US1106296A - Musical-instrument self-playing device. - Google Patents

Description

R. A. GALLY. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SELF PLAYING DEVICE. APPLIOATIOR FILED D110. 26, 1912.

1,106,296, Patented Aug. 4, 1914;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

|IIE NORRIS PET'ERS CO. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D. C

R. A. GALLY.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SELF PLAYING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26, 1912.

1,106,296, Patented Aug. 4,1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. GALLY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE BALDWIN COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

MUSICAL-INSTRUMENT SELF-PLAYING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Application filed December 26, 1912. Serial No. 738,574.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. GALLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical-Instrument Self- Playing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Previous attempts in constructing player actions placed under the keybed or table of a musical instrument of a piano or organ form, or the like, have been ineificient in power, cumbersome, or lacking in accessibility for regulating. The present invention shows a powerful, compact arrangement, every part of which is readily seen and reached without disturbing any other part, and whose operations are simple and direct.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end view partly sectional, of the apparatus embodie in a piano of the so-called grand type, only the keybed and keys of the piano being shown, being suflicient to illustrate the position and operative connections of the player action to the musical parts, and Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are diagram end views of modified arrangements of strikers and connections.

The player action consists of several rows of striker pneumatics 1 arranged lengthwise of the keybed or table 2, and closely underneath it. These striker pneumatics 1 are held in substantially vertical position on supports or chests 3, preferably with their hinged ends 4 uppermost and the working ends and fingers 5 of their moving boards 6, below. Thus a pendulent position is attained avoiding undue resistance due to gravity of most horizontally placed strikers, and securing full access to the fingers 5 and the connecting wires 7.

While the striker neumatics 1 may be inverted, and be su ject to the broader claims hereof, such arrangement places the wires out of easy reach, as in diagrams, Figs. 2 and 3, and in F' s. 2- and 4 placing the strikers more to the ront, and in Fig. 3 compelling crossing of connecting wires 7 and stickers 8.

The strikers 1 are shown in Fig. 1 as having their moving boards 6 to their rear, the fingers 5 and connecting wires or means 7 thus exerting a pullin action when operating, enabling use of lig ter wires than if the moving boards 6 were to the front of the strikers 1, and exerting'a pushing action on connecting wires 7 as in Figs. 3 and 4.

The connecting wires 7 are each engaged to the vertical arms 8 on an action square or bell crank 9, while the horizontal arm 10 of each such crank 9 engages with a vertical rod, wire or sticker 11, which at its upper end or head 12 is positioned to engage and lift the key 13 or other suitable part adapted to actuate the action of the musical instrument. Each sticker 11 has a re lator or nut 14 near its lower end above horizontal arm 10 of crank 9, by which the relation of head 12 to arm 10 is regulated. Under arm 10 is a leveler 15 which can be set u or down to bring head 12 into exact ad ustment with the key or equivalent part 13.

Each connecting wire 7 has a regulator or nut 16 near its rear end just forward of vertical arm 8 of crank 9 which determines the amount of throw of crank 9 and rise of sticker 11, head 12 and ke 13 or equivalent, the extent of throw 0 striker 1 being checked by a felt or other check as 17 which stops the motion of the moving board 6. \Vhile this check may be a simple stop of felt, it is an improvement to arrange said check 17 to close the port 18 of the striker 1 as its moving board 6 reaches the end of its stroke.

The regulators 14 and 16 are readily accessible at the rear of the player action without disturbance of any other parts.

The controlling valves 19 and their pneumatics 20 are preferably placed between the rows of strikers 1, with the valves opening at the bottom, when full sight and access is to be had at any time. As a double pneumatic action is sometimes preferred, the primary action thereof is placed just forward of the front row of strikers 1, preferably in several horizontal rows of chests as 21, 22, 23, laid parallel to the several rows of strikers l. The valves 24 of these primary chests 21, 22, 23, are connected by tubes 25 leading over the tops of the strikers 1 to the connecting tubes 26 going to pneumatics 20 of the controllin valves 19 of the strikers 1. Tubes 27 lead from the primary pouches or pneumatics 28 to the tracker bar 29, which is preferably placed somewhere above the keybed 2 and keys 13.

Chests 3 of the striker pneumatics 1 have their ends butted against an end-trunk or Wind box 30, and the primary chests 21, 22, 28 have their rear edges at the same end held on the front of end-trunk 30. Thus, the primary action is cessible near the front of the instrument, and even removable independently of the strikers 1 and their chests The playcr'acticn and arrangement set forth and claimed herein covers the features of this invention whether applied to a mu sical instrument having keys, or one Without keys wherein the player operates the musical action from below the table as set forth.

Many modifications are possible and yet be subject to,-

l fhat I claim as my invention:

1. A musical instrument having a keybed, and vertical striker pneumatics in a series of parallel rows longitudinal of and in one horizontal plane under said keybed.

2. r -1nusical instrument having a keybed, and vertical striker pneumatics in a series of parallel rows longitudinal of and in one horizontal plane under said keybed, said strikerpneumatics having a hinge to each, and ach said hinge being at the top of its striker pneumatic.

