Improvements in Musical Instruments, more especially Designed for use in connection with Automatically Operated Organs.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1898-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by JAMES MORGAN, of 223, Ninth Street, Brooklyn,
County of Kings State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman.]
Improvements in Musical Instruments, more especially Designed for
use in connection with Automatically Operated Organs.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
-
My invention relates to musical instruments, and more especially to auto-
matically operated organs. It consists in the arrangement of the valves that
control the reeds of the organ whereby they may be seated and unseated by the
slightest movement of the rod or bar which carries them. A pneumatic motor
positively acting in two directions is employed for operating the rod or bar
carrying the valves, and preferably a tracker board, having ducts and a per-
forated music sheet are employed for controlling the pneumatic motor.
I will describe my invention in detail, and then point out the novel features
in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of portions
of an organ embodying my improvement. Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the
same upon a larger scale and in a plane at right angles to that of Figure 1, as
indicated by the dotted line 2-2, Figure 1, the view being taken as indicated
by the arrows at the ends of said dotted line. Figure 3 is a sectional elevation
upon the same scale as Figure 2, the plane of the section being indicated by the
dotted line 3-3, Figure 1, and the view being taken as indicated by the arrows
at the ends of said dotted line. Similar letters of reference designate corresponding
parts in all figures.
I will premise that my invention has been illustrated in connection with parts
intended for use with a suction bellows, sound producing devices consisting of
reeds, and a traveling music sheet for controlling the operation of the parts.
A designates reed cells opening at one end to the atmosphere, and having near
the other end an opening into chambers B. In these cells are reeds C of ordinary
construction. The chambers B are controlled by valves D as to their communi-
cation with an exhaust chamber E. Any suitable system of exhaust bellows and
equalizers may be combined with the chamber E. As here shown, the chamber E
is provided with an opening e whereby it may be connected with such devices.
The valves are shown as connected to a bar F, and the latter is pivotally con-
nected with radius bars F, these radius bars being pivotally connected by pins
or screws to any suitable support in the exhaust chamber E, as, for example,
to an upright bar f.
Owing to this method of supporting the bar F, any upward movement will
cause a movement of the valves D away from the ends of the chambers B, and
any downward movement will cause a movement of the valves in the reverse
direction. As the radius bars are of such length that they will not descend to
a horizontal position when the valves close the chambers, a downward movement
of the bar will cause the radius bars to operate with a toggle-like action to
effect a forcible closure of the valves.

page_text: Preferably the valves will not be connected rigidly with the bar F, but flexibly by
some suitable means, as for instance, by a piece of flexible material glued to
the opposite faces of the bar, and the valves. Soit leather or analogous material
will be found serviceable for this purpose. The direction in which the power is
applied through the bar to move the valves 1) towards and from their seats
also adds to the efficiency with which the valves may be operated.
The bar F is moved up and down by means of pneumatic motors G1, G2 which,
as here shown, are made in the form of small bellows, and have their movable
boards connected with a rod G that extends to the bar F. As here shown, the
rod G is screw threaded adjacent to the movable boards of the motors G1, G2, and
fitted with pieces of leather g that engage the screw threads so as to have the
function of nuts. A pair of these nuts is arranged on opposite sides of a toe
or projection of the movable boards of the motors G¹, G². At the upper end the
rod G is screw threaded and provided with a similar pair of nuts for engaging
it with a yoke g that is pivotally connected to the bar F, preferably about mid-
way between its ends by means of a pin or screw_g².
A pivotal connection intermediate the bar F and the motors G1, G2 is desirable
because of the movement of these parts in ares of a circle.
A chamber His arranged intermediate the motors G1, G2, and is in communi-
cation with the exhausting devices. A simple way of providing for this com-
munication is to connect such chamber by means of a pipe with the exhaust
chamber E.
It will, of course, have been understood that the exhaust chamber E may be
common to a number of sets of reeds, and it is equally true that the chamber H
may be common to a number of motors G¹, G². Of course there will for every set
of reeds be a corresponding set of valves D, bar F, motors G1, G2 and connecting
parts.
For each motor G₁ there will be a passage I suitable for establishing com-
munication between the interior of such motor and the chamber H. There will
be a similar passage I2 intermediate the chamber H and each motor G². As here
shown, a board is arranged upon one side of the chamber H, and a board is
arranged upon the other side, and the passages 1, 2 are formed by suitably
channelling such boards.
In the chamber H for every pair of motors G¹, G2 and channels I', I there
will be a pair of valves J, J; the valve being for the purpose of controlling
the communication of the chamber H with the passage I' and motor G¹, and the
valve for controlling communication between the motor G2 and channel 12
with the chamber H. It will be observed that the valves J, J are so spaced
that when one is closed the other will be open. The channel I' has an opening 8
by which it may communicate with the atmosphere, and the channel 12 has a
similar opening for the same purpose. Adjacent to the openings, are
valves J3, J. All the valves J, 12, 13, J must operate in unison, because when
the valve J opens communication between the chamber H and the channel I¹
belonging to the motor G¹, it is necessary that the valve J3 belonging to the same
channel and motor shall be closed, and vice versa. These statements apply
equally to the valves J, J which co-operate with the channel 12 belonging to
the motor Gº. A convenient way of securing the proper relative operation of
the valves is to mount them all upon one rod J. These valves may he made of.
disks of leather engaging with screw threads on the rod J. The rod J may be
guided in bars j', attached to the boards, and recessed suitably to accom-
modate the valves J, J. As here shown, the rod does not merely pass through
holes in the bars 1, 2, but extends down to a motor K. This motor K consists
of a chamber across which is arranged a flexible diaphragm k. From this
diaphragm a rod extends upwardly from the chamber k. Outside the chamber
it is shown as provided with a disk or head k³. Preferably the rod will be
screw threaded for engagement with the disk or head k³, and the latter will be
made of leather to adjustably engage such screw thread.

