CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN Pianofortes
Year: 1876

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Charles Edward Rogers, of the State of Massachusetts, of
the United States of America, for the Invention of CERTAIN NEW AND
USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN Pianofortes,"
Sealed the 19th April 1876, and dated the 1st March 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Charles Edward Rogers at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st March 1876.
CHARLES EDWARD ROGERS, of the State of Massachusetts, of the United States of
America. " CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN PIANOFORTES."
Of such Drawing,
Figure 1 is a side view of my improved pianoforte action.
Figures 2 and 3 are opposite side elevations of a portion of it, with a modification
or improvement.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the hammer pivot forked metallic spring to be
herein-after described.
Figure 5 is a front elevation; Figure 6, an edge view; Figure 7, a longitudinal
section of the string frame of an upright pianoforte containing my other improve:
ments.
Figure 8 is a transverse section of one of the straining pins, such section being
taken through its two diametric holes for receiving the bent stop pin to be herein-
after described.
The first part of my Invention relates to the damper actuator as combined with
the jack by a booked arm and a cushioned projection.
The second part of my Invention relates to the jack combined with the key by á
universal joint or an intermediate piece connected to them in manner as herein-
after explained.
The third part of my Invention relates to the hammer provided with a cushioned
hook, escapement notch, and stop arm in combination with the jack provided with a
hooked escapement, and the damper actuator applied to the jack by a hook and
projection, all as herein-after explained.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to a device for preventing the pivot pin
of the hammer from being pinched or bound in its bearings by reason of expansion
of its wooden supporter during atmospheric or hygrometric changes, this part of
my Invention consisting in the combination of two elastic springs, or a furcated

page_text: elastic spring or bearer, or such and an auxiliary spring and a screw, as herein-after
explained, with the hammer and its support piece, such springs or furcated elastic
spring with the said support piece being to sustain the pivot under expansion or
contraction of the said support piece.
The remaining parts of my Invention relate to the metallic string frame and
sundry appliances connected therewith for supporting and tuning the strings.
In Figure 1 of the said Drawings A denotes the key; B, the hammer; C, the
damper; D, the string; E, the jack; F, the jack escapement; G, the damper
actuator; and H, the bracket to which the damper, the hammer, and the damper
actuator are pivoted or hinged, the several hinge or pivot pins being shown
at a, b, c.
The shank d of the damper turns on the pin a, and is connected with the bracket
by a helical spring e, whose purpose is to throw the damper against the string, the
object of the actuator G being to force the damper off the string preparatory to such
blow of the hammer thereon. This damper actuator, formed and arranged as shown,
is composed in part of a hook f, which goes through a vertical slot made in the
jack E, and hooks around a cushioned projection g, extending from the jack in
manner as shown. At its foot the jack is connected with the key A or an adjustable
rocker h (formed and arranged with and held to the key by screws i, i, disposed as
shown) by means of an auxiliary piece I hinged both to the jack and the key or
part 1, the pivots of the hinges being at right angles, so that while the piece I may
turn in the plane of the key the jack may be turned in a plane at right angles
therewith, such being to enable the jack to readily accommodate itself to the
damper actuator G, and the escapement to accommodate itself to the hooked notch
of the key.
The escapement F is hooked, as shown at to work in the notch of the tail
block of the hammer, and co-operate with a hook m at the lower part of such notch.
The said escapement F is hinged to the jack, as shown at o, and both are provided
with a helical spring p, connected to them at its ends and arranged as represented,
.such spring serving to draw the escapement up to the tail block of the hammer.
Furthermore, the escapement F has an adjustable button n applied to it by means
of an adjusting screw, all being as shown.
From the hammer there is extended, in manner as represented, a cushioned arm 7,
which with an adjustable stud 8 projecting up from and screwed into the top of the
escapement F serves to stop the escapement in its rearward movement after each
blow of the hammer.
From the above it will be seen that the jack is supported at or near its upper
part by the damper actuator, while at its lower part such jack is connected with
the key by the auxiliary piece I, or by such and the rocker ; also, that the escape-
ment operates both to advance the hammer to the string and subsequently to pull
the said hammer away therefrom, or to aid in ensuring its falling back upon its
rest t; also that the actuator G is pulled back by the hook and projection g when
the jack is descending; also that this piano action is not only simple and effective
in construction, but can easily be taken apart sufficiently for a person to gain ready
access to the screw u for confining the bracket H in place, and this without any
necessity of disturbing the parts of the next adjacent action or actions; this can be
done by disengaging the damper actuator from the jack, and next turning down
each so as to uncover the screw u.
My remaining improvements in the pianoforte action are shown in Figures 2, 3,
and 4, and may be thus described-In Figure 2 B denotes the hammer; C, the
damper; D, the support rail or bar; f, the tail block of the hammer; and H, the
support piece of the hammer and its pivot b.
The pivot pin b of the hammer is as usual fastened in the tail piece f, and projects
therefrom in opposite directions, and turns with the hamner. Each of the journals
of such pivot pin covered with a strip of cloth carried around it in manner as repre-
sented at c in Figures 2 and 3, rests in a semicircular or arcal bearing in the
part H, and is kept therein by one of the elastic prongs g, g, of a forked spring A,

page_text: arranged with it in manner as represented. The spring A at its base or lower part
is bent up or has an auxiliary spring, as shown at h, and it has a screw E going
through it and the part hand into the parts H and D. The screw E serves to
confine the forked spring A to the support piece H, while the spring and the screw
confine the said part H to the rail D. By screwing up the screw E the elastic
prongs g, g, may be borne against the coverings of the journals of the pivot pin of
the hammer with any desirable degree of force. In case of expansion of the support
piece H, the pivot pin and the elastic prongs g, g, will give way either in one
direction or the other, and as a consequence the journals of the pin will not be
bound in their bearings so as to impede the hammer in its action.
The spring
being bent up, as shown at h, it can contract and expand at its base part under the
action of the clamp screw E, and therefore it will hold the support piece firmly
against the rail D or keep the said support piece in place, while the said screw may
be turned to vary the pressure of the prongs g, g, on the journals of the pivot b.
As the cloth covers or strips c, c, may become worn or compacted by the journals
of the pivot, the screw E may from time to time be set up as may be required in
order to compress the said covers on the journals, so as to keep the hammer from
swaying out of its normal or proper course while the said hammer may be in move-
ment towards its string.
Separate springs may be used in the place of the forked spring A, or one to each
journal of the pivot, and may be confined to the piece H by one or more screws in
each, but I prefer the forked spring, constructed as described and shown, and par-
ticularly with the bent part or auxiliary spring h, the latter being productive of
advantage, as herein-before stated.
This
The part or parts of my Invention relating to the metallic string frame and its
appliances are represented in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, and may be thus described :-
In carrying out such part or parts of my Invention I construct the upper string
supporting ledge A of the metallic string frame B with a rebate a, and I arrange
therein a strip or cushion b of leather or other proper soft and yielding material for
the strings C, C, &c., to bear upon next to their notches c, c, in said ledge. Further-
more I apply to the upper portion d of the metallic frame a separate bar D, hooked
at its upper part upon the said portion d in manner as represented at c.
bar DI provide with a series of abutments or lugs f. f. f, extended from it in
manner as shown; or instead of such bar and lugs cast together, such a series of lugs
may be extended directly from the upper part or bar of the frame. The reason I
prefer the separate bar D is because it can be cast with its lugs much better or
casier, and with less expense and risk, than can the metallic frame be cast with
such a set of lugs. Each lug extends up within the slots g, g, of two slides E, E,
formed as shown, one being shorter than the other, and resting on it. There is a
pair of such slides to each string C. Each of the slides has a straining pin F inserted
in and projected from it in manner as shown. Each of said pins, besides having a
hole made through it for reception of the string, has two or more other holes e¹, e¹,
made transversely through it diametrically. A bent pin when inserted in one of
these latter holes and also in the slot of the slide in manner as shown, serves to
prevent the straining pin from revolving. Furthermore, in each slide there is
screwed a screw G, with its point against the inclined upper edge h¹ of the lug f
that extends up within the slot of the slide.
Each string C, looped at its middle on one of a series of hitch pins i, i, i, arranged
as shown, is carried in the usual manner across and upon the bridge k of the
sounding board H, after which its ends are passed short distances through its pair
of straining pins F, F; this having been done these pins are to be revolved so as to
wind the wire upon them until its slack or stretch may have been taken out; this
having been done the bent pins h are to be inserted in the straining pins and in the
slots of their pair of slides. After this by screwing the screws G, G, of the pair of
slides against the lugs, the slides may be moved endwise so as to strain the string,
and tune its two parts in unison.
By means of the devices, as explained, a very perfect tuning of the strings can be

page_text: enected without danger of the tuning pins supping or not noiuing laser
Bockets.
The cushioned ledge A prevents vibration of those parts of the string that are
between such ledge and the straining pins, and therefore prevents the noise con-
sequent upon such vibration.
Having thus described my Invention of improvements on pianofortes, what I
claim is as follows:-
1. I claim the damper actuator G, combined with the jack Ẹ by the hooked arm
or hook f, and the cushioned projection g, arranged as represented.
2. I claim the jack F combined with the key A by the intermediate hinged
piece I applied to them, substantially as set forth.
3. I claim the hammer B provided with the cushioned hook m, escapement
notch, and arm 7, arranged as described, in combination with the jack E provided
with the hooked escapement F, and the damper actuator G applied to said jack, all
being substantially as shown and specified.
In the action shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4 I claim,
1. The springs g, g, in combination with the hammer pivot pin b and pivot sup-
porter H, provided with the arcal bearings, all constructed and arranged as set
forth.
2. The forked spring A provided with the prongs g, g, and the bent part or
auxiliary spring / extended from the base portion, all in manner as represented.
3. The combination of the said forked spring A, its spring h, and fastening
screws with the rail D and with the pivot supporter H, provided with the
bearings for reception of the pivot pin b of the hammer B, all being substantially
as specified.
Of the mechanism represented in the remaining Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 I claim,-
1. The string frame A as provided with the rebated, notched, and cushioned
ledge A, arranged as specified."
2. I further claim the combination of the slotted slide E, its straining pin F,
operative screw G, all arranged as set forth.
and
3. I further claim the combination of the slotted slides E, E, their straining
pins F, F, and screws G, G, with the string frame B, and the lugs f, f, to extend
from it, or a separate bar applied to it, as described.
4. I further claim the separate bar D, provided with the hook e and the series of
lugs f, all arranged as and for application to the string frame A and the slides E, as
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Edward Rogers, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of February 1876.
CHARLES EDWARD ROGERS. (L.S.)