New and Improved Action for Organs and similar Wind Instruments.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New and Improved Action for Organs and similar Wind
Instruments.
:-
I, WILLIAM ALEXANDER Civil Engineer of 28 Rockybank Road Devonshire
Park Birkenhead do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
Improvements reducing the labour required to operate an organ or similar wind
instrument and enabling any register of pipes or reeds to be connected to any or
every keyboard. These improvements may be applied to organs or instruments
having actions known as mechanical, pneumatic, tubular-pneumatic, electric, or
electro-pneumatic and embrace the following
An improved form of keys and method of attaching them. The keys have
their fulcrums at one end and the pneumatic or mechanical attachments or
electrical contacts near the other end and springs causing them to return to their
normal positions after being depressed. The keys are mounted on a new form
of keyboard enabling them to be readily lifted up from the front to admit of
examination of the mechanism under them and when there are more than one
keyboard any one may be lifted without in any way disturbing the others.
A new system of electrical key contacts, which may be described as rubbing
contacts and noiseless, each formed by one loop of wire with a stiffer wire within it
and placed diagonally under a contact pin attached to the key above it.
A new system of indicators and small levers or keys, which may be placed in any
convenient positions to control the various registers at the will of the performer.
These levers or keys may be set in several positions causing the instrument to
speak with more or less power. They operate contacts in the mechanism or wires
or shunts from the wires leading to or from each of the registers, there being
separate connections, or batteries and wires, either outward or return, to each
keyboard from each register thus enabling any stop or any pipe or reed to be
operated separately and independently at the same or different times from every or
any keyboard or any key. There is therefore no mechanism such as stop-slides or
exhausts &c. attached to the stop levers or keys, although they may be used in
connection with such mechanism if desired.
The application of a switch of any suitable pattern for the purpose of reversing
the direction of the electric current, at will, through the actions and so reducing
the tendency towards polarization in the magnets or armatures.
A switch board, to assist in the manipulation of the various registers, which is
operated by means of the stop levers or keys or by means of pedals and is con-
structed in the following manner :- -Two or more rows of small laths or rods are
placed crossing each other; branches from the key mechanism or shunts from
the wires to or from the registers are carried to one row and pegs or pins of
metal or other suitable material are inserted in the other row or rows. On
moving one of the laths or rods by means of a stop lever or key or pedal the
wires or other mechanism in that particular combination are connected by
the pegs which have been inserted and the corresponding registers brought into
use. The pegs are made so that the performer may remove or insert any at his
will and so form any combination of stops which may be brought into use by
the moving of a single stop lever or key or pedal; at the same time the stops
then being used are switched out, but are automatically and immediately switched
in again on the composition being released, the indicators always and at any time

page_text: shewing which registers are then in use. One or more of these compositions may
be used at the same time and all may be released by a single key for that purpose.
The number of compositions available by this means is unlimited.
A transposition switch consisting of a series of discs, with contacts arranged at
their circumferences, which are caused to revolve in various directions by suitable
means within easy reach of the performer. An indicator in any convenient
position shews the pitch of the instrument at any time.
When electricity is used the wires conveying it may be brought in any direction
to the wind chests and sound boards which contain my improved actions for
opening and closing the valves, for the admission of wind to the pipes or reeds, and
which are constructed thus:-The electricity operates small electro-magnets which
attract balanced armature valves allowing compressed air to enter small pneumatic
motors which open valves to each pipe or reed or each series of pipes or reeds.
These valves are balanced in a novel manner each being in two portions one
opening outwards and the other inwards; the areas of the two portions may be
equal or nearly so and the power required to open and close them is reduced to a
minimum. The armature valves are balanced by air pressure and can be regulated
so that a very small electro-magnet will be sufficient to lift them. Two pressures
of air are preferrably used, the higher pressure to supply power to the motors when
opening the valves, and the lower pressure to operate the motors when closing the
valves and also to cause the speech of the pipes or reeds, but the motors may be
operated both in opening and closing, if desired, with the same pressure of air
as is used for causing the speech. When applied to an instrument in which
électricity is not used, the electro-magnets and armature valves are replaced
by minute mechanical or pneumatic valves whilst the rest of the action remains
the same.
