IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ORGANS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, EDWARD HADLOW SUGGATE of 250 Marylebone Road in the parish of Saint
Mary-le-bone in the county of Middlesex,. Organ Builder do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ORGANS, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention relates to improvements in the swell pedal or other
apparatus used, for opening and closing or for keeping open or partly open the
louvre boards or orifices of swell boxes. The construction and use of the ordinary
swell pedal is well known to organ builders, the pedal may open the swell box by
the pressure of the foot of the performer or other part of his body and it may be 80
arranged that the shutters or louvre boards are balanced and the pedal must be
returned by the player to close them. It frequently happens that the swell pedal
is very difficult to move owing to the great weight or inertia of the shutters and
balance weight or spring required to close them and keep them shut, Further,
there is usually a catch provided by means of which the player may fix the swell
shutters entirely open whilst it is impossible to fix the shutters otherwise than
entirely open except by means of additional notches in the catch, a method which
is generally admitted to be unsatisfactory. Now the object of the present
invention is to relieve the player of the weight of the swell shutters and by
enabling him to put them in motion instantly and without undue exertion to
obtain a more delicate crescendo and diminuendo and to enable him to fix the pedal
in any position he may desire or having fixed it instantly to release it. To this
end the invention consists first, in the combination with the ordinary swell pedal.
and action of a series of links or bars operated by the swell pedal and acting on a
slide or valve arranged to admit air under sufficient pressure to a pneumatic lever
or motor bellows. These links or bars are so arranged that upon depressing the
pedal a certain distance the air is admitted to the pneumatic lever until it has
risen a corresponding distance, the act of rising automatically closing the slide by.
which the air was admitted.
A further depression of the pedal will again admit the compressed air to the
motor or pneumatic lever which will instantly expand until by its own movement
it closes the port by which the compressed air was admitted. When it is desired

page_text: to close the swell the reverse movement takes place the act of raising the pedal
allows the compressed air to escape exactly in proportion to the extent the pedal is
allowed to rise. There is always a slight if almost imperceptible escape of air from
a pneumatic lever however carefully constructed and theoretically sound so that
unless this leakage be provided for the pneumatic lever will gradually collapse, the
action of the valve or slide is so arranged that whilst the pedal remains in one
position or any position the slightest depression of the pneumatic lever from loss of
air through leakage opens the port by which the compressed air is admitted and
thus restores the pneumatic lever to its proper position.
These several movements although described as following one another are in
practice so nearly simultaneous that the interval which elapses is inappreciable and
the pneumatic lever expands as the pedal is depressed and in the same relative
proportion stops when the movement of the pedal ceases collapses as the pedal
rises and remains fixed in one position so long as the pedal remains stationary.
The second part of my invention consists in a method of moving the swell
shutters, other than, or in addition to the ordinary apparatus at present in use.
Instead of the keyslip and in the place usually occupied by it I place a narrow rail
of wood or other material and so arrange it that it will yield to pressure and
actuate a system of links and a slide and pneumatic lever as previously described
and open the swell shutters in the same way This apparatus may be arranged
independently of the usual swell pedal or may be in combination with it or with
the apparatus described herein in the first part of my invention. The third part
of my invention consists in a novel apparatus for fixing the swell pedal in any
desired position either when being depressed or when allowed to rise. Two small
studs are so fixed to the swell pedal that they can be moved from left to right and
vice versa These studs are so placed that they can be readily moved by the
performer's foot when on the swell pedal and actuate an arrangement of levers or
their mechanical equivalent which in turn moves a valve or slide admitting
compressed air to a small pneumatic lever or motor bellows.
This motor when inflated moves an arrangement of levers or their mechanical
equivalent so arranged as to grip a rod or bar attached to the swell pedal action in
any convenient position with sufficient force to overcome the tendency of the pedal
to return under the action of the usual spring or balance weight. When the studs
are returned the arrangement of levers actuated by them closes the valve or slide
by which air was admitted and at the same instant opens an exhaust port through
which the compressed air escapes. The pneumatic lever instantly returns to its
normal position under the influence of a spring or weight, carrying with it the
system of levers and releasing the bar from their grip These movements of
the studs and corresponding action of the system of levers may take place at any
position of the swell pedal and the pedal will remain in that position or will be
free to move as the case may be, so long as the stud remains in the one or other
position and the apparatus is supplied with compressed air. The return of the
pneumatic lever may be effected by the inflation of another pneumatic lever or
motor bellows instead of a spring or weight-To ensure prompt action I allow the
pneumatic lever as little movement as will suffice to fix or release the bar from the
grip of the attendant levers.
