IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS CORNETS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, ENOCH ARMITAGE, of 113 Lodge Lane Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Band Master, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VALVES FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS CORNETS" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a simple and improved form and arrangement of valves
for directing the wind through tubes for producing the intermediate or valve notes
in musical wind instruments, such as cornets for example.
Instead of using the ordinary piston valves for such instruments, which I find
to be more or less leaky and complicated in construction I employ what may be
called ordinary slide valves, arranged and constructed to be double acting that is
to say to open one outlet and close another simultaneously.
In one arrangement according to my invention, suitable for a cornet with three
valves, I provide a valve chest or chamber of rectangular form in transverse
section, at one end of the chamber is an inlet branch whilst at the opposito end is
an outlet so arranged that when the valves of the instrument are free or not
depressed air may pass directly through the valve chamber.
On one side of the said valve chamber I attach two ordinary tuning pipes each
provided with the ordinary sliding bends; to the opposite side of the said chamber
and at or about the central portion thereof I attach a third tuning pipe also
provided with a sliding bend.
With this arrangement there will be consequently four holes formed in one side
of the valve chamber and two in the other side.
On the upper or top side of the valve chamber three guide tubes or guides are
provided for the valve rods to slide in, whilst the lower side of the said chamber is
closed with a loose deep lid for a purpose hereinafter explained.
The valves are each formed of a flat plato arranged to slide against one of the
sides of the valve chamber and of sufficient size to cover the inlet and outlet ends
or branches of one of the before mentioned tuning pipes. To each of these plates
which I will call the main valves a spindle is attached which passes through
the guide tubes or slides and terminates above with the ordinary finger key or
button.
The end of each spindle or rod where it is attached to the upper portion of the
main valve is made flat and of sufficient width to reach across the valve chamber
thereby forming a second or cross valve for preventing the air when the main
valve is pressed down from passing direct through the valve chamber into the
outlet pipe

page_text: The main valve and cross valve are arranged at right angles to each other
so that a plan or top view thereof is T shaped whereas each in section would be
flat or rectangular. Thus it will be understood that when either of the valve rods
is pressed down by the finger its attached main valve will open communication
with a tuning pipe or side slide and simultaneously closes the direct passage
through the valve chamber and vice versa.
The loose lid forming the lower portion or bottom of the valve chamber is inserted
within the said chamber to a convenient distance and has cavities cut therein (say
two on one side, and one on the other) for the main valve to slide against. The
bottom of the slide valves rests on the lid when pressed down. On this loose lid
or cover a thin sheet of india rubber or other suitable material is fixed for preventing
escape of air and also to form a cushion for the valves to rest on and diminish
noise or rattle.
The round guide tubes or spring boxes may be attached direct to the top of the
valve chest or they may have short rectangular guide pieces interposed between
them and the valve chest for the cross valves to take into when the spindles or
rods are not pressed down. The rectangular guide pieces are of sufficient length
to allow the lower side of the cross valves to be level with the under side of the
valve chamber top when free, or not depressed.
Within each of the guide tubes or spring boxes I provide a short metal tube,
having a hole therein in which may be a little larger in diameter than the valve
rod which is to be passed therethrough.
To each end of this short tube a round plate or washer is secured, the lower one
resting on a thin washer of india rubber or other suitable material which is held in
position by a plate secured in the guide tube or spring box.
On the top of the upper plate or washer which is made to fit into the guide tube
or spring box and encircle the valve rod, is a small spiral spring, the upper end of
which presses against a collar fixed on the valve rod, for the purpose of raising
the valve and maintaining it in its raised position when not depressed by the
finger.
The before mentioned washer is to prevent escape of air, both it and the short
metal tube and plates are kept in position by the pressure of the spiral spring.
The ends of the guide tubes or spring boxes terminate in lids or covers which
form guides for the valve rods. By this arrangement it will be understood that
the valves are so guided as not to leave the face upon which they slide and thereby
allow air to escape.
By the arrangement of double valves according to my invention the air passages
are more direct, the different pipes more simply connected and notes may be more
easily blown than by the ordinary arrangement of piston valves.
I would have it understood that the valves and valve chest may be more or less
modified to suit the requirements of different instruments without departure from
the essential features of my invention.
Dated thin 10th day of December 1901