A combined wind chest and sound board constructed in grooves or channels of
various depths, one series of channels or grooves carrying the higher pressure of
air and another series carrying the lower pressure of air used to cause speech
in the instruments. The pneumatic motors are placed in the channels or grooves
containing the lower pressure of air. These grooves are connected by relief
channels if thought desirable. One channel or groove may have actions or
motors placed on both sides of it so that two or more registers may be actuated and
supplied with compressed air from the same channel or groove and the number of
channels or grooves reduced accordingly.
In order to allow the performer to have greater control over the various
registers, the pipes or reeds may be placed in one or more swell boxes actuated
by pneumatic or hydraulic motors governed by electricity. These motors are
constructed so as to be worked in series from one pedal or separately and
independently, by means of a new form of coupler consisting of a prolongation of
the pedal lever with contacts arranged on different sides of it and connected to
the various swell boxes which will come into operation on the pedal being moved
in various ways and closing the different contacts. The swell boxes may also be
controlled from the keyboard or stop levers in addition to the pedal.
A compound valve enabling the air reservoirs to be automatically filled with
compressed air at the same or various pressures at the same time from one
compressor or other apparatus used to provide or supply the compressed air. The
valve is placed on the delivery pipe from the compressor or other apparatus. The
delivery pipe enters the valve box which has two or more outlets corresponding to
the number of different pressures required and each outlet is closed by a valve.
These valves are connected to each other by rods or levers so arranged that when
one valve is opened it closes the others and only one can be open at a time. In
their normal position the valve leading to the reservoir for the highest pressure
opens and when that reservoir is filled, a stop attached to the lifting portion of it
opens the valve to the reservoir for the second highest pressure which in turn when
filled opens the valve for the next lower pressure etc. When any one reservoir
becomes nearly empty another stop attached to it opens its own valve and allows

page_text: itself to be again filled. The engine or blower being powerful enough to raise the
highest pressure will be able to fill all the reservoirs.
Dated this 17th der of F1002
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New and Improved Action for Organs and similar Wind
Instruments..
1 WILLIAM ALEXANDER, Civil Engineer, of 28 Rockybank Road, Devonshire
Park, Birkenhead, 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 :-
This invention relates chiefly to the reduction of the labour and power required
to operate an organ or similar wind instrument and the facility of forming and
varying combinations of the registers. It may be applied to instruments with
actions known as mechanical, pneumatic, tubular pneumatic, electric and electro-
pneumatic; but more especially to the electro-pneumatic and will be explained by.
the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a cross section through the keyboards, Figure 2 a front elevation and
Figures 3 and 4 enlarged views of the electrical key contacts.
Figure 5 shows the transposition switch and Figure 6 the alternating current
switch.
Figure 7 shows the arrangement of the valves in the air pipes or conduits
supplying the air reservoirs from the compressor.
Figure 8 is a front elevation of the stop switch keys and indicators, Figure 9 a
plan, Figures 10 and 11 cross sections and Figures 12 and 13 longitudinal sections
of the same.
Figure 14 is a cross section through the wind chest and sound board showing the
actions, Figure 15 a front elevation of the pallet action, Figures 16 and 17 plans of
the actions and Figure 18 enlarged views of the electro-pneumatic controlling
actions.
Figures 19 and 20 are views of the swell pedal contacts and
b
Figure 21 a general view of the system of wiring and arrangement of batteries.
In Figures 1 and 2 the keys A are mounted on keyboards B which are hinged at
the ends by means of pins so that they can be lifted up independently from the
front as shown by dotted lines on Figure 1 for the purpose of examining the
mechanism under them. The keys are hinged at a and when depressed are returned
to their normal position by springs C. The electrical contacts are placed at d
and d¹. e is a guide pin, one being attached to each key, and works through a
slot e' in the keyboard. The lower end of this guide pin is also used to operate
the contacts d¹. The electrical key contacts are shown by Figures 3 and 4,
being the terminal of one portion of the line wire and c¹ the terminal of
the other c is formed in a loop around c¹ and crosses it diagonally as shown in
Figure 4. 2 is a contact pin attached to the key or the lower end of the guide
pin e.
