An Improved Pneumatic Action for Organs.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 25th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Pneumatic Action for Organs.
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1, JAMES FERRIDAY of The Elms, Wellington, Salop, Mining Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In my improved pneumatic wind action I employ a sound-board and valve-box
as at present, but their construction is entirely different from the present form.
In my invention the underside of the sound-board consists of as many cross-
channels as there are pipes in each stop such channels running across the width.
These channels need not be larger in area than the inlet pipe which conveys the
wind from the valve box. This inlet pipe is connected to the bottom or to either
end of the cross-channels, which are directly beneath and connected to the small
bellows hereafter described. These channels are covered in with a board, the
length and width of the sound board. Bars or divisions are put on this longitudinally,
making as many passages as there are stops required.
Holes (one for each pipe) are now bored vertically from the passages into
the channels beneath. Over each of these holes a small circular bellows is
fixed (the size of which is in proportion to the pipe) and this bellows when
expanded to its full height, should stand somewhat higher than the bars. On
top of the bellows a disc of leather makes an airtight joint, when the top
comes in contact with the upper boards, which are screwed to the bars, so as to
cover one or more steps as required. Holes are now bored through the upper
The valve box
boards, central with bellows beneath, to receive the pipe feet.
which is the length of the width of the keys, is formed by taking a small hollow
block of wood, and boring holes from its two ends and one of its sides under
the centre of each key. These holes will make three outlets. On this perforated
centre piece or cylinder a top and bottom chamber is formed open from end to
end. A small circular valve is fixed over the end holes in each chamber, and
arranged so that when one is open the other is closed. These valves are connected
to the keytail. A connecting pipe is attached to the remaining outlet to convey
the wind to the small bellows. A tension spring at each end keeps the upper and
lower valves closed and open respectively, and also gives the required weight of
touch which is regulated by a button.
Mode of Action. If the comparative wind pressures in the lower chamber of
the valve box and the pipe wind chamber outside the bellows are as two and one
half inches to two inches, the upper chamber of the valve box being open before
a key is pressed down, then the lower valve being open the pressure in the bellows
is the same as in this lower chamber of the valve box, which being greater than
the pressure in the pipe wind chamber causes the bellows to expand and its top to
come in contact with the upper boards. A leather disc on the top of the bellows
makes an airtight joint which prevents wind from the pipe wind chamber, from
passing through the exhaust pipe above the bellows.
When a key is depressed the lower valve of the valve box is closed and the
upper valve opened.
The pressure in the bellows being no longer sustained, then the pressure in the
pipe wind chamber causes it to collapse and the wind from the pipe wind chamber,
then passes through the exhaust pipe.
When the pressure on the key is relaxed the upper valve of valve box closes,
the lower valve opens, and the pressure of the air in the lower chamber entering
the bellows overcomes the pressure of the pipe wind chamber, causing the bellows to
expand and stop the exit of wind from the pipe wind chamber as before described.
Another Method. If the comparative wind pressures of the lower valve box
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page_text: chamber and the pipe wind chamber are as three inches to two inches and that of
the upper chamber of valve box is two inches, by closing the lower valve of
the valve box the pressures of the pipe wind chamber and the upper chamber
of the valve box and the interior of the bellows are equal, and consequently the
bellows by its own weight assisted by a weight placed on it will fall, allowing
the wind from the pipe wind chamber to pass through the upper or exhaust pipe.
When the lower valve of the valve box opens, the pressures are unequal, that in
the bellows being greater causes the bellows to rise, and stop the wind passing from
the pipe wind chamber. In this arrangement no loss of wind occurs.
When the wind is released from the bellows it expands to the pressure of the
upper chamber of the valve box, both the pipe wind chamber and the upper valve
box chamber being connected together by means of a reservoir which supplies
the pipe wind chamber with wind. This reservoir draws its supply from the main
bellows and is self acting.
Stop Action. This would work on the same principle having a large circular
bellows fixed at the end of the sound board, or an extension of the same, and over
the hole in the upper board a wind trunk is connected. When the pressure in the
bellows is reduced or exhausted as the case may be, the bellows is forced down by
the pressure above it which enters the channel of the pipe wind chamber, until the
pressure is again admitted to the interior of the bellows which causes it to expand
and cut off the supply of wind to the pipe wind chamber.
The tension spring above the valve box simply allows the key tail to travel about
one third of an inch and the upper and lower valves one eighth of an inch which is
sufficient, because if the key was not held firmly down there would be loss of wind-
in the first method, but none in the second.
Dated this 25th day of June 1891
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Pneumatic Action for Organs.
I, JAMES FERRIDAY of The Elms, Wellington, Salop, Mining Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in the pneumatic action of organs, and I
will now proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which
Fig. 1 shows a sound board furnished with a small bellows i, in the pipe wind
chamber y; and
Fig. 2 shows a valve box a, having an upper and lower chamber s, and.p, the
valve being connected by a rod w, to the key-tail a, above. The valve-box and
sound-board are connected by the pipe g.
