Improvements in Musical Instruments.
Year: 1889

page_text: "
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Musical Instruments.
I, EMIL WELTE manufacturer doing business under the firm of M. Welte &
Söhne in Freiburg in Brisgow, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire,
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:
My invention consists of a new and peculiar construction of the pneumatic
apparatus in mechanical musical instruments and organs by means of which the
opening of the valves to the different musical instruments (flutes, trumpets etc.) is
effected by the aid of the suction wind from the bellows.
In order to make the description more clear I refer to the accompanying drawing;
in which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the several views.
Fig. shows a vertical section through the musical instrument.
Fig. 2 shows a part, of fig. 1 in cross section along line a B and part
elevation:
Fig. 3 shows a vertical section through the pneumatic apparatus drawn to a
larger scale.
Figs. 4-9 show details and modifications in the construction.
Referring to fig. 1: S is the suction chamber of the bellows, which is connected
with the pneumatic apparatus by means of the suction pipe J.
R is the pressure
compartiment of the bellows which delivers wind into the compartment W of the
organ by means of the pipe o. From this chamber W the various instruments of
the organ (flutes, trumpets etc.) are supplied.
The suction chamber S of the bellows is connected with the suction chamber A by
ineans of the pipe J. In the bottom of this chamber A the cavities aa a are
hollowed out at the required distance from each other over which the membranes a' a'
are stretched' and these membranes are connected with the double valves 1 and 2 by
means of rods. The cavities a a are connected by means of canals and pipes b b with
the bridge B or in organs with the notes of the manuals (fig. 9). The cavities at a
are connected with the suction chamber A of the pneumatic apparatus by the small
canals c c which become narrower towards the suction chamber A until at the
entrance to the same, the diameter is only 0, 2
Above the suction chamber A and connected with it by means of the opening d
are the valve chambers C. These chambers C are further.connected with the outside
air by the canals e and at the back end by means of the canal with the pneumatio
lever D (small bellows). To the moveable side of D is connected the rod z which is
in its turn connected with the valve, of the instrument (flute, trumpet etc). The
openings d and e in the valve chamber C will be opened and closed alternately by
means of, the double valves 1 and 2. The spring E serves to help the action of the
valves and for facilitating a quick repetition of the movement. In a position of rest
the valve is closed down over the opening d leading to the suction chamber A as
shown in fig. 3.
The strip of stout, paper F which has the holes through it corresponding to the
tane, is rolled round the roller H, then passed over the bridge B and fastened to the
second roller G. These two rollers G and H are so made that they are easily able
to expand when a change in temperature takes place and in case the paper of the
tune should also expand the disc at one end is loose and pressed against the roller by
a spiral or flat spring or india rubber ring, as shown in figs. 6 and 7, so that no
jamming can take place. G is the driving roller and connected with the gearing
which lis, not shown in the drawing not being essential for the explanation of the
invention.
d

