. .YIOLIN PIAND. APPLIMTION TILED JAN. 3, 1010.

Patented m 31.1%.

Wilnwaw JWJJM' Erwin Ito:

R E N R A W L J VIOLIN PIANO. I AQPLIUATION FILED JAHJ XQIO- Patented Jan 31,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a'nuunfoz V mum J, L. WARNER.

VIOLIN PIANO. 'AHLIOATION FILED JAN.3,1910

Patented Jan 31. 1911' 4 SHEETS--SHEET 3.

5 mm H on M attain mg:

J. L. WARNER; VIOLIN PIANO. APILIUATION 111.215 .TAN.3,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented Jan.31,1911.

Oil

except that the mounting for the piano acon an enli-irgcd scale of the bowing mech- UNITED iiilld'llllltd v JAMES llUCK "WARNER, OF SOUTH BEND, INDTANA.

VIOLIN-STAND.

Application filed January 3,

To all whom it may concern..-

lie it known that l, Janus ll. l 'ixnnnn, a. citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend. in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana. have invei'ited a new and. useful Violin-Piano, of which the following 5 a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in violin pianos and its object. is to i provide a means when-by the san'ie set of strings may be used for violin and piano effects, that the Filigr; may be in vibration by bowing devices to produce violin cf- :t'erts, or they may be set in riln-ation by'the impact oi the hammers of a piano action.

in accordance with the present invention, there is provided. a set of strings such is ci'iuunonly used in the pianotorte and there is also provided an ordinary piano action,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan, 31, 1 911,

1910. Serial No. 535,937.

tion may be such that it can be displaced 1 relative to the strings sulliciently to throw itentirely out of action so that the piano key may be o 'zerated without actuating the l hammers. There is also provided a bowing i action for violin-cileets which may also be i arranged so as to he moved into and out of operative relation. as a whole, with the strings, and the bowing heads of the bowing i action are under the control of the ordinary t piano keys so as tobe brought at the will. of i the operator, into engagement with the same i strings that correspoiuling hammers of the i piano action may be caused to strike. 1

In addition to the foregoing the invention also comprises a. number of novel features 1 which together with the main :leatures of i the invention will be best ui'i'lerstood i'roni a consideration of the following detail del scription taken in connection with the ac i ceIn-panying drawings forming a. partof this i specification. in which thrawings i Figure 1 is a front elevation of a. piano structure illustrating more particularly the iinpelling means for tho bowing heads. Fig.

' Zis an end eleration or the piano and violin L action showing the arrangenient of the part-s whereby either action may be brought. into 5 operation at will. Fig. 3 1s a. detail view, i

anisin used for each string. Fig. 4 is a detail iew of a tension device' for the actuating belt for the bowing heads. F 5 to 8 are views of different arrangements of tonemodifying devices. Fig. 9 is a section tend to stop the 15 in the same inann'er as the pedals of an organ are actuated to nnpart rotativeinovc- WEN OFFICE- through a bowing headl Fig. 10 is a view illustrating the relation of the rosin block to the bowing head.

Referring to the drawings and first more particularly to Fig. 1 there is shown a casing 1 which may be similar in most respects to an ordinary piano casing, preferably of the upright type although the invention is not confined necessarily to use with an upright piano. Mounted in the casing, and in the particular structure shown in Fig. 1, near the upper end. of the casing there is a. belt 2 constituting the driving belt for howing heads-to be hereinafter described. This belt is an endless belt and is mounted at the ends upon rollers 3, one only of which is shown in Fig. 1 and the roller there shown has an elongated spindle 4 connected at one end by a. coupling 5 to the corresponding end of a shaft (3 suitably journaled in bearings carried by the casing and this shaft near the end remote from the coupling 5 carries a bevel wheel T bearing against a like here]. wheel 8 on an independent shaft 9 carrying a balance wheel 10, the shaft 9 80 being also journaled in proper bearings carried by the casing in parallel relation with the shaft (5. v

Bearing against the under face of the wheel 7 is a friction wheel 11 on one end of a. crank shaft 12 mounted in suitable bearings 13 in the lower part of the casing 1, and the cranks ltof the shaft 12 are connected to suitable pedals 15extending to the front of the casing in' accessible position to be engaged by the feetof the operator. There is provided a spring 16 connected at one end to a fixed point of the casing and at the other end to a crank 17 on the end of the shaft- 12 remote from the wheel 11, so that this spring will always rotation of the shaft 12 in a position where the pedals 15 will be so related to the shaft 12 that the operator may readily start the shaft since the spring 16 prevents it from stopping on adead center.

