Improvements in and relating to Upright Pianoforte Action.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1897-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Upright Pianoforte Action.
I, FRANCIS LOUIS BECKER, a citizen of the United States of America, of 1365
Lexington Avenue, in the City, County and State of New York, United States
of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained, in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to upright pianoforte actions, and has for its main objects
to provide an improved and simplified construction that will permit of a very rapid
repetition of the stroke of the hammer with a minimum release of the key from
the position of a full stroke; and to effectually prevent any liability of "blocking"
no matter what force may be applied in giving the stroke.
A further object of my invention is to effectually prevent any liabilty of the
jack remaining out of engagement with the lifting shoulder of the hammer butt
when the key is released, which will frequently occur in other actions when said
jack has been abnormally lifted by the swelling of the balance rail and other
parts of the mechanism affected by moisture, producing what is technically termed
long jack."
a
A still further object of my invention is to effectually prevent any liability of
a broken contact between the end of the jack and the hammer butt shoulder,
which will occur in other actions in dry weather and after the felts in the action
have been compressed by use, producing what is technically known as a "short
jack."
Still another object is to provide for a positive contact between the back check
and counter check when the stroke is given that will take place without the rub-
bing action so injurious to the felt covering these points of contact.
These objects I accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter
described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the action in the position of rest, the supporting
rails being shown in section.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the action at the completion of the stroke,
and
Figure 3 a similar view showing the action in the act of moving to a position
for repetition with a minimum release of the key.
Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views.
In the said drawing the reference numeral 1 denotes the piano string or wire,
and 2 the damper, carried by the usual damper lever 3, which is pivoted in any
suitable manner upon the main rail 4 of the piano, and limited in its movement
away from the wire 1 by the usual spring rail 5. The action of this damper is
properly controlled by the spring 6 and spoon 7 carried by the wippen 8 mounted
in the usual manner on the under side of the main rail 4, as shown, and operated
by the depression of the key lever (not shown) through the intermediate abstract 9.
Suitably pivoted at its lower end upon the wippen 8 is the jack 10. having the
usual jack spring 11 engaged between its lower projecting heel 12 and the

page_text: wippen 8, while mounted upon the forward end of the same wippen is the back
check 13. A bracket 14 projecting from the main rail 4 serves as a support for
the regulating rail and button 15 constructed to be vertically adjustable in any
suitable manner.
Piyoted in any suitable manner upon the main rail 4 is the hammer butt 16
carrying the hammer 17 and the counter check 18. The usual light spring 19
for aiding in retracting the hammer may, if desired, be employed, though, as here-
inafter described, its use may be dispensed with.
All of the above-named parts as so far described vary in no essential detail from
constructions heretofore in use.
Referring now to the construction of the upper or contact end of the jack 10,
it will be seen that the same is formed with a battened end 27, an inclined face 20
and with a curved felt covered contact surface adjacent to the hammer butt 16.
The said hammer butt is recessed to provide the shoulder 21 for the reception
of the end of, the jack 10 when the action is in its position of rest as shown
in Figure 1, it being important to notice also that when the action is in such
state of rest the distance between this shoulder 21 and the pivotal point of the
jack 10 is greater than that between the pivotal points of said jack and the
hammer butt 16, for a purpose hereinafter to be described. The lower portion
of the recess in the hammer butt is provided with a cushion 23 that depends a
little distance below the bottom of said hammer butt and performs a function
hereinafter described. The surface of the shoulder 21 is, of course provided with
a cushion, as shown.
The counter check 18 is provided on its outer surface with a covering to contact
with the back check 13; and its lower end is prolonged inwardly at 24 to engage
with an angular contact surface 25 formed on the jack 10, the said parts 24 and 25
being felted or cushioned, as shown.
The operation of my unfinished construction is as follows; the action being
at rest in the position shown in Figure 1, the upper end of the jack 10 is in
engagement beneath the shoulder 21 of the hammer butt, and the projection 24
of the counter check rests against the contact surface 25 on the jack, it being
noticed that the said hammer butt is supported entirely by the jack, 10, the usual
hammer rail being dispensed with. Now, when the key is struck, the upward
movement of the wippen 8 through the jack 10 throws the hammer 17 against
the string 1, the said jack through its escapement mechanism assuming the
position with relation to the shoulder 21 of the hammer butt shown in Figure 2,
and entirely clear of said shoulder, thus permitting the hammer to properly
rebound, this movement being also positively applied through the contact of the
tongue 26 with the projection 24 of the counter check. The upward movement
of the wippen 8 has also brought backward the back check 13 into contact with
the counter check 18 and the hammer is thus held firmly against any, movement
in either direction so long as the key is depressed by this clamping of the counter
check between the back check and the tongue 26.
