US1339848A - Player-piano-control apparatus - Google Patents

Description

M, S. HOWARD. PLAYER PLANO CONTROL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY|$1 1916.

1,339,848, Patented May 11, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES: lwE/vrok yg .wfiwazjffamfl 7% (5 m MKWM A TTOR/VEYS M. S. HOWARD. PLAYER PIANO CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY15, 1916.

1,339,848. Patsnixad- 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

M. S. HOWARD.

PLAYER PIANO CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 15, 1916.

Patented; May 11, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

[ar M 6 A TTOR/VEYS UNI-'IED STATES PATENT onnion.

MONROE S. HOWARD, 0F WAUKON, IOWA.

ILAYER-PIANU-CONTROL APPARATUS.

Application filed May 15,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Mormon S. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of lVaukon, in the county of Allamakee and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Player-Piano- (ontrol Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

It is well known to persons skilled in the art to which my present invention applies that the most common method of varying the loudness of notes in a player piano is to vary the tension of air used to operate the striking pneumatics. Any degree of loudness may be obtained in this way, but the chief disadvantage accruing to the simple and familiar player action resides in the vtact that all the notes are affected alike when the pressure is varied. The variations in the degrees of loudness are customarily attained by the use of multiple wind chests or exhaust chambers, usually limited to two in order to avoid excessive complication, containing air maintained by suitable means at different pressures, suitable types of selective devices being used for sounding certain notes, such as melody notes, with the high tension air.

So far, however, to my knowledge, the results obtained have fallen far short of the end sought, namely, the imitation of hand playing effects and expressions, since only a few fixed degrees of loudness are obtainable, and even these limited degrees of loudness,'instead of being available for individu ally controlling the degree of loudness with which the notes are struck, are useful only in affecting all or a great number of the notes simultaneously. In order that the infinite variety of expression and effects obtained in hand playing be reproduced, it is necessary that any note be capable of being struck at any time with any degree of loudness within the range of the instrument, whether struck alone or with other notes. It is necessary in order to accomplish this result automatically, to have the degree of vacuum attained in the individual striking pneumaticsabsolutely under the control of the perforations in the music sheet, and to be able to obtain through the control of the perforated music sheet, any degree of vacuum in any of the striking pneumatics and ind pendently of the rest of. them, anywhere Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1920.

1916. Serial No. 97,614.

within the range of the various degrees of loudness which the instrument is capable of producing.

l have developed what I believe to be an entirely new and novel method of control for player pianos, by the use of which I make possible the duplication in mechanical playing, of the various expressions and effects obtained in hand playing.

The system I have worked out for obtaining the individual control of the striking pneumatics, provides for the employment of governors for controlling the degree of vacuum attained in the Pneumatics. The principal object of my present invention is to provide an improved and novel method of regulating the action of these governors.

A. further object of my present invention is to provide an improved and novel method of applying the system of control to the action of the striking pneumatics of a player piano.

ll'ith these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds,-the invention resides in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which- Figure 1 represents diagrammatically the simplest form that the combination of parts used in obtaining the limiting pressure for the purposes of control, may take.

Fig. 2 represents diagrammatically, the application oi the system to the regulation, control, and adjustment of a governor which in turn may be used to limit the tension obtainable in still another system.

Fig. 3 represents diagrammatically a more detailed arrangement of the device.

4- represents a view in section taken tran. showing one method of applying the system to the control of the striking pneumatics.

Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary perspective view in detail, taken along the same section.

Fig. 6 represents a sectional view showing another method of controlling the action of the striking pneumatics.

Fig. '7 represents a view in perspective of the governor valve removed,

ersely through a player piano action- Fig. 8 represents a plan View of a section of the tracker bar and music sheet used with this control. I

I11 acquiring the adjustment of the governor which controls the degree of vacuum attained in its individual striking pneuniatic, it is necessary that almost instantaneous adjustment be acquired for each note sounded. In acquiring the adjustment of the governor, I have resorted to the use of a regulating or limiting pressure chamher (in practice the duct leading from the auxiliary opening in the tracker bar to the control pneumatic of the governor) in which there is established, at the time of striking the note, a pressure approximately that which is required in the striking pneumatic for striking the note. This pressure will be somewhere between the limits defined on the one hand by the external atmospheric pressure and on the other hand by the pressure maintained in the main eX- haust chamber or Wind chest. This pressure, acting on one side of the movable element of the governor pneumatic in opposition to the pressure which acts on the opposite side of this movable element, which latter pressure is that which exists in the striking pneumatic or other compartment in whiz h the pressure is to be regulated, furnishes the necessary force for operating the governor Valve.

