IN
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Henry Sugg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th February 1878.
EDWIN HENRY SUGG, of Twickenham, in the County of Middlesex.
MENTS IN ORGANS."
" IMPROVE-
This Invention relates to the improvement of the action commonly known as the
"pneumatic action," and has for its object the construction and arrangement of
apparatus whereby the striking of any key in rapid succession will ensure the equally
rapid repetition and distinct utterance of any note or pipe with which it may be in
communication.
The Invention consists in constructing and fixing above the ends of the keys a
chamber equal in length to the key board. This chamber is made of metal, the front
and back thereof being removable. The back has its interior side planed and faced
to a level surface, and above each key there are two holes or ports situated one above
the other, the lower one being a wind port, while the other serves as an escape port.
In front of each pair of holes there is a faced sliding valve or cover, something like
that of a steam cylinder slide valve.
Each valve is attached to a vertical spindle or guide rod that slips through holes
in the top and bottom of the chamber, and is provided with a spring to keep the
valve down when not in action, the bottom of the rod resting on the end of the
key. A suitable orifice is made in this chamber communicating with a bellows.
giving a heavy pressure of wind.
Beneath the wind chest, that is below the pipes, are fixed small cylinders corre-
sponding in number to the keys and wind ports. Each of these cylinders is provided

page_text: with an opening which serves both as a wind inlet and outlet, and has also at its lower
part an air vent. Each cylinder is furnished, too, with a piston and piston rod that
works through holes in the top and bottom of the cylinder. The upper part of the
piston rod is connected by a wire or rod which passes through the wind chest, and
is attached to a pallet or valve beneath the foot of each pipe. Each wind port in
the chamber described has a tube leading from it to the wind inlet of the cor-
responding cylinder.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The wind chest being charged, and a
heavy pressure of wind being supplied to the chamber before mentioned, on
pressing down a key on the key board the other end of the key rises and lifts the
guide rod and valve, whereupon the wind will rush through the wind port and tube
to the cylinder above, where it will force down the piston, which through the interven-
tion of the wires or rods will draw down the pallet or valve beneath the foot of the pipe
and allow air from the wind chest to enter the pipe and cause it to speak. On
removing the finger from the key the opposite end falls, and is followed by the valve,
which then cuts off the supply of wind to the wind port, and opens a communica-
tion between it and the escape port.
The consequence is the wind above the piston is free to escape, and as the pallet
or valve beneath the pipe is pressed upwards by a spring, the piston rises and dis-
charges the waste wind into the tube, and from thence to the escape port, where it
finds an exit.
By this arrangement of apparatus the most rapid fingering will be responded to
by an equally rapid and distinct utterance from the pipes, thus constituting a great
improvement upon organs as at present constructed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Henry Sugg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
August 1878.
EDWIN HENRY SUGG, of Twickenham, in the County of Middlesex.
MENTS IN ORGANS,"
"IMPROVE-
This Invention relates to the improvement of the action commonly known as the
"pneumatic action," and has for its object the construction and arrangement of
apparatus whereby the striking of any key in rapid succession will ensure the
equally rapid repetition and distinct utterance of any note or pipe with which it
may be in communication.
The Invention consists in constructing and fixing above the ends of the keys a
chamber equal in length to the key board. This chamber is made of metal, the front
and back thereof being removable. The front, however, may be made of wood, if
found more convenient. The back has its interior side planed and faced to a level
surface, and above each key there are two holes or ports, situated one above the
other, the lower one being a wind port, while the other serves as an escape port. In
front of cach pair of holes there is a faced sliding valve or cover, something like that
of a steam cylinder slide valve.
Each valve is attached to a vertical spindle or guide rod that slips through holes
in the top and bottom of the chamber, and is provided with a spring to keep the
valve down when not in action, the bottom of the rod resting on the end of the
key. A suitable orifice is made in this chamber communicating with a bellows giving
a pressure of wind.
Beneath the wind chest, that is below the pipes, are fixed cylinders corresponding
in number to the keys and wind ports. Each of these cylinders is provided
with an opening which serves both as a wind inlet and outlet, and has also at
its lower part an air vent. Each cylinder is furnished, too, with a piston and
piston rod that works through holes in the top and bottom of the cylinder. The
upper part of the piston rod is connected by a wire or rod which passes through
the wind chest and is attached to a pallet or valve beneath the foot of each pipe.
Each wind port in the chamber described has a tube leading from it to the wind
inlet of the corresponding cylinder.
In order that the foregoing may be more easily understood, Drawings are
attached hereto, of which the following is a description.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the metallic chamber before referred to, with
that part of the frame of it forming the end removed in order to see the inside.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a part of the same chamber which extends the
whole length of the key board, and from which the front plate has been partially
removed, so as to see the interior.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the cylinder, also before mentioned.
Fig. 4 is a front view of one of the valves; Fig. 5 is a back view; Fig. 6 is a side
sectional elevation; and Fig. 7 is a plan of the same.
In each of the Figures similar letters refer to the same parts.
In Fig. 1 A is the interior of the chamber made with a front plate B, back
plate C, and rectangular frame D, which forms the top, bottom, and ends of the
chamber. This chamber may be conveniently made of soft metal, that is to say, a
mixture of tin, lead, and antimony, and the inside of the back plate thereof must be
truly planed or otherwise brought to a sinooth and level surface.
In order to prevent its warping, the outside may be strengthened by webs or ribs
along and across it at suitable intervals to give it rigidity. E is the back end of
one of the keys, and upon it rests the collar F of the spindle G. This collar and
spindle are screwed so as to adjust the length of the spindle to suit any little
variation that may exist in the height of the keys. The spindle G slides through
the bottom and top of the chamber, and has attached to it a slide valve H, also made
of soft metal and faced on the side next the back. The spindle G is fixed to. the