The very rapid repetition is obtained as follows: a slight release of the key will
be accompanied by a consequent very slight lowering of the jack 10 sufficient
to remove its lower projecting end 12 from contact with the let-off button 15.
The spring 11 will now cause the upper inclined face 20 of said jack to press
against the shoulder 21 and, by reason of the fact that the distance between this
shoulder 21 and the pivotal point of the jack 10 is greater than that between the
pivotal points of said jack and the hammer butt 16 whereby a much greater lever-
age on said hammer butt is obtained than is the case when said point of contact
is an equal or less distance from the pivotal point of the jack than is the hammer
butt pivotal point, will cause the hammer to move slightly forward again towards
the string to the position shown in Figure 3, it being understood that the lowering
of the jack will be accompanied by a movement of the back check 13 away from
the counter check 18, as shown. This movement of the hammer necessarily
raises the shoulder 21 slightly and permits the upper end of the jack to pass

page_text: beneath said shoulder again, the said movement being shown in Figure 3 in the
act of taking place. It will be noticed in said Figure 3 that the lower depending
end of the cushion 23 contacts with and is slightly compressed by the jack during
this movement and acts as a light spring to prevent the complete movement to
the hammer 17 against the string 1 during this operation. It will thus be seen
that by this re-engagement of the jack with the shoulder 21 of the hammer butt
the action is made ready for a repetition by a very slight release of pressure on the
key and that it is accomplished by the aid of the jack spring 11 only. I have
shown in the drawing the spring 19 pressing against the hammer butt to aid in
retracting the same, and it has been found that by the above construction even
this additional resistance will be readily overcome by the jack in its movement
to the repetition position. Moreover, this spring 19 may be entirely dispensed
with, as the movements of the hammer are all positively controlled by my
improved mechanism, as hereinafter described.
The normal return of the action to its initial position is as follows: When
the key is released, the jack drops to its full limit and at the same time the back
check 13 resumes the position shown in Figure 1. The downward movement of
the jack at the same time, through the pressure of the tongue 26 on the
projection 24 of the counter check, applies a positive movement to the hammer
butt towards its initial position, and the pressure of said projection 24 on the
contact surface 25 of the jack, as well as the action of the spring 11, causes said
jack to resume its inital postion beneath the shoulder 21 of the hammer butt.
It will be understood that the relative arrangement of these various parts will be
such that all of these movements will positively take place in their proper sequence;
as, for example, when the downward movement of the jack from the position shown
in Figure 2 commences, the release of the counter check is at the same instant
effected and the movement of the jack towards the hammer butt begins.
of this time the movement of the hammer away from the string 1 is controlled
by the contact between the extension 24 and the contact surface 25 and the hammer
cannot, therefore assume the position shown in Figure 1 until the upper flat end
of the jack has passed under the shoulder 21.
All
In devices of this character in upright piano actions heretofore constructed
the re-engagement of the jack with the hammer butt for a repetition stroke has
been accomplished by the use of a separate spring, the necessity for which having
been due entirely to the fact that the point of contact of the jack with the hammer
butt has been an equal or less distance from the jack pivotal point than is the
hammer butt pivotal point. By locating this point of contact a greater distance
from said jack pivotal point than is the hammer butt pivotal point the increased
leverage obtained renders the hammer butt responsive to the light pressure of
the jack spring 11 alone, a result which would be impossible with the old construc-
tions. Moreover, in my construction even the breaking or weakening of the jack
spring 11 will not destroy the piano action, as the operation of the extension 24
and tongue 26 will of themselves cause a positive return of the action to the
position shown in Figure 1, though the repetition action will be, of course,
destroyed.
