US1665863A - Automatic musical instrument - Google Patents

Description

if IO, 1928.

c. F. sToDDARD' AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Apr. l0, 1928.

UNITEDv vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. STODDARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN PIANO COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A, CORPORATION 0F kNEW JERSEY. i

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application led March 12, 1924. Serial No. 698,599.

This invention relates to automatic musical instruments such for instance as pianos; and it pertains more particularly to expression devices for vsuch instruments,r or to means for governing playing intensities.

Among other objects, the invention is intended to provide apparatus capable of reproducing with great fidelity the manual performances of pianists and to reenact interpretations of musical compositions as rendered by Well known artists of ability.

It is an object of this invention not only to reproduce accurately the various gradations of dynamic force with which the notes of a musical composition are sounded, but also to reflect the mood and spirit of the manual performer, and thereby to give life and contrast to the mechanical rendition which shall make it approximate manual rendition even moreV closely than has been possible before.

It is a further object to embody the ininvention in apparatus which is very simple and reliable in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

For illustration, the accompanying drawings show one practical embodiment of the invention employing suitable pneumatically governed devices in cooperation with a piano action; but, as will appear to those skilled in the art., the invention is susceptible of embodiment in various constructions and organizations other than that particularly shown and described herein. It will appear likewise that it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since their respective substantial advantages may accrue from their separate application in any practicable manner to a suitable playing intensity.

Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammatic view of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a side elevation ot' the source of pneumatic power, parts ot' the apparatus being broken away and parts being shown in section to better disclose the construction and operation.

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are side elevations ot' a portion of the apparatus showing the parts under various operating conditions.

Referring to the drawings, a striker or player pneumatic l is provided having a vtrolling valves and pneumatics may sticker 2te act upon a Wippen 3 and thereby operate the usual piano action, as is Well understood in the art. A Wind trunk 7 leads to a Wind chest for the motor pneumatics, each of Which has a secondary valve 8 controlled by a primary valve 9 operated from a tracker board 10 through a duct 11 in the usual manner.

The Wind trunk 7 communicates With a regulated Wind chest 12. A high exhaust chest 14, arranged for Vcommunication with the chest 12, may be connected by a trunk 15 With a. source of pneumatic exhaust 16 which Willrbe more particularly described hereinafter.

It is to be understood in the following description that Where the term pressure is used, pressures in their absolute sense are referred to,*that is, relative to zero pressure or absolute vacuum as a base. HOW- ever, due to the fact that sub-atmospheric pressures are commonly measured on a Water-gauge, Which assumes atmospheric pressure as a base value, the term exhaust7 Will be used at times, to avoid confusion, in its normal sense of vacuum or subatmospheric pressure. Thus, high exhaust is high vacuum, or low pressure; and as exhaust increases, pressure decreases and conversely.

In the illustrative apparatus of the drawings, the striker pneumatics 1r may be operated by the exhaust/in the regulated eX` haust chest 12. In order to vary the operation of the striker pneumatics to thereby vary playing intensities, this regulated exhaust may be varied by subjecting it more or less to the influence of high exhaust in chest 14. For this purpose there has been provided between the high exhaust chest 14 and the regulated exhaust chest 12, va port 30 controlled by throttle valve 31.

For purposes of simplicity of description, a single regulated exhaust chest has been illustrated vwhich controls the pressures 4throughout the action chest of the piano.

As Will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, the action chest of automatic musical instruments is frequently divided into bass and treble sections, in which case a separat-e regulated exhaust chest and conbe provided for each section in the usual manner.

The valve 3l may be operated by a variety lll of different means. ln this specific apparatus there has been selected for purposes of illustration `the apparatus disclosed and described in a prior patent to Charles F. Stoddard, No. 1,409,492, patented March le, i922. Y Y

As set forth in the aforementioned patent, apparatus embodying the invention disclosed therein has a three-fold capacity for controlling the valve 3l. lt produces automatically incremental changes in playing intensities; it performs a regulating functiom-that is, it maintains any given playing intensity whether one or many notes be sounded; and it produces autoniatically continuously progressive changes in playing intensities for the purposes of producing crescendo and diminuendo effects.