In Figure 5, 1) is a dial and fa pointer attached to a spindle at the other
end of which is attached a disc f2 so that it will rotate with the spindle. Round
the circumference of the disc f' are attached contact springs f³ in connection with
the wires from the contacts. These springs engage with contact pieces g on the
circumference of a fixed disc G also in connection with these wires.
In Figure 6 H is a lever which may be moved to one
spindle h to which it is attached to rotate. The sector
and rotates with it in front of a fixed sector i. On the
placed contact pieces j, j' and 1 and contact springs and
side or the other causing a
is attached to this spindle
edge of these sectors are
which are in connection

page_text: with the battery wires. Similar sectors and contacts are mounted on the same
spindle, there being one set to each battery used.
In Figure 7 J is the pipe leading from the compressor, J₁ a branch leading to
the reservoir K for storing the compressed air of the highest pressure and J' a
branch leading to the reservoir for the next lower pressure. k is a valve which can
close either the branch J¹ or J' on being placed against the valve seat on the
branch J or the valve seat 2 on the branch J. is a rod attached to the valve k
and and projections on the rod 1, and a projecting piece on the lifting portion
of the reservoir K placed between the projections 1 and 12. L is a valve on the
branch J opening towards the reservoir K.
In Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 the stop switch levers or keys M and composition
levers or keys M¹ and composition releasing key M2 have an angular motion about
a fulcrum or hinge m. Opposite each key M is a spring m¹ and small rocking
lever m² pressing against the end of the key and opposite the composition keys M¹
and M2 are similar rocking levers m³ pressed against the keys by means of arms m*
on a roller m³ and a spring m. Above the keys M are indicators attached by
arms n' to a series of rollers N, there being one roller N to each key M and arms n²
attached to the rollers N pass under the ends of the corresponding keys M. Other
arms n³ from the rollers N are attached to springs n', and arms no project upwards
from the rollers and carry rods n at their extremities. On each stop switch key
are placed contacts in the wires from the corresponding registers, O being the
contact pin and O' the wire terminals which are similar to those on the keys A
(Figures 1 and 2) and at the ends of the rollers N are attached similar contact pins
and terminals O'. A series of sliding rods P are placed over the rollers N and are
connected to the composition keys M₁ by means of rods p, cranks p¹ and arms p³ on
the keys. p are pins attached to the rods P and bearing against a rod p' carried
by arms p on a roller p. p² are pins inserted in holes through the rods P and are
removable. P¹ is a rod parallel to the rods P and p a spring attached to it. pare
notches in the rod P¹ receiving the ends of arms n' on the rollers N. At the end
of the rod P¹ is a switch O', which, on the rod P¹ being moved switches out all the
contacts and 01.
In Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17 the combined wind chest and sound board consists
of a series of grooves or channels Q, Q' and Q. The channels Q contain the
pneumatic motors q and pallet valves q. are channels leading to the pipes or
reeds and are relief channels between the main channels Q. is a rod attached
to the pneumatic motor 7 and to the valves q' and lever q' against which a spring y³
presses. The pallet valves and motors are mounted on base boards R which are
removable and are retained in position by clips R' and R. From the channel Q
which conveys the compressed air for actuating the pallet motors y small channels q
and lead to the motors q. The grooves Q contain the electro-pneumatic
controlling action S also shown in Figure 18, where S' is an electro-magnet formed
with a core of soft iron wire of an oval section S2, a boss or plate attached to the
poles of the magnet having a screw cut on its edge and screwed into the hard wood
block S so that the distance between it and the valve seat ³ may be adjusted. ris
a valve containing a soft iron armature, and a rod attached to the valve r and a
flexible diaphragm and passing through a guide . is a valve seat on which
the valve rests and the surface of the boss S2 also forms a valve seat against which
the valve may be attracted by the magnet S¹. 7 and 7 are portions of the
channels shown in Figure 14. The hard wood blocks carrying the electro-pneumatic
actions are removable and are attached to the sound board by means of
but are not shown.