It will be observed further, that, when a stroke is given and the hammer
rebounds to the position shown in Figure 2, the counter check 18 will be met
by the back check 13 and, through the simultaneous engagement with the exten-
sion 24 thereof of the tongue 26 a most perfect clamp is applied to the hammer
which will effectually prevent any motion of the same in either direction, thus
effectually preventing "blocking" on the string by the rebounding of the hammer
from the back check. The contacting of the extension 24 of the counter check
with the contact surface 25 of the jack when the hammer rebounds from the string
also effectually prevents the rubbing action of the counter, check on the back
check so familiar to those skilled in the art and which is so destructive to the
back check cushion, as the downward movement of the counter check is thus

page_text: positively arrested at the moment when it comes in contact with the said back
check.
A still further advantage obtained by locating the shoulder 21 as hereinbefore
described is that the hammer rail may be dispensed with, the hammer butt being
supported in its initial position by the jack. Were this attempted with the point
of contact located an equal or less distance from the jack pivotal point than is
the hammer butt pivot, a very slight shrinkage or compression of the parts would
cause the hammer to fall so far away from the string as to destroy the repetition
until adjusted. But with the point of contact located as hereinbefore described
a comparatively great shrinkage or compression may take place without appre-
ciably affecting the distance between the position of rest of the hammer and the
string. Moreover, the direct support of the hammer butt by the jack also
completely obviates what is known in the art as a short jack," as the hammer
butt must of necessity be always in contact with the jack when the action is at
rest, no matter what shrinkage or compression has taken place. By dispensing
with the hammer rail it will be readily understood that the action can be much
more readily inspected and adjusted.
66
وو
On the other hand, when an action is exposed to moisture, as at the sea-shore,
it is frequently rendered useless by what is termed a "long jack," which occurs
when the balance rail and the cushions or felts are expanded to such a degree
that the jack is raised when in its normal position so that it cannot pass under the
shoulder on the hammer butt, or, if it does, will
"block the string by causing
the hammer to normally contact therewith, thus rendering the piano useless
until adjusted. Here again the position of the shoulder 21 as herein before
described will cause the position of the hammer with respect to the string to be
changed so slightly that the jack will always be able to beneath the
pass
shoulder 21 without causing the hammer to approach near enough to the string
to affect the stroke or to cause "blocking." Moreover, the tongue 26 in its con-
tact with the extension 24 of the counter check offers a positive bar to any
blocking" of the string, as herein before described.
6<
Further, by reason of the fact that the jack is always in contact with the
hammer butt, a full control of the touch is obtained whereby the quantity of the
tone may be regulated without employing the soft pedal attachment, though it
is not my intention to dispense with. said attachment. While I have shown and
described the upper end of the jack 10 as formed with an inclined face 20 in order
to aid the movement of said jack back to its initial position beneath the
shoulder 21, I wish it to be distinctly understood that said inclined face may be
dispensed with, as the operation of the action will be substantially the same
when the end of said jack is perfectly flat.
The jack block rail commonly employed is also dispensed with in my improved
construction, as the extension 24 of the counter check subserves its functions in
every respect with relation to the jack.
So also is the use of the ordinary bridle and bridle wire dispensed with, as
the tongue 26 acting on the extension. 24 during the return of the jack to its
initial position will perform the function thereof and in a more efficient manner.
I wish it to be understood that I do not broadly claim to be the first to obtain
a repetition in an upright piano-forte action, but that I accomplish this desideratum
by changing and simplifying the construction of the parts heretofore employed,
and attain the same through a return movement of the hammer towards the
string in a manner substantially similar to that heretofore employed in grand
pianoforte actions, and by the power of the jack spring alone, a result not
heretofore accomplished in either grand or upright pianoforte actions.
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 an upright pianoforte action, the combination with a hammer butt

page_text: pivoted on the action frame, a hammer carried thereby, a jack, means for operating
said jack from the key lever, and escapement mechanism for said jack, of a
shoulder located on said hammer butt at a distance from the pivotal point of the
jack greater than the distance between the hammer butt pivotal point and said
pivotal point of the jack with which said jack contacts to impart its stroke to said
hammer butt and hammer, substantially as set forth.
2 In an upright pianoforte action, the combination of a hammer butt pivoted
on the action-frame, a hammer carried thereby, a jack, means for operating said
jack from the key lever, a jack, spring for normally pressing said jack against
the hammer butt, escapement mechanism for said jack, and a shoulder located on
said hammer butt at a distance from the pivotal point of the jack greater than
the distance between the hammer butt pivotal point and said pivotal point of the
jack with which said jack is adapted to contact the latter operating to impart
the stroke to said hammer through said shoulder and to remain out of contact
therewith while the key is depressed, but, when said key is partially released,
to move the hammer forward again towards the string through the medium of
the jack spring alone pressing said jack against the hammer butt, thus permitting
the end of said jack to re-engage with the shoulder on the hammer butt in position
for a repetition stroke, substantially as set forth.
3. In an upright pianoforte action, the combination with a hammer butt
pivoted on the action-frame, a hammer carried thereby, a counter check also
carried thereby, a back check, a jack adapted to normally engage with said
hammer butt, means for operating said back check and jack from the key lever,
and escapement mechanism for said jack, of a projection carried by said counter
check and adapted to contact with said jack as the Key is released to force said
jack beneath the hammer butt shoulder by the weight of the hammer and hammer
butt alone, substantially as set forth.
4. In an upright pianoforte action, the combination with a hammer butt
pivoted on the action-frame, a hammer carried thereby, a jack, means for operating
said jack from the key lever, a jack spring for normally pressing said jack against
the hammer butt, and escapement mechanism for said jack; of a shoulder located
on said hammer butt with which said jack is adapted to contact to impart its
stroke to said hammer butt and hammer, and a cushion attached to said hammer
butt beneath said shoulder and depending below the bottom of said hammer
butt against which the jack is adapted to contact when impelled by its spring
beneath the shoulder on the hammer butt and which thereby operates to check
the movement of the hammer towards the string, substantially as set forth.'
5. In an upright pianoforte action, the combination with a hammer butt
pivoted on the action-frame, a hammer carried thereby, a counter check also
carried thereby, a back check, a jack adapted to normally engage with said
hammer butt, means for operating said back check and jack from the key lever,
and escapement mechanism for said jack; of a projection carried by said counter
check and adapted to contact with said jack to limit the movement of the hammer
in its rebound from the string after its stroke, substantially as set forth.
6. In an upright pianoforte action, the combination with a hammer butt
pivoted on the action-frame, a hammer carried thereby, a counter check also
carried thereby, a back check, a jack adapted to normally engage with said hammer
butt, means for operating said back check and jack from the key lever, and escape-
ment mechanism for said jack; of a projection carried by said counter check and
adapted to contact with said jack to limit the movement of the hammer in its
rebound from the string after its stroke, and a tongue carried by said jack and
adapted to engage with said projection to clamp the counter check against the
back check as the hammer rebounds from the string and to return said hammer
to its initial position through said counter check as the jack descends upon the
release of the key lever, substantially as set forth.
7. In an upright pianoforte action, the combination of a hammer butt pivoted
on the action-frame, a hammer carried thereby, a counter check also carried

page_text: thereby, a back check, a jack adapted to normally engage with the hammer butt,
means for operating said back check and jack from the key lever, escapement
mechanism for said jack, a projection carried by said counter check and adapted
to contact with said jack when the action is in its initial position and when
the key lever is depressed, and a tongue, carried by said jack and adapted to
contact with said projection when the counter check is against the back check:
and as the jack descends to its initial position, the whole operating to impart the
stroke to the hammer, to clamp said hammer against movement in either direction
while the key is completely depressed, and to, return the various parts to their
initial positions when the key is released, substantially as set forth.
S. In an upright pianoforte action, the combination of a hammer butt pivoted
on the action-frame, a hammer carried thereby, a counter check also carried.
thereby, a back check, a jack, means for operating said back check and jack. from
the key lever, a spring for normally pressing said jack against the hammer butt,
escapement mechanism for said jack, a shoulder located on said hammer butt
with which said jack is adapted to contact to impart its stroke to said hammer
butt and hammer, a projection carried by said counter check and adapted to
contact with said jack when the action is in its initial position and when the
key lever is depressed, and a tongue carried by said jack and adapted to contacti
with said projection when the counter check is against the back check and as
the jack descends to its initial position, the whole operating to impart the 'stroke
to the hammer, to clamp said hammer against movement in either direction
while the key is completely depressed, and to return the various parts to their
initial positions when the key is released, substantially as set forth.
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.