IMPROVEMENTS IN ORGANS
Year: 1885

page_text: I HENRY WILLIS of 9 Rochester Terrace, Camden Town in the County of
Middlesex Organ Builder do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN ORGANS to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is so to improve the construction of organs as
to simplify their arrangement, to effect an economy of space, to afford increased
facilities for the player and to permit of easy access for examination and repair to
the working parts.
To this end the invention relates to an arrangement of wind chests in series or
tiers each wind chest receiving air at a different pressure from the other or others
in the series according to the speaking power of the pipes it supplies, in com-
bination with a novel arrangement of air channels pipes or passages between or
in connection with the said wind chests each fitted with a valve or valves of
diminutive size controlled by a pneumatic lever also of very small size in the
manner to be presently explained.
The invention also relates to an improved method of adapting these diminutive
valves and pneumatic levers to the wind chests, whose pallets or sound-board
valves they are to actuate, whereby they may be individually adjusted or removed
with facility.
My improvements although applicable with little or no alteration to organs
actuated by mechanical contrivances and affording considerable relief for the player
under certain conditions by reducing the load upon the keys is more especially
adapted for use in organs actuated by electricity; as it enables a great deal of
complex mechanism, mechanical and pneumatic hitherto found in organs actuated
by electricity, and very difficult of access, to be dispensed with; and renders their
various parts more easily accessible and less liable to derangement than heretofore.
In applying my invention to an organ to be played by the intervention of
electricity I arrange in any convenient relation a number of wind chests with their
respective pallets, grooves, sliders, upper boards and pipes, in series and I supply
each of such wind chests respectively with air at a different pressure, connecting
the several wind chests in the series in pairs by air channels or pipes fitted with
valves each automatically controlled at the proper moment by admitting air of

page_text: superior pressure from the sound board of one of the wind chests between which it
is interposed to pneumatic levers preferably of the diaphragm type arranged within
or fitted to the said wind chests.
These pneumatic levers and also the valves between each pair of wind chests
which they control are each of minute dimensions and very simple construction
and are
so arranged as to be easily fitted in place and readily accessible for
removal or inspection The pneumatic levers by which the valves or pallets
admitting air to the sound boards are actuated are of rather larger size and each is
controlled by one of these minute valves the valves in the first wind chest being
started or operated by an electro magnet under the influence of an impulse from
the player instead of by air pressure as in the succeeding wind chests.
The pneumatic levers of the first wind chest of the series (and preferably situate
within the said chest) are normally balanced by an equal pressure of air on both
sides and they are each thrown into action by a small valve under the influence of
its electro magnet cutting off the air pressure from one side and disturbing this
balance of pressure.
Each pneumatic lever in the first wind chest operates a valve or pallet admitting
air to an organ pipe or pipes either reed or flute but always to a pipe or pipes
speaking by superior pressure of air to the pipes or group of pipes supplied by the
next wind chest of the series.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
On an impulse being transmitted by the player to one of the electro magnets
the small valve which it controls within the first wind chest will be moved so as
to cut off the air pressure from one side of the small pneumatic lever preferably of
the diaphragm type directly connected with or controlling the movement of the
pallet admitting air to the groove beyond. The small pneumatic lever will there-
upon instantly open the pallet to which it is connected and the air from the wind
chest will enter the groove and the pipes may be made to speak- as required. A
portion of the air under pressure within the groove is admitted by a suitable
channel or pipe to a small pneumatic lever within the next wind chest in the
series and as the air pressure within that chest is as already stated less than that
in the first chest the pressure on one side of the small pneumatic lever will be
greater than that on the other side of the said lever and it will therefore instantly
act to operate the diminutive valve which it controls. This valve on being moved
acts as before described upon a pneumatic lever of any suitable kind but preferably
of the diaphragm type which controls the pallet supplying the pipes above it and
hence air is automatically admitted to the said second groove or sound board and
its pipes as a consequence of a single impulse of the player acting electrically
mechanically or otherwise on the first small valve in the first wind chest of the
series.
