USRE13492E - pierce - Google Patents

Description

APPLIUTION FILED JUNE 24, 1910.

Reissued Dc.3,1912.

w E ivm A "UDL U .N\, c @E Huw- determined intervals rboard at that instant.

HARRY PIERCE, OF KANSAS CITY,

MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

THE CABLE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

IITALVE SYSTEM AND THACKER-IBOARLD.W

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. i'

' Reissued Dec. 3, 1912.'

Original No. 899,469,A dated September 22, 1908, Serial No. 391,658. i Application for reissue led June,24, 1910. Serial No. {568,818-

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY PIERCE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at' .Kansas City, 'xi/the' county of Jackson and State of Miss uri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve Systems and Tracker-Boards`of which the following is aspecitication.

This invention relates to pneumaticallyY actuated musical instrument players, particularly of the keyboard playingtype that are designed to be attached to a piano and automatically play the same under the con,- trol of specially devised music sheets mounted to pass overa tracker range, although it is to be .understood that the invention is applicable 4also .to mechanically controlled musical instruments of thischaracter in 'which the entire mechanism is incorporated within the ease of su'ch instrument and embodies auxiliary wippens or e uivalent accessories arranged to swing t e hammers againstthe strings. These piano players as :first constructed were mechanical in tone as 25 well as in naine, for the reason that. no means were provided for properly bringing out the theme or melody of the'composition being rendered, and consequently theypcould bereadily distinguished, even by those who were not trained or cultured musicians, .from a manually operated instrument, by their :lack of tone color or capability ofaccenting any one or more notes at the desired o1' preto properly emphasize the themegpand this was a fault that hindered the more universal recognition of the musical value of the automatic piano players, not-withstanding the expression appliances that were employed and the high degree of technique that the mechanical eledeficieney, it has heretofore been proposed. to divide the vacuum chest into 4two grand divisions, controlling the treble vand bass clefs respectively, and by cutting in either edge cf the perforated music sheet allow air to enter a small hole in either side of the tracker range or board governed by such cuttings, and thereby create a greater suction upon that particular side of the instrument so as to accent the particular note 4 whichy happens to register with the tracker It was thus possible to emphasize two notes at the same time,

Tol vovercome this there beingtwo compartmentsin each row of pneumatics in the vacuum chest; but it was'not possible, b this construction', to single out one note a ove others on the same side of the center division line on the tracker board, should two or more perforations' strike the tracker board at the saine time on .the same side of the division point. In

lother words, if two or more holeswere to register with the tracker-,board at the same time on the same side, these twoor morenotes would be accented. In order to over@ come this, but at the risk of endangering the rhythmic effect, it has been proposed to cut the theme or accented notes in the roll or sheet a very small fraction behind the accompaniment cuttings.

In contradistinction tothe foregoing and to obtain' an artistic emphasis ofthe theme;

my invention coinprehends means for ac;

centing any one or more notes, regardless as to how many strike the tracker board at the same time and independent of their position in the scale, and the invention, more specifically considered, comprises a, specially constructed vacuum chest ,with each diaphragm piieulnatic separated from the rest, a system of valves .in addition to Ythose heretofore ordinarily used and peculiarly correlated to the same, a specially constructed tracker board and peculiarly cut or perforated music rolls or sheets, the tracker-board and music sheet forming the subject matterof separate applications for Letters Patent.

The invention also consists in certain clon.- structio-ns, arrangements, and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe, and then point out the novel features and combinations thereof in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to he had to the following description and accompanying drawings', r' which:

Figure 1 is a face view of -a portion of a tracker board constructed' in accordance wit-h my invention; Figgl is a transverse sectional view, in the nature of a diagram, illustrating my improved valve system in the 'simplest embodiment thereof', it being lunderstood that in practice, as is customary, the valves of each vacuum chest or chamber will be varranged in two or three transverse rows for the sake 'of compactness; Fig. 3"

is a view of a portion of the 'perforated nary double valve acti music sheet emplo-yed;'and, F ig. 4 is a front View, partaking of the nature of a ,.longitin dinal section, ofthe primary and secondary valve chests or vacuum chests of `the ordion automatic players, but arranged according to the principles of my invention.

sheet M is arranged to pass; P designates the primary vacuum chest of the ordinary double valve action pneumatic player, and S the secondary vacuum chest thereof, arranged in accordance with the principles of this invention; and A designates the additional' or auxiliary vacuum chest which renders the theme emphasizing eli'ects' possible.

