An Improved Pneumatic Action for Organs.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 13th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 15th Nov., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Pneumatic Action for Organs.
1, MARTIN HETHERINGTON of 3 Hadrian Road, Wallsend on Tyne, in the county of
Northumberland Organ Builder do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of organs, whereby the
entire action is worked by pneumatic pressure only, instead of by pressure and exhaust
and may be worked with one uniform pressure throughout the instrument. The action
is also simplified, and the labour and material used in construction and the wind
employed are economized.
A separate soundboard may be used for each stop of pipes or several stops may be
arranged on one soundboard. For every stop of pipes, I form in the soundboard a
longitudinal wind-chest the bottom of which is internally of concave form in cross
section. These wind-chests vary in size according to the size of the pipes which they
supply. In the soundboard along one side of each wind-chest are bored the requisite
number of vertical holes or air-passages, in the tops of which holes the pipe feet rest.
In the bottom of the wind-chest are bored holes which open into transverse air-
passages, the other ends of which open into the vertical air-passages over which the
pipes rest. Within the wind-chest and over the holes formed in the bottom thereof
are fitted the pipe valves. These consist simply of pieces of leather or other suitable
flexible material of sufficient size to effectually cover the holes, the said leathers or
valves being pressed down into the concave bottom of the wind-chest and having
their upper edges glued or tacked to the sides of the said wind-chest. On the upper
side of each of these leather valves, and extending across the hole beneath it, is glued

page_text: a strip of lead which prevents the wind in the chest forcing the leather valve too far
into the hole and also assists the sticker hereinafter mentioned in lifting the valve.
In the bottom of the soundboard and immediately under the holes in the wind-chest
and opening into the transverse air-passages are bored holes through which work
stickers, having dises on their lower or outer ends and the upper or inner ends of
which are attached to the pipe-valves under the beads above mentioned.
Under the soundboards and transversely thereto are arranged a series of pneumatic
flues, as many as there are keys to the organ. Each of the said flues is of sufficient
length to extend under the whole of the soundboards and is arranged under the valves
of the pipes answering to its key. These flues are long narrow chests and have
flexible tops formed of sheep-skin or other suitable material, pressed down and
hanging loosely in the said flues, the edges of the said flexiblo tops being firmly
secured to the sides and ends of the flues. Each of the said flues is inflated through
a tube connecting the said flue with the key action as hereinafter described. When
a key is depressed its corresponding flue is inflated. The flexible top of the said flue
then acts upon the discs carried by the stickers of the pipe-valves, forcing the said
discs and stickers upward. The discs close the holes through which the stickers work
and the stickers lift the leather pipe-valves from their seats thus allowing wind to pass
from the wind-chests in the soundboards, through the air-passages previously described,
to the pipes corresponding to the key depressed. On the key being released the
pressure of wind in the wind-chests forces the pipe-valves down upon their seats and
shuts off the wind from the pipes.
The flexible-topped flues which operate the pipo-valves are inflated by the key action
which is constructed on the same principle as the pipe soundboards. Each manual or
set of keys is provided with a wind-chest arranged transversely thereto. Within the
said wind-chest in the bottom thereof are formed two longitudinal concave channels.
In these channels are bored holes covered by leather key-valves the same as the pipe-
valves above described. Theso key-valves are arranged in two rows in the above-
mentioned channels, so that each valve may be directly over its corresponding key.
The hole under each key-valve opens into air-passages similar to those in the pipe
soundboards, from which the wind passes through a tube, the other end of which
opens into the corresponding flexible-topped flue. Each key-valve has a sticker which
works freely through a hole in the bottom of the board in which the key wind-chest
is formed. The upper end of the said sticker acts upon the koy-valve and its lower
end rests upon a pallet. The inner end of each key carries a strong tapped wire which
passes through the said key and has a button on its upper end and a loop on its lower
end. The keys are regulated by these wires and their buttons act upon the said
pallets. When a key is depressed its wire and button force up the pallet corresponding
to the key, raising the sticker and closing the hole through which the said sticker works.
