USRE8856E - Improvement in mechanical musical instruments - Google Patents

Description

M GALLY Mechanical Musical Instruments.

' Reissued Aug. 19,1879.

MEBRITI GALLY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MECHANIAL MU S IGAL INSTRUMENT S.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,257, lated May 7, 1878; Reissue No. 8,856, dated August 19, 1879 application filed May 7, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Muaarr'r GALLY, of

New York city and county, and State of N ew Yorlr have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Instrui'nents; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon. I

Figure l is a perspective View of the interior of an instrument, showing the new and improved devices. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the key-action, &c. Fig. 3 represents a piece of the perforated sheet-music, showing the style of perforations constructed for securing the least width of material and the greatest amount of strength and durability to the sheet. Fig. i represents a modification of the expression-valve I), shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 represents a partof a musical instrument distinct from the pneumatic key-action, in itself considered, but is shown as being acted upon. by the pneumatic key-action applied as an attachmentto the instrument of Fig. 5. My invention relates, first, to that class of musical instruments, or attachments for performing mechanically upon musical instruments, which are operated by means of a per fora-ted sheet of paper or other material.

, In using perforated music-sheets for automatic-instruments, it is a custom to make the sncet in form of an endless belt, as the increasing size of a winding roll, when operated mechanically, is liable to change the time of the piece being played.

The first part of my invention consists in such a construction of the mechanism which moves the sheet as tosecure to it a regular movement, and to allow only a corresponding winding of anion; ""Thcinotorshaft J may be turned by hand or any suitable motive power. On this shaft is a roller, Z, and above it another roller, X, between which the perforated sheet is drawn by the act-ion of the mo- 1 up The inotorshai't J is connected, either by belt, tooth, or friction-gear, to the roller I, upon. which roller the sheet is Wound after passing between the small rollers X Z. The wheel of roller I turns loosely on' the, shaft, but is provided with a friction-clutch, which causes it to turn the roller with sufficient force to Wind the sheet upon the increasing roll.

When the strain upon the sheet is more than sutficicnt to Wind it upon the roll, the wheel I music is being performed by the instrument.

The Winding-roll I and the rewiudi'ng-roll K are both driven from shaft J by belt, tooth, or friction-gear, as may be preferred.

After the sheet has been used and wound upon roller I it is necessary to rewind it before it can be used again, or the music would be reversed. In order that this can be done mechanically while another sheet is being rolled at A, the first roll collected'at I is placed at L and rewound on roller K while the second sheet is being wound on roller I. Thus there is no interruption in "the music from piece to piece, except th imple changing of the position of the rolls, and the several sheets are always mechanically rewound and ready for use.

The thir'l part'of my invention consists in a pneumatic key-action, which, in connection with the perforated sheet, can be used not only for operating wind musical instruments, but also those- With strings, bells, drums, &c., or any instruments which may be operated by hand or mechanical action;

In Fig. 2 the perforated shcetmusic is represented by 0 O, passing from the roll H.

An air-chest, B is used to operate thepncu' matic key-action. This air-chest may be the main air-chest, which operates the reeds or pipes of an instrument to whichthe pneumatic keys are attached, or may be an airche'st Simply for the purpose of operating the pneumatic keys, and may be connected with any suitable means for producing a current of air either under pressure or exhaust.

Operating in, connection with air-chamber B is a supplementaryair-chamber, a", pro.- vided with an aperturc,-t. Connected with chamber 11?.

.P by exhaust only to the edge of the duct, and

chamber a is a follower, Y, the chamber being made flexible to allow of the free movement of the follower. The music-sheet 0 passes outside of chamber a and aperture t.

When a perforation in the music-sheet opens aperture t, and also duct P,-the air is exhausted,if exhaust" is used for chamber B and follower Y is depressed, operating its striking or motor key R, for operating the musical in- Strument.

if the key "Y were placed over a chamber only equal in size to the perforations in the sheet, the action of the key would be very weak unless the perforations were very large,

which would be impracticable; but by making base of the chamber a is cut away under-' heath, sons to haveonlya slight bearing around the perforation. Tuis base N is allowed a slight spring, so that while. a perforation is between the opening of the chamber a and air d not P the pressure of the base N on the sheet prevents leakage; but as soon as the air-duct iscu't oh by the sheet the reaction of the base instantly causes leakage to again. fill chamber a, and the leverage of'key It Y at it returns the key suddenly to place.

If it is desirable to make the key very light, an ordinary returning-spring-such as is commonly used-may be added.

It would, perhaps, appear on a cursory examination that after the depression of the key the atmospheric pressure on follower Y would hold the base of the chamber down upon its seat; but this is not practically the fact. If the exhaust is suddenly cut off, the reaction of the base of the key N together with the re action momentarily caused in the remaining air of the not entirely exhausted chamber (1?, is sufficient to .cause leakage between the sheet and the bearing-surfaces at the sides of aperture t to again fill chamber a Besides the leakage thus produced, it is increased at one edge of aperturej, as follows: The aperture of chamber a is flaring or bell-mouthed, and overreaches the sides of the duct P, especially on right-hand side, as shown in the figare.