The second wind chest might be connected in a similar manner to deliver air
under pressure (when one of its grooves is charged with air) to the valve con-
trolling diaphragm or pneumatic lever of a third wind chest whose pipes speak
under less air pressure than those of the second group of pipes and thus by a
touch sufficient to open a small valve no larger than a threepenny piece against
the air pressure in the first wind chest, two or more of such chests in series may be
caused to fill their respective grooves with wind or by a light mechanical connection,
outside, with the pneumatic lever operating the pipe valve the valve of another
heavy pressure may be operated as in the first instance and thus the process may
be continued until the effect ceases to be punctual or sufficiently near the same
instant.
The wind chest or chests in one organ may be similarly connected by pipes or
air passages with the wind chest or chests of another organ or with another part
of the same instrument so as to automatically actuate its valves or levers without
throwing any additional work on the player or involving complicated mechanism.;
a principal feature of my invention being the bleeding of one air vessel such as the

page_text: groove of a sound board to automatically open the valves or pallets of another air
vessel, the second vessel having no direct connection with the mechanism by which
the first vessel was charged with air.
In cases where it is required to actuate the valves in a remote sound board,
equivalent to coupling, there must be a separate slide provided in the first sound
board beyond the pallet to command the communication.
This process may be repeated several times and exist as a relay of pneumatic
power perfectly automatic when once started by an electro magnet or the ordinary
mechanical action of the organ.
In fitting the diminutive valves and pneumatic levers above described to the wind
chests I mount them on tubes secured in place by easily detachable, bushing blocks
which when removed enable the tubes pneumatic levers and valves to be individually
adjusted or completely withdrawn from their sockets or seats.
It will be often necessary to provide the second pneumatic lever in the series
above named with an escape valve as the pressure of air upon its outer surface
will express the air which inflated it with sufficient rapidity. Its action is
differential.
It may sometimes be convenient to operate a portion of this apparatus by exhaust
wholly or partially or by a combination of pressure and exhaust.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Organs.
I HENRY WILLIS of 9 Rochester Terrace, Camden Town in the County of
Middlesex, Orgau Builder 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 this invention is to improve the construction and arrangement of
organs, and afford increased facilities for the player..
To attain these ends, I employ a novel construction of double action disc valve
for each note of the organ, which valve, from its small diameter, will offer little
resistance to the compressed air against which it acts when lifted by the depression
of the key, and will, when raised, cause the air in the wind chest, through the
action of a pneumatic lever, to open the pallet in connection with that lever, and
admit air to the groove or channel controlled by the pallet.-I also connect with
the wind chest thus fitted, a second wind chest, the pallets of which are to he
actuated by air supplied from the grooves or channels of the first wind chest, and
this arrangement I may continue through the whole of the organ, so as to ensure
the synchronous opening of all the pallets of a given note, on the depression of the
corresponding key.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shewn, in Sheet I, my invention as
applied to an organ fitted with electro magnets for transmitting the motion. of the
keys to the double action disc valves above mentioned.
In Sheet II, I have shewn the invention in connection with an organ fitted with
levers and trackers, or the ordinary mechanical means used for transmitting the
motion of the keys.
Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be seen that four wind chests are delineated,
that number being sufficient to explain the manner in which the synchronous
automatic actions of a series of pallets is obtained.
The wind chests are arranged in pairs, those marked 1 and 2 forming the first
pair, and 3, 4 the second pair.
A A. are the upper boards which carry the organ pipes, and B B the grooves or
channels with their slides C situate between the upper boards and the wind chests.-
DD are the pallets which admit air to the grooves or channels B, for the purpose
of causing the pipes to speak.-These pallets are connected by wires e with the
pneumatic levers E by which they are operated. For the purpose of this invention,
the air supplied to the wind chests will be of varied pressures, such pressures being
suited to the quality of the pipes situate above the respective wind chests, and
lessening, or it may be increasing, from the 1st to the 2nd wind chest of the series,
and similarly, from the 3rd to the 4th, and so on, or gradually from the first to the
last wind chest of the series.