The sticker being raised forces up the leather key-valve and admits wind from the wind-
chest to the tube leading to the corresponding flexible-topped fluc, which thus becomes
charged and in turn opens the valves of the corresponding pipes. When the key is
released the pressure of wind in the key wind-chest closes the key-valve and the
flexible-topped flue is thus relieved of pressure.
Instead of inflating the flues by the means above described, I may do so by means
of electro-magnets. In this case the said flues are made so as to project at one end
beyond the sound boards. Over the projecting ends of the flues is arranged a wind-
chest, having a concave bottom as described for the pipe wind-chests. In the bottom
of the said wind-chest and over each flue is formed a hole or inlet opening into the
said flue, the upper end of the said hole being closed by a valve of the same kind as
the pipe-valves. In the bottom of the flue under the inlet passage or opening is
formed an exhaust hole or passage which is closed by a valve carried on the end of a
sticker wire, the upper end of which enters the bead secured on the valve of the inlet
passage. The parts are so arranged that when the inlet passage is closed the exhaust
is opened. Within the said wind-chest I fix electro-magnets, one to each flue-valve,
the armatures of the said magnets being attached to the beads on the tops of the said

page_text: Alue-valves. When a key is depressed its magnet seizes its armature and raises the
corresponding flue-valve, thus admitting wind to and charging the flue, the valve on
the lower end of the sticker wire at the same time closing the exhaust hole in the
said flue. When the key is released the pressure of wind in the wind-chest closes the
flue inlet valve and opens the exhaust.
Wind is supplied to the wind-chests of the pipe soundboards from a main wind-
trunk having valves and wind-passages constructed on the same principle as that
of the pipe soundboards. The said wind-trunk and its air-passages are arranged
under one end of the soundboards, the said wind-trunk extending transversely to the
said sound boards. The said wind-trunk has a concave bottom, as described for the
pipe wind-chests, and has a valve for each soundboard exactly similar to the pipe-
valves, each of the said valves communicating with wind-passages which lead into the
corresponding soundboard. The said valves are each provided with a sticker and
disc as described for the pipe-valves and each of the said stickers and discs is actuated
by a flexible-topped wind-chamber inflated by the stop-action with which the said
wind-chamber communicates by means of a tube. On a stop being opened its
corresponding wind-chamber is inflated, which forces up the disc and sticker. The
disc closes the hole or passage through which the sticker works and the sticker lifts
the valve, admitting wind from the wind-trunk and through the air-passages connected
with that valve into the corresponding sound board. When the stop is closed the
pressure of wind in the wind-trunk closes the valve shutting off the wind from the
soundboard.
The wind-chambers above described are inflated by the stop-action which consists of
a wind-chest having an internal concavo bottom as previously described for the pipe
wind-chests and a valve in the said bottom for each stop. The said valve opens into
an air-passage from which passes a tube, the other end of which communicates with
the wind-chamber. This stop wind-chest and the stop-valves therein are of precisely
similar construction to those of the pipe soundboards and each stop-valve is also
worked by a sticker and pallet in the same manner as the key action. Each of the
pallets of the stop-action is operated by a lever which is worked by two push rods
terminating in studs or pushes which pass through the key slip in front of the great
organ keys, one above the other. By pushing in one of the said studs the lever forces
up the pallet and sticker and opens the corresponding stop-valve, so that wind passes
through the tube to the corresponding wind-chamber which actuates the valve,
admitting wind to the soundboard. By pressing the other stud the pallet is released
from the lever (the first-mentioned stud being at the same time thrust forward by the
action of the lever), the wind in the stop wind-chest closes the stop-valve and the
corresponding wind-chamber being thus relieved of pressure, the valve opened thereby
is closed by the pressure of the wind in the main wind-trunk and the supply of wind
to the soundboard corresponding to the said stop is cut off. The stop studs or pushes
are arranged in two horizontal rows in the slip in front of the great organ keys, two
horizontal grooves being formed in the said key slip where the stop studs or pushes
extend through it, so that the performer by simply drawing his thumb or finger along
the said groove, can with the greatest ease and rapidity, combine as many stops as
desired.