The fourth part of my invention relates to means for automatically opening the
swell shutters and keeping them open when the organ is not in use so that the
pipes in the swell box may be subject to the same variations of temperature_as
the other pipes in the organ and may therefore remain in tune with them. For
this purpose I provide a pneumatic lever, motor bellows or wind reservoir of
suitable size and loaded with weights or springs in proportion to the duty required
of it as hereafter described and I so arrange this pneumatic lever, motor bellows
or wind reservoir that when the wind is in the organ it remains inflated whilst it
will collapse so soon as the blowing has ceased and the other reservoirs in the
organ or one or some of them have collapsed in the usual way through the supply
of wind to them having ceased; to the top board of this reservoir or motor bellows

page_text: I attach in any convenient way a lever or its mechanical equivalent and Co
it in such a way with the swell shutters, or any suitable part of the action by
which they are moved, that so long as the wind is in the organ and this motor
bellows or wind reservoir consequently inflated the rod or rods or action by which
the swell shutters are moved may be free to follow the impulses given either
directly by the foot of the performer or by the pneumatic lever or other device by
which they are moved, whilst so soon as the organ shall cease to be used and the
supply of wind be discontinued the motor bellows or wind reservoir will collapse
and the lever or its mechanical equivalent will press upon a pin or stud or some
suitable projection fixed to the action and open the swell shutters. The size of
the reservoir or motor bellows and the weight to be placed upon it will be
determined by the available pressure of wind in the organ, the length of the lever,
and the weight of the swell shutters and action. The reservoir I so arrange that
it shall open and keep open the swell regardless of the position of the swell pedal
and whether it is fixed by any other contrivance for keeping it open or not.
My invention is especially applicable to organs but it may be employed in other
instruments where a similar action is required.
The pneumatic levers may be actuated by air pressure or exhaust.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a
longitudinal sectional elevation of the apparatus arranged in a convenient form
according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan through X. X in Fig. 1 showing
especially that part of my invention that relates to the fixing of the swell pedal at
any point of its descent. Fig. 3 shows the keyslip for actuating the mechanism
for moving the swell shutters independently of the swell pedal. Fig. 4 shows the
apparatus for opening the swell shutters when the organ is not in use. In all
these figures the same letters of reference are used to indicate like or corresponding
parts.
Referring now to the figures: In figure 1 A is the swell pedal placed in any
convenient position but preferably projecting from the front panel over the
upper E & F of the pedal board and connected by the usual or other action with
the rod B which may be of any convenient length and in any position in the organ.
This rod B is shown in the drawing connected to a simple parallel motion at C
but it may be convenient to attach it direct to D. E' E E are three rods or
links working freely but accurately on the centres by which they are held in
position F is the pneumatic lever or motor bellows which when inflated more or
less opens or closes the swell shutters louvre boards or orifices. El is attached
to a simple parallel motion G and to this the slide H is connected in any.
convenient way, proper provision being made by a screw or otherwise for
adjusting the rod or rods by which the slide H is attached to the parallel
motion G. In some cases it may be convenient to dispense with this parallel
motion and to provide a register or guide for the rod by which H is moved but
the parallel motion is to be preferred on account of the absence of friction and the
accuracy with which it can be constructed without trouble or expense.
tube by which the air under sufficient pressure is taken to the slide H In this
slide there is an opening as shown at N and in the parts O and P are two holes or
ports, L being for the supply of compressed air and M a free opening into the
atmosphere through which the motor F may be exhausted when the slide H
permits of it. L and M both connect with F as freely as possible. The action of
the apparatus may be thus described: Upon depressing the swell pedal A the
player overcomes the slight resistance of the returning spring or weight and the
motion of his foot is transmitted by means of E¹ & El and the connecting rods
or their equivalents to the slide H which then allows the compressed air to enter
through the opening N in the slide and port L into the pneumatic lever. This
instantly expands and carries with it E" withdrawing the slide H just so much as
it was advanced by depressing the pedal. The compressed air can now lo longer
enter and the pneumatic lever will remain inflated just so much and no more, so
long as the pedal remains in the same position. It is evident that should the
K is a

page_text: pneumatic lever collapse in the slightest degree while the pedal remains in
one position it will open the port L admitting the compressed air and instantly
assume its proper position. Although necessarily described as collapsing in actual
practice no perceptible movement takes place the slide remaining in such a
position as to supply exactly the amount of air that is lost by leakage; in a
properly constructed pneumatio lever this is very small indeed but it is necessary
to provide for it as the swell shutters may sometimes be fixed in one position for
a considerable time. At each further depression of the pedal the same action will
take place until the pedal has reached its limit and the pneumatic lever is fully
inflated. When the foot of the performer allows the pedal to rise the reverse
action takes place. The slide H being withdrawn opens the exhaust part M and
allows a portion of the compressed air contained in the pneumatic lever F to
escape. The partial collapse of the pneumatic lever causes the links E¹ E" E
instantly to close that port, when the pneumatic lever will of course remain
partially inflated and in one position until the pedal is again raised or depressed.
