Patent GB-191202132-A (GB)
Title: An Improved Pneumatic Attachment for Pianos and other Musical Instruments.
Filed: 1912-01-26
Granted: 1913-01-23
Abstract: 2132. Marks, E. C. R., [National Piano Co.]. Jan. 26. Player-pianos; actions; treadle devices.-In a pneumatic action, the primary pneumatics and the valves operated by them are arranged inside detachable, seamless casings, made of cast metal or vulcanized material. The note-operating pneumatics are slidably connected to these casings and the wind-chests. Brackets are provided for holding the two wind-chests in aline ment. These brackets serve to protect the parts of the action when removed from the instrument, and are provided with handles to facilitate the removal. The ducts leading from the tracker-bar to the frame are formed in vertical members secured to the side of a piano casing, and these members, together with the action and a transversely arranged member carrying the tracker-box, form a rectangular frame surrounding the piano action. The action rests upon horizontal extensions of the vertical members. The note-operating pneumatics have projections which removably engage slots in vertical links, each of which is carried by two levers. The pivots of each pair of levers are in vertical alinement with the hinges of the corresponding striking pneumatics. The upper lever of each pair operates a sticker in connexion with the piano action. As shown in Figs. 6 and 11, the two banks of pneumatics 51 are carried by boards 48, 49 secured to brackets 45 by screws 50. The brackets 45 have handles 46, and are large enough to protect the action when removed from the instrument. The seamless valve-casings 57 are secured to the boards 48, 49 by screws 94. The note-operating pneumatics 51 are provided with ribs 92, as shown in Fig. 8, which is a section on the line 8-8 in Fig. 6. The ribs 92 slide into dovetailed grooves on the valve casings and boards 48, 49. The casings 57 contain pneumatics 58 for operating the valves 61. The walls of the pneumatics 58 are rigid except at their centres and extremities, where flexible joints are provided. By removing the screws 94, a casing may be detached and its valve mechanism exposed. The note-operating pneumatics are made long and narrow and the channels c<1> connect with them near to their hinges. The valves 61 are cut away around their peripheries and at their tops and bottoms. The valve-stems 60 have enlarged upper parts 60<a> and buttons 60<b> screwed upon them against which the valves 61 rest. Pins 60<c> extend into holes in the valvestems and act as guides. Figs. 1 and 4 show the vertical members 65 having ducts a<5> formed in them and provided with horizontal extensions 64 upon which the action removably rests, the line of separation being shown at 63. An horizontal member 96 carrying the tracker-box rests upon the upper ends of the members 65, so forming a frame completely surrounding the piano-action. Ducts may be formed in the member 96 which connect with the ducts a<5> and the tracker-ducts. Alternatively, pipes may be provided which rest upon the member 96. When the treadles 88 are operated, the bellows 69 exhaust air from the reservoirs 68 and the wind chests b through the conduits b<6>, b<5>, b<4>, b<3>, b<2>. If now the tune-sheet admits air to a primary pneumatic 58, the valve 61 is operated to connect the pneumatic 51 to exhaust and cut off its connexion to atmosphere. The corresponding link 5 is thereby lifted and is guided in a vertical direction by the levers 55, which are pivoted at 56 in vertical alinement with the hinge of the striking-pneumatic and the balance-pin of the corresponding key. The upper lever 55 actuates a sticker 38 for sounding a note on the piano. The upper levers 55 normally rest upon a pad 550 which serves to keep them in alinement. As shown in Fig. 1, the handles 46 on the brackets 45 serve as guides to facilitate the introduction of the removable key-frame 25. A folding treadle-mechanism is shown in Fig. 1.