The operator has but to actuate the pedals O5 ment to theshaft 6 through the friction wheels 7 and 11, and by the shaft 6 to the spindle 4- and so ultimately to the belt 2, regular movement of the belt 2 being illsured by the fly wheel 10 receivingmotion 339 from the crank shaft through the connecting wheels 7 and 8 which latter, because of the absence of noise are preferably of the .t'rirtion type. Of course the speed of the. belt 2.depends upon the speed of the actuation of the pedals 15, and the belt 2 may be driven rapidly or slowly at the will of the operator, but the movement of the belt Whether fast or slow will be regular lit-pause of the fly wheel 10.

Of course other means of driving the belt may be employed, the same as in organ structures where water or electric motors are commonly used for the purpose and therefore the pedal movement illustrated is to be taken as indicative of any suitable motive power whether manual, mechanical, pneumatic or electrical.

In order to maintain the belt 2 in a taut condition, the structure shown in Fig. .4. may be employed. The roller 3 remote from the driving roller is mounted in the ends of a yoke 18 provided with a screw 19 projecting from its connecting members'and this screw may be sustained by a bracket 20 to which the screw is secured in any adjusted position by a lock nut 21, and the bracket may be made fast to any suitable fixed-portion of the casing or to some fixed member within the casing. The legs of the yoke 18 are guided in brackets 22 also made fast to some fixed membeiywithin the casing.

Referring to Fig. 2 there is 'shown a sounding board 23 and a single string 2-]. and this showing may be taken as indicative of the sounding board and stringsfofa pianoforte. Above the sounding board and near each end of the casing there is pivot ally mounted an arm 25 on a pivot 28, the two arms each carrying a bracket 26 supporting a. number of longitudinally disposed rails 27 designed to sustain the operating mechanism for the violin side of the structure. In the particular structure shown in Fig. 2 the rollers 3 may be supported by the brackets 26 instead of upon fixed portions of the interior mechanism of the instrument so that; the belt 2 will participate in the movement of the brackets 26 around the pivots 28 of. the arms25.

It will be observed in the showing in Fig. 1 that the coupling or connection 5 between the spindle 4 and shaft 6 is such as to permit a longitudinal movement of the spindle-4 in the coupling without disconnecting the parts and this will permit an appropriate movement .o'1' a'the rollers 3 with the bracket 26, the whole structure being quite flexible-in this respect.

There is shown. a bowing head 29 which. as will hereinafter appear, maybe moved into and out of engagement with'the. string 24. There is but one bowing head shown in the drawings, but it will be understood that there is a bowing head provided for each but the structure from that shown string and; all the bowing heads are carried by the brackets 26 and rails 27 as a unitary structure.

Each bowing head 29 best shown in Figs.

3 and 9, is carried on one end of a shaft 30 in suitable bearings 31 carried by a lever 32, there being a lever 32 for each bowing head and its journaled support. The lever 32 may turn about a pivot 33 secured to the general supporting means made up of the bracket 26 and rails 27 so that the bowing heads 29 may be moved to and from the strings as desired. 7 Each shaft 30 is connected by av universal coupling 34L with another shaft 35 mounted in a suitable bearing 35 carried by the lever 32 and each shaft 35 is provided with a friction roller 36 movable into engagement with the adjacent run of the belt 2 when the lever 32 is moved in the proper direc tion about its pivot so that the rotary motion is imparted by the belt 2 to the shaft 35 and by the latter to the shaft 30 and ultimately to the bowing heads 29. Since the space between the adjacent shafts 35 is limited, the rollers 36 may be in staggered re lation one to the other as indicated in dotted lines in. Fig. 3.

The bowing head structure is in general the same as shown and described in Letters Patent #924,706, granted June 15, 1909, for a violin piano, on an application filed by me, differs in some respects Patent and these difl'erences will be .pointcd out 1n due course. Each lever 32 has secnredthereto a bracket- 37 with divergent members secured to the lever near its pivot point and near the end remote therefrom. the'connectlons being on opposite sides of the pivot The free end of the bracket 37 carries an eye '37. receiving one end of a link 38 connecting the bracket 37 with one end of a rocklever 39 mounted on aflange 40 carried by one of the rails 27. The bearing 35 for the shaft 35 is carried by one end of aleaf spring 36' fast at the other end to the lever 32, thebearing 35' being normally held against a buffer36" on the corresponding end bf the lever When the said lever 32 is moved about its pivot to bring the bowing head againstthe string. the roller 36 is brought against the belt 2 before the head 29 engages the string. thus setting the roller 36. shafts 3'5 and 30 and bowing head 29 into rotation. The

head into the desired'engagement'with the string.

The piano is of course provided with an ppro riate kev-bed and this is indicated-at 42 in Fig. 2. A single key 43 onlv is shown mounted on the key-bed but this may be taken as indicative of the usual number of in the aforesaid Letters spring 36 will yield to further movement of I the lever 32 necessary to bring the betting keys which need not differ from the "keys l *sembled or has in the path of the screw nally of the structure.

I actuated by the performer in. the same mansion 0f any one oi more oi: the keys t3 the rods -17 will be: no longer cngagedby the '1 keys and the bowing; structure will remain inactive eve though the keys il be actuated ordinarily employed in pianofortes.

Each key carries near its rear end a number of studs or screws 44, 45, and ib-respecso that the relation of each key to non by the pi rnier. tain parts actuated thereby may be readily Near can on d of the casing there is pivotally suppo t ed an arm and these arms are connector og'ether by appropriate rails 5Q,

pivot points of the arms being; indicated P: i I

adjusted when the instrument is :lirst asat subsequent times. Each key 44 in the particular adjustment of the parts shown Fig. 2, a rod 47 carried by links 48 from in made up of: the arms 5? and flanges fast on rails 4-9 extending longitud i.-. s gned to Sll'l'il'iOlt a piano no i generally of the ordinary f ,L'tfflllll'QS no detail dee hammer head b no taken as in- Each time the accessible end of a key depressed then the end carrying; the screw 1- is elevated and the rod 47 engaging said screw particitype and t scriptioii. In F.

is shown and 't ates in this movement, and the lever dieative of allthe hammer of an ordinary in the path of the rod 4:7 under consideration liianofletion" e han'nue .iiiQtlesigried to ingaf e as: trings; lain. hef nanner usual "in pianofortes. .The piano aiition frame niadeaip'ot' "theiarn" and the rails 56 is connected heaev r at .iy a ho. or links. i dilat'ter are rniii nctetli to the ends of the -leve fs reii'iote ilirom thearms .50 so that when the lovers 5'1. are rocked on their pivots the violin action'is ni'oy of operative relation is moved about its pivot in a direction to depress the end connected to the "link 38 and this movement. is participated in by the arm 375 thus causing the lever 32 to rock on its pivot.- in a direbtion to bring the head 29 into engagement with the string 24 first however bringing the roller 36 against the belt 2 and the head 29 being rotated the string 24 will be set in vibration by the blowint action of the head QQ. The keys 43 to the sti'iiip stas tho piano actionis moved into operative relation thereto and the piano action is moved out ot o ieiat'iverelation to. the strings when the violin action is moved into,operat've relation thereto. By this means these ator may utilize the ltill)l'O't'QliltlIlt ft'or lin etlects or for piano effects at will.

nor as is a. piano or organ with the resultv that a violin quality is produced by the action of the bowing heads on the strings.

Within the casing 1 near each end there of is an arm 50 connected at one endto a.

corresponding; bracket 20 and at'the other rock the lovers oil. 'and to litiltl, l'l.i01ii in end to one'end of a rock lever lever 51 pivad usted, positions, one or both levers Ill otally supported on some fixed portion of the are provided with an arm til carrying; at

instrument, thesupport 4-2 for the keys 43. hen. the lever til-is moved in one direction then the motion is transu'iitted through the arms 50 to the brackets 26 and the latter are moved about the pivot points its free. end a pivoted .nut b2, into vhich' there is screwed the threaded "end :o-i' a 0d tl 'leading to'a shaft 6% to L which it. is connected by a universal joint (55; and this shaft 64 is carried to a. point wliere the 28 of the arms 25, and it the direction of end 66 remote from the coupling (3; acmovement of the lever 51v be such as'to elecessible to the operator. This are do endv vate the arms 50 then the brackets 26 are may be squared orotheriviseshape for the inoved upwardly about the pivot 28 as a center and the heads 29 are moved away from their normal position and the levers 39 would also be moved away liron'r the rods 4&7 were it not for a connecting structure comprising links 52 and an intermediate lever 53. One link 52 is connectexl at one end to a rod 54-. exteni ling; between the arms 50 and at the other end this link 52 connectedtothe intermediate lever mounted on a suitable su 'i iiort rising from one of the rails 49. The other link 52 extends from the. lever 53 to the link 48 connectingi'each rod 47 to one of the rails 49, this rail-being the same rail which supports the lever liy this arrangement all the rods t7 are lifted out of the paths of the screws 44 onthe several keys 43 at the same time thatth'e lion'- ing' heads 29 are moved out of operative ro latio-n'to the strings 24 so that on tliedepres- I'QUO-Dl'lOIl Oli a key or ma nipul'ati'ug crank so that the shaft 6stinay berotated by the operator when desiring to change the instrument from either a piaiio to a violin instrument or from a violin toa piano instrument. Because of the 'scr enjthread connection be tween the rod-(l?) and the arm (ll of the lever the latter will be clieetually locked in any desired adjusted position. Each key 455 controls a damper (3T throng a lever 68 pivoted upon a rail 9 extending back of the keys and in front of the sl'i'ililir and the lever 8 has one end in operative relation to the serew lti on each key 43 so that whether the piano action or the violin .action be the one in use. the damper (17 will be actuated eachfl'iine the. 13mrticular key controlling'it is depressed. o In order to apply rosin to heads there is provided for the bo\vi on each bowing the bodily movement of the frame rosin the end of the shaftbeyond the head a U-shaped carrier 70, between the free frame 72 so as to move-bodily therethrough,