page_text: The bridge B is firmly fixed at one end to the side of the organ box or case whilst
the other end is loose to allow of expansion, on a change of temperature taking
place.
The two rollers. G and H have at one end set screws fixed in the bearing plates of
the same, whereby they can be regulated so as to fit the bridge, should the latter have
shifted its position a little owing to change of temperature.
Fig. 8 shows a modification of the arrangement by means of which the end disc Z¹
of the rollers H or G may be pushed out in the case of the paper expanding. Instead
of the wooden roller a metal hollow roller is used. The disc is attached to a wooden
roller and this is passed into the end of the hollow metal roller. The wooden roller
has a split in its end which lies inside the hollow roller and in this split lies a spring
which has a tendency to press the two halves of the wooden roller against the inside
of the hollow roller thereby preventing the same from slipping about too easily. The
disc on the other end of this hollow roller is fixed, and a spring is placed between it
and its bearing so that the working of the arrangement is as follows:
Should the tune sheet, in consequence of an atmospheric change expand; the
moveable disc shown in fig. 8 will be pressed outwards or rather the spring between
the fixed disc and its bearing will be pressed together, when the paper contracts
again, the spring resumes its normal condition, so that the discs are always held
against the ends of the paper roll.
.:
When now it is desired to produce a crescendo effect the holes in the tune sheet for
the purpose, come over the slit in the bridge B, air enters the pipe bowing to the
suction in pipe J, the valve v is drawn downwards and with it lever D. The lever D¹,
by means of the connection de pulls the upper arm of lever M down, whereby the
valve me is opened, by means of levers m³ m³ and more wind is allowed to pass to
the pipes through this extra opening m². When decrescendo is to be played; the hole
in the tune sheet has passed over the slit in the bridge B and D' is no longer held
down by the vacuum in consequence the valve m³ is closed by the force of
spring ms.
In order to support and strengthen the atmospheric pressure, especially in case
where the pipes conuecting the bridge with the pneumatic arrangement are very
long, and also for cleaning purposes I have introduced a wind supply block K
placed just over the bridge B (fig. 4) which is connected by an india rubber pipe
with the pressure side of the bellows and when in use this wind block K is placed at
a distance of about 10 " from the bridge B.
This wind supply block K has a slit along its under side, which corresponds
exactly with the slit in the bridge. The under side of this wind block is made of
india rubber and of such shape that when it is used for cleaning-blowing out-the
bridge it is brought close on to the bridge and the india rubber part closes air tight on
to the same.
•
"
:
The wind block K may be vertically moved over the bridge B and this is achieved
by means of its frame which runs in vertical slits in the frame of the instrument.
The working of the pneumatic apparatus is as follows:
Wind is forced from the pressure side R of the bellows through the pipe o into
the store chamber W which communicates with the pipes and valves of the different
stops. The suction chamber of the bellows however draws its air through the pipe J
from the suction chamber A and of course at the same time sucks air through the
small canal c from the pipe b and bridge B over which the strip F lies. By this
means the strip F will be continually sucked down on to the bridge B. As soon now
as a hole in the tune strip F comes over the slit in the bridge, the air will be drawn
through the same, comes under and raises the membrane « closing the valve 2 against
the upper side of the chamber C opening the valve 1 whereby the air from the
pneumatic lever D will be drawn into the suction chamber A. In consequence the
pneumatic lever D falls down, drawing the connecting rod z down and thereby
'setting the pipe connected therewith (flute, trumpet etc.) in action. As soon as the
hole in the tune paper has passed over the slit in the bridge, the valve 1 is closed by
the atmospheric pressure outside and the air enters the pneumatic apparatus D when

page_text: by means of a spring the instrument connected to the rod z will be closed and set out
of action. On account of the small canal c a certain amount of vacuum will always
exist in the pipe b and bridge slit whereby the tune paper F will always be sucked
down on to the bridge B.
By this simple arrangement described in the foregoing, an effective and dependent
working of the various valves is insured and it has many advantages over the com-
plicated mechanisms used for the same purpose up to the present.
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.) In mechanical musical instruments: the combination of the double valve 1, 2
governed by the spring E and membrane a', the latter covering the opening between
the suction chamber A and valve chamber C, with the connecting canal c and with
the pneumatic apparatus D having the connection z with the valves of the different
instruments (flutes, trumpets etc.) and valve v; the chamber A being in open
communication with the suction chamber of the bellows and with the bridge B of a
hand organ, or manual x of a church organ, in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as described.
2.) In mechanical musical instruments: the combination of the double valve 1, 2
membrane a¹ suction chamber A, valve chamber C, pneumatic apparatus D and
bridge B with the wind block K connected with the pressure chamber R of the
bellows in the manner and for the purpose, substantially as described.
3.) In mechanical musical instruments: the combination of the double valve 1, 2,
membrane a², suction chamber A, valve chamber C, pneumatic apparatus D and
bridge B with the strip of paper perforated to produce the tune and running on the
rollers G and H having on their one end the loose disc z¹ governed by the spring 2³
or india rubber ring in the manner and for the purpose, substantially as
described.
4.) In mechanical musical instruments: the combination of double valve 1, 2,
membrane a¹, suction chamber A, pneumatic apparatus D', connection d³,
levers M, N, m¹ m², valve m² and spring m³ in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as described.
Datad this 20th day of May 1889
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.