Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1887
Specification Accepted, 25th Oct., 1887
A communication from JAMES SAMUEL FOLEY and JOSEPH RUSE, both of the City of
Chicago, in the County of Cook, in the State of Illinois, one of the United States
of America, Manufacturers.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of the invention is to construct the pedals so that when they are not in
operation they shall completely close the pedal box and prevent the admission of dust
or of mice which are so destructive to the bellows and other parts of the instrument ;
and it consists essentially in adjustably connecting the side moulding of each pedal
and connecting the said mouldings to mechanism arranged to press the said mouldings
against the sides of the pedal box when the pedals are not in use and to withdraw the
said mouldings clear of the sides of the pedal box the instant that the pedals are put
into operation; the whole being otherwise arranged and constructed substantially as
hereinafter more particularly explained.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of pedals one of which is partially in section
to expose the construction of this device.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the pedals shown in figure 1 and representing the side moulding
in the position they will appear when the pedals are in operation.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective detail of the mechanism by which the side
mouldings of the pedals are operated.
Fig. 4 is an alternative form of mechanism for operating the mouldings A.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section of Fig. 4.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A are the side mouldings adjustably fitted upon either side of the pedal B and
rigidly fastened to their respective plates C. These plates have slots a made in their
inner edges as shown for the passage of the screws which secure the plates C to the
pedal B. These slots a permit the plates C to move sideways.

page_text: D is a centre plate connected to the side plates Û by the arms E. Longitudinal
slots d are made in the plate D through which the screws e are passed in order to
attach the plate D to the pedal B.
The arms E are set at an angle as indicated so that the longitudinal movement of
the plate D in the direction indicated by arrow will push the plates C outwardly and
as they are attached to the side mouldings A these mouldings are likewise moved.
A skirting F extends across the top of the pedal box against which skirting the
upper end of the pedal fits when in its normal position.
A double crank G is journalled on the pedal B as indicated. One arm of this
crank extends through a longitudinal slot made in the pedal B and is attached to the
centre plate D as indicated.
The other army of the crank is bifurcated or forked as shown.
H is the webbing which connects the pedal B to the bellows the normal or expanded
position of which holds the pedals B up in the position in which they are indicated in
figure 1 in which position one portion of the bifurcated arm g is behind the skirting F
and extends through the hole made in the said skirting. When the pedal B is
pressed down the portion of the bifurcated arm mentioned will come in contact with
the bottom edge of the holes and thereby cause the crank G to rock in its journal
and as it is connected to the plate D as shown the said plate will be caused to move in
the opposite direction to that in which the arrow points thereby drawing the plates C
closer to it and as these plates are connected to the mouldings A as mentioned the said
mouldings are withdrawn from the sides of the pedal box so that the pedals may be
worked freely without touching the sides of the pedal box. When the foot is removed
from the pedal the webbing H naturally pulls it back into its normal position and the
bifurcated arm g of the crank G by coming in contact with the bottom edge of the
skirting F will cause the crank G to rock in its bearing in the opposite direction
thereby causing the plate D to move in the direction indicated by the arrow and
owing to the connection before described causes the mouldings A to be expanded
outwardly towards the sides of the pedal box against which they are held thereby
effectually closing the pedal box so long as the pedals remain in their normal
position.
It will of course be understood that the side mouldings A need not necessarily be
mouldings and that instead of being detachable from the plates C they may be made a
portion of the said plates.
In figure 4 is shown an alternative form of mechanism for operating the mouldings A.
In this form the arms E are pivotted direct to the mouldings A and these mouldings
are adjustably connected to the pedal B by means of the pins i which are screwed into
the mouldings and project into holes ; made in the sides of the pedal. On the bottom
of the plate D is connected, by means of the staple K and saddle I, a link J the other
end of which is pivotted or journalled on the frame of the instrument immediately
below the pedal, as shown in figure 4, consequently when the pedal is pressed down
the plate D will be pushed in the direction indicated by arrow by the link J and as the
said plate is connected by the arms E to the mouldings A the said mouldings will be
drawn towards the sides of the pedal thereby carrying them clear of the sides of the
pedal box so that the pedal may be worked freely.
Instead of the skirting F a plate K¹ is connected to the pedal which effectually
closes the pedal box at the top of the pedal when the latter is in its normal position.
The plate K' is connected to the body of the pedal while the corner plates K" are
connected to the mouldings A. In order that the mouldings A may remain stationary
while the pedal is being operated the saddle is formed with a notch in its face to
receive the lip h formed on the bottom side of the plate D. When the pedal is in its
normal position as indicated in figure 4 the staple K holds the saddle against the
lip so that a connection is formed between the saddle and the said plate. When the
pedal is pressed down the thick portion of the saddle I is moved from the staple as
indicated in figure 5 thereby loosening the connection between the plate D and
saddle I so that the motion of the pedal shall not affect the side mouldings A.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, and in what manner the same
is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The mouldings A adjustably connected to the pedal B in combination with
mechanism designed to press the said mouldings A outwardly against the side of the
pedal box when the pedals are in their normal position substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
2. The side plates C rigidly secured to the side mouldings A and laterally
adjustably connected to the pedal B the centre plate D longitudinally adjustably
connected to the pedal B and by the arms E to the plates C in combination with
mechanism designed to press the mouldings A outwardly against the side of the pedal
box when the pedals are in their normal position, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
3. The side plates C rigidly secured to the side mouldings A and laterally
adjustably connected to the pedal B, the centre plate D longitudinally adjustably
connected to the pedal B and by the arms E to the plates C in combination with the
double crank G journalled in the pedal B and connected by one of its arms to the
plate D and having its other arm bifurcated and designed to come in contact with
the skirting F substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. The mouldings A adjustably connected to the pedal B and connected to the
plate D by the arms E in combination with the link J pivotted at one end to the
frame of the instrument and connected at its other end to the plate D substantially as
and for the purpose spécified.
5. The mouldings A adjustably connected to the pedal B by means of the pins i
and connected to the plate D by the arms E in combination with the link J pivotted
at one end on the frame of the instrument, and at its other end to the saddle I which
is adjustably connected to the plate D substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 4th day of August 1887
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.