Patent GB-190728409-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to Automatic Music Playing Devices.
Inventor: SINCLAIR MATTHEW
Filed: 1907-12-24
Granted: 1908-12-17
Abstract: 28,409. Sinclair, M., [Welin, P.]. Dec. 24. Automatic instruments.- Pneumatic players for pianos and other instruments are provided with means for emphasizing individual notes, such means being controlled either manually or automatically, and with means for cutting- out the automatic control. The apparatus is in several respects similar to that described in Specification No. 7509, A.D. 1907. In the arrangement indicated in Fig. 1, each playing-pneumatic 16 is provided wit h a separate suction chamber 15 and controlling - valve 22, which connects the chamber 15 with either light or heavy tension in the sections 19, 20 of a double wind-chest. These sections are connected 'with chambers 73, 86 respectively of a governor box similar to that described in Specification No. 414E, A.D. 1905, so that the section 20 communicates directly with the feeders, and the section 19 is normally supplied through the ports 78 of a pneumatic regulator 79, Fig. 6. A direct passage between the chambers 73, 86, Fig. 1, in the valve box is controlled by a valve 71 operated by pneumatic means under the control of a manuallyoperated slide valve 43 ; thus when the valve 71 is open, both sections of the wind-chest are connected directly to the feeders and the expression is controlled solely by the operation of the treadles. The valves 22 are connected, in groups, to six or more modulating - valves 37, operated by pneumatics 38, which are connected to ports 42, controlled manually by means of the slide valve 43, and also to special ports 12 in the tracker-bar 10, by way of a valve 121, Fig. 6, which can be shifted to cut off this connexion. The slide valve 43, shown in plan in Fig. 8, can be moved to open one or more of the ports 42, the port 55 remaining open until the valve reaches its extreme position and all the other ports are closed. The modulating-valves 37 can also be operated simultaneously as a whole, or in two groups by means of a valve 45, Fig. 1, connected with the tempo lever, or by two valves operated by means of push-buttons. The pneumatics 38, 63 are provided with bleed-valve devices 51, 68 similar to those described in Specification No. 6352, A.D. 1907. The modulating-valves 37, with their pneumatics 38 and bleed valves, are situated in a valve box 100, Fig. 6, built up of separate plates, the slide valve 43 being mounted on the top of the box. The wind-chest 160 is built up of a series of boards, provided with passages 17, 18 for the light and heavy tension for the individual playing-pneumatics, as shown in Fig. 21, passages 13 from the tracker pipes to the primary pneumatics 14, and passages 31, 32 to the pneumatics 34 of the controlling-valves 22. The playing-pneumatics and their valve-trains are built up of separate plates, and are arranged in separately removable note-elements, as described in Specification No. 10,084, A.D. 1903. The tunesheet motor is controlled by a pneumatic regulator, and by a tempo valve 92, Fig. 1, and by a valve 98 by means of which the motor can be caused to race during playing, as described in Specification No. 22,196A, A.D. 1907. The rewind lever is connected to a valve 93 for running the motor at full speed, and valves 94, 870 for cutting-off both light and heavy tension from the playing - pneumatics. Specification No. 12,113, A.D. 1902, is also referred to.