page_text: valve by a pin I that passes through a hole in the spindle, and is screwed into the
valve, a piece of leather J, seen more distinctly in Fig. 4, being inserted between.
Between the valve and the top of the chamber, a spiral spring K is coiled round
the upper part of the spindle G for the purpose of keeping the valve down when not
raised by the key. Lis the wind port shown in dotted lines, as communicating
with the pipe M that leads to the cylinder N. This cylinder is one of those spoken
of as being fixed below the wind chest, and may be made also of soft metal
furnished with a piston O and piston rod P, the latter sliding through the top and
bottom of the cylinder. To the top of the piston rod there is a hook Q for attach-
ment to the wire or other connection with the pallet of the organ pipe.
There is a lug R cast on one side of the cylinder for the more convenient attach-
ment, by screws or otherwise, to a supporting bar within the organ.
It is
The manner in which these cylinders are supported will vary with the space
available, and the other arrangements of any particular organ.
The size of the cylinder, too, may vary, but the following may be taken as a rule
for the guidance of the constructor. Presuming nine inches of wind to be at com-
mand, it will be necessary to ascertain what weight is required to pull down the
pallet of, say, CC on a church organ. Supposing that this is found to be ten and
a half ounces, then the area of the cylinder must be such that being nine inches
high it will hold double the weight of water required to pull down the pallet.
In the Drawing the piston is shown in the position it would be when forced down
by the pressure of wind, the air in the lower part of the cylinder being driven
out through the holes S, S. When not acted upon by a pressure of wind it will
assume the position shown in dotted lines.
The top and bottom of the piston may have plain surfaces, or they may be hollowed
out to lighten the weight, but it is desirable to have one or more grooves T on its
periphery to ensure greater air tightness..
In Fig. 2 U is the wind trunk or channel for conveying wind to the chamber A.
This conduit for wind may be made of any convenient form and material and
may be attached by screws or otherwise. In the Fig. 2 it is shown as rectangu-
lar in section where it joins the chamber, but as it recedes from this point it may
assume a round or any other suitable form. In the same Figure the valves H¹
and H2 are depicted as raised or open, so as to show the wind ports L.
The materials of which the parts are made where two rubbing surfaces come in
contact, may, to reduce friction, vary, the one being of soft metal and the other of
brass or gun metal.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The wind chest being charged, and a
pressure of wind being supplied to the chamber before mentioned, on pressing
down a key on the key board the other end of the key E rises and lifts the guide
rod or spindle G and valve H, whereupon wind will rush from U through the wind
port L and tube M to the cylinder N above, where it will force down the piston O,
which through the intervention of the wires or rods will draw down the pallet or
valve beneath the foot of the pipe, and allow air from the wind chest to enter the
pipe and cause it to speak. On removing the finger from the key the opposite end
falls, and is followed by the valve H, which then cuts off the supply of wind to the
wind port L, and opens a communication between it and the escape port V.
The consequence is the wind above the piston is free to escape, and as the pallet
or valve beneath the pipe is pressed upwards by a spring, the piston rises and dis-
charges the waste wind into the tube M and from thence to the escape port V, where
it finds an exit.
By this arrangement of apparatus the most rapid fingering will be responded to
by an equally rapid and distinct utterance from the pipes, thus constituting a great
improvement upon organs as at present constructed.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of this Invention, and
the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the precise details
or arrangements which I have described or referred to, as variations may be made

page_text: therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of this Invention,
but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The construction of the chamber and valves together with their appliances
and the arrangement of them for the purpose herein set forth, and as herein-before
described, and shown on the Drawings, Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
And, Secondly. The construction and employment of cylinders, pistons, and piston
rods for the purpose herein set forth, and as herein-before described, and shown on
the Drawings, Fig. 3.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Henry Sugg, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
EDWIN HENRY SUGG. (L.S.)