The pallets D are of the ordinary construction, and so also may be the pneumatic
levers E, but I prefer to make them of disc shaped elastic diaphragms laid over an

page_text: opening in the bottom of the wind chest, and secured thereto.-This diaphragm is
permanently connected with the pallet above.-Below each wind chest, I form a
series of cells F. F, one for each note of the organ, and corresponding with the
grooves or channels B above the wind chest.-The top of the cell is formed by
the bottom of the wind chest, and in the case of the wind chest 1, two circular
openings and fl are made in the bottom thereof, the one ƒ being closed by the
pneumatic lever E, and the other f¹ by the valve G, when its disc is forced upwards
by the depression of its corresponding key.-The drawing Fig. 1 shews this valve G
connected with the armature H of an electro magnet H, which is energized on the
depression of the key with which it is in metallic connection.
The valve G is shewn detached in full size, at Figs. 2, in sectional elevation and
in plan view. It consists of a cylindrical tube formed with an external shoulder at
bottom, which gauges the distance it is to be thrust upwards into the cell F.-A.
hole is made in the bottom of the cell F for the reception of this tube immediately
below the opening f¹, and it is held in place by friction of contact with the cell
bottom. The tube is fitted with guides g to receive a rod g¹ which carries a disc g³
at its upper end.-The upper end of the tube is contracted in diameter to corre-
spond in diameter, with the hole f¹ in the bottom of the wind chest 1, and between
these two openings, the disc g² works, acting the part of a double valve.
This disc,
when in its normal position, is seated on the top of the tube G.-It is made of a
diameter sufficient to seat itself either upon the tube, or on a seat prepared for it
around the opening f¹, both of which seats are shaped to a knife edge.-The small size
of the valve g³ offers but a slight resistance to the pressure of the key or the attraction
of the electro magnet. The valve G is thrust upwards into its place from outside
the wind chest, and being, in consequence, readily accessible, it is capable of being
readily removed (without disturbing any of the interior mechanism) for the purpose
of adjustment and repair.-I have said that the pallet D is connected by a wire e
with the pneumatic lever E. By this rigid connection the pallet is caused to
answer to the movements of the pneumatic lever.-In order to maintain the
pneumatic lever E in its normal or raised position, as shewn in the drawing, air is
admitted to the back of the diaphragm through the opening f, but on the depres-
sion of the key which causes the rise of the valve g, this opening will be closed,
and simultaneously a way will be opened for the escape of the compressed air down
the tube G to the atmosphere.-The effect of this reduction of the pressure below
the diaphragm E will cause that diaphragm to yield to the superincumbent pressure
of air in the wind chest, and thereby pull open the pallet with which it is connected.
In order that this action may be repeated in the wind chest 2, the grooves or
channels B of the wind chest 1 are connected respectively by air passages I to the
cells F below the wind chest 2, which cells are also fitted with pneumatic levers.
Pendent from these pneumatic levers K, are double valves L, which work in a
chamber M in direct connection with the air supply reservoir, and communicating
also with the atmospheric.-The stem of the valve L carries two discs, the one for
opening up an escape of air from the chamber M to, a passage N leading to a
pneumatic lever O, when a note is to be sounded, and the other for simultaneously
closing an opening in the bottom of the chamber leading to the atmosphere.
The pneumatic levers O are severally connected with a pallet of the wind chest 2,
and for convenience, I fit them in two rails O¹0° set one above the other. The
rods of the lower series of pneumatic levers (which are diaphragms, like those
represented at E and K) pass through holes in the upper rail O to reach their
pallets D. The grooves or channels of this wind chest are connected by air passages I
to cells covered by pneumatic levers P fitted to rails P P2, like those just described
with reference to the wind chest No 2. These rails are situate below the wind
chest 3, and the stems of their diaphragms serve to carry valves g², which act in a
precisely similar manner to the corresponding valves in the wind chest 1. In this
case also, the tubes G, to which the valves g2 belong, are situate in cells F, and
serve to relieve the cells of the compressed air they contain, when notes to which
they severally correspond require to be sounded.

page_text: The pallets D of the wind chest 3 are operated by pneumatic levers E, as in the
wind chest N° 1.