As also set forth in the aforementioned patent, in the operation of the `specific illustrative apparatus the board 3B and valve 3l are constant-ly under the control of opposed forces tending always to balance each other and-hold the valve 31, as it were, in suspension between them; that to say, the specific apparatus tends constantly to establish a balancing equation between the opposed forces acting upon the valre 8l. Such movement of the valve 3l as may occur when that balancing equation is disturbed taires place practically new balancing equation appropriate to the newly initiated conditions is immediately set up.

The'aotu-al variation of regulated pressure may result from a number of causes, or a combination of causes, .such that the valve 31 may or may not be moved to assist in a reestablishment of the pressure equation above referred to, which holds the valve in balance.

*While it is preferable with such apparatus that the means of the present inif'ention is combined, yet it will be apparent that other apparatus having any one or all of the capacities of the apparatus of the aforesaid patent may be combined therewith toV advantage. A s the description proceeds, it will be obvious that the invention is not dependent upon the specific details of construction or the specific mode of operation of the apparatus herein described, but that it resides as well in the broad underlying concepts which will be referred to more particularly hereinafter.

For the purposes of the present description it may be assimied temporarily that the valve 3l is being held in equilibrium by the opposed forces before mentioned. In the aforementioned patent it vwas assumed that high exhaust was maintained at a substantially constant level during the operation of the instrument. The present invention, however, concerns itself with not only maintaining high eilhaust at a substantially constant level when so desired, but also with instantaneously so that a Leonesa varying the degree of exhaust applied to the high exhaustchest 14,

Before proceeding to a `consideration of the specific means employed to accomplish this purpose, it `may be convenient to consider the effect that such variations i-n vhigh exhaust will have Aon playing intensities.

' ln the aforementioned patent it was explained that the pneumatic forces acting on the valve 3l might be resolved into two grou-ps of opposed forces, those tending to give an upward pull to the valve, and those tending to give a downward pull to the valveu The forces tending to give a downward pull to the valve consisted of the differential between atmospheric pressure on the top of the board 33 and the lesser regulated pressure in one or more of the pneumatics, plus the pressure of high ezrhaust in the chest lll acting ontlie area of the valve A3l itself. rllheforces exerting an upward pull consistedof the force exerted by the pneumatic 37, plus the force of the regulated pressure in the chest l2 on the area. of the valve. rlhe regulated pressure vbeing greater, it predominates and the resultant effect upon the valve area itself is an upward pressure which combines with the resultant of the pressure in the several pneumatics to vcontrol the valve 3l,

ln any `such system wherein the pressure of high exhaust constitutes a factor in such a pressure equation, and assuming temporarily that the operative of the vvarious pneumatics remain constant, it will be apparent that if the pressure of high vexhaust is changed, a reestablishment of the` pressure equation above referred to must necessarily result and the pressure of regulated exhaust must also change. For instance, assuming that an exhaust represented by a water gauge pressure of twenty inches be considered as normal exhaust, if the exhaust is decreased to say-twelve inches, regulated exhaust must also decrease in order to maintain the pressure equation and the valve in a balanced conditi-on. Conversely, if highV exhaust be increased from twenty inches to sayrthirty inches on the waiter gauge, regulatedexhaust must be increased in order to maintain the pressure equation and the valve in balanced condition. 1 i

Such fluctuations in the pressure of high exhaust may or may not result in movement of the valve 3l. Normally, that is, when the valve is in equilibrium, and none of the motor pneumatics l are being operated to sound the notes of the piano, a decrease in the degree of high exhaust from twenty inches to ten inches would be accompanied by a closing movement of the valve 3l to prevent the passage of some of the air from the regulated exhaust chest in order to decrease the exhaust therein. @n the other hand, `if at the-same time that high exhaust lle was being decreased, a large number of motor pneumatics 1 werebeing operated and thus admitting a quantity of atmospheric air to the regulated exhaust chest 12, such closing movement o1 the valve 31 would be minimized or even prevented entirely. yUnder extreme conditions, indeed, it is possible that an opening movement might be necessary.

C0nversely,. under normal conditions it high exhaust is increased, the valve 3l would normally tend to au opening movement, although this again might be negatived by a sudden decrease in the number oi motor pneumatics being operated.

