Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec.. 1887
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
1, EDWARD HADLOW SUGGATE of 250 Marylebone Road in the parish of St. Mary-
lebone in the county of Middlesex Organ Builder do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates first to the construction of supply and exhaust valves used for
pneumatic apparatus and secondly to the making and breaking of electric circuits by
pneumatic agency My supply and exhaust valve is constructed with a hollow sliding
tube through which the compressed air may pass from the wind chest to the pneumatic
lever it is desired to inflate and this tube is so placed in connection with the key
action that valves upon its ends can be opened and closed by the very smallest move-
ment of the key while the tube itself is free to follow the further movement or impulse
of the key after either of the valves upon its ends are opened or closed without
checking the supply or exhaust of the compressed air In the second part of my
invention I make use of this supply and exhaust valve to inflate a small pneumatic
lever to which I attach in any convenient way a properly insulated metallic fork the
prongs of which can dip into two adjacent cups of mercury severally connected with
opposite poles of the battery and thus complete the circuit. One or more forks may
be used completing any number of circuits by the inflation of one pneumatic lever of
suitable construction. When it is inconvenient to use cups of mercury and insulated
forks I complete the circuit by the contact of suitably placed surfaces of platinum or
other non corrosive metal such contact being obtained by the inflation of a pneumatic
lever. When the player is at a considerable distance from the organ I am thus
enabled to employ tubular pneumatic action for such distance as may be convenient
and to continue the action by electricity the current being utilised in the usual way by
an electro magnet.
114 11
D. 195

page_text: I, EDWARD HADLOW SUGGATE of 250 Marylebone Road in the parish of St. Mary-
lebone in the County of Middlesex Organ Builder 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 :-
The present invention relates first to the construction of supply and exhaust valves
used for pneumatic apparatus and secondly to the making and breaking of electric
circuits by pneumatic agency.
Referring to the accompanying drawing A is a sliding tube B is a wind chest
containing compressed air, C is the channel groove or tube communicating with the
pneumatic lever or motor bellows, D & E are circular pallets or valves covering the
ends of the sliding tube and so adjusted by the screwed wire and nuts F. F. F. that
when D is open E is closed and vice versa, G is a simple stuffing box or gland which
can be adjusted to compress more or less the packing material H. I is a collar through
which the sliding tube works easily but accurately I being fixed permanently to K.
L is a washer of soft leather secured to the collar M which is attached to and forms
part of the tube A. N is a spring attached to M and sliding freely on the wire
which is adjustable by screwing it more or less into K. The wire F is registered at P
and is connected with the key by a square or other suitable action in the usual way
The necessary resistance to the finger of the player is obtained by a spring or
equivalent device which may be placed as is most convenient so long as it exerts its
influence on the wire F as directly as possible to avoid false action or loss of move-
ment R is a foreboard giving access to the windchest B.
The action is as follows When the key is depressed by the finger of the player the
valve D is closed by the first small movement and the valve E consequently opened
The movement of the key is however continued to its full extent and the tube A now
partakes of this movement and is pushed into the windchest B as far as the action
of the key requires the valve D remaining closed and the valve E admitting compressed
air to the pneumatic lever or motor bellows by way of C through a lateral perfora-
tion in A.
A violent striking of the key or a very staccato performance would tend to throw
the tube A against the face of the valve E and so close the opening for the supply of
compressed air but this is prevented by the spring N which ensures proper action and
sufficient opening.
When the key is allowed to rise the contrary movement takes place The first small
movement of the key action closes the valve E and allows the compressed air from
the pneumatic lever or motor bellows to escape through C and the tube A at the
orifice S while the tube itself is free to follow the further movement of the key action
until the key is at rest.
These movements may of course be repeated as rapidly as the key can be moved
by the finger of the performer.

page_text: Although I have shown and described the apparatus as applied to the finger action
of organs I use the same apparatus for any purpose for which it may be necessary to
supply compressed air to a pneumatic lever or motor bellows of any form and to
exhaust the same.
It is convenient to arrange the parts as shown but I do not restrict myself to this
exact arrangement, the apparatus may be used for inflating or exhausting a single
pneumatic lever or motor bellows or may be constructed for keyboard or pedal action
when a number of motors are required each having its own sliding tube valve &c.
but with a frame and wind chest common to all or to a proportion of them all.
Although it is generally convenient to use a tube of circular section I do not limit
myself to any particular section.
Either compressed or attenuated air may be used, the pneumatic lever or motor
bellows being properly arranged.
In the second part of my invention I employ the supply and exhaust valve 1 have
described to inflate a small pneumatic lever of any suitable form and to this
pneumatic lever I attach any suitable contrivance for making and breaking an electric
circuit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is
1. A valve for the supply and exhaust of a pneumatic lever or motor bellows
substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with supply and exhaust valves and acting in concert with
them of a sliding tube such sliding tube being free to follow the movement or impulse
of the key or other actuating device after the first movement of the key or other
actuating device has closed the valve upon the end of the sliding tube.
3. The combination with the supply and exhaust valve as set forth of a pneumatic
lever to which is attached any apparatus for the making and breaking of an electric
current such pneumatic lever being controlled by the supply and exhaust valve; the
making and breaking of the electric circuit being performed by the movement of the
pneumatic lever.
Dated this 10th day of September 188s.