For carrying forward the automatic action set up by the air escaping from the
channels B of wind chest 1, to any number of wind chests or pairs of wind chests
forming a series, the same arrangement is employed as that above described. Thus,
air is allowed to escape from the channels of the wind chest 3, down passages I, to
cells F of the wind chest 4, fitted with diaphragms K, which diaphragms operate
double valves L for the purpose of supplying air from a chamber M (in connection
with an air reservoir) to pallet operating diaphragms O, as already described with
reference to wind chest 2.-If the channels B of the wind chest 4 are connected
with a pair of wind chests, like 3 and 4, the like arrangement to that shewn at
Fig. 1 will be employed. The effect of this will be, on the depression of a given
key in the manual or pedal, to make the corresponding note in all the stops supplied,
for the time being, with wind from their respective wind chests, to sound simul-
taneously. Let it now be supposed that the wind chest 1 is supplied with air at a
pressure of fifteen inches; that the wind chest 2 is supplied with air at a pressure
of 5 inches; and that the air supplied to the wind chests 3 and 4, is at the pressures
of ten inches and 3 inches respectively.
•
If, now, by the depression of the key, the armature H, Fig. 1, is drawn upwards,
the valve g will be made to close the opening f¹, and open an escape for the com-
pressed air below the diaphragm E.-The escape of air from the underside of the
diaphragm will cause the air above, or in the wind chest proper, to force down the
diaphragm to the dotted position of Fig. 1, and open the pallet D. Supposing,
now, the slide C to be open,-the pipe corresponding to the opened pallet will
sound, and at the same time a portion of the compressed air admitted by the
opened pallet to the cliannel B will pass down the passage I, enter the cell F of the
wind chest 2, lift the diaphragm K. against the inferior pressure of the air in
the wind chest 2, and at the same time lift the valve L from its normal or seated
position, to that shewn by dots. The result of this movement will be, to close the
chamber M against the atmosphere, and allow the compressed air supplied to the
chamber M to act upon the diaphragm O, and open the pallet of the wind chest 2,
corresponding to the note represented by the depressed key.-Air will thus be
admitted to the channel B to sound the note required, and a portion of this air will
then pass by the passage I to the under side of the diaphragm P, and raise that
diaphragm, together with the valve g² of the wind chest 3, with which it is con-
nected. The rise of the valve g² will, like that applied to the wind chest 1, close
the opening f, and open the cell F to the atmosphere.-The effect of this will be
to withdraw the support from the underside of the diaphragm E, and cause the.
compressed air in the wind chest 3 to open the pallet connected with that diaphragm.
Here, again, a repetition of the action already described with reference to the wind
chest 1 will take place. The pipe corresponding to the open pallet and to the
depressed key, will sound; a portion of the compressed air from the wind chest 3
will pass to the underside of the diaphragm K of the wind chest 4, force it up
against the pressure of the air in that wind chest, lift the valve L, admit air to the
diaphragm O, and thereby ensure the speaking of the pipe commanded by the
depressed pallet in the wind chest 4. In this description of the action of the organ,
I have assumed a slide C of each wind chest to be drawn. This ensures a sufficient
leakage for the air used as a motive force, for obtaining the synchronous action, to
escape, without providing any special contrivance for that purpose. In order, how-
ever, to ensure a rapid reiteration of the organ, when none of the slides of the wind
chest 1 are drawn, I may pierce in those slides, or one of them only, minute air
channels cc, as indicated in the detached views Fig. 3, which shew holes drilled
through the slides, between the vent holes, to form an escape for the air from the
channels to the 'exposed edges of the slides. This escape will take place immediately
the pallet is closed, and thus relieve the diaphragm K from the superior pressure
of the air admitted thereto from the air chest 1.-To provide against the unnecessary
working of the pneumatic apparatus of the wind chests 3 and 4, I interpose a

page_text: slide between the wind chests 2 and 3, the drawing of which will be necessary
when the automatic action of the pneumatic apparatus, beyond the wind chest 2, is
required to be set up.
This remark applies not merely to the dividing up of a series of wind chests of
an organ, but it applies also to the opening or cutting off communication between,
say, the swell and the great organ, or the swell and the choir organ.-For this
purpose the channels I of the wind chest 2 are severally connected to branchi
channels which lead directly to the several organs intended to be brought under
the control of the player. These several branch passages will have their respective
slides for controlling the direction of the wind from the wind chest 2 to their
respective organs.