To sum up, an increase in the pressure of high exhaust causes an increase in the pressure ot regulated exhaust and a decrease in the pressure ot high exhaust causes a decrease in the pressure et regulated exhaust. And these changes in the pressure of regulated exhaust, it will he observed, occurl throughout the entire range oi playing intensities. That is, whatever the pressure of regulated exhaust may be, a. change in the pressure of high exhaust will cause a change in the pressure of regulated exhaust.

For instance, for conve icnce oldescription and explanation it may be assumed that the playing intensities determined by the crescendo, diminuendo and incremental or step change mechanism could he measured by an imaginary scale upon which the numeral 5 would indicate the lowest playing intensity, while the numeral 20 .vould indicate the loudest playing intensity when high exhaust is being maintained at twenty inches. Therefore, incremental, crescendo and diminuendo changes will be ellected within the compass of this scale :trom 5 to 20. For inst-ance, it may be assumed that the seven steps would tix the ditferent playing intensities respectively at 5, 5.7, 6.7, S, 10.8, 16.5 and 20.

It may further be assumed that a criscendo may be inaugurated when the playing intensity is fixed at any one ot the seven points in the scale except the last, and will in operation, it continued long enough, raise the playing intensities at a greater or less speed as may be determined by the apparatus, from the point at which it is inaugurated to the highest intensity.

Thereafter a diminuendo operation may be inaugurated to decrease playing intensities to any point determined by the step change mechanism.

If now high exhaust be decreased trom twenty to twelve inches regulated exhaust would be decreased and playing intensities thereby decreased throughout the entire range of the imaginary scale. For instance, the lowest normal intensity 5 on the imaginary scale would be decreased to 4 and the normal intensity of 5.7 would be decreased to 4.5 and so on, so that the new scale of playing intensities might be represented by 4, 1.5, 5, 0.2, 8.2, 11.7 and 12.

On the other hand, if high exhaust is increased trom twenty to say twenty-tive and one halt inches, regulated exhaust would be correspondingly increased and playing intensities increased. For instance, the imaginary scale under these conditions may be as i'ollows: 5.5, (5.5, 7.7, 9.5, 12.7, 19 and 25.5. Similarly, further increase in high exhaust would result in Afurther increase in playing intensities, as tor instance, it high exhaust be increased to thirty-live and one hall' inches, the imaginary scale might be as follows: 7.7, 8.7 10, l2, 10, 24 and 35.5.

Obviously, the Yforegoing figures are presented herein 'for illustrative purposes only,

it being desired merely to show that thev change in the pressure of high exhaust tends to change. the entire range of playing in-l tensities.

ln the 'in'estuit embodiment, means have- 1 bellows being urged toward open position by means oi' a leat spring 200.

The exhaust chamber 202 ot the pump is also in tree communication with a valve chamber 210 formed in the block 211 by means of a passage .212. A valve 213 is mounted on a valve stem 214i and is held in position against the valve seat 215 by means i ot a helical spring 210. VFree passage ot atmosphericair is permitted to the valve chamber 210 when the valve is open through the passages 217 and 21S, the passage 2.18 being open to atmosphere in the interior ot the pump, itl beimy understood that the interior is constantly open to atmospheric air through openings 221. Pieces of felt 219 and 220 may be inserted in passages 217 and 218 respectively to mull'lo the sound ot air passing through the passages.

Vhcn the motor 225 is started to operate the source ot' pneumatic power 16, air is withdrawn in a well-known manner by 'tour bellows 220, thereby redrcing the pressure and creating a. partial vacuum in the cxhaust chamber 202. which exhaust comnumicated to the high exhaust chest 14- through the passage 15 as betere set torth.

ll it is assumed tor 'the moment that no movement ot the valve takes place, operation ot' the pump will produce the highest exhaust within the capacity ot the pump. It will be apparent, however, that movement ot the valve 213 away from its seat will permit the flow of atmospheric air into the exhaust chamber 202 to thereby reduce the degree of high exhaust. It will also be oliserved'that exhaust in the exhaust chamber 202 will also tend to collapse the regulator pneumatic 201 against the torce ot its spring 200, the greater the exhaust in the chamber 202, the zgreater being the collapse ot the pneumatic 201.