In order that an adjustable limiting pressure may be produced and maintained in the pressure chamber, an orifice of fixed size is provided between the pressure chamher and the exhaust chamber or Wind chest, and an orifice of variable or adjustable size is provided between the pressure chamber and the external. air. Now if the orifice to the atmosphere is closed, the tension in the pressure chamber will become the same as that in the main exhaust chai er or wind chest, and if, on the other hand, the orifice leading to the atmosphere is made suiiiciently large in proportion to the orifice leading to the exhaust chamber, the tension within the pressure chamber will become practically the same as that of the atmosphere. The use of any size of orifice leadin? to the external air, between these limits. w ll result in the air in the pressure chamber rising; to, and remaining fixed at. such a tension that the difference in pressure bct een the air in the pressure chamber and that in the exhaust chamber or wind chest on the one hand and between the air in the pressure chamber and the external air on the other hand, will cause equal qiiiantities to flow into and out of the pressure chamher through the t o orifices.

n Fiog. 1 I have indicated diagrammatically the s mplest form which the invention ma take in obtaining the limiting or controlling pressure for regulating the governor. In the figure, the chamber in which the limiting or regulating pressure is to be established is indicated at 25", and this chamber communicates through an opening 1-11: on the one hand with the external air, and through an orifice of fixed size 26 on the other hand, with the duct l leading to a source of constant tension. While the ce 26 remains fixed, the orifice lei may dated by a needle valve The source oi tension or pressure to which the duct 4- l may be either above or below atmoseric pr 5S1ll'6,111(.l,3l11(50 it is usually below atmospheric pressure, the explanation will be, for rear aons of simplicity limited to this case. Now when the pressure in the duct 4; is lower than in the pressure chamber 25. air will flow from the pressure chamber through the ormce 26, thus reducing the pressure in tle pressure chamber, and consequently the atmosphem: pr 381110 will cause air to flow through the opening ill into the pressure chamber. The pressure this chamber will continue to fall until lance is established. between the rates at h the air is flowing in at the opening- 1-;- aiid out at the opening By varyin; the size of the orifice 13:, various pressures become almost instantaneously establishi-al in the pressure chamber 25. T he flow of the air through the orifice 1i varies with the area of the or e and the difference i10- lu'oen the pressures existing); on the oppositc sides of the opening. It has been found by mathematical calrula ion tha with the ll fire times the ".e of the opening- 2b. ave oixths approximately ot the total difference of pressure between that exist' 5 in the dart l: and the external air can be utilized.

The laisic principle oi: obtaining. by my method, almost instantaneously, the va ing forc s required for the control of the governas is seen, resides in the method oi ohta. fixed pres; ire intermediate the pres yes of a source of h pressure and the pressure of a source of low pressure, by the use of apertuies, through one oi which air fiows in from a source of hi 15h sure and through the other of wh ch air ou into the source oi low pressure,

ions differences in pressure being ob- -.l h y'aryir'igr the area oi one or both 0 ii the a pertures.