The tracker board T is provided Wit-h the Y usual longitudinally extending or elongated ports 1, each of which is connected by a Y"flexible tracker tube 2 with the respective vacuum chamber 3` (Fig. 4) in the primary vacuum chest P, cach chamber 3 being prov-ided with a vent 4 and the chest P being connected to the pipe or tube 5 (Figs. 2 and 4) leading to the suction bellows (not shown). l'lach chamber 3 is in communi-r cation with a diaphragm pneumat-ic 6 under.

ooA

neath the double action valve 7. A tube if. lead-s from above the lower head of said valve to the secondary vacuum Achest S underneath and in communication with a diaphragm 9, adapted to actuatc its valve 10.

11 designates the ordinary power pneu'- matic of the bellows type, designed to actuate the suspended linger or rod 12 so as to depress the key.

The foregoing parts are, as thus far described, 4of the usual .foi-mation. In their practical operation, Whenever a port or passage 1 of the tracker board is closed by a perforated music sheet, a partial vacuum exists in the ltube 2 created through the vent 4, and the suction is transmitted through the chamber 3, and tube 8 to the diaphragm 9. A partial vacuum also exists in the chamber 9a above the diaphragm/.1.

pneumatic 9. This causes thevalve 10 to-b'e so held as to ad'mit atmospheric pair4 into the power pneumatic 11, the valve 7 closing the chestV P against the admission of at1nosp heric air. i.

Whenever the perforated music sheet M "i opens the port'l, it. destroys the equalizatlon, causing the valve 7 to rise and admit latrnosphesilioy air into the ehestsland to the tube 8` Airrushing into said tube will maniestly raise the valve 10, closing the upper valve and opening the lower valve, thereby causing the power pneumatic 11 t6 close, air being emptied through the chamber 9,

the pipe 17 connected at one end thereto,'

the chamber 16 and exhaust or suction pipe 5 that is this exhaust being controlled by the regulator 18. Hence a soft or unaccented tone will be produced, it being understood that the valve i4 is lowered during this operation, the tube 2a being closed Referring now to Fig'l, wherein is illustrated my improved tracker board, it will be seen that the same is provided, in addition to the ,usual ports 1, With a correlated connected to the pumping bellows,

series of transversely extending ports 1a exl tending back of and in line .with one end of the said ports 1, respectively; A tracker tube 2 1, to the auxiliary vacuum chest A and communicates with a diaphragm 13 underneath the double valve 14, governing the communication of chambers 15 and 16 with chamber 91 by means of the pipe 17. 18 designates a regulator ofthe Well known type designed to control-the tension by means of the valve 19. i

ln describing the operation of thevadditional vacuum chest of my invention in con?I nection with the other parts, it is to be understood that the music sheet tolbe employed is especially formed With a set of' aceenting openings g/ (see Figl) in addition to theordinary cuttings m. So long as the ports 1 and l in the tracker board` are closed by the perforated music sheet, there is the same partial vacuum in the channels of the chest P, as before stated, to the diaphragm 9 in chest S; but the vacuum in the chamber 9a'is created through pipe 17 to chest A, through chamber or channel 16, through the passage 20 controlled by the regulator 18, and through the pipe 5 to the pumping bellows'. The vacuum between passages 2O and chamber 9a is subdued and controlled by the bellows 18 and' the slide valve 19. This gives weak suction 'or ex,

pression from chamber 9a through pipe 17 'and chamber 16 through the'paage '20.-

There is strong suction or high tension through the channels of the chest P from the --diaphragm 9 and through the` pipev 5 from the chamber 15, giving the valve in the vacuum chest P positive action, although the secondary or vpower pneumatic 11 and valve 10 are on soft expression.

Whenever the 'perforation in the music sheet' opens a atmospheric tube 2a, the diaphragmjlB, lifting the valve 14, closing the chamber 16, and opening chamber leads from each one of these ports 15, thereby switching the tensin 'fromthatf m the Chmber 16 (Said tension being regihg'gggjbs.

Vlos

port 1a in the tracker board,- pressure rushes' through the/,- destroying the equalization ,underl I lated by .a bellows 18) to the direct unregu lated tension in the chamber 15 and creating a strong suction through the pipe l from the chamber 9a. llhis gives said chamber 9a the saine suction under the diaphragm E). Theneven however, this same perforation in the music sheet extends over a port l Iin the tracker board, as wel-l as a port l atmospheric pres-sure wili rusinthrough the tube 2 into the eliestl), destroying equalization under the diaphragm G, raising the `valye 7, and thereby admitting atmospheric 'pressure through the tube S so as to destroy the exhaust under the diaphragm 9. The 'lat ter being then raised, lifts the valve 10,*and

etl'ects the closing of the pneumatic ll with added torce, the note thereby being ac cented. l

Fig, Il illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the ordinary primary and secondary vacuum or valve chests of an ordinary double valve action player. lt to he understood that the vacuum is ordinarily created in the pipe ci' channel 5 from the pumping bellows through each vend of the sections oi grand `divisions ofthe valve chest for the bass and treble portions, to t-hc middle division D ordinarily employed. In order to .sepiiratc each individual diaphragm 9 for action in connection with my iinpwn'cd ausm ry vacuum chest A above described, the said fliaphragins 9 are separated from each other by the divisions D1, the pipe` i leading into the valve chest S above the respective diapliraglns i), as indicated at- 17a.