The coupling action is as follows. For each coupler I provide a small wind-chest
with concave bottom and having wind-passages, valves, stickers and discs all of
precisely similar construction to those of the pipe soundboards. These coupler wind-
chests are arranged parallel with the pipe soundboards and each coupler wind-chest
has as many valves and wind-passages as there are keys to the instrument. The
flexible-topped flues which operate the pipe-valves extend also under the coupler wind-
chests so that the flue corresponding to any key operates all the pipe-valves and
coupler valves answering to the said key. In the top of the vertical wind-passage of
each coupler valve is inserted a tube, the other end of which is inserted into the
flexible-topped flue of the note it is desired to couple therewith, octavo above, octave
below, great to swell, or pedals to great as the case may be. A check valve is pro-

page_text: vided in the flues, over the end of each coupling tube to prevent the passage of wind
into the other coupling tubes. Each flue is also provided with an exhaust valve
consisting of a disc secured on the flexible top thereof, which disc carries a sticker
wire passing downward through an exhaust opening in the bottom of the flue and
having a disc valve on its outer end. When the flue is inflated the exhaust aperture
is closed by the said dise valve, but on the pressure of wind being removed the flexible
top falls and the exhaust at once opens. The admission of air to the coupler wind-
chests is governed by the coupler stops. When a stop is drawn its corresponding
coupler wind-chest charged and a key depressed, the wind from the coupler wind-
chest passes through the coupler valve answering to that key and thence, through
the tube connected therewith to the flue of the key with which it is coupled. This
coupled flue thus becomes charged and operates its pipe-valves.
The pedal action is of precisely similar construction to the key action.
By my invention the entire actions of the organ may, if desired, be worked by an
uniform pressure of wind throughout the instrument.

page_text: Figure 1 is a transverse section of a soundboard constructed according to my
invention, showing also a longitudinal section of one of the flues for operating the
pipe-valves and the means for coupling octaves or manuals.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing a modification of the means for operating the
pipe-valves.
Figure 2 is a plan showing the arrangement of the motor-discs shown in Figure 2.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the main wind-trunk and a longitudinal section
of a portion of a soundboard, showing the means for controlling the supply of wind to
the soundboard by the stop action.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the key-action showing the means for inflating
the flues or motor-discs which operate the pipe-valves.
Figure 5 is a transverse section of the stop-action.
ike letters indicate like parts in all the figures.
A separate soundboard may be used for each stop of pipes or several stops may be
arranged on one soundboard. In figures 1 and 2 I have shown a soundboard with
four stops of pipes. For every stop of pipes 1 form in the soundboard a longitudinal
windchest A the bottom of which is concave in cross-section as shown at A. These
windchests vary in size according to the size of the pipes they are to supply. In the
soundboard, along one side of cach wind-chest, are bored the requisite number of
vertical holes or wind-passages B in the tops of which the pipe-feet rest. In the
bottom of the windchest are bored holes C which open into transverse wind-passages D.
The other ends of the passages D open into the vertical wind-passages B. Within
each wind-chest A and over the holes C are fitted the pipe-valves E. These consist

page_text: simply of pieces of leather or other suitable flexible material, of sufficient width to
effectually cover the holes C, the said leathers or valves being pressed down and
fitted into the concave bottom of the wind-chest, (which forms a concave channel seat
for the said valves) and having their upper edges e glued or tacked to the sides of
the windchest. On the upper side of each valve E and extending across and beyond
the sides of the hole C beneath it, is glued a strip of bead e¹ which provents the wind
in the windchest forcing the valve E too far into the hole C and also assists the sticker,
hereinafter mentioned, in lifting the valve. In the bottom F of the soundboard and
immediately under the holes C and opening into the transverse passages D, are bored
holes through which work stickers G having discs G' on their lower or outer ends
and the upper or inner ends of which are attached to the pipe valves E under the
beads e¹.
