Year: 1886

page_text: w
In octave couplers for organs, and it
consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be set
forth more fully hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of parts of an organ-action embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken in the direction of the length of the keys.
Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.
Fig 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views of my improved form of hinge to journal
the tracker-rods.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of one of the tracker-pins and its button, and
Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale.
A represents a portion of the organ-case, and B is the key-frame of the same.
In the illustration enough only of an organ is shown to fully illustrate my
improvements, as the manner of applying them will be readily understood by
persons skilled in the art of organ-building.
CC designate the pitmen frames, in which the pitmen or tracker-pins D work
in perforations made for them. Each pitmen or tracker-pin D is provided near its
lower end with a button D¹. The upper ends of the pitmen or. tracker-pins D
enter eyes in the button Ds secured to the under faces of the key-levers E. These
buttons Ds are prevented from turning on their pivots by small brace-wires D*,
entering the sides of the buttons D³ and the under faces of the key-levers E.
F designates a hinged or" pivoted (preferably diamond shaped) board, which
is shown arranged in rear of the pitmen frames in this instance.
To the face of the board F farthest from the pitmen-frames C C the double
tracker-pin rods H are secured in bearings H¹. The tracker-pin rods have the
points of their arms H³ at their lower end flattened, and these flattened ends rest
upon the buttons or collars D¹ near the lower end of the tracker-pins or pitmen D.
The upper ends of the tracker-pin rods have horizontally curved arms H2 which..
extend over the upper pitmen-board, and have their laterally curved ends engage

page_text: the under faces of the buttons D³ on the under faces of the key-levers, when the
board F is vertical, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2.
When the board F is inclined toward the tracker-pins, in the position shown in
dotted lines in the said figure, the curved upper ends of the tracker-pin rods are
out of engagement with the buttons under the key-levers, and the latter can be
played upon without affecting the tracker-pin rods.
The upper edge of the board F is connected to a sliding arm F³, which extends
back in rear of the keys.
The front side of the board F is bevelled on its upper and lower edges as at f, in
order to enable said board to be inclined in the direction of the tracker-pins, as
before described, and the tracker-pin rods are journalled to this board by means of
bearing-plates L and L' which are secured on the bevelled edges of the boards by
means of screws or rivets.
These plates are formed of pieces of sheet brass or other suitable material, and
the edges of these plates that project beyond the edges of the board, are notched
as at a, leaving intervening tongues b, which are inclined to correspond with the
inclination of the tracker-pin rods, being at right angles thereto, and the outer
edges of the tongues are bent rearwardly, about three-fourths around the tracker-
pin rods to form bearings therefor.
This manner of forming the bearings for the tracker-pin rods is advantageous
over the mode in common practice of journalling said rods separately, being much
cheaper and more secure and firm.
The pivoted lug for the attachment of the sliding-arm is formed with the
bearing-plate L, and at the ends of the lower bearing-plate L' are formed bearings (1
by means of which the board F is hinged or pivoted at its lower end to the organ-
action as at F³. The inner sides of the bearings b are lined with felt bushing as
at d to prevent metallic sounds.
The lower ends of the tracker-pins rest upon the valves V which are of the usual
construction.
The outer end of the arm F" is secured by a pivoted bent pin F When the
depending end of said pin is swung up out of contact with the end of the arm F',
said arm can be drawn outwardly a distance sufficient to incline the board F and
withdraw the ends of the tracker-pin rods out of contact with the buttons D¹
and D3 and throw the coupler off.
I have found by actual test and comparison that it requires but little more
pressure to press the keys down in my construction when the coupler is on
than it does in the construction heretofore made, when the coupler is off, for the
reason that it brings the weight that is required to press the keys down directly
under the centre of the keys, or at a point where the least weight is required to
operate the same; and, at the same time, by using only one wire or lever, both
ends of the same resting on or under the buttons on the tracker-pins when one key
is pressed down upon, the octave either above or below, as the case may be, goes
down with it and increases or nearly doubles the power of the instrument.
The
coupler is made in two sections the one coupling up and the other down from or
near the centre of the key-board; but the coupler may be put in so as to couple
through the key-board in either direction, up or down. The levers lie in an inclined
position one above the other, but do not touch. Further, they occupy a space not
otherwise used, and take up but little space in the action.
This coupler can be applied to organs of different constructions with but a slight
change and at but little expense.
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. The combination, in an organ-action, of the hinged or pivoted board F, the
tracker-pin rods, and the bearing-plates secured to the board, and having the

page_text: tongues bent around the tracker-pin rods, to form journals or bearings therefor,
substantially as described.
2. The combination, in an organ-action, of the hinged or pivoted board F, the
tracker-pin rods, and the bearing-plates secured to the board and having the
tongues bent around the tracker-pin rods, to form bearings therefor, one of said
bearing-plates having the bearings formed with it, to hinge or pivot the board,
substantiallyas described.
3. The combination, in an organ-action, of the hinged or pivoted board F, the
sliding rod for operating said board, the tracker-pin rods, and the bearing-plates
secured to the board and having the tongues bent around the tracker-pin rods to
form bearings therefor, one of said bearing-plates having the pivoted lugs 7 for the
attachment of the sliding-rod, substantially as described.
4. The bearing-plates having the tongues bent to form bearings for the tracker-
pin rods, substantially as described.
5. The bearing-plates having the tongues bent to form bearings for the tracker-
pin rods, and the bushing in said bearings, surrounding the tracker-pin rods, to
prevent metallic sounds, from the latter, substantially as described.
6. The combination in an organ-action, of the key-levers having the buttons on
their under sides, the tracker-pins, having the buttons D' near their lower ends,
the hinged or pivoted board F, and the tracker-pin rods journalled to the board F.
having flattened lower. bent ends adapted to bear on the buttons D¹, and the
curved horizontally-bent upper arms adapted to bear under the buttons on the
key-levers, when the board F is vertical, and to move out of the paths of said
buttons when the board is inclined toward the tracker-pins, substantially as-
described.
7. The combination of the tracker-pins having the buttons near their lower
ends, the keys having the buttons D on their under sides, said buttons being
provided with openings to receive the upper ends of the tracker-pins, the hinged
board F, and the tracker-pin rods journalled thereon, and having arms bearing
against the buttons on the keys and tracker-pins, substantially as described.
8. The combination of the tracker-pins having the buttons near their lower ends,
the keys having the buttons on their under-sides, the hinged board F, the arm F³,
secured to the free edge of the board F, for inclining said board, and the tracker-
pin rods journalled on the said board, and having arms bearing on the buttons of
the keys and tracker-pine, substantially as described.
9. The combination of the tracker-pins having the buttons near their lower ends,
the keys having the buttons on their under sides, the hinged board F, the sliding
arm F, secured thereto, the bent pivoted pin F for locking the outer end of the
arm F, and the tracker-pin rods journalled on the hinged board, and bearing
against the buttons on the keys, and tracker-pins, substantially as described.
10. The combination of the tracker-pins, with the keys, and the tracker-pin rods
connecting the tracker-pins with the keys, and adapted to be actuated by the latter
to cause the movement of the tracker-pins, as set forth.
11. The combination with the tracker-pins, of the keys, the hinged or pivoted
board, the tracker-pin rods connecting the keys with the tracker-pins, and a
sliding-arm to actuate the pivoted board and hold the parts out of engagement, as
Bet forth.