3. A musical instrument having a keybed, and vertical striker'pneumatics in a series of parallel rows longitudinal of and in one horizontal plane under said keybed, and a connecting means extended horizon tally fronra moving part of each said striker to a common line of the other ends of said means.

4. A musical instrument having a keybed, and vertical striker pneumatics ina series of parallel rows longitudinal of and in one horizontal plane under said keybed, said striker pneumatics having a hinge to each, and each said hinge being at the top of its striker pneumatic, and a connecting means extended horizontally from a moving part of each said striker to a common line of the other ends of said means, said connecting means lying in a horizontal plane beneath said rows of striker pneumatics.

5. A musical instrument having a keybed, and vertical striker pneumatics in a series of parallel IOWS longitudinal of and in one horizontal plane under said keybed, a tone-producing musical action above said table, vertical stickers extended "downwardly from said musical action through said table on a line parallel to the rows of striker pneumatics, said rows of strikor pneumatics being all forward of said line of said vertical stickers, and actuating means from said strikers to said stickers.

6. A musical instrument having a keybed, and vertical striker pneumatics in a series of parallel rows longitudinal of and readily visible and acin one horizontal plane under said keybed, said striker pneumatics having a hinge to each, and each said hinge being at the top of its striker pneumatic, a tone-producing musical action above said keybed, vertical stickers extended downwardly from said musical action through saidvkeybed on a line parallel to the rows of striker pneumatics, said rows of striker pneuinatics being all forward of said line of said vertical stickers,

and actuating means from said strikers to said stickers.

7. A musical instrument havinga keybed,uand vertical striker pneumatics in a series of parallel rows longitudinal of and in one horizontal plane under said keybed, and a connecting means extended horizontally from a moving part of each said striker to a common line of the other ends of said means; a tone-producing musical ac tion above said keybed, vertical stickers tended downwardly from said musical action through said keybed on a line parallel to the rows of striker pne v matics, said rows of striker pn'eumatics being all forward of said line of said vertical stickers, and actuating means from said connecting means to said stickers.

8. A musical instrument having a keybed, and vertical striker pneumatics in a series of parallel rows longitudinal of and in one horizontal plane under said keybed, said striker pneumatics having a hinge to each, and each said hinge being at the top of its striker pneumatic, and a connecting means extended horizontally from a moving part of each said striker to a common line of the other ends of said means, said con necting means lying in a horizontal plane beneath said rows of striker pneumatics; a toneproducing musical action above said keybed, vertical stickers extended downwardly from said musical action through said keybed on a line parallel to the rows of striker pneumatics, said TOWS of striker pneumatios being all forward of said line of saidvertical stickers, and actuating means from said connecting means to said stickers.

9. Amusical instrument having a keybed, and vertical striker pneumatics in a series of parallel. rows longitudinal of and in one horizontal plane under said keybed, a connectingmeansextended horizontally from a moving part of each said striker and a crank at the other endof said means, a musical action above said keybed, and a vertical Wire or rod from said crank to said musical action.

10. A musical instrument having a keybed, and vertical striker pneumatics in a se ries of parallel rows longitudinal of and in one horizontal plane under said keybed, said striker pneumaticshaving a hinge to at the top and a connecting each, and each said hinge being of its striker pneumatic,

means extended horizontally from a moving part and each said striker to a crank at the other end of said means, a musical action above said keybed, and a vertical wire or rod from said crank to said musical action.

11. A musical instrument having a keybed, and vertical striker pneumatics in a series of parallel rows longitudinal of and in one horizontal plane under said keybed, and a connecting means extended horizontally from a moving part of each said striker and a crank at the other end of said means, a tone-producing musical action above said keybed, and a vertical wire or rod from said crank to said musical action, said crank comprising a fulcrum at its upper part away from said strikers, a horizontal arm extending from said fulcrum toward said strikers and said vertical wire or rod, and a vertical arm extending from said fulcrum down to said horizontal connecting wire.

12. A musical instrument having a keybed, and vertical striker pneumatics in a series of parallel rows longitudinal of and in one horizontal plane under said keybed, said striker pneumatics having a hinge to each, and each said hinge being at the top of its striker pneumatic, and a connecting means extended horizontally from a moving part of each said striker and a crank at the other end of said means, a musical action above said keybed, and a vertical wire or rod from said crank to said musical action, said crank comprising a fulcrum at its upper part away from said strikers, a horizontal arm extending from said fulcrum toward said strikers and said vertical Wire or rod, and a vertical arm extending from said fulcrum down to said horizontal connecting means.

13. A musical instrument tone-producing action, a crank co-acting with said musical action and having a horizontal actuating arm or member and a vertical member to be operated, a striker pneumatic operatively connected to said vertical member of said crank, and a vertically movable regulating means immediately below and bearing up against said actuating member and supported on a fixed part of the apparatus.