page_text: I, ENOCH ARMITAGE of 113, Lodge Lane Liverpool in the County of Lancaster
Band master, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VALVES FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS CORNETS," and, in what manner the same.
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and, by the
following statement:-
This invention relates to a simple and improved form and arrangement of valves
for directing the wind through tubes for producing the intermediate or valves
notes in musical wind instruments such as cornets for example.
Instead of using the ordinary piston valves for such instruments which I find to
be more or less leaky and complicated in construction I employ what may be
called ordinary slide valves, arranged and constructed to be double acting that is
to say to open one outlet and close another simultaneously.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1. represents an ordinary
cornet fitted with my improved valve arrangement.
Fig 2. shews a sectional elevation of the valve box and spring boxes, one valve
is supposed to be pressed down, the centre one removed, and the third open to
allow the air to pass by.
Fig. 3. is a sectional end elevation taken on line A. B. of Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 4. is a sectional elevation shewing the other side of valve chest. The valves'
and lower lid are removed for the sake of clearness. Fig. 5. is a sectional plan
with one of the valves removed for clearness. Fig. 6. is a plan of the top of the
valve chamber shewing the guide tubes or spring boxes, also the rectangular holes
for the cross part of the valve to slide through. Figs 7. 8. and 9. represent different
views of the valve.
C. is a valve chest or chamber of rectangular form in transverse section as shewn
in Fig. 3. At one end of the chamber is an inlet branch D. whilst at the opposite
end is an outlet branch E. so arranged that when the valves of the instrument are-
free or not depressed the air may pass directly through the valve chamber C. On
the outersides and ends of the valve chamber C. suitable hollow bosses or pro-
jections are formed for attaching the different tubes or bends to, as shewn in
Figs. 1 and 5.
On one side of the said valve chamber C. there are four of the hollow projections
to which bends F. F. F. F. Fig. 5. are attached and form the tuning tubes; they
are also provided with tuning slides G. G.
On the other side of said valve chamber C. there are two hollow projections to
which the short bends or tubes F¹ F' are secured; they are also provided with a
tuning slide G¹.
The holes through the hollow bosses are arranged at such a distance apart as
not to cause the bends to be too close or the fingering knobs or buttons too far
apart.

page_text: The upper or top side of the valve chamber C. is closed by a lid or cover H.
provided with bosses H¹ H' H² or other suitable means for securing the guides,
spring boxes, or tubes J. J. J. thereto. The bosses H H H have holes formed
therein sufficiently large for the cross piece K. Fig. 6. of the slide valve L to slide
in freely but not to allow the valve L to get away from the valve face.
The lower side of the valve chamber C. is closed by a loose deep lid or cover M.
which may be secured to the valve chest by means of screws or other convenient
means so that it may be taken off for cleaning or taking out the valves.
The slide valves are each formed of a flat plate L. arranged to slide in a recess
formed against one of the insides of the valve chamber, and are of sufficient size to
cover the inlet and outlet ends or branches, and allow a sufficient lap.
To each of these plates, which I call the main valve, a spindle N. is attached
which passes through the guide tube or spring boxes J. J. J. and terminates a
sufficient distance outside to allow the ordinary key or button O. to be screwed
thereon.
The end of the rounded part of each spindle or rod N. is formed with the cross
and main valves K. and L. or it may be attached to the upper portion of the cross
valve K.
The valve K. is of sufficient width to reach across the valve chamber C. as shewn
in Figs. 3. and 5. thereby forming a second or cross valve for preventing the air,
when the main valve is pressed down from passing direct through the valve
chamber into the outlet pipe E.
The main valve and cross valve are arranged at right angles to each other so
that the plan or top view whereof is T shaped as shewn in Fig 7.
The combined valves are shewn in elevation in Figs 8 and 9.
Thus it will be understood that when either of the valve rod N. N. N. is pressed
down by the finger, its attached main valve L will open communication with one
of the tuning pipes or side slides G. G. and G. and simultaneously close the direct
passage through the valve chamber C. and vice-versa.
The loose lid M. forming the lower portion or bottom of the valve chamber C.
has a raised portion M' formed with it or attached to it, and is inserted a sufficient
distance inside the chamber to leave a passage of nearly square section in the valve
chamber for the air to pass through.
The raised portion of the lid may be formed by screwing or otherwise securing
thereto a piece of suitable hard wood which may have slight recesses formed on its
upper side, for the cross valve K. to rest on when pressed down as shewn in Fig 2.
or the raised portion may be formed of metal (made hollow for lightness) with the
lid M. in that case the recesses may be made a little dovetail and a small cushion
of india rubber or leather or other suitable material inserted in the dovetail for the
cross valve to rest on, thereby not only diminishing or preventing any noise or
rattle but also preventing escape of air.
The raised portion M' is made sufficient with to fill between the raised sides of
the valve chamber also to act as a kind of guide to prevent the main valve from
leaving its face while at the same time allowing it to slide freely up or down so 88
to be light and free in action.
The rounded guide tubes or spring boxes may be permanently attached to the
before mentioned bosses H H¹ H¹ formed on the top of valve chest H.
These bosses are made sufficiently deep to form guides for the cross valves K. to
slide through.
On the top of said bosses a washer P. is placed, and to prevent air from passing,
between the washer P. and the top of valve lid H. a thin flexible washer may be
inserted.
Instead of the round spring box tubes being attached directly on to the top of
valve chest short rectangular guide pieces may interpose between them and the