The application of this system to the re -ulation and variaole adjustment of a 15 W- ernor, which in turn may be used to limit the tension. obtained. in another system. is iiulicated in Fig.2. The governor consists of a pneumatic 18 by which a valve 20. ar ranged in a duct 21. which leads to atmosphere or a source oil exhaust, is operated. The pneumatic 18 is arranged in a char. 1.) which connects through a duct 19 with the system to be controlled. The pneumatic Ill) 18, being in communication with chamber 25 through the duct 25", it will be seen that the interior surface of the pneumatic is sub jected to the same pressure as exists in the chamber 25 while the exterior surface of the pneumatic is subject to the pressure ex isting in the chambe 19. Ii the pressure in chamber 19 is greater than in the chamber 25, the pneumatic will be collapsed, and ii the pressure in 19 is less than that in 25 the pneumatic will be expanded. The movements of this pneumatic serve to operate the valve 20. If the duct 21 leads to atmosphere, the arrangement will be such that. the valve will be closed when the pneumatic is collapsed, and hence, as the pressure is reduced in 19 the pneumatic 18, in opening upwardly, will open the valve 20, thus pre venting a further reduction in 19 by admitting atmospheric air in through the duct 21 If the duct 21 leads to a source of exhaust then the valve is so arranged that it will be open when the pneumatic is collapsed. and the expansion of the pneumatic as the pressure in 19 falls, will shift the valve to i'lUSl. the duct 21 thereby preventing further reduction of the pressure in 19. The particular form which the pneumatic 18 or valve 20 may take is optional with the user.

In Fig. 3, 5 represents a tracker bar in which an orifice 14, corresponding with the orifice in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided, said orifice 14F being connected through a duct 25 with the pressure chamber 25 A sheet 6 runs over the tracker bar and is provided with perforations 16 of varying sizes and shapes designed to register with the opening 146 as the sheet is drawn across the tracker bar, to produce the varying sizes of orifices. The exhaust chamber 8 communicating with the pressure chamber 25* by the duct at, contains air at lower tension than the atmosphere, being adapted to be exhausted by means of the bellows 1, which connect by the duct 2 with the exhaust chamber 8. The duct 3 leads from the exhaust chamber to the apparatus to be operated. This arrangement. shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3. represents, in general, the form I use for acquiring and controlling the expression in pneumatic piano-playing apparatus. There are two distinct methods by which it may be applied to the regulation or limitation of the force of the strokes of the individual. striking pneum'atics of the player action. and each of these methods is subject to further sub-division.

The first method is by limiting the vacuum attained in the striking pneumatic when a note is struck, and the second is by arranging a damping pneumatic so associated with the striking pneumatic as to be expanded when the striking pneumatic is collapsed. wherebyto vary the force ot the blow delivered by the striking-pneumatic. The first method may be accomplished in two ways, either by admitting directly air of atmospheric pressure to the striking pneumatic to offset or retard the action of the pneumatic, or by partially closing the passage through which the air is exhausted from the striking pneumatic, thus varying the blow delivered. The first of these methods forms the subject of my Patent No. 1,190,172, dated July 5, 191b, and the second of these sub- :lorms of the first method described, is the subject of my Patent No. 1,229.083. dated June 5, 1917.

The second main method of applying my system to the control of the action of the striking pneumatics of a player piano. is represented in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Referring more particularly to Figs. l and (i. the tracker bar 5*, duct 13. exhaust or tension chamber 8, primary valve 11. secondary valve 12, passageway 10 and striking pneumatic 9, constitute the mechanism which is common in pneumatic piano playing apparatus, the operation of which, being well known, may be briefly described as follows:

When air is admitted to the duct 13 by the registration of a perforation in the music sheet with the opening in the tracker bar with which the duct connects, the valve 11 is moved to close the opening in the exhaust chamber 8 and open that to the external air, and this in turn causes the valve 12 to be shifted so as to establish communication between the passageway 10 and the exhaust chamber 8, at the same time closing the outlet to the external air, and the air is thus exhausted from the striking pneumatic 9 through the passage 10, thereby col lapsing the striking pneumatics to sound a note, the impulse being transmitted to the piano hammer or key by the rod 35.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the striking and damping pneumatics 9 and 32 respectively are situated on opposite sides (ii a central stationary leaf 15, being connected together by a link at, so that they will move in unison. The damping pneumatic is provided with a valve 31 to permit the tree escape of air, as the pneumatic collapses, but which will prevent the inflow of air as the pneumatic 32 expands. The fixed leaf 15 is provided with a chamber 19 having a pouch pneumatic 18 arranged between it and a duct or passage 17, which communicates through a bleed hole 26 with the exhaust chamber 8. A duct 36 connects the chamber 19 with the outside atmosphere, and arranged in this duct is the control valve 20 which has an opening 21 movable into positions for registry with the duct or for not registering therewith, whereby to establish or close communication through the duct. The valve 20 is shown in detail in Fig. '7. and consists of a cylinder having pins or journals 22 at its ends whereby it is journaled for rotation. An arm 23 is carried by the valve and extending out through a slot 24, is engaged by the free end or outer end of a lever 37 which, at its inner end, is connected by a link 38 with a bracket 39 supported on one wall of the chamber 19. The lever 37, as will be noted, lies in this chamber, and has a rod connecting it with the diaphragm or pneumatic 18, so that when the pneumatic rises the lever will be raised, and as the pneumatic falls the lever will likewise fall, thus either opening or closing the valve 20. The tracker bar 5 is provided with the usual openings 15, with which the tubes or ducts 13 are in communication, and with the auxiliary openings 14 with which the tubes 41 communicate at their outer ends. The inner ends of the tubes communicate each with the duct 17 in one of the striking pneumatic apparatus, these ducts as shown, communicating with the pneumatics 18 below the latter.

The construction shown in Fig. (5 varies from that shown in Fig. 4, mainly in that the striking pneumatic and damping pneuinatics 32 have a common movable element or leaf 33, so that one face of the leaf is exposed to the pressure existing in the striking pneumatic and the other face is exposed to the pressure existing in the damping pneumatic. The damping pneumatic is provided with an opening leading to the atmosphere which is closed by a valve 31, as already set out, with respect to Fig. 4. In this instance, the duct 17 communicates with a duct 29 through the bleed hole 26. This duct 29 at one end communicates with the exhaust chamber 28, and at the other end communicates through a bleed hole 30 with the damping pneumatic 32. In Fig. 4 the duct which corresponds with the duct 29, communicates through a bleed opening with the chamber 19. These bleed holes are provided in each case for allowing the damping pneumatic to normally assume the exhausted position, so that the pressure within it will be subject to the control of the governing system the instant the striking pneumatic begins to act. This is not, however, an essential part of the apparatus.

The operation of the control system in fixing the force of the stroke of the striking pneumatic, and thereby determining the loudness of the note struck, may be briefly described as follows: At the same instant, or just prior to the time when a perforation in the music sheet uncovers one of the openings 15 leading to duct 13 whereby to set in operation the striking pneumatic, other perforations 16, which may be in the form of extensions of the regular perforations, uncover more or less of the auxiliary opening 14, thereby permitting the pressure in duct 41 to rise to the desired height, it being understood that, while the opening 14 is covered by the sheet, the air is exhausted from this duct 41 and the duct 17 through the bleed hole 26. As the striking pneumatic 9 collapses to strike a note, the force of its stroke is resisted and retarded by the damping pneumatic 32, and the extent of the resistance offered by the damping pneumatic is controlled by the pressure which exists in duct 41, because when the pressure in the damping pneumatic 32 falls below that existing in duct 41 and pneumatic 18, the latter will expand and open the valve 20 to a greater or less extent, thereby admitting atmospheric air to the damping pneumatic and thus preventing further increase of the resistance offered thereby. Thus the resistance which the damping pneumatic offers to the stroke of the striking pneumatic, is controlled by the pressure existing in the duct 41 and the pressure in this duct is under the control of the perforations 16 in the music sheet. The lower the pressure established in the duct 41, the lower the pressure attained in the damping pneumatic 32, and hence the greater is the resistance offered by it and consequently the softer is the note struck. With increasing pressure in duct 41, louder notes are struck, since more air is admitted to the damping pneumatics, and hence less resistance is offered to the striking pneumatic.

The action of each of the individual striking pneumatics of the piano, is thus under the control of the governing apparatus, and hence any note may be struck at any time with any degree of force in the range between zero and the maximum, so that each note is thus independently under the control of the governing apparatus.

In Fig. 6 the governor pneumatic 18 is in the nature of a bellows. being provided with an arm carried on the bellows leaf, which arm engages with the arm 23 carried by the valve 20, so that the valve is thus controlled by the action of the bellows pneumatic. Either type of pneumatic may be used.

