USRE12189E - Self-playing attachment for musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

REISSUED JAN. 5, 1904. J. GOURVILLE.

SELF PLAYING ATTACHMENT FORMUSIGAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1901.

' Iii/Va rufo 7" M@ AT M/ytrue ages UNITED STATES Rei uued January 5, 1

PATENT OFF-ICE}. 3

& VOTEY ORGAN COMPANY, OF MICHIGAN.

OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, 'A CORPORATION SELF-PLAYING ATTACHMENT, FOR, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Beissued Letters Patent No. 12,189, dated January 5, 1904. Original No. 683.727, dated October 1, 1901. Application for reissue filed November 20, 1901. Serial No. 88.047-

1'0 all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH COURVILLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of- 5 Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Playing Attachments for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. The invention relates to self-playing attachments for musical instruments, and has more particular reference to the construction of an expression device by which varying musical efiects may be obtained. z 5 Itis the objectof theinvention, first, to provide means for either gradually or suddenly changing the force with which the key-actuating pneumatics are operated.

. It is a further object of the invention to ac -obtain a construction in which this variation may be produced without the operation of levers or other additional controlling devices and in which the device is fully controlled by the pumping-pedal. g5 The invention further consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement,-an'd combination of parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a cross-section" through the lower portion of the playing attachment on line was, Fig. 2, illustrating the construction of the expression devices and alsorepresenting diagrammatically the-pneumatic-action. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the store-bellows and expression attachment. 4 1

A is acasing; B, is the base thereof; 0, the pumping pedals; D, the pumping bellows connected to said pedals by straps E, and F is 40 the store-bellows.

The parts as thus far described may be of any suitable construction, except as hereinafter set forth. The pumping-bellows and store-bellows are preferably arranged upon opposite sides of the board G, which consti- 3 tutes the fixedpart of each bellows, and is socured in any suitable way to the casing of the instrument. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the two pumping-bellows D are ar- 50. ranged upon opposite sides-of the center of said board G, while the latter is provided with perforations H, constituting the air-connecting ports, which ports are covered by a flap-valve I. (Jentrally'within the chamber of the bellows F is arranged a second bellows J ,which is also attached to the board G at one side, its opposite side being formed by the hinged board K. The latter is preferably slightly separated from the hinged backboard L of the outer bellows F and at its lower end is provided with a cushioned rib or bearing M, against which the board L may bear in the op eration of the device, as more fully hereinafter described. The inner bellows J- divides the space within the outer bellows F into two compartments N andO, and these chambers are permanently connected to each other by the restricted passage P. As show n,this passage is formed in the ledge Q,to which the movable boards K and L are hinged, and is of an angling form, so as to produce a greater restriction to the passage of air therethrough than a straight port. The area of the port P is so proportioned to the areas of the pumpingbellows and store-bellows that the exhausting capacity of the former when in full "c tion is in excess of the equalizing capacity of said port. At the same time the area of said port is sufiiciently large to permit of an almost instantaneous equalization of pressures between the compartments 0 and N during the normal pumping of the bellows F. The store-bellows is provided with springs R for normally extending it, and the bellows J is also provided with expanding-springs S. The tension of these springs is properly proportioned to the wind areas acted upon, so that in the normal operation of the instrument' where the pressure in the compartments 0 and N is equal said pressure will produce 0 tones of medium power in the musical instrument.

The pneumatic-action and other necessary parts for operating the keys of the musical instrument form no part of the present in- 5 vention and is therefore only illustrated in diagram in Fig. 1, in which T is the musicroll; U, one of the key-actuating pneumatics connecting by the rod U with the finger-lever U. V is the primary pneumatic controlling I00 the valve V and the key-actuating pneumatic U and connected to the tracker-bar, over which the music-sheet passes, by a conduit W. V The primary pneumatic V is in the chest X, which is connected by a conduit Y to the compartment N of the store-bellows.

The parts being constructed as shown and described, the operation is as follows: When the playing attachment is adjusted to the instrument and the pedals G are operated, the normal operating pressure is produced on both compartments N and 0 of the store-bellows, which is communicated through the conduit Y to the chest X, and whenever one of the primary pneumatics V is operated by the music-sheet thecorresponding key-actuating pneumatic I will be operated with medium power. If the player desires to suddenly increase the power, as for a' forzando note, by a quick stroke of the pedal he may exhaust the air in the compartment N faster than the pressure can equalize through the port P. The resultis that a difference in the pressure is produced in the compartments N and O, and as the combined pressure exerted in the two compartments is always equal to the combined resistance to the springsS and R an abnormally low pressure willbe produced in the compartment N. This will be communicated to the chest X and to the keyactuating pneumatics, causing the latter to be operated with proportionately greaterforce. It the player wishes to maintain this .increased power, he can do so by continuing.

the pumping of the pedals; but if he desires to produce a sudden increaseand an instantaneous return to normal this may be efiec'ted by a sudden single stroke of the pedal. Again, ithe desires to produce a gradual increase in powerflt is only necessary to graduallysincrease the pumping of the pedals.

From the above description it will be understood that any musical effect produced by changing power may be obtained by the player without an adjustment of levers-or valves, and inasmuch as the pedals, which are always in action, are used to control the changes in power said changes may be made instantaneously, if desired.

What I- claim as my invention is 1. In an autopneumatic playingattachment for musical instruments, the combination with the pneumatic-action, of a self-expanding collapsible wind-chamber or store-bellows divided into two compartments connected by a restricted-passage, the latter being adapted to equalize the pressure in said compartments during normal operation, and a wind-pump connected with one of said compartments,-

for musical instruments, an expression device comprising an outer bellows connected with theYpneumatic-action, an inner bellows arranged within said outer bellows and having a restricted port communicating therewith,

springs for expanding both outer and inner bellows, and a foot-operated wind-pump connected with said outer bellows havingan exhausting capacity in excess of the equalizing capacity of said restricted port, for the purpose described.

3. In an autopneumatic piano-player, the

combination of a valve action controlled by a traveling sheet, key-actuating pneu mat-ics controlled by the valves thereof, and forming percussionmotors for operating the pianokeys, of a foot-operated wind-pump and a store-bellows connected therewith and to the action for normally equalizing the pulsations of said pump to give a non-pulsating pressure to operate said key-actuating pneumatics, and means by which said key-actuating pneu matics may be caused to respond temporarily to the pulsations of said pump to accentuate the operation of said key-actuating pneum'atics.

4. In an autopneumatic player for percussion musical instruments, the combination with key-actuating-pneumatic motors, a foot- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH OOURVILLE.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, H., C. SMITH.

operated wind-pump and a regulating-belroe

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