USRE13384E - Wagen - Google Patents

Description

J. SCHWERTNBR. PNEUMATIC APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED ,um` 1T, `1911 Reissued Mar.12,1912. 13,384.

UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

JOSEIH SCHVERTNER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0 JOHN ASPIN- WALL, 0F NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, AND ONE-THIRD T0 LEOPOLD F. A. H. HEER,- WAGEN, 0F HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY.

PNEUIVIATIC, APPARATUS.

nasi. Original No. 993,415, dated May 30, 1911,

Specicatipn of Reissued Letters Patent. Reiss ed 31313 12, 1912.

Serial No. 548,815. Application for reissue filed August 17, 1911.

Serial No. 644,921.

To allnuhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Josemi. Sonwnnrn'nn,`

a citiven ot' the vUnited States. and a resident of New York, county of New York, and State ot' `New York, have invented certain new and useful Inuirovements in Pneumatic ,.\pparatus, of which the following is a specification.

)fly ini ention relates to improvements in pneumatic apl'iaratus and more especially to pneumaties .such are used in automatic playing musical instruments to control the operation thereof.

In self; playing pianos it is customary to provide a pneumatic device for operating each note and a tracker board and sheet with apertures corresponding to the vari-A ous notes for controlling'the operation thereof. Between the tracker and operating pneumatics, however, it is usual to place one or more controlling pneumatics for controlling the action of the operating pneumatics responsive to the operation and particular design of the tracker' sheet. In most instances these intermediate pneumatics are controlled and operated by means of suction or a partial vacuum produced by suitable bellows. In organs the action is similar except that it usual to operate the various devices by wind pressure, that is, by blowing action rather -than by suction. In both instances, however, it is usual to provide pneumatic arrangements with an operating mem# brane and with a bleed hole leading to one side of the membrane in order to allow of an equalization of pressure on that side of the membrane when it is desired to close a valve. Great trouble is experienced with these bleed holes, in that they become clogged with dust and dirt,l thus preventing them from fulfilling their functions and practically nen dering the playing devices useless until the holesl are cleaned .and properly cleared. This, at best, is a very tedious process, and in many cases is attendant with great diiliculties due to the inaceessibility of the parts, the large number of valves and pneumatics, and their complex arrangement.

vOne object of my invention isfto 4provide means for vautomatically cleaning and clearing these bleed holes so that the above diil cultics and disadvantages are not experi enced, and which means will be reliable and etlicient in its operation. A

A further object ot my invention is to provide means which will vary the ettective size ot the bleed holes so as to render the devices more sensitive while only a mini-v mum ofA air or other medium will be lost therethrough. 4

Further objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of thisspecification.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section of one form of an intermediate pneumatic valve such as is used in connection with piano players and operated by suction and provided with one form of my improve ments; Fig. Z is a. similar view of a lvalve operated. by wind pressure, such as is used in organs and showing a similar form of my improvements; Fig. 3 is a detail section of the parts adjacent the bleed hole taken onI the line III-III of Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, 1 represents suitable frame work embracing a pneumatic of the class mentioned. 2 designates` a duct leading from the tracker which controls the playing of the, piano or other instrument. The duct 2 leads to a chamber or space 3 over the top of which` is spread a circular membrane 4 of leather or other suitable material. The edges of the membrane 4 are cemented to the framework and in its center it is secured to a spindle 5 by suitable securing means 6. Abete the membrane 4 is a chamber or space 7 ifi which there is produced suction in a well known manner so that the pressure therein. will be less thanatmospheric. The spindle 5 passes upwardly through an aperture S into u chamber t). Just. above the aperture or valve opening S and secured to the spindle 5 is a valve closure l0 arranged to `close the opening S when the spindle is Vin its lowerlnost position and arranged toallow the chambers 7 and 9 to be connectedby the opening 8 when the valve closure is raised by the spinn dle 5. The spindle? 5 passes upwardl through an opening v11- in the framewo cured to the framework an and through a hie'in a brass' pine 12 which covers the opening '11. The late 12 is seserves as a I"bearing-and guide 'for the moving s indle 5.

Fromthe chamber? a duct 13 lea s to the operating pneumatic for the corresponding note. Atv14 I have shown-in dotted lines an old form of bleed hole.