any
suitable
clips, big trees and 20, we, the shutters of a swell box sliding in connection
with which is a metal rod and which forms a contact between the wires s and ¹
from the swell pedal s. The swell pedal s moves on a universal joints and the
end of the pedal lever causes a metal rod 8 to slide between and connect the
wires and and also, when a second swell box is used, the pedal s operates

page_text: another sliding rods connecting wires s' leading to it. The swell shutters are
balanced so as to close of their own accord and a suitable pneumatic or hydraulic
motor controlled by an electro-pneumatic action at T¹, similar to those in the
sound board, opens the shutters when required.
In Figure 21, V are the registers and t the wires leading from the keys A to the
electro-pneumatic pallet controlling actions S, there being one wire from each key
on the keyboard having the greatest number of keys, and branches t¹ lead to the
keys on the other keyboards when there are more than one. Branches from
the wires t lead to the swell pedals and branches t³ and t to the swell controlling
actions T. D is the transposing switch and H the alternating current switch.
W and Ware the batteries for the swell actions and W, W' and W' the batteries
for the pallet actions, there being a separate battery for each swell box and one for
each keyboard. 20, 101, 102, 20³ and we are the return wires for the various batteries.
M are the stop switch keys, there being one set for each keyboard, and w³, 10
and to the return wires between the various registers and the stop switch keys,
branches leading to each set of stop switch keys which operate the contacts
between them and the main return wires w², w³ and w*.
The action and operation of the various portions of this invention above described
are as follows: The return wires from the registers are disconnected at the stop
switch keys M. On depressing a key M, Figure 10, the contact pin o makes a
connection between the corresponding terminals o¹ of the return wire and, at the
same time, the end of the key is lifted from off the arm n³, Figures 9 and 12,
allowing the spring n' to draw down the arm n³ and rotate the roller N carrying
with it the arm n' and indicator disc n which is so raised and indicates that the
particular stop is in use. The spring m¹ and rocking lever m² prevent the key
from resting in a middle position and force it either up or down where it will
remain. If the key M is now lifted the contact is again broken and the indicator
falls.
If the pins p' are inserted in the rods P, Figures 9 and 12, and the key M¹ is
depressed, the rod P is caused to slide by means of the arms p³, rods p, and
cranks p', and the pins 7 drawing with them the rods n° and arms no cause the
rollers N to rotate in the opposite direction from the motion produced by the keys M,
and make contacts between the wires at 0. At the same time the roller p* is
caused to rotate by the pins rod and arms p' and slides the rod P' along with
the rod P, and, by means of the switch 03, cuts out all the wires leading to the
contacts O. The rollers N thus rotating where the pins have been inserted
make the contacts at 0 and so bring the corresponding registers into use and, at
the same time, the indicators n fall below their normal position and show that the
stops are in use. When a composition key M' is depressed, when any of the
keys M are also depressed, and pins p² have not been inserted in the rods P
opposite to their rollers N, the rod P¹ in sliding draws back these rollers N and
their indicators n to their normal position by means of the notches p moving the
arms and the rollers N, thus showing that the stops are not in use. If the
key M2 is now depressed the rocking lever m opposite it rotates the roller m³ by
the arm m and relieves the pressure of spring me through the rocking lever m³
opposite any key M' which may have been depressed and the spring p³ at the end
of the rod P drawing it back raises the key M' through the pins p³, rods and
arms p and p³, roller p³, pins p³, rods p, cranks p² and arms p². The arms n' again
fall into the notches in the rod Pi where the keys M are depressed and the:
rollers, indicators and contacts all return to the same position that they were in
before the key M' was depressed. Any number of pins p' may be inserted in the
rods Pand, therefore, any combination of stops may be formed on the keys M'and
changed at will by altering the number of pins p².
In Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17, the channels Q contain the compressed air for
causing speech in the instrument, and the valves ' to the various pipes or reeds
are kept closed by the springs 8 and by the pressure of air on the pneumatic
motor g. The channel Q₁ contains air at a higher pressure than that in channel Q

page_text: and passes through the channels, Figures 14 and 18, as far as the valver which
closes the passage, being kept on its seat by the pressure of air on the diaphragm r¹
holding down the rod r. If a current of electricity is passed through the electro-
magnet S¹, the valve r containing the armature is lifted from the seat and held
against the face of S2 closing the passage through it into channel Q and opening
the connection between channels 7 and 3. The compressed air in channel Q¹ now
passes through channels 1 and 2 into the pneumatic motor 1 which expands and,
by means of rods 9 and lever q' opens the valves and the compressed air in
channel passes through channels to the pipes or reeds. If the electric current
in magnets S¹ is now discontinued the armature and valve r again fall on to the
seat and the compressed air in the motors 9 escapes through channels 9" and the
opening in S² into the open channel Q and the compressed air in channel Q and
spring close the motor q and the valves q¹.
When a key A, Figure 1, is depressed the contact pin c³ is forced between the
wires c and c and makes a contact between them, and when the key is released,
the spring C lifts it and again draws the the pin c from between the wires c and cl
breaking the contact.
Referring to Figure 21, if a stop switch at M is depressed and contact made
between wire w and w the corresponding register at V is joined up and brought
into use on the keyboard corresponding to the switch board at M. If a key A on
that keyboard is now depressed and contact formed between wire wo and one of the
wires t the corresponding motor S is actuated and the pipe or reed caused to speak
as often as the key at A is depressed. At M there is a stop switch board corre-
sponding to each key board at A and a battery W2, W or W to each key board,
so that the registers at V may be connected independently, at the same time,
through the switch boards at M to the corresponding key boards at A.
On the transposition switch pointer f, Figure 5, being moved, the contact
springs and contact pieces g are caused to slide on each other and the wires t,
Figure 21, connected to higher or lower keys at A and the pitch of the instrument
correspondingly raised or lowered.
On the switch lever H, Figure 6, being moved to one side or the other contact
springs and form contact with the contact pieces ; and j¹ or j¹ and respectively
and so the direction of the currents from the batteries W, W W, W and W4,
Figure 21, through the wires 1, 101, 102, 103 and w¹ may be reversed at will and any
tendency in the armatures and magnets to become polarized is counteracted.
When the reservoir K, Figure 7, has been filled with compressed air for
supplying the channels Q, Figure 14, the projection 1, Figure 7, on the top of the
reservoir lifts the projection and rod and valve k from its seat and forces it
on to the seat, closing the branch pipe J', and opens the branch J' leading to
the reservoir for the compressed air for supplying channels Q, Figure 14. When
the reservoir K, Figure 7, becomes nearly empty the projection & lowers the
valve by means of the projection and again opens the branch J to the
reservoir K. The valve L opening towards the reservoir K prevents the return
of the compressed air in K through the branch pipe J2 while the branch .J
is open.
The swell box shutters T, Figure 19, are balanced so as to remain closed in their
normal position. A pneumatic or hydraulic motor controlled by the electro-
pneumatic motor at T opens the shutters T when a current of electricity is passed
through the wires. On pressing the swell pedal s the metal rod is raised and
connects the wire s² to some or all of the wires s corresponding to the amount of
motion given to the pedal. The electricity passes through the wires to the
motor T which opens the shutters T, and, at the same time, raises the metal rod
until the lower end of it is as high as the upper end of the rod when the contacts
are broken at s' and the action of the motor T¹ ceases. Therefore, the height of
the rod s² always remains the same relatively to s and may be raised or lowered and
maintained at any height by moving the pedals, and the swell shutters
correspondingly opened or closed. The pedal moves on a universal joint at ;

page_text: Figures 19 and 20, and can be moved sideways as well as up and down.
When a
second swell box is used a second series of rods and contacts similar to those at s²
and are placed at s and s' and the pedal s' being moved sideways or up and down
controls both or either of the swell boxes, together or independently.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In organs or similar wind instruments an improved form of keys hinged at
one end and having electrical, pneumatic or mechanical contacts near the other
end, substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings,.
