US994700A - Piano-action. - Google Patents

Description

J.DOYLB. PIANO ACTION.

APPLICATION TILED M11129, 1907.

Patented June 6, 1911.

2 sums-sum 1. I

ran

Z Zlwoemtoz; 00,25

TH-E NDRRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, o. c.

J. DOYLE. PIANO ACTION. APPLICATION IILED HA B. 29, 1907.

Patented June 6, 19 11.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ammkm JOSEPH DOYLE, OF WEST INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

PIANO-ACTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 29, 1907.

Patented June 6, 1911.

Serial No. 365,268.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH DOYLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vest Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano- Actions, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in piano-forte actions. Its objects are to provide for securing the, easy and effective action of the operative parts, and to reduce to the minimum frictional contact between the same, especially having in view to avoid any rebounding tendency of the hammer, however rapid may be strokes of the key.

Other advantages incidental to the construction and operation of my invention will be apparent from the subjoined illustration and description thereof.

Said invention consists of certain structural features or instrumentalities substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed and specifically pointed out by the claim.

In the accompanying drawing disclosing the preferred embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is a partly side elevation and partly sectional elevation thereof with the parts in the position they assume when a key has been depressed as in striking it. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed perspective view more fully disclosing certain parts of the invention. Fig. 3 is a detailed broken sectional view taken through the lower or weighted end of the abstract. Fig. 4 is. a like view produced through the wippen and the jack at their point of connection.

In carrying out my invention, I suitably arrange in position so as to be engaged by by a suitably weighted key 1, an abstract 2 which is pivotally connected to and supports the wippen 3. The lower or key-engaging end of the abstract 2 is suitably weighted to insure its position and ready downward movement after having been elevated by the key as in operating or playing the instrument. The weighting of said abstract is preferably effected by running up into its lower end a screw 1 projecting sufflciently beyond the same to allow of fixing thereon a preferably brass casing or shell 5, and filling in the latter preferably with lead or wood. Said thus filled-in or weighted casing 5 has also fixed therein two upstanding pins 6 so related to the screw 4 to provide by inserting any suitable pointed instrument in between said screw and either of said pins, and exerting the requisite leverage thereon, for the ready running up or down of the weight or casing 5 to provide to that extent for varying the length of said abstract, as occasion may require. Said lever-supporting abstract 2 has also pivotally connected thereto a wippen 7 having one end pivoted to a flange 8 suitably secured to the flange-rail 9. Said wippen 3, is pivotally connected to a second flange 1O suitably secured to the hammer-rail 11 of the instrument; and from the upper end of said wippen projects an upstanding spoon or arm 12 engaging the spring pressed lever 13 of the damper 14 fixed to a wire-rod 15 in turn fixed to said lever 13. Thedamper lever 13 is pivotally supported upon a downward and rearward inclined flange 16 with its forward or upper end suitably secured to the upper end of said hammer-rail 11; the upper surface of said end of said flange 16 being horizontal to aid in directing the securing screw or fastening for said flange straight down thereinto as it is screwed into the flange and its head resting squarely thereon, as is apparent. The flange 16 is so inclined to permit of the requisite movement or leverage of the damper-lever 13 and al-. low the latter to be readily engaged by the spoon or arm 12.

A jack 17 has its lower end preferably formed with a web-like portion 18 pivoted ina slot 19 in the lower end of the wippen 3. -The ack 17 is controlled by a preferably coiled spring 20 suitably connected thereto and to the wippen 3, to automatically return said jack to its initial position; Saidjack 17 has its upper end-portion 6 arranged to stand sufliciently away from the hammerbutt to avoid interference therewith when the hammer is thrown to the string.

The hammer 21 has its shank or stem 22, whose rearward movement is limited by the felt-equipped hammer-rest rail a, fixed to and carried by the butt-member 23 having its bottom-edge equipped with a felt-pad 23*; said butt-member is pivoted about centrally of its rear edge-portion to a third flange 24: suitably secured to the rail 11 and so disposed, being inclined forward and upward, to be removed out of the plane of the movement of the hammer-butt and hammer shank or stem. Said hammer-butt 23 is suitably recessed as at 25 in its forward edge, and the recess 25 has suitably secured in it a felt-piece 26 against which rests initially a the upper effective end of the jack 17. to lessen friction and wear and deaden noise, as would otherwise occur from contact between these parts, said hammer-butt also having applied to its said edge, above said recess, a preferably buckskin-piece 26 to further guard against the same objections.

A suitable felt-equipped stop 27, readily adjustable by its carrying screw 28 working in a bracket or rail 29 suitably secured in place, is elfective for imparting the retractive movement of the j aek 17, as seen in Fig. 1 said stop having engagement with an also felt-equipped extension or heel 30 of the latter as said jack is actuated to throw it forward or away from the hammer-butt, as will be noted.

The tape or bridle 31 is connected to the hammer butt 23, and extends through a slot 19 in the wippen 3, and is connected at its other or free end to a wire rod 32 connected to the lever 7. The rod 32 is provided with a loop member 34 and a hook member 34* at its outer end. The tape 31 is provided with a slitted end 33 which is received beneath the hook member 346*, and then the slitted end is passed over the loop member 34.

A preferably flat-metal spring 36, having one end preferably held to the wippen 3 by a binding screw '37, has its upper forwardly projecting end-portion effective when the key is depressed, for engagement with the felt-gpad 23 upon the bottom portion of the hammer-butt 23 as in Fig. 1. Said spring thus provides as the key is actuated for delivering the efiective action of the key to the hammer-butt; and the hammer-head may be held slightly away from and out of immediate contact with the string by ressing forcibly down upon and thus 'holc ing the key. A suitably actuated and supported cam 39, is arranged for engagement with the damper-lever 13 for taking off the damper when required.

It will be noted that the connection be tween certain parts is such that the jack 17 may be retracted by hand so as to readily obtain access to the spring 36 when it may be desired to readjust the same, for which latter purpose the secured end of said spring is upward curved or rounded as at 40 and has the binding screw 37 passed through said rounded portion and by accordingly turning said screw the upper portion of said spring may be more or less raised as may be required. It will be also noted that the hammer-butt as well as the rear end of the key may be weighted as at 41, 4:2, respectively, with lead or otherwise for obvious reasons.

I claim An upright piano action comprising an abstract, a wippen connected to the abstract, a hammer-rail, a hammer butt pivotally connected to the hammer rail, the lower end of the hammer butt extending below the pivotal connection, a jack pivoted to the wippen engaging the hammer butt for causing the hammer to be operated upon the move ment of the wippen, a resilient spring'eheck mounted on the wippen having one end fastened to the wippen and bent to present a convex surface, the body of the spring projecting upwardly, and the free end of the spring extending from the body portion and presentinga curved surface, said curved free end located beneath the lower end of the hammer butt and adapted to engage the hammer butt after it rebounds, and means passing through the convex end of the spring check for fastening the spring-check to the wippen and for regulating the position of the curved free end of the spring check- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of "two witnesses.

' JOSEPH DOYLE.

Witnesses: iJioNAs' P. BRINOKLEY,

InNRy HOLT- Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Uommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. j

Images