` The o eration of the parts so far described is vas foA owjs: Upon the music sheet opening up the duct 2 to the atmosphere, atmospheric pressure is 'admitted beneath the membrane 4. Since a constant' suctionis maintained in thecharnber 7 thisv causes the membrane 4 to rise and with it the valve closure 10. This allows suction to be produced 1n the chamber 9 and duct 13 so that the corres ending pneumatic 1s operated. Upon the c osing of the duct 2 to the atmosphere byt the tracker sheet the air within the chamber 3 'is'suckefd out through the small bleed hole 14:, thus causing the membrane 4 and spindle 'l 5 to drop and therewith the valve closure 10,

' thereby closing the opening 8.

In practice it is found that the bleed hole 14 becomes seriously clogged with dust and dirt which is admitted `through. the duct 2.

I, therefore, omit the vbleed hole 14 alto-' gether and provide a chamber 15 below the chamber 3. The chamber 15 is connected with -the chamber 7 by a passage 16 and these are so large that dust and dirt will have practically no edect in stopping up the dle 5 is reduced or cut away as at -20 and beveled olf as'at 21. When in its lowermost position the portion 21 is. below the plate 18 While whenl the spindle 5 is in its Lippermost position, as shown in dotted lines, the portion 21 is above the plate 18. Thus when the spindle 5 is raised the reduced portion 2O thereof iswithin the bleed'hole 19 and the elective size. of the hole is increased or larger than when the spindle is in its lowermost position.

The operation of the arrangement last described -1s as follows: Whenever the spindle 5 is operated to raise and lower the valve closure 10, the lower end of the spindle 5 vworks up and down in the bleed hole 19 to keep the same free and clear of dust and dirt, the membrane :il being withdrawn or drawn downwardly bythe suction within the cham-K j ber 7 exerting itself ythrough the passage 16,

chamber 15, bleed hole 19 and passage 17.

By'having the spindle 5 beveled or cut away as at 2 1 so that it varies in cross section at the part where 'it operates within the bleed hole` it is most efficient for cleaning and yet simple, cheap and easy of construction. -The large'r portions fairly push the dirt out ahead of them. The above arrangement forms a most simple and effective automaticv means for keeping the bleed hole clear, thus obviating one of the most` provoking disadvantages encountered in former arranges ments. Furthermore, by increasing the eflfective size of the bleed hole when the valve is opened, the spindle 5 is given a much greater impetus at the start when it is desired to close the valve. In a similar manner when the valve starts to open, the impetus is greater because the effective area of the bleed hole is smaller and less leakage 'occurs through the bleed hole. That is when the valve starts to open the spindle has a snug lit within 'the hole 19, except for a most slight leakage, as shown in the drawings, In other words, the bleed hole'should have its greatest effective opening when the spindle is raised in order Vto return the spindle quickly when the duct 2 is closed. If the bleed hole was made smaller when the spindle was raised it would cause the spindle to drop down too slowly and if the bleed hole was closed when the spindle was raised the spindle would never drop backas desired because there would be no way in which to get the air out from 'beneath the membrane to allow it to drop and unless the spindle would drop the bleed hole would always remain closed. From the above the great advantage' et, `always having Athe bleed hole open or at least having it open when the spindle is raised and with its greatest effective when the spindle is raised, will be clearly apparent.

Referring to Fig. 2, I there show a similar arrangement applied to a valveof the wind pressure variety suchas it is custom ary to use in organs both of the manual andl automatic type. ,In this arrangement, wind enters from the tracker underpr'essurc and passes through the duct 22 into the chamber` 23 in the frame 24C.' The membrane V'25 is thereby forced upwardly, thus moving upwa'rdly the spindle 26 which is secured to it. The spindle 26 passes through a brass plate 27 and up through a passage 28 and has secured to it a valve closure 29 arranged to close the opening 28' when the spindle 26 is in its lowermost position. Above the passage 28 and valve closure 2.9.'is a chamber' 30 in which a suitable Wind pressure is constantly produced in Ia well knownY manner. Upon the raising of the valve closure 29 by the spindle 26'the wind pressure is admitted to the passage 28 and duct 31 from-which it passes to a suitable operating pneumatic to operate.- the note desired.

