Patent GB-166564-A (GB)
Title: Automatic musical instruments
IPC: G10B1/04
Filed: 1916-06-21
Abstract: 166,564. Skinner, E. M. June 21, 1916. Organs, stop and combination actions for.-In order to reduce the number of apertures in the tracker-board of an automatic organ &c., each group of sounding-devices is divided into subgroups, a sector being provided for each subgroup. In Fig. 2, four groups of organ pipes G, D, E, F are shown, controlled respectively by draw-stops 27, 28, 29, 30. Each group is divided into three sub-groups, each consisting of one octave. The tracker-board 10 has twelve apertures c, c sharp, .. b, corresponding to the notes of an octave, and also additional apertures A<2>, B<2>, C<2> which control, through pneumatics A<1>, B<1>, C<1>, the operation of draw-switches 14, 15, 16 corresponding to the three octaves. As shown, the aperture B<2> is uncovered, operating the switch 15 through the pneumatic B<1>, and thereby conditioning the central octave for operation by connecting its operating-circuits 20 with the circuits 13 of switches controlled by the noteoperating pneumatics 12. The draw-switches 14, 15, 16 are preferably so arranged that each, on actuation, remains locked until another is operated, and is then released. The arrangement shown comprises a spring-tensioned locking-bar 23 having holes through which pins 24 on the switch bars pass. On operation of a switch bar, the locking-bar 23 is lifted by a tapered enlargement 25 on the bar 24, thereby releasing a previously-operated bar. The locking-bar 23 then falls and locks the newly-operated bar. An aperture 372 in the tracker board 10 operates, through a pneumatic 37, a draw-switch 36 by which the circuits 13 are connected to circuits 39 controlling electropneumatic operating-means 40, 42 for the draw-stops 27, 28, 29, 30. Each draw-stop is provided with a series of jacks 43, each of which is engaged by pairs of bars or fans 44, 45 carried by pairs of bell-crank levers 46, 47. Four of these only are shown in Fig. 2, but there may be twelve, corresponding, to the number of circuits 13 in a sub-group. They are operated through rods 49, 51 and levers 50 from the pneumatics 42 controlled by the circuits 39. On operation of one of the pneumatics 42, the corresponding pair of fans 44, 45 are caused to approach one another, thereby moving to the left into operative position those draw-stops in which the corresponding jacks 43 have been set to engage the fan 44 and to the right or inoperative position these having the corresponding jacks set to engage the fans 45. The jack-setting means are shown in Fig. 5, which is a section taken at right-angles to Fig. 2. The draw-stops 27, 28, 29, 30, of which sixteen are shown, are arranged so that the corresponding jacks 43 on all the stops are engaged by the fan 44. Corresponding to each pair of fans is a pneumatic 52 which, on actuation, depresses the right-hand ends of the corresponding jacks of such of the stops as are in the drawn position so that these are set to engage the fan 44, and the left-hand ends of the remainder of the jacks so that these are set to engage the fan 45. The stops desired to be actuated by, for example, the right-hand pairs of fans 44, 45, Fig. 2, are drawn manually, the corresponding pneumatic 52, Fig. 5, operated to set the jacks, and the stops returned manually. The jacks corresponding to the other pairs of fans are similarly set. The jack-setting pneumatics may be actuated by electromagnetic means each controlled by a push-button and actuated from a circuit 57, Fig. 2, energized by a switch 58. More than one set of note-operating pneumatics and octave-selecting controllers may be employed, giving independence of voices. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specifications 11890/97, 25974/03, 8539/04, 27893/07, and 26532/10 and 21068/14, [both in Class 88 (i), Musical instruments, Automatic].