being mounted upon rollers 73 in orderthat may be free.

The frame 70 is urged toward the bowing head by a spring 74 so as to maintain/the in engagement t erewith and keep the bowing head well rosined. In i order cylinder 71 may wear 1 rotation is set at an angle to the axis of rotation of the bowing head as best indicated in FigQIO.

It is desirable of course both for a manumodifying other than operator. The ampei 70 may be so constructed as to take in al or a part of the strin s.

the instrument seams y disks of such diameter as to engage the f dished portions of the disks 89, thus 13' (luclng a l by the uneven surface of I the presence of the wrapping.

trouble the wrapping keys,

:1 single set of strings with each string 1 moving one into operative relation with the s own in Fig 5, the throw of the rod 47 may 3. A violin-piano having a bowing action e controlled by a rock bar 80 eztending movable as a whole intoand out of operaas to be out of the paths of pins 81 is may be accomplished b I a sliding rod 82 having 'a handle 83 within reach of the operator; throw of the keys 43 may be controlled by a rock bar 80 movable into and outoflthe path .of the rear ends of the keys by means of a slide 82 provided with a handle 83 as in Fig. 6. he same effect Inay be brought about with the structure shown in Fig. 8 where the front ends of the keys are controlled to the extent of depression by a bar 80 under the control of the slide 82 as in Figs. Sand 7.

The invention is not limited to any particular construction of has been found that excellent results are produced by as follows: There is provided stem 84 having a head 85 fixed atone-end and along one side having a rib or spline 86. A collar 87 is fixed to the shaft 30 and collar is receive afnut- 88. On disks 89 'prefa tubular screw threaded to the stem'84are placed dished e ably of ard or vulcanized "rubber while etween adjacent disks are placed j -plane bowing head but it;

constructing the bowing heads l tive relation to the -str1ngs,a for the same strings movable into and out of operative relation thereto, and a common I of the two actions, com-prising a- I connected at one end to the'bowing l action, and means connected to the two frames for moving them into and out of operative relation to the strings.

I a. violin piano comprising a set of strings. a set of keys for the strings. a pivoted frame carrying a bowing action and provided with a connection between the bowing action and the keys. a pivoted frame carrying a piano action and provided with f connections between the piano action an'dthc 1' keys, and means for moving either action into and out of'operative relation to the l i keys at will.

and at the other end to the piano action, and I action sustained thereby. a pivoted frame carrying a piano a piano action operable from one set of V l means for causing the movement of either (3. In a violin-piano, a bowing head, and means for applying rosin thereto comprising a block of resin, a holder therefor in the form oil. a U-shaped frame with the block of rosin between the free ends of the legs thereof, another frame earrying the -U- shaped frame and provided with rollers sup porting the U-shaped frame, and a spring between the two frames for maintaining the rosin block in engagement With the bowing head.

T. In a violin piano, a bowing head and aholder for a block of rosin provided with means for holding the rosin to the bowing head and having an axial support for the resin at an angle to the axis of rotation of-the bowing head.

S. A violin piano bowing head having a suitable stein, dished bowing disks and plane separating disks in alternation on said stem', the plane disks engaging the inner dished faces of the dished disks. a a

9. A violin piano bowing head having a suitable stem, dished boiving disks thereon, and plane separating disks intermediate of and housed in the dished disks and of less dlaineter than and having their peripheries en aging the inner dished surfaces of the dishe disks.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as in own, I have hereto afiixed my s1gnature in the presence of two Witnesses.

. JAMES LUCK WARNER.

it-messes CLARA E. BROWN, J. O. DAILEY.

Images