It will be seen that my sound-board and valve-box are entirely different in con-
struction from those at present in use.
In my invention the underside », of the sound-board contains as many cross-
channels, as there are pipes in each stop.
These channels run across the width of the sound-board and need not be larger
in area than the inlet pipe g, which conveys the wind from the valve-box. This
inlet pipe is connected to the bottom or to either end of the cross-channels, which
are directly beneath and connected to the small bellows i.
These channels are covered in by a board 1, which is the length and width of
the sound-board.
Bars, or divisions o are put on the board r longitudinally, making as many passages
as there are stops or rows of pipes required on the sound-board.

page_text: One vertical hole for each organ pipe, as shewn in dotted lines, is bored from the
passages into the channels h, beneath. Over each of these holes a small circular
bellows i is fixed as shewn, the size of which is in proportion to the pipe, and this
bellows when expanded to its full height should stand somewhat higher than the
vertical bars o, on either side of it. On the top of the bellows i a disk of leather k,
makes an airtight joint so that when the top comes in contact with the upper
boards m, which are screwed to the bars o, it covers one or more passages or channels
as required.
Two small guide rods t, are fixed, one on each side of the bellows to ensure its .
rising perpendicularly and with parallel action.
Two spiral springs are put on these rods to keep the bellows expanded.
Holes are now bored through the upper boards as shewn in dotted lines central
with the bellows beneath to receive the organ pipe feet n.
My improved valve box is formed by taking a square block of wood, somewhat
longer than the width of the keyboard, and boring holes from three of its sides to
the centre, making three round apertures, one horizontal, and two vertical, which
are directly beneath the key-tail and central thereto. On this perforated centre-
piece or cylinder a, a top chamber s, and bottom chamber p, are formed, open from
end to end. Small circular valve covers c, and d, are fixed over the vertical valve
apertures in each chamber, and connected by a vertical rod w, so that when one is
open the other is closed. These valves are also connected by the rod w, to the key-
tail a, as shewn. A conducting pipe g, is attached to the third horizontal aperture
of the valve box to convey wind to the small bellows i. The strip or disk is
intended to serve as a guard to the rod w. The tension springs f, and b, one at
each end keep the upper and lower valves closed and open respectively, and also
give the required weight of touch which is regulated by the adjustable bolts and
nuts z.
The mode of action is as follows:-
es
Supposing there is equal pressure of wind in the lower chamber p, of the valve
box and in the sound-board chamber y, and the top chamber s, of valve-box open
to the atmosphere, then before a key is depressed the lower valve d, in the valve
box is open, and the top valve c, shut allowing the wind from the bottom chamber p,
to pass to the interior of the bellows e, through the connecting pipe g, and the
interior and the exterior of bellows are therefore under equal pressures. The two
spiral springs keep the bellows i, expanded while it is thus under equal pressures
and stop exit of wind from the wind chamber y, to organ pipe. By depressing a
key the position of valves c, and d, is reversed, the lower valve d closes and top
valve c, opens which allows the wind pressure from the interior of bellows to escape,
and the pressure of wind surrounding bellows i, overcoming the resistance of the
spiral springs causes the bellows to collapse and allows the wind to pass from wind-
chamber y, through the organ pipe n, to speak" the pipe. When the key is
released, the valves are again reversed, an equilibrium of pressure inside and outside
the bellows results, and the spiral springs t, force the bellows into contact with the
upper boards m, thus stopping the wind from passing to the pipe from the wind
chamber y.
Stop Action. This would work on the same principle by having a large circular
bellows fixed at the end of the sound-board, or an extension of the same, and in
the chamber y or directly connected thereto over the hole in the upper board a
wind trunk being connected. When the wind pressure in the bellows is reduced or
exhausted by valves similar to the action before described, the bellows is forced
down by the wind pressure above it, which enters the channel of the wind-chamber
until the pressure is again admitted to the interior of the bellows, which causes it
to expand and cut off the supply of wind to the wind-chamber y.
3,
The tension spring b, above the valve-box simply allows the key-tail to travel
about one-third of an inch, and the upper and lower valves c, and d, one-eighth of
an inch, which is sufficient, and also prevents any loss of wind, which would result
if the key was not held firmly down.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a pneumatic action for organs the novel form of sound-board with the
cross-channels, and small hellows i, fitted with the guide rods, springs, weights,
and the necessary apertures as herein described and set forth.
وگ
2. In a pneumatic action for organs the special valve-box ., with the upper
chamber lower chamber p, the double action valve c, d, valve protector e,
connecting rod w, regulating screws z, and springs f, b, as herein described and set
forth.
Dated this 25th day of March 1892.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.