Improvements in Dampers for Mechanical Musical Instruments.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Dampers for Mechanical Musical Instruments.
I, JOHANN RIEDL of Hallesche-strasse 16, Leipzig-Gohlis, in the Empire of
Germany, Mechanic, 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 :-
In the improved damping arrangement the point of the vibratory tongue is
caught between the two elastic ends of the damper for the purpose of damping, so.
that it is interrupted suddenly in its vibrations.
In the annexed drawings
Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the arrangement of the dampers D.
supported from below the tongue;
Fig. 2 shows an arrangement in which the damper is supported above the
tongue.
Figs. 3 and 4 are side and end elevations respectively showing the damper on a
larger scale.
Fig. 1 illustrates the moment, in which by the movement of the music-sheet Na
tooth of the operating wheel R touches the tongue S. in order to make it sound.
In Fig. 2 showing the inverted arrangement of the damper is represented the
moment when the wheel R propelled by the music-sheet N, presses the damper D.
forwards, so that it comes into the damping position.
The damper has the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It consists of a spring
operated body D with the two elastic ears L' and L' and a projection B for its.
operation by the teeth of the playing wheel.
The two ears L and L' are bent apart so that the tongue S as in Fig. 4 can:
enter easily between them and be limited in its vibrations, between the ears of the
damper.
The action is as follows:
.
The wheel R is turned by means of the music-sheet and presses with one of its.
teeth against the projection B of the damper, so that the damper is brought forward
against the tongue. The damper swings in the one case from the front and from
above or in the other case from the front, and from below against the tongue and
damps the latter by catching it between its elastic ears L and L. When the-
tooth of the wheel passes off the projection D the damper moves back from
the tongue which is thus released from the damper whereupon the tongue is.
operated in the known manner by the toothed wheel R.
This arrangement allows also a very easy mounting of the playing wheels R
which can be arranged loose upon an axle, whilst they can never move in relation
to the damper being situated between the ears Li L³ of their respective
dampers. Thus the directing of the dampers is completely avoided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven--
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
In a mechanical musical instrument
1. The combination with a vibrating tongue of a damper having elastic ends.
adapted to catch the tongue between them and by limiting its movement prevent it.

page_text: 2. The combination of a series of vibrating tongues and a series of dampers each
consisting of a body D with ears L' L' and a projection B with a series of toothed
wheels R adapted to operate said tongues and dampers and situated each between
the ears L' L of the respective dampers.
Dated this 24th day of September 1896
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., Agents to Applicant.