Year: 1887

page_text: Figure 1 is an end section showing the key action, coupler action, stop action,
combination and pedal action of an organ constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is an end section of some of the flues and side section of one of the wind
compartments of the coupler action.
Figure 3 is a front view of a portion of the stop action.
Figure 4 is an end section of one of the soundboards of my improved organ showing
also one of the flues for working the valves of the said soundboard and the means for
charging and exhausting the said flues.
Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section of part of one of the soundboards, an end
section of three of the flues which operate the valves of the said soundboard and the
means for charging and exhausting the soundboards by the stops.
Figures 6 and
for small organs.
illustrate the method of exhausting the flues at the keys, adapted
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying out my invention I provide for every stop of pipes a separate sound-
board A. The said soundboard is a long narrow chest having pierced in its top the
requisite number of holes A' over which the pipes A rest. The bottom of the
soundboard is pierced with holes A³ corresponding to the holes A but of sufficient
size to admit of the passage through them of the discs B₁ which close the holes. A¹,

page_text: I then take a strip of wood B² say one and three quarter inches wide and three
quarters of an inch thick and of the length of the sound board. In this
strip B are bored holes B3 of about seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, corre-
sponding in position to the holes A³ in the bottom of the soundboard. Over the
holes B I glue discs or pieces of leather C which are pressed cup-shaped into the
holes B. The lower ends of the stickers B which carry the discs B are then
attached to the centres of the leathers C, the said discs and stickers are passed through
the holes A³ in the soundboard and the strip B is then screwed to the bottom of
the said soundboard. The dises B¹, stickers B and leathers C form the pipe valves
and the discs B¹ work between guide pins B. The soundboards are arranged side
by side.
The
To operate the pipe valves I arrange under the said soundboards and transversely
thereto a series of channels or flues Gas many as there are keys to the organ. If
space will permit, these channels or flues G are arranged in one row on the same
horizontal plane. If not, they are arranged in two rows one below the other.
flues G are of sufficient length to extend under the whole of the soundboards and
project at one end a short distance beyond the said soundboards, as shown in figure 1.
Their width may be about one and a quarter inch and depth about one and a quarter
inch. The said flues have flexible tops G¹ formed of sheep skin or other suitable
material pressed down and hanging loosely between the bars G which form the
sides of the flues and glued to the said bars, a bead G³ being sprigged upon the top
of each bar G2 to hold the leather G¹ more securely thereto. The bottoms G of the
said flues G may be of wood or of stout calico with stiff brown paper glued tightly
over it, so as to render the flues air-tight. To the underside of the flexible tops G
of the flues G and just underneath the pipe valves are glued pieces of wood Fabout
two inches long by one and an eighth inch wide and a quarter of an inch in thickness.
Between the flues G and each soundboard A, under the centre of the strip. B² and
running longitudinally therewith is fixed a guide-rail E, through which guide-rail
and under each pipe valve passes a sticker wire D having a button D' at each end.
The flues G are charged with air, at the same pressure as the air in the soundboards,
from a wind-chest H arranged over the ends of the flues G which project beyond
the soundboards A. When the flués G are inflated, the pieces of wood F of the
flexible tops of the said flues press against the lower buttons D₁ of the sticker
wires D causing the said sticker wires to rise and their upper buttons to force the
pipe valves upward and keep the passages A' closed. The moment a key is
depressed its corresponding flue is exhausted and the air inside of the soundboard A
forces down the leather cup C and opens the passage A¹ to the pipe. The area
of the pieces F must be greater than that of the cups C. The same pressure
of wind in the flues G as in the soundboards A will then lift the said pieces F
quickly.
I accomplish the exhausting of the flues G in three ways-that is to say-First,
by exhausting the said flues at the keys, which plan, necessitates less mechanism for
small organs Secondly, by means of a small valve in the end of each flue operated
by a small motor disc, the said motor disc being actuated by air through a tube in
connection with the key apparatus; or, Thirdly, by using electro-magnetis to operate
the valves in the said flues. The valves being small and having no springs are easily
lifted, consequently the electro-magnetic force necessary is minimized.
According to the first plan above mentioned illustrated in figures 6 and 7 I
arrange under the keys a small wind-chest a charged at soundboard pressure.
Under each key * a hole d is bored through the bottom of the wind-chest a* and
through a strip e* secured to the underside of the wind-chest a*. About midway
between the top and bottom of the passsage d✶ a pipe e* branches out at right
angles, the other end of which pipe enters the flue G, figure 7. On depressing the
key the valve * is closed and the valve g* is opened thus exhausting the flue G
and opening the pipe valve. When the key is released the valve * closes by the
action of the spring * and the valve /* opens, thereby charging the flue G from the
wind-chest a*.

page_text: In exhausting the flues according to the second plan above mentioned, I form in
cach flue, under the inlet passage H which admits air to the flue G from the wind-
chest H (as shown in figure 4), an exhaust passage L. This passage is opened and
closed by a valve K carried on a sticker pin K which passes through the exhaust
passage L. This valve K is operated by the motor disc M. The said disc is of
greater area than the valve K and is secured to the underside of the flexible cup-
shaped top of an air-chamber M². This air-chamber may be formed by boring a
hole of about one and three quarter inch in diameter, and one and a half inch deep in
a piece of wood, the top being covered by a piece of leather M (to the underside of
which the disc M is secured) pressed cup-shape into the cavity and glued around the
top of the same. The disc is made to work freely in the hole and being glued to the
underside of the top M' has a better lifting power than if on the top, consequently
the valve K is quickly lifted with the same pressure of wind in the chamber M² as
in the chest H. When the key is depressed the air-chamber M is charged with air,
the valve K closes the passage H' and the flue G is exhausted through the passage L.
When the key is released the pressure on the motor disc M is relieved, the wind in
chest. H forces down the valve K so as to close the passage Land the flue G becomes
charged.
In exhausting the flues G by an electro-magnet, I arrange an electro-magnet N
(as shown in figure 4) to cach flue. When a key is depressed by the performer, the
magnet seizes the armature O at one end of the lever P causing the other end of the
said lever to rise and as the sticker K¹ rests on that end of the lever (the motor disc
being in this case dispensed with) the valve K is raised, the passage H' from the
wind-chest is closed and the exhaust passage L of the flue is opened. On the key
being released the valve K falls and closes the passage L and air enters the flue G
from the chest. H. Qis a tapped wire and button working through a bracket Q¹ to
regulate the fall of the lever P.
Figure 5 shows the means for charging and exhausting the soundboards A by the
stop action. The soundboards A are all supplied with wind from the main wind-
trunk R. This wind-trunk is arranged. at one end of the soundboards A and
transversely thereto, the ends of the soundboards resting on the said trunk, which is
made of sufficient strength to support them. The air passes from the wind-trunk R
to the soundboards A through air-passages R which are closed by valves S weighted
sufficiently to prevent their being lifted by the pressure of the wind in the wind-
trunk R. In the bottom of the wind-trunk R under the valves S are bored holes R².
Over the underside of these holes R2 are glued pieces of leather R³ pressed cup-shape
into the holes R. To the centre of each of the pieces of leather R³ is secured a
sticker which passes upward through the hole K², works freely through a guide-
rail R³ fixed inside the wind-trunk R and passes into the air-passage R¹. A little
below the wind-trunk and immediately beneath the sticker is arranged a wind-
chamber T provided with a flexible top Tas hereinbefore described with respect to
the flues G. To the underside of the top T is secured the stop motor disc T* which
must be of greater area than the leather R³ and over which is a sticker T3 passing
through a guide T and carrying on its upper end a button T which button is in
contact with the leather R when the latter is depressed. The stop having been
drawn and wind admitted to the wind-chamber T through the pipe S (as hereinafter
explained) the disc T, sticker T3, leather R³, sticker R and valve S are raised, and
wind is thus admitted to the soundboard A from the wind-trunk R, the action being
assisted by the pressure of the air in the trunk R against the underside of the valve S.
X is a small valve carried on the top of the free end of the valve S. When the stop
is drawn and the valve S is opened this valve X closes the exhaust Y in the
soundboard.
The wind-chamber T is exhausted through a passage W in its bottom. This
passage is closed by the valve U carried on the flexible top V₁ of the wind-chamber V
which is formed by boring a hole of say one and a quarter inch diameter in a piece
of wood. When air is admitted to the stop tube S¹, the chamber V is charged
through the branch tube S and the valve U is closed. The moment the pressure is

page_text: relieved the valve U is forced open by the wind at the hole W causing the disc T² to
fall quickly.
'
I will now proceed to describe the stop, combination, key, coupling and pedal
actions which are illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3 and which are all worked on the
same principle as the pipe soundboards.
With regard to the key and coupling actions, all the couplers are done pneumatically,
dispensing with slides and levers and other complicated mechanism hitherto in use.
This is accomplished by using small soundboards, valves and flues precisely on the
same principle as the pipe soundboards.
Referring to figure 1, a are the great organ keys and a' are the swell organ keys.
When, say, a great organ key a is depressed it closes the valve and opens the
valve e connected to the said key, cutting off the wind from wind-chest (which is
charged at soundboard pressure) and allows the flue to be exhausted through the
pipe e. These flues fare flexible-topped flues similar to those herein before described.
Over them and arranged transversely thereto are wind-compartaments similar to the
pipe soundboards. A separate wind-compartment is provided for the great and
swell organs and for each coupler, and each compartment has its top bored with as
many holes as there are keys. Over these holes I place pieces of leather, secured at
one edge with glue, which act as check valves i, to check the wind from other couplers
getting back into other compartments. Over each of the said check valves I glue
a piece of wood having a cavity or chamber bored on its underside sufficiently
large for the valve i to work in, and from these cavities or chambers the great and
swell motor-disc tubes 2 and 4 and the coupling tubes 1, 3, 5 and 6 lead.
When the flue is exhausted as above stated the wind in the compartments
presses down the flexible cups which support the valves h, the said valves open and
air passes through the valves to the tubes. No. 2 tubes lead direct to the motor
discs M of the great organ, so that the air passing through these tubes actuates the
great organ motor discs. No. 1 tubes are the great super-octave couplers which are
coupled to tubes an octave higher up on the great organ or No. 2 row of tubes.
No. tubes are coupled to the swell or No. 4 tubes.
It will be seen that similar arrangements are made for the swell organ, a being the
swell organ key, and c valves worked thereby, charging or exhausting flues f
through tubes e gare the swell wind-compartments with valves regulating the
passages to the valves and to the tubes 4, 5 and 6. No. 4 tubes lead direct to the
motor discs M of the swell organ. No. 5 tubes are swell octave couplers, joined to
tubes an octave higher up on the No. 4 row. No. 6 are sub-octave couplers which are
joined to tubes on No. 4 row, an octave lower down.
The coupling compartments are charged with air when the coupling stops are
drawn, but the compartments answering to tubes 2 and 4 are always charged with
wind as they supply the tubes working the great and swell organs.
It will be seen that the coupling flues of the great organ are divided from those
of the swell organ.
The coupling tubes may be joined to octave above, octave below, manual to manual
or pedals to manuals.
Figure 2 shows the coupling flues in end section and one of the coupling wind-
compartments g in side or longitudinal section.
The stop and combination action are of the simplest kind, noiseless and easily
worked.
The stops I wish to combine are placed in rows on a small soundboard with valves
on the same principle as the pipe soundboards, only, instead of a pipe standing over
the valve, a tube is inserted, which leads to the stop motor disc, and again, instead of
the flues being transverse they lie lengthwise. When the flue is inflated no wind
can get into the stop tube, but on drawing the stop knob a small wedge slides out
and presses that part of the flexible top down, consequently the air in the soundboard
opens the valve and rushes to the stop motor disc shown in figure 5.
The group is combined by touching a small piston or button in the key slip, which
turns a brass cock and exhausts the flue. Therefore all the valves open without

page_text: displacing the stop knobs. On touching another button to its right, all the stops are
taken off again except one or two.
The stop and combination action are shown in front elevation in figure 3.
(figure 1) are the stop rods which operate sliding wedge-pieces m each of which
has a central slit to allow a sticker wire m' to work through freely. The stops are
shown drawn. The lower stop rod is attached to its sliding wedge by a screw, the
upper rod works a short lever n to draw its wedge-piece. o are flues with flexible
tops similar to the flues G hereinbefore described. When the stop is shut the
wedge m is in, consequently the wind in the flue o causes the disc o' to lift the
button and close the valve q, therefore no wind can get from wind-chest. r to the
stop tubes S¹ which pass direct to the stop motor discs T figure 5. If a stop is
drawn its wedge-piece m presses down that portion of the flexible top of the flue o
and the disc o helow it, the button falls and the valve of that stop is opened,
the air passing from wind-chest through the tube S fo motor disc T of that
stop.
The stop flue is charged from the wind-chest (which is charged at soundboard
pressure) by the pipe the passage of the air being controlled by the stop-cock u.
This stop-cock
is arranged so as to be worked by a lever on a pivot or fulcrum ¹
and operated by pistons or pushes & working through the key slip. On pushing the
piston the wind is cut off at the stop-cock and the flue o is exhausted through a
small hole drilled in the side of the brass cock ", consequently all the valves on that
row will open without touching the stop knobs. By pressing the piston t¹ the cock u
is again opened, the flue o recharged, and the valves closed.
The pedal action is, as will be seen from the drawing, of exactly the same
construction as the key action except that its flues are charged by a small wind-
chest which is charged at soundboard pressure.
=
When the pedal is depressed, it
operates a lever y which raises a valve so as to close the passage from the wind-
chest z but opening a passage through which the flueff is exhausted. Tubes No. 7
are coupled to the great tubes No. 2. Tubes 8 are coupled to swell tubes No. 4 and
tubes No. 9 work the pedal motor discs.
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:
First The general combination and arrangement of my improved tubular
pneumatic exhaust organ action, whereby I am enabled to work the whole of the key,
pedal, stop, combination and coupler actions of an organ with one pressure of wind,
substantially as herein set forth and illustrated in the drawings.
Second The combination of the flexible-topped flues G and their valves K with
the wind-chest H and motor discs M in air-chambers M², constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third-The combination of the flexible-topped flues G and their valves K with
wind-chest H and electro-magnets for operating the said valves, constructed, arranged
and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth The construction and arrangement of the stop and combination action,
substantially as described and illustrated in figures 1 and 3.
Fifth The construction and arrangement of the means for coupling octaves, the
manuals; and pedals with manuals, substantially as described and illustrated in
figures 1 and 2.
Sixth: The combination with the stop motor-disc T and its air-chamber T, of the
pneumatic exhaust valve for exhausting the said air-chamber, substantially as
described and illustrated in figure 5.
MARTIN HETHERINGTON.