In the foregoing description, the air in the first wind chest of each pair is
mentioned as having superior pressure to that in the second wind chest, but it is
obvious that these conditions may be reversed, without affecting the principle of
the invention.
I have shewn, in Fig. 1, the introduction of the electro magnet for transmitting
the motion of the key to the valve G, which serves to start the pneumatic apparatus
into action. My invention, however, thus far described, is equally applicable to
organs having the ordinary mechanical devices for transmitting the motion of the
keys.
In Sheet II, such an arrangement is illustrated in the sectional view at Fig. 4,
which shews also a modification of the arrangement of pneumatic apparatus above
described, as respects the disposition of the wind chests and their serial connection.―
In this Figure R is a bell crank lever pivotted to the underside of wind chest No 1,
and having one limb connected with a tracker S, leading from the keys, and the
other limb connected to the pallet D of the wind chest No 1. The channel I,
instead of admitting air to a cell F below the diaphragm K, strikes upon the top
of that diaphragm, which forms the bottom of the passage I, and is open on its
underside to the atmosphere. The depression of this diaphragm causes the depres-
sion of the valve L, which is held to its seat by a spring, and the air admitted to
the valve chamber M then passes off in opposite directions, the one stream, by the
passage N, to act on the diaphragm which controls the pallet of the wind chest 2,
and another stream, by a passage N¹, to act on a diaphragm which controls the
pallet of wind chest 3.-In other respects, the serial arrangement above described
is maintained for ensuring the synchronous action of the pallets controlled by the
depressed key.
I will now describe the kind of electro magnet which I prefer to employ when
applying electricity to the playing of organs, and I will also describe the means
which I provide for minimising the electro magnetic force required in my organs.
In Sheet I, Fig. 5, is a side view of an electro magnet and its armature, drawn
to full size. The magnet H₁ is composed of bent laminated plates having
interposed between them strips of oiled paper, or other like non-conductor, the
introduction of which will materially reduce the latent magnetism in the magnet.
This magnet is carried by a bracket piece H2, which carries a fulcrum pin for the
armature H to rock on. The coils are made of fine copper wound upon bobbins H³,
which fit tightly on the limbs of the magnet. To the extremity of the armature is
secured the stem gl of the valve g³, which, when the electric circuit is made, is
lifted by the attracted armature, and caused to initiate the movements described
with reference to Fig. 1.-In this figure it will be seen, that underlying the
armature H is a pneumatic cushion T, which carries a rod t fitted with a button t¹
on which the armature rests.-This rod passes freely through a hole in the armature,
and is thus protected from displacement. By adjusting the button t¹ on its rod,
the armature may be raised and maintained in near proximity to its magnet, so
that a small amount of attraction only will be requisite to draw the armature into
contact with its magnet, and raise the valve g³ connected therewith.
The pneumatic cushion T is fitted in a transverse rail carrying cushions corre-
sponding in number to the armatures employed, viz., one for every note in the

page_text: organ, and compressed air is supplied to this rail from any convenient source.—
Each cushion consists of an elastic diaphragm, to the centre of which is secured a
disc which carries the rod t.
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
1. Connecting together two or more wind chests supplied with different and
'appropriate pressures of air (and fitted with pneumatic levers for opening their
pallets), in such manner, that a portion of the wind admitted to the grooves or
channels of the first wind chest, will set up a synchronous action in such of the
wind chests as may be brought within the control of the player, as and for the
purpose described.
2. The arrangement of pneumatic levers and valves as described, in connection
with wind chests supplied with different pressures of air, and connected together
as above explained, for the purpose of operating the pallets of the various wind
chests synchronously.
3. The means described with. reference to Figs. 3 for instantly reducing the
pressure of air in the grooves or channels when their pallets are closed.
4. The construction of valve shewn at Figs. 2, and the adaptation of such valves
to wind chests for insuring the proper action of the compressed air of such - wind
chests on the pneumatic levers which control the pallets.
5. In connection with the armatures of electro-magnets used for transmitting the
motion of organ keys, the pneumatic cushions above described for maintaining the
armatures in close proximity to the poles of their respective magnets, for the purpose
above set forth.