Figures 1 and 2.
2. In organs and similar wind instruments, an improved form of keyboards
hinged at the ends so that it can be lifted up from the front for examination,
without interfering with or moving any other part of the instrument, substantially
as described and shown in the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2.
3. An improved form of electrical contact consisting of a loop of wire with a
stiffer wire within it placed diagonally opposite a contact pin attached to the
moveable key or switch, substantially as described and shown in the accompanying
drawings, Figures 3 and 4.
4. In organs or similar wind instruments an improved transposing switch and
indicator consisting of a dial and pointer, or its equivalent and a series of
rotatable discs moving with the dial or pointer and having electrical contacts.
at their edges, substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings,..
Figure 5.
5. In organs or similar wind instruments an alternating or current reversing
electrical switch consisting of moving contacts and indicators for the purpose o
reversing the direction of the currents and so neutralizing any tendency in the
magnets or armatures to become polarized in one direction, substantially as described
and shown in the accompanying drawings, Figure 6.
6. In organs or similar wind instruments a compound valve and valve box with
branches leading to each air reservoir so arranged in connection with the reservoirs
by means of rods or levers that only one branch can be open at a time enabling a
number of reservoirs to be filled with compressed air at different pressures from
the same compressor substantially as described and shown in the accompanying
drawings, Figure 7.
7. In organs or similar wind instruments an improved form of stop keys and disc
indicators operating contacts in the wires to or from the various registers,
substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings, Figures 8, 9,
10 and 11.
8. In organs or similar wind instruments an improved electrical stop switch board
for the purpose of forming compositions of the various stops, consisting of rows of
rods and rollers or their equivalents crossing each other the rods having removable
pegs or pins being moved by means of keys which rotate the rollers and connect
the wires from the corresponding registers and, at the same time, by means of a
notched sliding rod or its equivalent switch out all the independent stop contacts
and set their disc indicators in their normal positions, substantially as described
and shown in the accompanying drawings, Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.
9. In organs or similar wind instruments a combined wind chest and sound board
constructed in grooves or channels, one series of channels carrying the pneumatic
pallet actions on one or both sides and the compressed air for causing speech in the
instrument and closing the pallet actions, another series of grooves or channels
carrying the compressed air for opening the pallet actions and another series
of grooves or channels containing the electro-pneumatic controlling actions,
substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings, Figures 14, 15,
16 and 17.
10. In organs or similar wind instruments an improved pneumatic pallet action

page_text: consisting of a removable base board carrying a small pneumatic motor operating
a lever and double valve one portion opening inwards and the other outwards and so
proportioned that they are nearly balanced substantially as described and shown
in the accompanying drawings Figures 14, 15 and 16.
11. In organs or similar wind instruments an improved electro-pneumatic
controlling action consisting of a horse shoe electro-magnet formed of iron, having
an oval section with a plate attached to the poles having a screw on its edge and
screwed into a base which contains an armature valve and seat, the armature
valve being attached by a rod to a flexible diaphragm, and also air channels, all
substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings, Figures 14
and 18.
12. In organs or similar wind instruments an improved swell pedal and
electrical contact rods the pedal having a universal joint and contact rods
arranged on different sides. of it, and sliding between a series of wire contacts,
substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings, Figures 19
and 20.
13. In organs or similar wind instruments a system of arranging electrical wires
whereby the wires from the keys to the pallet controlling actions are used in
common for the whole of the keyboards and also the swell and any other actions
that may be used, there being a separate battery and return wires for each key-
board and each set of actions for the swell boxes or other purposes, the return
wires from the registers to the stop switches also being used in common for the
whole of the stop switch boards, branches running to cach, substantially as
described and shown in the accompanying drawings, Figure 21.
14. In organs and similar wind instruments, the arrangement and construction
of the whole and various parts of the mechanism, or their equivalents, substantially
as described and shown in the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 to 21, inclusive.
Dated this 17th day of November 1893.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER.