Year: 1888

page_text: I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, M.I.M.E.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The improvements relate to the construction and operation of the valves or pallets
which cover the reeds and are under the control of the key-board'; also to the mechanism
for actuating the valves for admitting the wind to the various chambers in order to
bring the different sets of reeds into play either separately or together as when using
the stop known as grand jeu; also to the mechanism for producing the tremolo in
conjunction with any other stop; also to the mechanism for producing the swell or
forte, also to the automatic discharge or exhaust valves and to the cover or case.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of the body of the instrument, Fig. 2 a plan of four
of the key pallets or valves, Fig. 3 a vertical section of same. Fig. 4 is a detail of the
automatic exhaust valve.
14:1
1
11.3
1:.
inserted an
A represents one of the keys in the underside of each of which 2:4
adjusting screw B the head of which rests on a lever D which is connected at an angle
(see figure 2) to one end of a valve or pallet C a similar but shorter lever being
connected to the pallet at the other end. The valves Care of considerable length each
one serving to open or close the air passage through the whole series of reeds apper-
taining to its particular key. The valves are pivotted upon bent" wires E the vertical
arms of which are inserted into the levers D whilst the horizontal arms rest in notches
formed in bars F. When a key is pressed down the screw B presses the free end of
the lever D downwards and raises the valve C along the whole of its length thus
opening every air passage controlled by it simultaneously and when the key is released
the spring C closes the valve and raises the key. This simultaneous and prompt opening
of the air passages enables the different reeds to be set in full vibration or shut out at
once without any of the unpleasant attenuation perceptible in imperfectly constructed
instruments. G is one of the registers or stops and when one of these is drawn out a

page_text: .
valve K is opened as follows. To the end of the register is pivotted a bent lever H
which fulcrummed lower down presses with its lower end upon a lever 1 operating the
valve K by the sticker J when the register is drawn forward. The valve K being
open the wind will enter into the chamber L and vibrate the reed M when the valves (
are opened.
The grand stop N consists of a wooden roller provided with a series of small arms D
which operate simultaneously and directly on all the valves K. The movement of this
roller is effected by a treadle arranged between the pedals of the instrument acting on
the movement CC.
Two special registers bearing the name "Melodia" enable the player to obtain the
tremolo as well in the treble clef as in the bass clef or in both of the instrument,
without giving a jumping or intermittent sound. These registers open either one or
both of the openings P. The wind is directed upon the wings R of a shaft S and these
wings or boards reflecting the sound from one on to the other when the shaft is being
turned produce the tremolo sound.
The forte stop U is operated by two knee-pieces V and the levers F F¹ in a manner
similar to the registers.
The exhaust valve D D closes automatically under the pressure of the wind and opens
when the pressure decreases.
To open the instrument the flap W is opened and the cover X is lifted to a horizontal
position, it is then pushed back and slides on two slides Y arranged in the interior.
The top cover can now be lifted being released from two hooks Z of the first
part of the cover X. On this top cover is arranged on hinges the music stand A A
which when opened rests on a shelf B B arranged over the flap on the first part of the
cover X.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
I same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a harmonium the combination with the key board of valves the rotation move-
ment of which is produced in the above described manner substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
2. In a harmonium the combination with the registers of table valves actuated by
the registers by means of a bent lever operating on a lever and sticker which latter
commands the valve, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a harmonium the combination with the roller constituting the grand stop of
small arms attached to the roller and operating each one of the valves, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
4. In a harmonium the combination with two registers of a shaft mounted with
wings to produce the tremolo sound in treble or in bass clef or both with each or all
the stops substantially as specified.
5. In a harmonium the arrangement to operate the "forte stop" by means of knee-
pieces levers and stickers substantially as specified.
6. In a harmonium the automatic discharge valve substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
7. In a harmonium the cover or case of the instrument substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
8. The whole instruinent substantially as specified and represented in the accom-
panying drawings.
-Dated this 2nd day of May 1888.