Grand piano action

An improvement for a conventional grand piano action to position a piano hammer at varying at rest positions to evoke varying intensities of sound with an unvarying strength of piano key touch.

BACKGROUND

In conventional grand pianos in order to effect a softer tone the pianist utilizes a soft pedal, shifting the key board to a side of the piano directing piano hammers to strike fewer strings, this maneuver impoverishes the grand piano tone, and with very little softness as the piano hammers are substantially away at a fixed proximity in respect to the tensioned strings, the use of the soft pedal reflects the recognition of lack of sensitivity of the conventional grand piano action arrangement, to effect this softness the pianist even with the use of the soft pedal depresses the piano key with a light touch to effect any degree of softness as the piano hammers are striking the tensioned strings from a fixed proximity, making it difficult if not impossible to play pianissimo presto.

Except for the limits of lightly touching a piano key and pounding the piano key with great force together with the use of the soft pedal to soften the sound, expressions of intermediate degrees of loudness or softness are substantially impossible to evoke from conventional grand pianos. Because the piano hammers are striking the tensioned strings from a conventional fixed proximity, -a fortissimo proximity.

Varying degrees of pianissimo with a substantially unvarying strength of piano key touch is impossible in conventional acoustic pianos.

SUMMARY

In the conventional grand piano action the hammer shank carrying the piano hammer is connected pivotally to a hammer shank flange, a stationary member. In the improvement the hammer shank is connected pivotally to a lever, to elevate the hammer shank to position the piano hammer at varying proximities in respect to a tensioned string by pivoting the hammer shank by a knuckle under the hammer shank resting on a repetition lever. The piano hammer is synchronized with the escapement let off button, dependent from a second lever to strike the tensioned string from varying proximities, from varying at rest positions, uniquely different from the conventional grand piano action propelling the piano hammer from the same fixed at rest position. This improvement controls the volume of sound by a pedal directing the piano hammer to strike the tensioned string from any proximity to the tensioned string evoking varying volumes of sound with an unvarying strength of piano key touch.

OBJECTS

A primary object is to provide a piano key action mechanism permitting sensitive and controlled playing of pianissimo and other variations of touch.

Another object is to provide a piano key mechanism capable of evoking a wide dynamic range lacking in present day piano actions.

Another object is to eliminate or obviate dependence on the need for the conventional soft pedal.

Another object is to improve grand piano tone by having a piano hammer strike every string assigned to the piano hammer, not relying on the conventional soft pedal degrading grand piano tone.

Another object is to enable the pianist to play pianissimo with a normal piano key touch.

Another object is to install the improvement into grand pianos currently in use.

Another object is to provide a piano key action mechanism to propel piano hammers from selected proximities to produce a sensitive and controlled wide dynamic range.

Another object is to enable the pianist to play pianissimo presto with a normal piano key touch without missing notes.

Another object is to elevate selectively a piano hammer close to a piano string to evoke a whispering pianissimo with a substantially normal piano key touch.

Another object is to enable the pianist to practice wthout disturbing with a normal piano key touch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional grand piano action. A rail 10 D supporting a flange 10 , in the improvement it is a stationary member 10 , a hammer shank 2 is pivotally connected to the flange 10 , the hammer shank 2 is carrying a piano hammer 1 , and a knuckle 3 , the knuckle 3 is resting on a repetition lever 14 , the repetition lever 14 is pivotally connected to a wippen 15 , the wippen 15 is connected pivotally to a flange 10 E, the flange 10 E is fixed to a rail 10 D, a jack 11 and arm 12 is connected pivotally to the wippen 15 , a spring 11 A is pressing against the repetition lever 14 and the arm 12 of the jack 11 , a regulating button 9 C is holding the jack 11 in position, a regulating button 9 B and screw 19 is holding the repetition lever 14 in position, a rod 9 is carrying an escapement let off button 9 A. On depressing a piano key 13 the jack 11 in an opening in the repetition lever 14 lifts the hammer shank 2 by the knuckle 3 . Just before the piano hammer 1 strikes a tensioned string 16 the arm 12 of the jack 11 comes into contact with the escapement let off button 9 A, forcing jack 11 away of the knuckle 3 . and the hammer shank 2 rebounds onto a back chek 17 and upon releasing the piano key 13 the hammer shank 2 lands on a rest 20 and the knuckle 3 falls back on the repetition lever 14 .

FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the improvement for a conventional grand piano action wherein a grand hammer shank being elevated by a lever connected pivotally to a proximal end of the grand hammer shank in cooperation with a knuckle of the grand hammer shank. The grand hammer shank being pivoted by the knuckle resting on a repetition lever of the conventional grand piano action permitting elevation of the grand hammer shank.

A stationary member 10 is fixed to a rail 10 D, a grand hammer shank 2 carrying a piano hammer 1 and a knuckle 3 , the grand hammer a shank 2 is pivotally connected to a first end of a lever 4 , a second end of the lever 4 is pivotally connected to a first end of a control member 5 , a second end of the control member 5 connecting to a pedal 5 A, the lever 4 is pivoted by a fixed fulcrum 8 , an adjustable fulcrum 8 A is carrying a lever 6 , a first end of the lever 6 is pivotally connected to a rod 9 carrying an escapement let off button 9 A, a second end of the lever 6 is pivotally connected to the control member 5 . On depressing the pedal 5 A the control member 5 lifting the lever 4 together with the lever 6 , the lever 4 depressing the proximal end of the grand hammer shank 2 carrying the piano hammer 1 , the grand hammer shank 2 being elevated by the lever 4 by being pivoted by the knuckle 3 resting on the repetition lever 14 , the piano hammer 1 being elevated toward a tensioned string 16 , and at the same instant the control member 5 lifting the lever 6 pivoted by the adjustable fulcrum 8 A and the lever 6 depressing the rod 9 carrying the escapement let off button 9 A, moving the escapement let off button 9 A close to an arm 12 of a jack 11 , when the escapement let off button 9 A contacts the arm 12 of the jack 11 the jack 11 disengages from the knuckle 3 just before the piano hammer 1 strikes the tensioned string 16 from a selected proximity.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the improvement. The lever 4 being supported by an adjustable fulcrum 8 B, the escapement let off button 9 A being adjustable along a threaded portion of the rod 9 . The fulcrum/lever combination synchronizing proximity of the piano hammer 1 in respect to the tensioned string 16 , together with proximity of the escapement let off button 9 A in respect to the arm 12 of the jack 11 , synchronizing disengagement of the jack 11 from the knuckle 3 . When the escapement let off button 9 A comes in contact with the arm 12 of the jack 11 , the jack 11 disengages from the knuckle 3 , just before the piano hammer 1 strikes the tensioned string 16 from different proximities, selected by the pedal 5 A.

FIG. 4 illustrates diagrammatically an improvement for a grand piano action in a third embodiment. A stationary member 10 , a grand hammer shank 2 , carrying a piano hammer 1 and a knuckle 3 , the hammer shank 2 is pivotally connected by its proximal end to a first end of a lever 4 , a second end of the lever 4 is pivotally connected to a first end of a control member 5 , a second end of the control member 5 connecting to a pedal 5 A, the lever 4 is pivoted by an adjustable fulcrum 8 A, the stationary member 10 having two open holes, a horizontal bridge 10 A having two legs 10 B the two legs 10 B occupying the two holes in the stationary member 10 , the lever 4 carrying an adjustable slide 4 A, the adjustable slide 4 A connecting to the horizontal bridge 10 A to slide adjustably along the horizontal bridge 10 A, one leg 10 B of the horizontal bridge 10 A carrying an escapement let off button 9 A, the adjustable slide 4 A regulating synchronization with the adjustable fulcrum 8 A to position the piano hammer 1 at the proper distance from tensioned strings 16 , and to position the let off button 9 A at the proper distance to an arm 12 of a jack 11 . When the arm 12 of the jack 11 comes in contact with the escapement let off buttob 9 A the jack 11 disengages from the knuckle.

FIG. 5 illustrates diagrammatically a fourth embodiment of the improvement. A stationary member 10 , a grand hammer shank 2 carrying a piano hammer 1 and a knuckle 3 , the grand hammer shank 2 is pivotally connected by its proximal end to a first end of a lever 4 and a second end of the lever 4 is pivotally connected to a first end of a control member 5 , a second end of the control member 5 connecting to a pedal 5 A, the lever 4 is pivoted by an adjustable fulcrum 8 A, the stationary member 10 having an open channel 10 C, a rod 9 carrying an escapement let off button 9 A, the rod 9 being in an open hole in an adjustable stage 9 C, the adjustable stage 9 C to be adjustably moved along the stationary member 10 , moving the rod 9 in the open channel 10 C in the stationary member 10 , the rod 9 carrying the escapement let off button 9 A depending from the lever 4 pivotally connected to the proximal end of the grand hammer shank 2 , the escapement let off button 9 A being adjustable along a threaded portion of the rod 9 . The adjustable stage 9 C being adjustably positioned to the stationary member 10 by a spring 9 D fastened to underside of the stage 9 C, the spring 9 D pressing against sides of the open channel 10 C holding the adjustable stage 9 C in position on said stationary member 10 .

FIG. 5A illustrates diagrammatically a fifth embodiment of the improvement. A stationary member 10 supporting an adjustable fulcrum 8 A, the adjustable fulcrum 8 A supporting a lever 4 , a first end of the lever 4 pivotally connecting to a proximal end of a grand hammer shank 2 , a rod 9 carrying an escapement let off button 9 A, the rod 9 depending from a portion of the first end of the lever 4 , a pedal 5 A connecting to a second end of the lever 4 , The rod 9 carrying the escapement let off button 9 A being in an open hole in the stationary member 10 . The escapement let off button 9 A being above arm 12 of jack 11 , jack 11 being in contact with knuckle 3 , the knuckle 3 attached to grand hammer shank 2 .

FIG. 6 illustrates diagrammatically a third embodiment of the improvement. A stationary member 10 supporting an adjustable fulcrum 8 A. the adjustable fulcrum 8 A supporting a first lever 4 , a first end of the first lever 4 carrying an adjustable inverted fulcrum 8 B. the adjustable inverted fulcrum 8 B adjoining a second lover 6 A, a first end of the lever 6 A pivotally connecting to a proximal end of a grand hammer shank 2 , a second end of the lever 6 A pivotally connecting to the stationary member 10 , a second end of the first lever 4 connecting to a pedal 5 A, a rod 9 carrying an escapement let off button 9 A depending from the first lever 4 . The adjustable fulcrum 8 A to be adjusted with the adjustable inverted fulcrum 8 B synchronizing position of a piano hammer carried by a distal end of the grand hammer shank 2 under a tensioned string, and position.of the escapement let off button 9 A above an arm 12 of a jack 11 on depressing the pedal 5 A.

The adjustment of the fulcrums 8 A and 8 B regulating pivoting ratio between the levers 4 and 6 A, thereby synchronizing movement of the piano hammer with movement of the escapement let off button 9 A. When the escapement let off button comes in contact with the arm 12 of the jack 11 , the jack 11 disengages from a knuckle 3 carried by the grand hammer shank 2 , just before the piano hammer strikes the tensioned string.

FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the improvement. A stationary member 10 having two levels, an upper level of the stationary member 10 carrying a first adjustable fulcrum 8 A, the first adjustable fulcrum 8 A carrying a first lever 4 , a first end of the first lever 4 pivotally connecting to a proximal end of a grand hammer shank 2 , the grand hammer shank 2 carrying a knuckle 3 , a second end of the first lever 4 pivotally connecting to a control member 5 , the control member 5 connecting to a pedal 5 A.

A lower level of the stationary member 10 carrying a second adjustable fulcrum 8 A, the second adjustable fulcrum 8 A carrying a second lever 6 , a first end of the lever 6 pivotally connecting to a rod 9 , the rod 9 carrying an escapement let off button 9 A, a second end of the lever 6 connecting to the control member 5 .

FIG. 5 illustrates in a side view the knuckle 3 being adjustable along the grand hammer shank 2 by an adjustable stage 3 B carrying screw 3 A.

FIG. 5A illustrates the knuckle 3 being adjustable across the hammer shank 2 .

FIG. 5B illustrates in a side view the knuckle 3 being a spring means.

FIG. 7 illustrates in a side view a fifth embodiment of the improvement, the knuckle 3 carried by the grand hammer shank 2 cooperating with the lever 4 to elevate the grand hammer shank 2 is eliminated, a rounded portion 14 A on the repetition lever 14 is cooperating with the lever 4 to elevate the grand hammer shank 2 . The jack 11 on lifting the grand hammer shank 2 by a lifting surface 2 A into an opening 2 B in the grand hammer shank 2 .

FIG. 5C illustrates the lifting surface 2 A being covered with an appropriate material 2 C.