Improvements in or relating to Musical Instruments.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Musical Instruments.
1, ROBERT HOPE-JONES M.I.E.E. of 55 and 57 Argyle Street, Birkenhead in the
County of Chester, Consulting Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates for the most part to improvements in modifications of the
apparatus for producing musical tones described under the head of "Diaphones" in
the Specification of my application for Patent No. 22414 dated November 20th 1894.
Whereas in the specification above referred to "diaphones," in which a motor or its
equivalent was directly connected with a valve, were moro particularly described, now
a portion of this invention relates to similar "diaphones" in which the motor or its
equivalent is connected with its valve through the medium of a pneumatic relay that
is to say diaphones in which the motor or diaphragm moves an intermediary valve
which regulates the pressure exerled upon a second-motor and thereby causes the
movement of a valve which sets up or helps to set up or maintain sonorous vibrations.
in the pipe or resonator. In such diaphone the wind which operates the first motor
may be obtained from the same or from a different source from that which operates
the second motor.
This invention also in part relates to "diaphones" in which the mouthpiece or tube
supplying compressed air communicates with a barrel valve (shaped like a thimble)
working within or over a tube which is connected to or forms part of the resonator,
such barrel valve being driven or vibrated by reason of its closed end acting as the
motor.
It also in part relates to a form of diaphone having a fixed valve located withinja
wind chamber and having a valve seat which itself forms. the movable part of the
motor, so arranged that wind pressure (or suction) shall momentarily separate the seat
froin its valve.
It also in part relates to the use of resonators of readily variable length or capacity,
which cause the selfsame diaphone to omit notes of varying pitch.
'
It also in part relates to endless modification in the tone quality of diaphones which
may be made by means of varieties in the resonators employed (if any) and by the
shape, style, position and multiplication of the valves.
Dated this 12th day of November 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the. Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Musical Instruments.
I, ROBERT HOPE-JONES M.I.E.E., of 55 and 57 Argyle Street, Birkenhead in the
County of Chester, Consulting Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, toibe particularly
described and ascertained. in.and by the following statement :-
This invention relates for the most part to improvements or modifications of the
apparatus for producing musical tones described under the head of "Diaphones" in
the Specification of my Patent No. 22414, dated November 20th 1894.
Whereas in the specification above referred to," diaphones;" in which a motor or its

page_text: equivalent was directly connected with a valve, were more particularly described, now
a portion of this invention relates to similar diaphones "in. which the motor or its
equivalent is connected with its valve through the medium of a pneumatic relay, that
is to say, diaphones in which the motor or diaphragm moves an intermediary valve,
which regulates the pressure exerted upon a second motor and thereby causes the
movement of a valve which sets up or helps to set up or maintain sonorous vibrations
in the pipe or resonator. In such diaphone.the wind which operates the first motor
may be obtained from the same or from a different source from that which operates
the second motor:
This invention will be more clearly,understood by aid of the accompanying drawings,
in which,
Figure 1 is a form of diaphone upon the pneumatic relay.principle;
Figure 2 is a form of diaphone baving a barrel valve, the valves also forming the
motor;
Figures 2 and 2 are enlarged fragmentary, views of Figure 2;
Figure 3 shows a diaphone having a fixed valve with a vibrating valve seat, said
seating also forming the motor;
Figure 4. is a diaphone having two.valves ;,
Figure. 5 shows the foot of a resonating chamber containing a series of valves, the
said valves also operating as motors.
Referring to Figure 1; A' is a pipe from the soundboard' from which.air under
pressure is received into the, chamber B, Cis the main motor attached to. and
operating the valves D'and 'D' and 'regulated by the spring d and thumbscrew-d, E'is
an auxiliary motor open to the resonator H; the said motor E is connected by a wiro
rod to the auxiliary valves F and F which control the motor C, by allowing wind or
air: to pass from the chamber B by way of the passage G to, the back of the said
motor the motor E may be regulated by altering the amount of tension on the
spring I'
The action of this relay form of diaphone is as follows:-
The pressure entering the chamber B acts upon the outer surface of the motor E,
thereby closing the valve Fand opening the valve F. The wind pressure in the
ohamber B then acts upon the outer surface of the motor C causing it to collapse, and
lift the equilibrium valves D and D from their seats, wind under pressure thereby
being permitted to pass to the lower part of the resonator H, acts upon the interior of
the motor Ein such a manner as to allow the spring Ito open the valvo F and close
the, valve F. The compressed air in the chamber B then finds its way through
the passage G'into the motor and allows the spring d'to close the equilibrium
valves. D'and 'D'.
This cycle of operations is performed very rapidly and thus it will be seen that a
series of puffs of air is admitted into the resonating chamber H
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to a single relay, as shown
by Figure 1, for.I.may employ two, three..or more as I find convenient, also the use
of the relays is not confined to any special form of diaphone, for I may use the relay
system to any convenient form of diaphone, or combination of diaphone with Bue or
reed pipes.
Figure 2 relates to "dphones" in which the mouthpiece or tube supplying
compressed air. communicates with a barrel valve, (shaped like a thimble) working.
within or over a tube which is connected to or forms part of the resonator, such
barrel.valve, being driven or vibrated by reason. of its closed end-acting as a motor.
Referring to the drawings,, wind unternpressure enters the mouthpiece At raises
the pressure in the chamber Band actingi upon the surface of the sliding barrel
valve C, forces it into the tube Din spite of the tension of the spring Si
The small slits.or. openings. in. the,,movable.. barrel now. correspond. with similar
openings in the fixed tube. D, so that the compressed air in the chamber. B.is, free to
pass into the resonator E..
The action is as follows:
The air suddenly rushing simultaneously through all the small slits or openings