' It will be seen that when a perforation in the sheet has fully passed'duct P it isstill' open to a small part of the aperture of the The sheet is held down over duct therefore the air outside and under the sheet passes, through the inlet made through the perforation of the sheet, in direction of the waved arrow, into the aperture of the chamber a. Leakage in this waymay be increased, if desired for the purpose, by further overlapping duct P with aperture t, and closing the under surface from one side by means of a flap of elastic material, which will draw down and close the opening when afi'ected by the exhaust of duct P, but will immediately open on the reaction when the exhaust is cut off.

In the pneumatic key, as described, air passes through the music-sheet, not only to exhaust the key, but also in the opposite direction to fill chamber a for'a uick return of the key.

If a pressure-currert is used instead of exhaust, the action of the key will be reversed.

It will be seen that with a sufficient number of keys R Y any kipd of musical instrument can be played, eitherfforming part of the entire mechanism, or as an attachment to ordinary instruments such as pianos, organs, dulcimcrs, drums, bells, 8m.

In Fig. 2 the key R Y is represented as op erating" the valve V of the reed of an organ. Strings, drums, trumpets, bells, or any other kind of instrument might be added as a combination, as any of them can be performed upon by-or through the means of lever-keys as is well known. i Fig. 5 represents one of the bells of a bellpiano as a distinct instrumenhwhich is performed upon by the strokes of the lever-keys as an attachment, and the pneumatic key-action can thus be attached to any instrument operated bysimilar movements. When inverted, the key-act ion, striking downward, iseasily applied to the finger-boardof any ordinary keyed instrument.

In using the sheet 0 for operating the pneumatic keys 1%, the perforations corresponding to o and d are not required to be an elongated single opening to produce a long tone, but can be made as shown by c d"-a number of small perforations near together. So long as they are near enough together for any part of one or the other to remain over the opening of duct P the key will remain depressed. When the perforations a" b are separated sufficiently to produceacnt-off by the interveningmaterial, two distinct movements of the key are produced, corresponding to a b.

One of the advantages of the pneumatic keyaction is, thatit will work perfectly andstron gly with perforations in-the sheet so small that if useddirectly over the reeds they would not produce any tone whatever. This also allows of a much narrower sheet being used, as a greater number of lines of openings can be made in the width of sheets commonly used.

The fifth part of my invention consists in the peculiar construction of a voice-tremolo.

The ordinary valve-tremolo produces a bubbling sound and dcadens the tone, not imitating the tremolo of the human voice. The fan tremolo is also defective in this respect. The tremolo of the human voice is produced by-a rapid contraction and expansion alternating in the walls of the passage to the larynx, but the free and clear passage of the tone is not obstructed,

To imitate this tremolo I make an opening is intended.

in the side of the air-duct Q, Fig. 2, and cover this opening with a flexible wall, \V. To the outside 'of the wall I attach the vibrating motor T. lVhen the vibrator is thrown to the dotted line theair in the duct is suddenly expanded, and again condensed on the return of the vvibrator. The tremolo is thus produced without in the ltast obstructing the duct, and the tremolo of the voice is closely imitated in a clear, full tone. The vibrator '1 may be operated by wind-wheel, or by any mechanical action that t ll produce a simple viln'ating motion.

The sixth part of my invention consists ina mechanism operated by perfo at-ions in the music-sheet to produce expression of tone-as very soft, soft, loud, very loud, &c. The reeds, cords, bells, or other musical devices are inclosed to shut in the sound in a similar manner as arranged for the swell of an ordinary cabinet-organ.

In Fig. 1 two valve doors oi swells, D E, are shown. These, instead of being operated by hand, are attached to pneumatic keys, to be operated by means of periorations in the music-sheet, according to the required expression. A modification of this device is shown in Fig. 4, in whielrthe sweli or door is operated by a lever, the end of which rides upon the surface of the sheet, except as it meets with perforations, depressions, or elevations indicating the change of' expression.

The next part of my invention consist-sin attaching to a music-sheet a roller, on which the sheet or'st'rip is rolled, and adapting the roller by means of a stop or other suitable connecting device to be connected with the driving mechanism of a musical instrument, or the kind of instrument for which the sheet The market can thus besupplied with musicshects adapted to any particular kindof instrument and ready to be inserted in connection with its motor.

I provide the end oi the roller with a clutch, spline, or other suitable device, which will so connect it with the journals of the instrument as to secure its turning with the journals in 'orc ler to properly roll or rewind the sheet, as the case may be. lVhen it is desirable to make these rollers very light, I make them in tubular form, with the stop or clutch N' attached to the tube, or a corresponding recess instead thereof. The rollers are made of proper length to accommodate the width of the music-sheet and also to properly fit the journal or shafts of the instrument.

sheet from the material of the sheet rolled upon itself, withv paste or other adhesive sub stance, until it is sufiioiently strong to form a s tantial roller. This is a cheap and simple manner of construction.