page_text: valve chest C. for the cross valves to take into, when the spindles or rods N. N. N.
are pressed down.
The rectangular guide pieces are of sufficient length to allow the lower side of
the cross valves K. to be level with the underside of the valve.chamber top H
when free or not depressed.
I prefer to form the lid or top H loose and afterwards to permanently secure it,
with a slight raised portion on the under side as shewn in Figs. 2. and 3. the width
of the raised part to be sufficient to fit between the valve guides and allow the
valve to take.
Within each of the guide tubes or spring boxes J. J. J. I provide a short metal
tube having a hole therein through which the valve spindle or rod N. passes as
shewn in Fig. 2.
At one end of the short tube Q a rounded plate or washer is secured, it is
somewhat less in diameter than the inside of spring box tube in which it slides.
Against the lower side of the said plate or washer Q¹ a suitable brass spring R,
presses encircling the spindle.
It retains the valve in its position when not depressed by the finger.
The before mentioned spiral spring R. also presses against the before mentioned
washer P. thereby holding it in its proper place.
On the small tube Q which passes over the valve spindle or rod N. is another
washer or projection carrying a buffer stop S. so that when the valve is suddenly
released the washer will catch against the screw cover of the spring box.
The ends of the guide tubes or spring boxes J. J. J. terminato in screwed lids or
covers JJJ which also form guides for the valve spindles or rods shewn in
Figs 1 and 2.
By this arrangement it will be understood that the valves are so guided and
kept sufficiently air tight by the washer P. and lower lid M. that they cannot
leave the face on which they slide.
By the use of double valves according to my invention the air passages are more
direct and simple the different pipes more easily connected and notes may be be
more easily blown than the ordinary arrangement of piston valves.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the use of three
valves only and that the valves and valve chest may be more or less modified to
suit the requirements of different wind instruments in which piston valves are
employed without departure from the essential features of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. In a musical instrument, such as a cornet, the use of double acting slide valve
with flat faces at right angles to each other substantially as described and for the
purpose specified.
2. In a musical instrument, such as a cornet, the use in combination with a
double acting slide valve, with flat faces of a rectangular valve chamber having
the inlet and outlet branches directly opposite to each other substantially as
described.
3. In a musical instrument, such as a cornet, the use in combination with a
double acting slide valve with flat faces of a rectangular valve chest or chamber
having the inlet and outlet branches directly opposite each other and openings
for forming the valve notes also in a direct line with one another substantially as
described.
4. In a musical instrument, provided with one or more double acting slide
valves with the flat faces moving in a rectangular valve chamber attaching the
tuning tubes to the said valve chamber by means of hollow bosses substantially as
described,

page_text: 5. The improved valve arrangement for musical instruments, such as cornets,
constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as described and shewn in the
drawings.
ΟΙ
ary 1885.
Witness,
F. M. C. SCOTT,
Patent Agent,
89, Victoria Street, Liverpool.
ENOCH ARMITAGE.
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