Having thus described the invention, whatl claim as new is: l. In combination, a tracker board formed with two sets ot air ports, a primary valve chest connected to one set of ports, powerpneumatics, secondary valve chest operatively' connected to said pneumatics and having connection with the primary valve chest, an auxiliary valve chest having air passage connection with the secondary valve chest, means for exhausting air from the auxiliary valve chest and from the oo nnection between the same and the secondary valve chest. tensionl regulatorsincluded in the` air exhausting means, the auxiliary valve chest being provided with air passages leading directly from its connection with the secondary valve chest to the air exhausting means around the tension regulators, valves in said auxiliary valve chest, said valves normally clvsing said last named passages and opening the passage from the connection between said. valve chest and the ,secondary valve chest to the tension/regulators, and a connection between said auiiiliary valve chest and the other-set of` potts in .the tracker board, arranged upon thsopening pf any ort of said set t0 Shift-(ine of said valves` Vas to admit the air directly from the secondary valve chest to the aireXhausting means.

2'. The coinbinationwa trackerl formed with two air ports' for each note, o'fpower pneumatics, primary and secondary valve -mechanisms connected to each other and theft' latter to the power pneumatics, the primary valve mechanism being connected tooneof said ports, an auxiliary valve chest connected to the other ol. said ports and to the vsecondary valve mechanism, means'for normally exhausting the air from the second ary valve mechanism under regulated tension through the auxiliary valve-chest, and means for exhausting the an' from said secondary valve 'mechanism through the auX- iliary valve chest unregulated and direct lupon the opening of one of said ports.

3. rl"he combination with a tracker board 'formed with two sets of air ports, the ports of one set being elongated 'transversely to the travel of theysheet and the ports ot' the other set being elongated longitudinally of t-he travel of the .sheet and in alinement with theends of corresponding ports of the lirst mentioned set, of power pneumatics, primary and secondary alve mechanism connected to the set oxf t'ansversely elon gated ports, an auxiliary 'valve chest connected to said other set of ports and to the secondary valve mechanism under regulated tension, and means for exhausting air from said secondary valve mechanism through the auxi iai-y valve chest unregulated andl direct upon the opening of the ports of one of said sets.

4. The combination of a tracker having passages extending through it as separate ducts, which terminate in the music sheet face of the tracker as Vti'oiit and rear ports, which are arranged in groups, a group for each note with a front and a rear port in' Aeach .grou p, whereof parts of the front ports -produced by said note sounding mechanism,

and conduits extendinfrrespectively between said ports and said note'soundin'g and tone varying mechanism.

5. The combination of'a tracker. having .passages extending'I through it as separate ducts, which terminate in the music sheet face of the tracker as front and rear ports, l

which are associated with one another in groupaa group for each note whereof a front and rear port are included in each group, parts of the front ports being in' alinementeyvith' assocated rear orts, and other fpartsfof the front rtsbeing to one side o said rea'r ports, said rear orts being wholly in the rear vof associated ti'ont' ports,

note sounding and tone-varying mechanisms and conduits ext-ending respectively between the front ports and the note sounding mechanism, and between therear ports and the tone varying mechanism.

6. The combination with aitracker hav-` ing a series of main ports and a series of transversely elongated supplemental ports in therear of said main ports, of means for sounding and -accenting notes, connected with said ports.

7. The combination Witha tracker having a series oi longitudinally elongated main ports and a s l supplementa ports' `in the rear of the main ports, the main ports overlapping the supplemental or rear ports, of means for' sounding notes connected vvith' one of said series of ports, and means for causing the accentn-l.

ation of notes, connected with the other series of ports.

8. The combination With a tracker having a series of main ports and a series of transversely elongated supplemental ports in the rear of the main ports, said main ports overlapping the rear or supplemental ports, of means for sounding notes connectedA with one of said series of ports, and means for' causing the accent of notes, connected with the other series of ports.