In order that equal increments of travel of the perforations in the record sheet should produce equal increments of pressure in the chamber 25. corresponding with the duct 41. the tracker bar openings increase in width in the direction of travel of the music sheet as indicated in Fig. 8. As shown in this figure, the auxiliary openings 16 may be separately formed in the music sheet, or may form extensions or branches of the usual. perforations for coacting with the openings 15 in sounding the notes of the piano.

Although I have described the preferred embodiments which my invention may take, I may desire to make such changes in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts thereof, as do not departirom the spirit of the invention and the scope oi the appended claims.

I claim 1. Apparatus for controlling the striking pneumatic of a player piano including, a damper pneumatic operatively connected to the striker pneumatic whereby to expand as the striker pneumatic contracts, a duct leading from the damper pneumatic to the atmosphere, a valve arranged in the duct movable into positions "for closing and opening the duct, a duct leading from an auxiliary opening provided in the tracker bar to the damper pneumatic, exhaust means consisting of a bleed hole arranged between the last said duct and the exhaust chamber of the player piano, a governor pneumatic arranged across the last said duct, a lever pivotally arranged above the governor pneumatic and having connection therewith to be moved. as the governor pneumatic is moved, connecting means between the lever and the said valve whereby the movements of the governor pneumatic will control the movements of the valve, a check valve provided in the damper pneumatic tor allowing escape of air therefrom as the damper pneumatic collapses, and adapted to prevent return oi" air into the damper pneumatic, and a music sheet provided with perforations for uncovering the auxiliary opening in the tracker bar to a greater or less extent for establishing various degrees of pressure in the duct leading to the governor pneumatic.

2. Apparatus for controlling the striker pneumatics of player pianos, including a damper pneumatic operatively connected to the striker pneumatic and controlling the force of the blows delivered by the latter, a check valve carried by the damper pneumatic allowing exhaustion of air from the damper pneumatic as the latter collapses and preventing reentrance of air into the damper pneumatic, a duct connecting the damper pneumatic with the atmosphere, a valve arranged in said duct which, when moved into one position, to allow passage of atmospheric air through the duct and when moved into another position closing the passage through the duct, a pressure chamber having an exhaust opening of fixed size communicating with the exhaust chamber of the player piano, a control pneumatic arranged between the pressure chamber and the damper pneumatic, means connected with the control pneumatic and with said valve for operating the latter as the control pneumatic is actuated, a passage communicating with the pressure chamber and with an auxiliary opening provided in the tracker bar, and a music sheet having auxiliary openings controlling the extent to which the auxiliary opening in the tracker bar is uncovered whereby to acquire different degrees of pressure within the pressure chamber.

In an apparatus for controlling the action of the striking pneumatics for player pianos, the combination of a striking pneu matic, a damper pneumatic operatively c011- nected to the striking pneumatic and controlling the stroke of the striking pneumatic, means permitting escape of air from the damper pneumatic as it is collapsed, a passage connecting the damper pneumatic with the atmosphere, a valve arranged in said passage and adapted to be shifted into positions for opening and closing the passage, a pressure chamber having an exhaust opening leading to the exhaust chamber of the player piano, :1 control pneumatic subject to the pressure oi the pressure chamber, means carried by the control pneumatic engaging the valve for operating the latter as the control pneiunatic is operated, and music sheet controlled means for admitting various quantities of air to the pressure chamber for obtaining different pressures therein, substantially as described.

a. In a control device for controlling the striking pneumatics of player pianos, the

combination with the striking pneumatlc, of a damper pneumatic, a duct leading to the atmosphere, a valve arranged in the duct for controlling passage therethrough, a source of exhaust, a pressure chamber having an opening of fixed size communicating with the source of exhaust, a control pneumatic arranged in communication with the pressure chamber, connecting means between the control pneumatic and said valve for op erating the latter as the control pneumatic is operated, communicating means between the pressure chamber and'the atmosphere, and means for varying the size of last said communicating means whereby to acquire different pressures within the pressure chamber.

MONROE S. HOVARD.

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