14-. A musical instrument tone-producing action, a crank co-acting with said musical action and having a horizontal actuating arm or member and a vertical member tobe operated, a striker pneumatic operatively connected to said vertical member of said crank, and a vertically movable regulating means immediatelv below and bearing up against said actuating member and supported on a fixed part of the apparatus.

15. A musical instrument having a keybed, vertical striker pneumatics in several parallel rows in one horizontal plane beneath said keybed, with a chest attached to each row, each chest comprising controlling valves to said striker pneumatics, said valves having outer ports at the bottom face of each said chest.

16. A musical instrument having a keybed, vertical striker-pneumatics in several parallel rows in one horizontal plane beneath said keybed, with a chest attached to each row, each chest comprising controlling valves to said striker pneumatics, said valves positioned adjacent the bottom line or face of each said chest.

17. A musical instrument having a keybcd, vertical striker pneumatics in several parallel rows in one horizontal plane beneath said keybed, with a chest attached to each row, each chest comprising controlling valves and actuating pneumatics thereto, said actuating pneumatics having connecting tubes thereto connected to the top part of each chest and continued over said chests and pneumatics and under said keybed and between said keybed and said pneumatics and chests.

18. A musical instrument having a keybed, striker pneumatics in several parallel rows in one horizontal plane beneath said ke vbed, with a chest attached to each row, each chest comprising controlling valves to said striker pneumat-ics, said valves having outer ports at the bottom face of each said chest.

19. A musical instrument having a keybed, striker pneumatics in several parallel rows in one horizontal plane beneath said kcybed, with a chest attached to each row, each chest comprising controlling valves to said striker pneumatics, said valves positioned adjacent the bottom line or face of each said chest.

20. A musical instrument having a keybed, striker pneumatics in several horizontal rows in one horizontal plane beneath said keybed, with a chest attached to each row, each chest comprising controlling valves and actuating pneumatics thereto, said actuating pneumatics having connecting tubes thereto connected to the top part of each chest and continued over said chests and pneumatics and under said keybed and between said keybed and said pneumatics and chests.

21. A musical instrument having a keybed, striker pneumatics in several parallel rows in one horizontal plane beneath said keybed, with a chest attached to each row, each said chest comprising controlling valves and actuating pneumatics thereto, said actuating pneumatics having connecting tubes thereto connected to the top part of each chest and continued over said chests and pneumatics and under said keybed and between said keybed and said striker pneumatics and chests, primary pneumatics and valves below said keybed and forward of all said strikers and their chests, said continued parts of said tubes connected to said. primary valves at the front of the action.

22. A musical instrument having a keybed, striker pneumatics in several parallel rows in one horizontal plane beneath said keybed with a chest attached to each row, each said chest comprising controlling valves and actuatr pneumatics thereto, said actuating s having connecting tubes tl ereto connected to the top part of each chest and continued over said chests and pneumatics and under said keybed and between said keybed and said striker pneumatics and chests, primary pneumatics and valves below said keybed and forward of all said strikers and their chests, said continued parts of said tubes connected to said primary valves at the front of the action, a tracker bar above said keybed, and tubes from the said forwardly positioned primary pneumatics to said tracker bar.

A musical instrument having a keybed and striker pnoumatics arranged on sev eral parallel chests in one horizontal plane ,cncath said keybed', an end trunk or wind box at and against one end of all said chests, and having wind connection thereto at said end, and a primary pneumatic chest also below said keybed and to the front of all said striker chests and said end trunk, the end of said primary chest extended lengthwise in front of said end trunk, attached to the front of said trunk, and having wind connection at said attached part.

24;. A musical instrument having a key bed and striker pneumatics arranged on several parallel chests in one horizontal plane beneath said keybed, an end trunk or Wind box at and against one end of all said chests, and having wind connection thereto at said end, and a plurality of primary pneumatic chests also below said keybed and to the front of all of said striker chests and said end trunk, the ends of said primary chests extended lengthwise in front of said end trunk, attached to the front of said trunk, and having Wind connection at said attached part.

25. A musical instrument having a keybed and striker pneumatics arranged on several parallel chests in one horizontal plane beneath said keybed, and a primary pneumatic chest to the front of all said striker chests and under said keybed and in the same general horizontal plane as said striker-pneumatics and their chests.

26. A musical instrument having a key bed and striker pneumatics arranged on several parallel chests in one horizontal plane beneath said keybed, and a plurality of primary pneumatic chests to the front of all said striker chests and under said keybed and in the same general horizontal plane as said striker-pneumatics and their chests.

27. A musical instrument having a keybed and a set of manual keys thereon; primary pneumatics below and adjacent the front edge of said keybed; a tracker bar immediately above said keys and keybed, in termediate the front and rear ends of said keys, and rearward of said primary pneumatics; and tube connections from said primary pneumatics to said tracker bar.

28, A musical instrument having a keybed and a set of manual keys thereon, a tracker bar immediately above said keys and intermediate their front and rear ends; primary pneumatics beneath said keybed and forward of said tracker bar, and tube connections from said primary pneumatics to said tracker bar.

ROBT. A. GALLY.

Witnesses S. M. VVAMAOKS, J. W. Macy.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

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