The pneumatic key-action may be otherwise than mechanically operated, or it may be used I When desirable I make the roller for the} for general purposes, aside from musical in- ---strumcnts, for

producing mechanical move perforated music sheet sheet in which perforations for vinents or operating certain parts of instruments, or .l'or machines, such as looms, &c., i accordingto arranged plans or intervals. -l. however reserve this matter for another peeii'iication.

I This part of my invention as applied in the l present ease consists of four essential elements-a main air-chamber, a supplementary air-chan1ber provided with an aperture, and

usic sheet, through the perforations of which air passes, and a follower which l-furnishes the required movement. As these elements are subjectto various arrangements and modified constructions without materially changing the gist ofmy invention, I wish not to confine myse' l" t6 the exact construction and arrangement ssown, but to claim, broadly, the combination of these essential elements to produce the result, as in this lies the gist of my invention.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A pneumatic key for a musical instrument, or an attachn'ientibr performing on musical instruments, having an air-chain ber'profl vided with an aperture for the passage of air,

I l l I l a perforated m the key being operated by-means of'a perforated music sheet or strip through which air passes when a perforation in the sheet orstrip corresponds with the apert-in'e of the chamber.

2. An air-chamber of a pneumatic key provided with an aperture, outside of which cham her a traveling perforated music-sheet passes, the perforated and unperibrated portions of the sheet alternately opening and closing the aperture of the chamber to produce the proper action of the key. In a pneumatic key-action which is aperated by means of a peribrated music sheet gor strip, the combination, with a reed-chant l her or a main air-chamber, of a supplement lary air-chamber and a ii'ollower, the supplementary air-chamber being provided with an orifice or aperture, outside of which the perforatcd sheet passes to produce the action of the'follower. I l 4. In a pneumatic key-action, the eoiubina- 'tion, with a reed-chamber or a main air-chamher, of'a supplementary air-chamber provided with auoritice or aperture, outside of which a or strip travels, a quick i return movement of the follower or key of the l action being produced by moansof air pass- I ing through the perforations of the sheet or strip.

i 5. A pneumatic key action operated by i means of air passing through the perforations of a music sheet or strip when used to operate or perform directly or indirectly upon reeds, strings, bells, pipes, stops, or other devices for producing or aflecting musical tones.

6. The combination, with an air-passage of a musical instrument, of a perforated musicthepassage of a single air through the sheet, arranged in stantially as specified.

7. A pneumatic key-action provided with an air-chamber and a follower, the air-chamber having an inlet adapted to be closed, or a loose joint between the air-chamber and airduct adapted to be held closed by atmospheric pressure during the continuance of the exhaust, but which isthrowu open by the momentary counteraction of such pressure by the recoil when the exhaust is suddenly cut off.

o. in mechanical musical instrument, .or an attachment for operating musical instruments, wherein a traveling music sheet, strip, or band is employed to produce the notes, a music sheet hea ing, in connection with the means for operating the sound-producing devices, auxiliary nieans constructed and adapted to operate automatically the stops and expression devices, or either, substantially as specifled.

9. The swell or door, (one or more,) in combination with a pneumatic key or keys for op erating the same. I

10. A perforated music sheetor strip to which a roller is attached, which is adapted to be connected with the driving mechanism of a'musical instrument, or an attachment for performing upon musical instruments.

IL A music sheet or vstrip provided with a roller and'a stop or clutch for connecting it with the driving mechanism of a musical instrument. I

12. The combination, with the motor for moving a perforated or other music-sheet, of a slipping gear, which causes the winding of the roll to correspond with the proper. movement of the sheet.

13. The combination, with a musical instrument and a perforated music-sheet, of a rewinding mechanism, which is operated by the.

motor of the instrument, caused to perform the rewinding when required.

14. The combination, with a musical instrument and perforated or other music-sheet, of a rewinding mechanism, which is operative while music is being performed by the instrument. A

15. The tubular roller attached to or formed ofa portion of the music-sheet, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

16. In a musical instrument, the tremolo, consisting of afiexible wall of the air-duct to or from the reed or pipe ofa wind musical instrument, and a vibrator for vibrating the flexible wall, substantially as specified.

7. The combination, with a perforated sheet 'or strip in which the perforations are made to represent sounds, and a feed mechanism for propelling the same, of a take-up roll having a slipping driving device, for the purpose specified.

18. The combination, with the perforated sheet or strip, and a feed mechanism for propelling the same, of a take-up roll having a slipping driving device, 'and a spring-tension for regulating the same.

MERRITT GALLY.

- Witnesses:

J OHN Thomson, 0. A. OLOUGH.

Images