Under the soundboards and transversely thereto are arranged a series of pneumatic
flues H, as many as there are keys to the organ. Each of the said flues is of sufficient
length to extend under the whole of the soundboards, and is arranged under the valves
of the pipes, answering to its key. These flues are long narrow chests and havo
flexible tops formed of sheep-skin or other suitable material pressed down and
hanging loosely in the said flues, the edges of the said flexible tops being firmly
secured to the sides and ends of the flues. Each of the flues H is inflated through a
tube I. These tubes I connect the flues with the key-action when they are to be
inflated thereby, or with the windchest Q (as shown in the drawings) when they are
to be inflated by means of electro magnets. When the tubes I are connected to tho
key-action and a key is depressed its corresponding flue is inflated. The flexible top
of tho said flue then forces the discs G¹ and stickers G upward. The discs G' close
the holes and the stickers G lift the pipe-valves E from their seats, thus allowing
wind to pass to the pipes corresponding to the key depressed.
On the key being
released the pressure of wind in the wind-chests A forces the valves E down upon their
seats and shuts off the wind from the pipes.
In Figure 2 I have shown a modified arrangement of means for operating the
pipe-valves. The functions of the flexible-topped flues are performed by oscillating
lover-rails J, operated by motor-discs K. A lever-rail ) is provided for each key
and each of the said rails is hung upon a pivot J¹ at each end (as shown in figures 2
and 3) under the stickers G of the valves E answering to its key. A leather disc J³
is secured upon the upper surface of the lover-rail J under each sticker G. Under
each lever-rail J is a motor disc K. These motor discs are arranged in two rows and
are formed by boring holes of say two and a half inches diameter and one inch deep
in a board k as shown in figure 24. Each of the said holes is covered by a disc of
leather or other suitable material hanging loosely in the said hole as shown in.
Figure 2. A thin board or cover having corresponding holes bored through it is
then secured firmly upon the top and holds the discs A securely in position. The
space or air chamber below each motor-disc is charged with wind through a tube I
from the key-action or from the windchest Q. Over the motor-discs K are stickers L
carrying discs on the lower ends, the said stickers working through guide-rails L'.
On a key being depressed its corresponding motor-disc K is inflated, forcing its
sticker L upward, which raises the corresponding lever-rail J and thus opens all the
pipe valves answering to the key depressed.
The flexible-topped flues H and motor-discs K operating the pipe-valves E are
inflated by the key-action (shown in Figure 4) which is constructed on the same
principle as the pipe soundboards. Each manual or set of keys is provided with a
wind-chest M arranged transversely to the keys. Within the said windchest, in the
bottom thereof are formed two longitudinal concave channels M. In these channels
are holes M² covered by the key-valves N which aro of the same description as the
pipe-valves E above described. These key-valves are arranged in two rows in the
above-mentioned channels, so that each valve may be directly over its corresponding
key. The hole M² under each key-valve N opens into wind passages 001 (similar
to those in the pipe soundboards) from which the wind passes through the tube I to
the corresponding flexible-topped flue H or motor-disc K as the case may be. Each

page_text: key-valve N has a sticker N' which works freely through a hole in the bottom board M³
of the key windchest. The upper end of the said sticker acts upon the key-valve
and its lower end rests upon a pallet P. The inner end of each key carries a strong
tapped wire P which passes through the said key and has a button on its upper end
and a loop on its lower end. The keys are regulated by these wires and their buttons
act upon the pallets P. There being no springs to the keys their inner ends are
loaded with lead to bring them back to their normal position when released. When
a key is depressed its wire and button force up the pallet P corresponding to the
key, raising the sticker N₁ the pallet P closing the hole through which the sticker
works. The sticker being raised forces up the key-valve N and admits wind from
the key wind-chest M to the tube I leading to the corresponding fluo H or motor-
disc which in turn opens the valves of the corresponding pipes. When the key
is released the pressure of wind in the key wind-chest M closes the key-valve N and
the flue H or motor-disc K is relieved of
pressure..
Instead of inflating the flues H and motor-discs K by the means above described I may
do so by means of electro-magnets. In this case I provide a windchest Q extending
the length of the soundboard or soundboards. The said wind chest is constantly
charged from the main wind trunk R and has as many valves Q' as there are keys to
the instrument, the said windchest and its valves being of the same construction as
that of the pipe windchests and valves. Under each valve Q' from the bottom of
the windchest Q through the bottom F is bored a vertical hole Q and a wind
passage Q³ to which the pipe I from the pneumatic flue H or motor-disc K answering
to the key is connected. In the lower end of each vertical hole Q is inserted the
upper end of the tubular core of an electro-magnet Q. The armature Q³ of each
magnet carries a wire Q which passes upward through the tubular coro of the magnet
and the upper end of the said wiro is screwed into the bead on the valve Q thus
forming a rigid connection between the said valve and the armature. On the key
being depressed, contact is formed, the magnet seizes the armaturo Q thus lifting the
valve and allowing wind to pass through the pipe I to the pneumatic flue Hor
motor-lise K as the case may be. On the key being released contact is broken, the
wind in the chest closes the valve Q', and the pneumatic flue or motor-disc is
exhausted through the tubular core of the electro-magnet allowing the pipe-valves to
be closed by the pressure in the wind-chests A.
The pipe wind-chests A are charged from a main wind-trunk R (figure 3) having
valves R and wind-passages R³ of the same construction as those of the pipe sound-
boards. The said wind-trunk and its wind-passages are arranged under one end of
the soundboard or soundboards and transversely thereto. The said wind-trunk has
a concave bottom as described for the pipe wind-chests, and a valve R³ for each
soundboard, each of the said valves opening into wind passages R³ which lead to the
corresponding wind chest A. The valves R² are each provided with a sticker R
carrying a disc R on its lower end and each sticker and disc is actuated by a motor-
disc Re (of similar description to those hereinbefore described, only larger) inflated
by the stop-action through a tube R7. On a stop being opened its corresponding motor-
disc forces its disc R and sticker R' upward. The disc R³ closes the hole R³ through
which the sticker works and the sticker lifts the valve R2 admitting wind from the
wind-trunk R into the corresponding pipe wind-chest A. When the stop is closed
the pressure in the wind-trunk R closes the valve R2 and shuts off the supply of wind
to the pipe wind-chest.
The motor-discs R° are inflated by the stop-action, shown in figure 5, which consists
of a wind-chest S having a valve S¹ and wind-passages S³ for each stop, the said
wind-chest, valves and wind-passages being of similar construction to those of the
pipe soundboards. To each wind-passage S' is connected one end of a tube R' the
other end of which communicates with the corresponding motor-disc R. Each stop-
valve S¹ is worked by a sticker S3 and pallet S in the same manner as the key action.
Each of the pallets S is operated by a lever S which is worked by two push-
rods S6 S7 terminating in studs or pushes S S which pass through the key slip in
front of the great organ keys, one above the other. By pushing in the stud Se the

page_text: '
lover S³ forces up the pallet S and sticker S3 and opens the corresponding stop-
valve S¹ so that wind passes through the tube R' to the corresponding stop motor-disc Re
which actuates the valve 2 admitting wind to the corresponding pipe wind-chest A.
By pressing the stud So the pallet S is released from the lever S (the stud SB being
at the same time thrust forward by tho action of the lever) the wind in the stop
wind-chest S closes the valve S' and the corresponding motor-disc R being thus
releived of pressure the valve It opened thereby is closed by the pressure in the main
wind-trunk R and the supply of wind to the pipe wind-chest A corresponding to the
said stop is cut off. The stop studs or pushes S S are arranged in two horizontal
rows in the slip in front of the great organ keys, two horizontal grooves being formed
in the said key-slip where the stop-studs or pushes extend through it (as shown in
Figure 5) so that the performer, by simply drawing his thumb or finger along the said
groove can, with the greatest ease and rapidity, combine as many stops as desired.
The names of the stops may be engraved on a plate S10 of brass or other suitable
material secured on the upper face of the moulding under the key-slip.
The coupling action is as follows. For each coupler I provide a wind chest T with
a concave bottom, and having valves T wind-passages T, stickers T3 and discs T
all of precisely similar construction to those of the pipe sound boards. These coupler
wind chests T are arranged parallel with the pipo soundboards as shown in figures 1
and 2 and each coupler wind-chest T has as many valves T' and wind passages Tas
there are keys to the instrument. The flexible-topped flues H and lever-rails J which
operate the pipe valves extend also under the coupler wind-chests (as shown in
figures 1 and 2) so that the flue or rail corresponding to any koy operates all the
pipe valves and coupler valves answering to the said key. In the top of the vertical
wind passage T2 of each coupler valve T is inserted a tube T the other end of which
communicates with the flexible-topped flue H of the note it is desired to couplo there-
with, octave above, octave below, great to swell or pedals to great as the case may be.
"The drawings show only one coupler but when two or more are employed a check-
valvo T is arranged in the flues over the end of each coupling tube to prevent the
passage of wind into other coupling tubes communicating with the said flue. Each
flue is also provided with an exhaust valve consisting of a disc U secured on the
flexible top thereof, which disc carries a sticker wire U₁ passing downward through
an exhaust opening U2 in the bottom of the flue and having a disc valve Us on its
lower end. When the flue is inflated the exhaust aperture is closed by the disc U³
but, on the pressure of wind being removed, the flexible top of the flue falls and the
exhaust U is at once opened. The supply of wind to the coupler wind chests T is
governed by the coupler stops in the same manner as the supply of wind to the pipe
wind chests. When a coupler stop is drawn and its corresponding coupler wind-
chest charged and a key depressed, the wind from the coupler wind chest passes
through the coupler valve T' answering to that key and thence through its tube Ts to
the flue H-with which the note is coupled. This coupled flue thus becomes charged
and operates its pipe valves. When the modified arrangement shown in figure 2 is
employed for operating the pipe valves, I connect the tubes T5 of each coupler wind-
chest with motor discs (similar to those operating the pipe valves) arranged under
the lever rails J of the notes with which it is desired to couple them. Any reasonable
number of couplers may be used on this principle, each coupler having its separate set
of motor-lises to ensure quick repetition.
The pedal action is of precisely similar construction to the key action.
By my invention the entire actions of the organ may, if desired, be worked by an
uniform pressure of wind throughout the instrument.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First: The general construction and arrangement of my improved pneumatic
action for organs,:substantially as herein set forth and illustrated in the accompanying

page_text: Second-The construction of the soundboards with their wind-chests, valves and
wind passages, substantially as herein described and illustrated in figures 1 and 2.
Third The combination of the soundboards, their valves E, stickers G and
discs G', and the flexible-topped flues H substantially as herein set forth and illustrated
in figure 1.
Fourth-The combination of the lever rail J, motor dises K and stickers L
substantially as and for the purpose herein described and as illustrated in figures 2
and 3.
Fifth-The construction and arrangement of the key action substantially as herein
set forth and illustrated in figure 4.
Sixth-The construction and arrangement of the stop action substantially as heroin
set forth and illustrated in figure 5.
Seventh-The construction and arrangement of the means for coupling octaves,
manuals, or pedals with manuals, substantially as herein described and illustrated in
figures 1 and 2.
Eighth-In organs, the valve of leather or other suitable flexible material having
concave channel seat, substantially as herein described and shown at E, figures 1
and 2.