page_text: seeks to escape through the tube H to the atmosphere, but as the column of air
which already fills this tube has weight, and consequently inertia, the escape of the
air is for a brief instant checked, and the pressure inside the barrel valve Crises.
The spring Sovercomes the pressure on the underside of the barrel.and it
promptly returns to its normal position and closes all the slits. When the pulse
of pressure within the barrel has subsided, and is followed by the complementary
rarefaction, the barrel 'is again acted upon by the air in the chamber B and the
Tabove operations are repeated. This of course resalts in. the admission of a series
of puffs of air governed as to frequency by the sympathetic. period, of: the
resonator H. If any of the ordinary keys (not shown) be depressed son as to
uncover a hole and alter the period of the resonator the frequency of the motion
of the barrel valve, will of course be changed, and the instrument will produce &
different note.
Figure 3 relates to a form of diaphone having a fixed valve located within a
wind chamber and having a valve seat which itself forms the movable part of the
motor, so arranged that wind pressure (or suction) shall momentarily separate the
seat from its valve..
Referring to the drawinga, wind, entering the pipe box A and chamber B, presses
upon the surface of the motor C, causing it to collapse in. spite of the tension of
the spring S.. The pallet or valve D is more or less rigidly fixed to the back
of the wind chest as shown. When therefore the motor has been collapsed, the
opening in the back M is left uncovered and wind rushes through it into the pipe H.
This results in a rise of pressure inside the motor and possibly a fall of pressure
on its outer side. In consequence of this the spring is at liberty to act and promptly
opens the motor, thus completing a cycle of operations which is repeated as long as
the wind is allowed to enter the pipe foot.
Figure 4 relates to a form of diaphone where two valves are used' to admit puffs of
wind or air to the resonator.
Referring to the drawings:-
Compressed air is admitted into the chamber B through the pipe foot A; the air
pressure acts upon the motor C in such a manner as to cause it to collapse and
lift off its seat the valve E and at the same time to pull open the roller valve D.
In this manner air under pressure is admitted to the resonator H and through the
passage G to the interior of the motor C. The spring S being then free to act, opens
the motor and closes the valves D and E.
So long as wind under pressure is admitted into the chamber B, this cycle of
operations continues very rapidly and a series of puffs of air are passed into the
resonator H.
Referring to Figure 5 which shows a pipe having a number of ball valves D
which themselves act as motor and valve. The wind under pressure enters at A
into the chamber B and operates upon the under side of the ball valves D, thus
they are caused to rise, allow wind to pass into the chamber H and raise pressure
in the lower portion of this chamber, the balls will then descend by the force of
gravity (which may if desired be assisted by a set of small springs) and for a moment
shut off the wind from the chamber H, as this continues it is clear that it will allow
a series of puffs of air to enter the resonating chamber.
.
In connection with several of the above and with other forms of diaphones,
resonators of variable length or capacity, such as those commonly used for the flute,
trombone, etcetera, may be employed. Upon altering the period of the resonator,
the period of vibration of the diaphone motors and valves will be found automatically
to adapt themselves to the period of the resonator.
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 a diaplione, the use of an intermediary pneumatic relay or relays (pneumatic
lever or levers) substantially as described.

page_text: 2. A diaphone in which the mouthpiece or tube supplying fluid under pressure
communicates with a barrel valve working within or over a tube which is connected
to or forms part of the resonator, substantially as described.
8. A diaphone having a more or less rigidly fixed valve located within the wind
chamber and having a movable valve seat and motor combined, substantially as
described.
4. The combination of diaphones substantially as described in this or my aforesaid
former specification with resonators of variable length or capacity, such as those used
in connection with the trombone, flute, clarionet, and the 'like in such manner that by
altering the period of the resonator the period of the diaphone motors and valves will
automatically adapt themselves to the period of the resonator.
5. The various forms of diaphones substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 11th da
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool,, Manchester, Birmingham, and London,
Patent Agents.