page_text: In the present example of my invention, the rod J is screw threaded at its
lower end and provided with a disk or knob of leather which contacts with the
disk or head of the motor. K. It must be understood that there will be a
motor K for each pair of motors G1, G2, and consequently for each set of valves D
and reeds.
The motor K has a by-pass or equalizing passage communicating with the
chamber kupon opposite sides of the diaphragm. Its upper portion com-
municates by means of a pipe with the chamber H. Preferably this by-pass
may be adjusted as to capacity by means of a screw extending transversely
into it. The lower part of the chamber k communicates by means of a pipe or
passage with one of the ducts m of a tracker board M, over which a perforated
music sheet travels. According to whether an imperforate or a perforate portion
of the music sheet happens to be passing over any particular duet m of the
tracker board M, the diaphragm of the motor K will occupy one or another
of its two positions, and consequently the valves J¹, J2, J3, J will be differently
positioned to cause a different operation of the motors G1, G2, and valves D. In
Figure 1 the various parts are illustrated in the positions which they will occupy
while an imperforate portion of the music sheet is travelling over the ducts m
of the tracker board M. At such time, communication between the lower part
of the chamber k of the motor K and the atmosphere will be cut off or stopped.
The by-pass will permit the diaphragm to descend by its gravity and that
of its appurtenant parts.
The incidental shifting of the valves J, J2, J3, J will establish communication,
as shown in Figure 1, between the channel 12 of the motor G2 and the atmos-
phere, the communication of such motor with the chamber H being simul-
taneously cut off. Thus this motor will be put in condition to be expanded as
the internal and external pressures balance each other. The motor G¹ will pull
down the rod G and cause the expansion of the motor G2, because the shifting
of its valves J, J³ established communication between it and the chamber H,
and cut off its communication with the atmosphere, leaving, of course, the full
force of atmospheric pressure upon the outside of the movable board, as against
the reduced pressure of the exhaust chamber E upon the inside. Thus it will
be seen that the valves 1) will be forced against the ends of the chambers B with
the full force of the motor G¹, and also with that additional efficiency due to the
application of the force of the motors through the radius bars F¹.
When ever a perforation of the music sheet passes over the duct m of the
tracker board M, air will flow through said duct to the passage 7, and thence into
the chamber of the motor K beneath the diaphragm . As the upper portion
of this chamber is in constant communication with the chamber H, and conse-
quently with the exhaust chamber E, the diaphragm will be moved upwardly,
and will thus serve to shift the valves J¹, J, J3, J into their reversed positions.
This change in the position of these valves will cut off communication between
the interior of the motor G2 and the atmosphere, and establish a communication
between it and the chamber H. Simultaneously the communication of the
motor G with the chamber H will be cut off, and it will be put into communica-
tion with the atmosphere. An upward movement of the rod G will result, and
that will cause the valves I to be opened.
It will be understood that the invention may also be applied to an ordinary
organ, for instead of the tracker-board M and the perforated sheet which passes
over it, the rod J could be shifted by depressing a key of the key-board of the
organ.
Having now particularly described the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign corre-
spondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In a musical instrument, the combination with an exhaust chamber, a sound
producing device connected therewith, a valve for controlling the sound

page_text: device, a pneumatic motor positively operated in two directions, means for
causing the operation of such motor, and a connection between the motor and
said valve whereby the valve is positively opened and closed by said motor, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a musical instrument, the combination with an exhaust chamber, a sound
producing device connected therewith, a valve for controlling the sound producing
device, a pneumatic motor positively operated, in two directions and having a
connection with said valve for positively controlling its movement, means for
operating said motor and a perforated sheet for controlling said means, sub-
stantially as described.
3. In
musical instrument, the combination with an exhaust chamber, a sound
producing device connected therewith, a valve for controlling said device located
in said exhaust chamber, a bar to which said valve is hinged, a pneumatic motor
outside of the exhaust chamber positively acting in two directions, a rod con-
nection between said bar carrying the valve and pneumatic motor, and means as
an exhaust for operating said motor, substantially as described.
4. In a musical instrument, the combination with an exhaust chamber, a sound
producing device connected therewith, a valve for controlling said device, said valve
ing located in said exhaust chamber and hinged to one side of a bar, pivoted to
normally inclined levers, a penumatic motor outside of the exhaust chamber posi-
tively acting in two directions, and a rod connection between said bar carrying
the valve, and motor, said rod having a hinge connection with the bar whereby
when the motor is operated to close the valve a firm seating can be secured for the
valve substantially, as described.
Datad this 93rd day of dunn 1808
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.