This action may be continued so long as the apparatus is supplied with
compressed air.
Referring now to Fig. 2 A. is the swell pedal A¹ and A¹¹ are two studs forming
a part of the lever a and so placed that the foot of the performer is between them
when upon the swell pedal These studs, have in common with the lever, a small
lateral movement and can be pushed from right to left and vice versa by the foot
of the performer.. The lever a is centred at s and works in a slot in Y so arranged
as to allow it free movement when the swell pedal is raised or depressed, Y is a
lever which actuates a slide or valve w which admits compressed air to the
pneumatic lever x in the usual way when the stud A¹¹ is moved to the right, and
opens an exhaust port when A¹ is moved to the left. The two studs are connected
as shown. It will be evident that the movement of the pneumatic lever being
transmitted to S and S', W and W₁ will grip R with proportionate force and
effectually prevent the return of the pedal A so long as the pneumatic lever x is
inflated whilst they are so placed that no injury can be done by the forcible
depression of the pedal while W and W¹ are in action and holding the bar R in
their grip. R is free to move over a small friction roller placed below and is thus
always in such a position that it can be grasped by W & W¹.
The drawings show a convenient arrangement but I do not limit myself to the
exact position and proportion of the parts as shown.
Figure 3 illustrates that part of my invention which relates to the moving of
the swell shutters independently of the swell pedal so that the player may obtain
a crescendo and dimenuendo whilst both feet are employed on the pedals or other
wise & he is therefore unable to depress the swell pedal in the usual way. For
this purpose a small moveable rail or slip of wood or other material extending the
whole length of the keyboard and shown in section at r takes the place of the
ordinary keyslip and is placed conveniently within reach of the thumb of the per-
former. This is connected in any convenient way with a series of links or bars
and a pneumatic. lever as previously described in connection with the swell pedal
and which in the same way opens the swell shutters when the rail is pressed
upon. It is obvious that r may be connected by suitable means with a rod similar
to B and serving the same purpose in relation to r as B does to the swell pedal A.
and indeed it may sometimes be convenient to attach the pneumatic lever used
with r to the rod B instead of to the swell action so that the apparatus for fixing
the swell pedal may thus become available.
In most cases however I prefer that there should be separate pneumatic levers
acting independently on the swell shutters.
The apparatus for opening the swell shutters and keeping them open is illustrated
by fig. 4 and needs no explanation beyond that already given.
By the term pneumatic lever or motor bellows I would have it understood that
I mean an expanding or contracting vessel of any form necessary for the utilization
and transmission of the energy of compressed or attenuated air or a vessel in

page_text: which a piston or diaphragm is caused to move under the influence of air pressure
or suction.
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 combination with the ordinary swell pedal of a system of links or
bars and a pneumatic lever so arranged that the movement of the foot of the
performer is transmitted by these bars to a slide or valve admitting compressed air
to the pneumatic lever the position of the slide depending on the position of both
the swell pedal and the pneumatic lever.
Secondly. The combination with the ordinary swell pedal of an arrangement of
levers for fixing the pedal in any position required by the performer substantially
as set forth.
Thirdly. The combination with a moveable keyslip or equivalent device of a
series of links or bars and a pneumatic lever as previously set forth and so
arranged that the player may move the swell shutters by the pressure of his finger
or thumb whilst playing on the same or another manual to that to which the
moveable keyslip is attached and independently of the swell pedal.
Fourthly. The arrangement of a pneumatic lever or motor bellows to open and
keep open the swell shutters when the organ is not in use and is consequently not
supplied with compressed air substantially as set forth.
Dated thio 12th day of Datohon 1995