In order that the air in the chamber 23 may be allowed to escape and allow the spindle 5 to drop and close the valve when substantially the same functions as the pressure is shut oiri from the duct a passageway is provided. and this wa is covered by a brass ph e 3755 having a bleed hole 34 therein, through which the excess air in the chamber is allow( l to escape to. the atmosphere so that the valve will Close. The lower portion o'l the v-vfljiindle 2G passes through the bleed hole -l and is reduced at 35 and. beveled at 5t? io perform r'lescribed with respect to Figs. l. and 23. r bleed opening 34 -is large when the valve closure starts to descend thus cansin; the valve to close more quickly. Li :ien starting upward there is less leakage asin-it. the spindle 34, thus causing `valve to open more quickly. Il`ii1tliern-mre, 'the reduction at- 35 and bevel at 3G cans-c th Aedle. 2G to keep the bleed holo absolutely .e from dust and dirt.. 37 indie ted lines an old arrangement o in this kind of a device ai l which was of great annoyance for the reasons given.

From the 'above it will be readily stain that I provide means r' gid with. he spindle- (shown in this particu i the lower portion of the sph l s Ffh nas one or more. surfaces at an. .i the line of movement of the spin ',lhese surfaces are shown as the taper' sir'linces 2l. and 3G in the drawings and the/y push the dirt or other foreign matter out of the bleed hole when the pneumatic action is operated. These surfaces need not be at the particular angle shown but should be at a large enough .angle to the line' of movement of the spindle so that they will push the dirt, etc., from the bleed hole. If the spindle sutliciently Well guided in its movement,y the epd or cut. away portion 20 of the spindle may be omitted and the 'surface o1' surfaces Q1, 3G will still push the dirt, ete., from the bleed hole. As shown in dotted lines in Figs.

l and 2, the Surfaces 21, 3G come out of thev bleed hole when the valve is operated in order that they ma)y be 1n a better position I to force the dirt, etc., from the. bleed hole when the action returns to its mirnial posiv tion. Y

My improvements may be applied to other valves than those ot the kind described wherever the nature oi' the case will peri lit. Furthermore, many mod :ations and changes IIl'ay be made. in the arrangements shown vithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and l, therefore, do not desire to be limited to the dctails .shown and described except as elf-arly specified in the appended claims.

Having fully and clearly' described my improvements, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent; ol the United States, is:

1. A device of the class described, provided with a bleed hole, a valve closure and a movable member controlling the valve bleed hole clear controlled by said movable member, said means being also arranged* to increase the effective cross section of the bleed hole when the valve is opened.

Q.'A device of the class described, provided with an operating spindle and memn'ane and a bleed hole leading to one side of the membrane, said spindle being arranged -to operate within the bleed hole to keep the same clear, said spindle being' also constructed to vary the ctiective size of the bleed holey as the device operated.

A device of the class described, provided with an operating spindle and mem brane and a bleed holeV .leading to one side of the membrane, said spindle being arranged to' operate within the bleed-hole to keep the same' clear, said spindle being i brane and a bleed hole leadingto the space' below the membrane, said bleed hole being formed in a metallic plate, said spindle being arranged to move up and down in said. bleed hole to keep the same clear, and said spindle being reduced in cross section adjacent the bleed hole to increase the cll'ective size of the bleed hole when the device is opened.

5. In a device of the class described, an operating membrane, said device being provided with a bleed hole leading to one side of said membrane and a spindle having portions thereof operating in saidvbleed hole to keep the same clear, said portions lbeing of different cross section and the spindle being always inV said bleed hole during the, operation oi the spindle.

(5. ln a device of the 'class described, an operating membrane, said device being provided with a bleed hole leading to one side of said membrane, and a spindle operating in said lileed hole to keep the same clear, said spindle. having portions of dii'erent cross lsection, both of said portions being arranged to operate within said bleed hole.

7. ln ay device ofi the described, an operating membrane, said device being provided with a bleed hole leading to one side of said membrane, and a spindle operating in said bleed hole to keep the same clear, said spindle being tapered at the part where it operates within the bleed hole.

8. In a .device of the class described, a

pneumatic action provided with a bleed hole,y and a spindle vcontrolled bv said action and operating within said bleed hole, said spindle being varied m 'cross section at the part tive cross section of the bleed hole when the operating Within said bleed valve is operated.

10. In a device ofthe class described, a pneumatic action provided with a bleed hole and a spindle controlled by said action, Ysaid spindle being constructed to increase the effective cross-section of the bleed hole when the valve is operated to cause the action to more quickly return to its normal position. 11. The combination of 'a tracker board land tracker sheet with their apertures and operating mechanism controlled thereby, including a pneumatic action having a bleed hole and means for cleaning the bleed hole and increasing the effective cross-section of the bleed hole when the action is operated When an aperture in the tracker sheet registers With an aperture in the tracker boa-rd, said means embracing a spindle vof varied cross-section operating in the bleed hole and controlled by the operating mechanism.

12. In a device of the class described, a pneumatic action, provided With a bleed hole and means for increasing the effective crosssection of said bleed hole when the action is operated pneumatically.

13. In a device of the class.. described a pneumatic action provided With a bleed hole, and a spindle controlled by said action and hole, said spindle-being reduced in cross-section at the part operating within the bleed to clean the bleed hole.

111. In a device of the class described, a pneumatic action provided with a bleed hole and a spindle controlled by said action, said spindle being constructe to increase the effective cross section of the bleed hole when the valve isoperated, and to have a snug lit in the bleed hole when the valve is in the and an operating normal position except for slight leakage.

15. In a device of the class described, a pneumatic action provided with ableed hole and an operating spindle and means rigid with the spindle arranged to push foreign matter out of said bleed hole.

16. In a device of the class described, a pneumatic action provided with a bleed hole spindle and means rigid with the spindle and having a surface at an angle to lthe movement of the s indle, for pushing foreign matter out of the leed hole.

17. pneumatic action provided with a bleed hole and an operating spindle and means rigid with the spindle and having a surface which pushes dirt or foreign matter out of the vbleed hole when the action is operated, said In a device of the class described, a'

surface being constructed so that it comes out of the bleed hole when the action isoperated.

18. In a device of the class described, a pneumatic action provided with a bleed hole and an operating spindle and means rigid with the spindle and having a surface at an angle to the movement of the spindle for pushing foreigbn matter out of the bleed hole, said surface eing constructed so that it comes out of the bleed hole when the action is operated.

19. In a device of the class described, a

pneumatic action having a bleed hole and an operating spindle, said vspindle having a surface thereon at an angle to the line of movement of the spindle for pushing dirt and the like out of the bleed hole.

20. lIn a device of the class described, a pneumatic actionl having a bleed hole and an operating spindle, said spindle having a surface thereon at an angle to thepline of movement of the spindle for pushing dirt and the like out of the bleed hole, said sur face being arranged so that it comes out of the bleed hole When the action is operated.

21. A. device of thev class described'provided With an operating membrane or the like, a bleed hole, and a slidably mounted cleaning member for said bleed hole, said lmember being moved by said membrane or the like and having a surface thereon at an angle to its line of movement to push dirt out of the bleed hole.

22. A' device of the class described pro vided with an operating membrane or the like, a bleed hole therefor, a cleaning member for said bleed h'ole moved by said membrane, said member being rovided With a surface at an angle to its line of movement to push dirt out of the bleed hole, and guid ing means through which said member slides to keep it in alinement.

23. A device of Athe class described provided with an operating membrane or the like, a bleed hole, a cleaning member for the bleed hole moved by saidmembrane or the like, said member having asurface thereon at an angle to its line of movement to push dirt out of the bleed hole, and said member being always insaid bleed hole during the operation of the membrane. v

24. A device of the class described pro# vided with an operating membrane or the like, a bleed hole and a slidably' mounted cleanin member operating in said bleed hole, said member being moved by said inembrane or the like and arranged to increase the effective cross section of thebleed hole whn the membrane is pneumatically operate 25. A pneumatic device of the class described provided with a bleed hole through which air is adapted to be sucked, and a4 hole, said member having a surface at an angle to its linel of movement for pushing sin 'out of um bleed hole, and said aufm being arranged to move in and out of said lloe, and said member being guided by said 15 o e. f 'In testimony whereof I have signed my ,name to this. specication in the presence of twosubs'cribing witnesses.

JOSEPH SCHWERTNER.

Witnesses:

l GOBHAM Cnosnr,

EnwrN Seann.

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