9. The combination 'with a tracker having a series of longitudinally elongated main ports and'fa series of transversely elongated.

supplemental ports arranged `in the rear or ends of the main ports, of means for sounding notes connected with said main ports, and means for causing the accentuation of notes, connected with said supplemental ports.

l0. A tracker-board formed with a series of longitudinally elongated air ports and a series of transversely elongated air ports bckQOfV the air ports of the first named se,-

ries, each of the transversely elongated ports being in transverse alinement with a port-ion of the correspondingI longitudinally elon- `gated port, separate conduits extending ,groin each of the transversely elongated ports andfrom each of the longitudinally elon ated 'port/s, means connected with the conuits of the longitudinally elongated ports for causing the sounding of notes, and means connected With the conduits of A elono'ated ports only the transversely elongated ports for varying.r the .volume of tone produced by the soundingvof said notes, and a music sheet having two kinds of perforation's,A one of which is adapted to open longitudinally and the other of which is adapted to open oth longitudinally elongated andtransversely elongated ports.

i ing a series of main 1 1. The combination With a tracker havorts and a series of 'transversely elongate supplemental ports in ,the l'er Offthe main ports, note soundri/esof transversely elongated `transversely elongate ing mechanism connected with the main ports and mechanism for controlling the action of said mechanism to produce accent eects connected with the supplemental ports.

12. The combination with a tracker having a series of longitudinally elongated main ports, and a series of transversely elongated supplemental ports in the rear of the main ports, of a series of power pneumatics for A,tone sounding purposes having valve mechanism connected'vvith the main ports of the tracker," and aseries of supplemental plemental ports and arranged in combination with `mechanism for supplying high or low Wind tension to operate the power pneumatics. n

k13. The combination with a tracker' having a series of main orts and a series of supplemental ports,

or switching valves connected with the sup- Y of a seriesof main tone sounding pneumatics having valve mechanism connected with the'main ports, and a seriesof'supplemental pneumatics having valve mechanism vconnected with the supplemental ports, and

means for varying the strength of blow of v tracker with the ports of adjacent groups, a

music sheet having perforations, some of 'Whichare adapted to open one port only of a group and others of which are each adapted to open more than one of the ports of a group, said perforations being of uniform Width throughout their length, and mecha- -nism for sounding and. accenting tones connected With said ports;

16. The combination of `a tracker having a series of groups of ports, one group for each note, including a front and a back port in each group, the ports of'each group being Wholly out of alinement transversely of the tracker with the ports of adjacent groups, a

"music sheet having perforations some of which are adapted to open the front ports only of groups and others of which are each adapted to open front and rear ports of the groups, rsaid erforations being of uniform Width, throng out their length, and means for sounding and accenting tones connected with said ports.

17, The combination of a tracker having a series of groups of ports, one roup for eacli'note, including a ront and a" ack port in each group, the ports of each group being Wholly out of alinement transversely of the tracker With the ports of adjacent groups, blow striking pneumatics and valve mechanism connected with the front ports of said groups, intensity varying pneumatic mechanisms .connected with the rear ports of said groups and a music sheet having perforations adapted to open front ports only and other perforations each adapted to open both front and rear ports of the same group.

.18. The combination of a tracker having `front and rear apertures arranged'in groups,

With, a front and a rear aperture in each group, a music sheet having perforations adapted to open a front Iport onlyof a group,'and other perforations adapted to open a rear port of a group uand asubsequently a ifront port thereo and mechanism for sounding and accenting tones connected with p said ports. v

Capi ai this patent my be pbtained tor 19. The combination of a tracker having front and rear apertures arranged in groups, with a front and a rear-aperture in each group, a music sheet having perforations some of which are adapted to open the front ports only of groups, and others of which are adapted to open the rear ports of groups and su sequently the corresponding front .until the correspon rear ports.

ve cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. C.

the rear ports Aopen ng front ports` are opened, means for-sounding tones connected with said front ports, and means whereby said tones are modified, connected Withsaid ports thereof, holding 1 20. The combination of a tracker a row of transversel elongated apertures and a row of longitu inally elon ated apertures, the transversely elongate a ertures being nearer the side of the trac er appreached by the music sheet than the other having row of apertures, and being in alinement with end portions .of said longitudinally elongated apertures, a music sheethaving perforat-ions adapted to open longitudinally' so havingv elongated apertures only, and a I other perforatons adapted to open both transversely and longitudinally elongated apertures, and mechanism for sounding and accenting tones connected with said apertures.

In witness whereof I hereunto 'subscribe y my name this 16th day of June, 1910.

Witnesses:

G. H. SrUKENBEnG,

E. K. CoRBE'm'.

HARRY `PIERCE.

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