IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TUBULAR PNEUMATIC ACTION OF ORGANS
Year: 1885

page_text: We JAMES CONACHER and JOHN CONACHER of the Firm of James Conacher and
Sons, of Bath Buildings, Huddersfield, Yorkshire Organ Builders, do hereby declare
the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TUBULAR PNEUMATIC
ACTION OF ORGANS," to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to what is known as the tubular pneumatic action
of organs, and which consists in the arrangement of valves and the method of
operating the same.
In order to carry out our invention we employ two chambers arranged one
above the other, such chambers being separated by a diaphragm. The bottom
chamber is in communication with the ordinary bellows, which are attached to
each action. This chamber and the bellows are full of compressed air which is
admitted in the ordinary manner, the said chamber being provided with an
outlet which is opened and closed by a valve connected to the underside of the
diaphragm.
The upper chamber is supplied with an inlet for admitting compressed air
thereto, such inlet being suitably shaped for the reception of a throttle valve which
is attached to the upper side of the diaphragm.
When the key of the instrument is pressed down to produce the required sound,
the ordinary valve connected thereto is opened and allows the compressed air from
the upper chamber to escape (the upper chamber being connected to the valve by a
tube) the pressure of the compressed air in the bottom chamber closing the throttle
valve thus shutting off the admission of compressed air.
As the throttle valve and diaphragm ascend, the valve on the underside is raised
and allows the compressed air in the bottom chamber and bellows to escape, by
which means the required note is sounded. The throttle valve is then opened by
releasing the key allowing such chamber to be again filled with compressed air, the
bellows and bottom chamber being also filled in the ordinary manner.
When a note on the upper key board of the organ is desired to be sounded at
the same time as its corresponding note on the bottom key board is sounded, we
connect the two ordinary valves (which are operated by the keys) together by a
tube a suitable slide motion being employed to open and close the mouth of the
Baid tube, so that when one key on the bottom key board is pressed down it allows

page_text: the compressed air to escape from the pneumatic action connected therewith, and
also by means of the pipe connecting the two ordinary valves together, allowing
the compressed air to escape from the pneumatic action connected with the
corresponding key on the upper key board.
By the arrangement of valves and the method of operating them and of allowing
the compressed air to escape through the valve which is operated by the key, the
compressed air chamber which has hitherto been employed and from which com-
pressed air was forced to the pneumatic action by pressing down the key is
dispensed with, thus reducing the cost of building, whilst the arrangement of the
tubular pneumatic action as above described is certain and effective.
Dated this 3rd dox of December 1905

page_text: Improvements in the Tubular Pneumatic Action of Organs.
We, JAMES CONACHER and JOHN CONACHER, of the firm of Conacher and Sons,
of Bath Buildings, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Organ Builders, do hereby declare the
nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TUBULAR PNEUMATIC ACTION
OF ORGANS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to what is known as the tubular pneumatic action
of organs, and which consists in the arrangement of valves and. the method of
operating the same. In order to carry out our invention we employ two chambers
arranged one above the other, such chambers being separated by a diaphragm.
The bottom chamber is in communication with the ordinary bellows which are
attached to each action. This chamber and the bellows are full of compressed air
which is admitted in the ordinary manner, the said chamber being provided with
an outlet which is opened and closed by a valve connected to the underside of the
diaphragm.
The upper chamber is supplied with an inlet for admitting compressed air
thereto, such inlet being suitably shaped for the reception of a throttle valve,
which is attached to the upper side of the diaphragm.
In order that our invention may be more fully understood we herein make
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings which is sectional view of an
action having our improvements connected thereto. A is the wind chest, B the
valve for admitting compressed air to the pipe or reed, such valve being opened by
the bellows C, and closed by the flat spring a, all of which are arranged in the
ordinary manner. The wind chest A is provided with an inlet b, suitably
shaped to receive the throttle valve c, which is attached to the upper side of the
diaphragm d, such diaphragm forming a partition between the two compressed air
chambers e and f.
To the underside of the diaphragm d is attached another valve g, for opening
the compressed air chamber f to the atmosphere. The compressed air chamber e is
connected by lead pipe D to the valve board E, above the valve F, which valve is
opened by the key on the lower key board G, through the medium of the ordinary
levers h, and closed by the spring i. H is another valve connected by levers k
to the upper key board I. Two auxiliary pipes J and K are employed for the
purpose of coupling together the notes of both key boards.
The mode of operation is as follows.
When the key on the lower key board G is pressed down, the valve F is opened,
and the compressed air exhausted from the chamber e, consequently removing the
pressure from the upper surface of the diaphragm d, which allows the pressure of
compressed air in the chamber f to force up the diaphragmn d, and close the throttle
valve o, which shuts off the admission of compressed air to the wind chest A. At
the same time as the throttle valve c is closed, the valve g is opened and allows the
compressed air in the chamber f and bellows C, to escape into the atmosphere,
whereby the bellows collapse, and by means of the cord or pin & opens the valve B,
allowing the compressed air in the wind chest A to pass to the pipe, thereby

page_text: sounding the note, and on the key being raised the positions of the valves and
bellows are reversed.
The pipe J connects the lower key board to the swell organ, which is of precisely
the same construction and operation as the action previously described, an ordinary
slide motion being employed to connect and disconnect the two actions.
In order to sound a note on the upper key board at the same time as its
corresponding note on the bottom key board is sounded, the pipe J is terminated in
a board m above the valve board E, the mouth of such pipe being connected to or
disconnected from the valve F by slide n, moved horizontally between the board m
and valve board E, by an ordinary stop motion.
When the slide n is drawn so as
to present a hole opposite the pipe J, the mouth of such pipe is open to the
valve F, and on the key on the lower key board being pressed down, the com-
pressed air is exhausted from the pneumatic action connected to the lower key
board; and from the pneumatic action connected to the upper key board, whereby
both notes are sounded in unison. The pipe K connects the bottom key board to
the action an octave higher. To prevent the lower key board being connected
when the upper one is being used, the coupling tubes D, J, and K have separate
openings above the valve F as shewn; but only one opening to the valve H of the
upper key board is required, the pipes J and K terminating in one groove in the
valve board.
By increasing the width of the boards and length of the valves all the necessary
couplings for a large organ can be added.
The actions as shewn on the drawings and described herein, are connected to
each key on both key boards as will be well understood.
By the arrangement of valves and the method of operating them, and of allowing
the compressed air to escape through the valves which are operated by the keys on
both key boards; the compressed air chamber, which has hitherto been employed,
and from which compressed air was forced to the pneumatic action by pressing
down the key is dispensed with, thus reducing the cost of building, whilst the
arrangement of the tubular pneumatic action as herein described and shewn is
certain, simple, and effective.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
Firstly. In pneumatic actions of organs, the use and employment of a throttle
valve c, for opening and closing the inlet 6 in the wind chest A, operated in the
manner and for the purposes substantially as described.
Secondly. The throttle valve c, compressed air chambers e and f, and pipe D, in
combination with the valve F, connected to the lower key board.
Thirdly. The employment of the coupling pipes D, J, and K, and valves E
and H, in connection therewith, for the purposes substantially as described herein.
Dated this 6th day of September 1886.