Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1888
Specification Accepted, 27th July, 1888
I, GEORGE THOMAS HYDE of 4 Little Moorfields E.C. in the City of London
Consulting Engineer 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 to musical wind instruments wherein the length of the
vibrating column of air required for notes or musical sounds of different pitches is
varied and controlled by valves which open and close communication between loop
shaped tubes of different lengths.
The object of this invention is to effect the opening and closing of the valves with
greater facility and promptness also to provide a more convenient mouthpiece and
also to avoid the communication of the tubes not, required for the production of the
note, with those through which the air column is passing. To effect these several
desiderata the nature of this invention may be briefly stated to consist of a mouth
tube formed and attached in the novel manner hereinafter described and claimed and
a novel construction of a piston valve having a helical motion for opening and
closing and suitable tubes connected therewith in a manner to be hereinafter fully
described.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings
Figure 1 shows a cornet with this improvement incorporated in it.
Figures 2 and 3 respectively front and side elevations of one of the valve chambers
or pumps."
66
Figure 4 an elevation of a valve and its connected operating attachments, the case
or chamber being shown in dotted lines.
Figure 5 the valve proper.
Figure 6 the valve stem and key for operating the valve.
Figure 7 the cap of the valve chamber.
Figure 8 the bottom of the valve chamber.

page_text: Figure 9 the helical spring for raising the valve.
Figure 10, the mouth pipe with the mouth piece and draining valve.
Figure 11 a vertical central section of a valve chamber and valve in which the
helical or spiral guide is formed on the valve stem like a screw and working through
a nut produces the required helical motion of the connected valve.
The mouth tube A is of a continuously increasing diameter or taper from the.
mouthpiece A' to the point of its attachment to the valve chamber B¹ in contradistinc-
tion from mouthtubes heretofore used in which a series of tapering tubes were united
by intermediate cylindric tubes such interruptions in the expansion of the tube require
a greater force of blast and impare the clearness of tone as compared with mouthpieces
having a continuously increasing diameter throughout their length as I have described.
The same letters of reference designate the saine parts in the several figures.
A represents the mouth. tube having a mouthpiece A and a draining valve A² at
its lowest bend, the curves and diametral proportions shown in, and indicated by the
drawing in Figures 1 and 10 are found to produco the best results in clearness of note,
and form an important feature of my invention and are necessary for its successful
operation.
The end A3 of the mouth tube A is attached to the first cylindric valve chamber B
at the point or opening B' three valve chambers B are shown in figure 1.
the
The valve chamber B is closed by a cap B2 at the upper end through which the
valve stem C passes fitting closely but so as to slide and turn freely therein;
lower end of the valve chamber B is closed by a bottom B³ which serves as a support
to the case of the spring D; connected with the valve chamber B is a loop shaped
tube E both ends of which are attached to the chamber B at the openings marked B*
and B.-
Fitted air tight within the valve chamber B is the valve C which slides and turns
freely therein and is forced upward by the spring D; the motion of the valve C being
helical in consequence of a projecting pin C attached thereto fitting,and. sliding in a
helical groove Be in the valve chamber B.
Upon the upper end of the valve stem C is the key by means of which the
valve is depressed by the finger of the player; the keys C3 are fitted into the valve
stem C so as to turn freely therein so that the pressure of the fingers on the keys C
shall not impede the helical or partially rotative motion of..the valve.C.
The valves C are made hollow and as light as is consistent with strength; in each.
valve C there are openings C made in pairs, the openings of each pair being con-
nected by a light curved tube C; the location of the openings C is such in relation
to the loop-shaped tubes E at their points of attachment to the valve; chambers Bas
to coincide in one position with the tubes E and establish communication through the
tube E with other, coils of the instrument and, in another position to close such com-..
munication through the tube E and shorten the operative length of the tube and the
vibrating air column contained, therein, in all cases, providing an internally: smooth
tube for containing the vibrating air, column.
By making the tubular connections, through the valves C.helical, and providing'
a helical guide to control the motion of the valve, I am enabled to place the
apertures in the valves closer together, and a very small extent of. motion of the
valve, and its connected key C³ is required and I am enabled to so, form the com-
munication through the valve C with the looped tubes E that in every instance'a
perfectly smooth tube is presented for each, note, and in, no case is it impaired by
partial communication with any of the looped tubes not forming part of the conduit;
required for the air column demanded for such note..
In the form of valve chamber shown in section in figure 11 the helical guide instead,
of being formed on the valve itself as shown in figures 2 and 3.is formed, on the
valve stein, The valve stem in this case being in effect a screw. of rapid pitch working
through a nut and provided with a swivelled, head forming a key susceptible of
rotating freely upon the upper part of the valve stem is, attached to the valve by a
hinged joint which whilst it transmits rotation, and lengthwise motion to the valve;
avoids cramping or sticking if not in exact alignment with the valve,

page_text: By reason of the small extent of motion required and the extreme lightness of the
valves, a rapidity and facility of motion is procured, not heretofore practicable and
the smooth continuity of tube presented for the air column required for each note,
secures a clearness of tone surpassing that of instruments containing breaks in
continuity, or where the air column in vibration passes over cavities not forming a
proper part of the vibrating column.
The construction of mouth tube shown so disposes of the position of the keys and
valves, as to prove more convenient to the performer.
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
First In musical wind instruments having looped tubes for varying the lengths of
vibrating air columns, the combination of said looped tubes with piston valves
provided with helical guides substantially as herein described and set forth.
Second-In piston valves for musical wind instruments the combination of a piston
valve with a helical guide and rotatory key substantially as herein described and set
forth.
Third In piston valves for musical instruments the combination of helical tubular
passages through the valve, with a helical guiding mechanism substantially as herein
described and set forth.
Fourth In musical wind instruments the combination of a continuously tapered
mouth pipe with valves having conduits therein arranged to register by helical motion
with continuously tapered looped tubes as and for the purpose herein described and
set forth.
15
1
1
1000
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C.,
Agents for Applicant.