Neglecting lor the n'ioinent the specific form oit connection between the regulator bellows 201 and the valve stem 214:, and assun'iing,l that some direct connection is present, it will he apparent that closing movement oli the pneumatic 201 will more the valve 213 away from its seat to admit atmospheric air to the exhaust chamber 202.

The effect ot this action will be to maintain the pressure in the exhaust chamber 202 at a substantially constant level. It the degree ot exhaust tends to increase, the regulator pneumatic 201 will tend to collapse and due to its connection with the valve stem. 21d, the valve 213 will admit atmospheric air to the chamber 202 to thereby tend to decreaf-:e the degree ot exhaust. Conversely, it the exhaust in the exhaust chamber 202- tenos to decrease, the regulator pneumatic 201 will movable leaf 205 of the regulator pi'ieuniatic with the valve stem 214, such means comprising preferably means tor varyinpl the oper-- ative relationship therebetween in order to secure varying effects.

Pneuniatics 230 and 231 are mounted on the movable leali 205 ofthe regulator pneumatic 201, and the pneumatic 231 is provided with an abutment 232 which projects upwardly into position 'for engagement with a collar mounted on the valve stem 2113;. The valve stem 214- may conveniently be pivoted as at 23d. The pneiunatic 201 provided with a limit stop which is ixed to a board 20/-1 and extends over and engagesV the outer :tace ot the movable board 205. 1 limit stop 230 is also provided for the pneumatic 230 which is fixed to the lea-i" 205 and extends over and engages the outer tace ot' t-he leaf 237 by means of an adjustable screw 238. A limit stop 239 is also provided tor the pneumatic 231 which is iixed to the leat inea-see 20 andV extends-over and engages the leaf 237 by means of an adjustable screw 241. rlhe extent ot movement ot each of the pneumatics 230 and 231 may be conveniently .adjusted by the set screws 233 and 241.

l/Vhenthe pneumatics 230fand 231 are in expanded condition, the limitstops 236 and 239 canse the leaf 2'-l0 to move with the leait 205 of the regulator bellows 201 and tiransmit motion ot the leaf 205 to the valve stein 21d as soon as the regulator pneumatic 201 is suthciently collapsed to cause the abutment 232 to engage the collar 233. VWhen both ot the pneumatics 230 and 231 are in expandedk condition, this engagement will not occur until the regulator pneumatic 201 is nearly collapsed as illustrateil in Figifire 1. On 'the other hand, when the bellows 230 and 231 are both collapsed, a jvery slight movement ot the regulator bellows may cause such engagement illustrated in Figure By providing bellows 230 and 231 with diilerent opening movements, two difterent intermediate positions may be secured as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 in which, as there illustrated, engagement between the abutment 232 and the collar 233 will occur in two dil'- i'erent positions of the leaf 205.

ln each ot 'these positions ot the regulator bellows 201 different condition ot equilibriuni will be set up due to the tact that in each position the spring` 206 exerts a dillferent opening force on thc leaf 205. In its wide open position, as in Figure 3, the spring exerts its least degree ot' pressure, while in its closed position as illustrated in liigure 4l the spring being under a greater degree ot compression exerts a greater force.

rlhe result of such operations on the pressures in the exhaust chamber 202 will now be apparent. llllhen the pneumatics 230 and 231 are caused to assume the position of Figure 3, the degree of exhaust in the exhaust chest 202 will be at a minimum, and conversely, when the pneumatics 230 and 231 are caused to assume the position ot Figure 4f, the degree ot exhaust in the exhaust chest 202 will be at its highest level. 'When the pneumatics are caused to assume the positions of Figures 5 and 6, intermediate pressures are secured inthe exhaust chest 202. ln any one ot the tour positions illustrated the regulator bellows 201, of course, will control the valve 213 to maintain the pressure established at a substantially constant'level, and it will continue to do so until a change in the positions of the pneumatics 230 and 231 causes a new condition otl equilibriumtoy be set up.

Means are provided for controlling` the operation oi the bellows 230 and 231 automatically from the tracker bar. Referring to Figure 1, a valve block 250 is provided in which are mounted an out-side valve 251 and an inside valve 252 which may be operated (itl by diaphragme 253 and 254 respectively. An exhaust chamber 255 is provided which is constantly maintained under exhaust by means of the passage 256 connected to the exhaust chamber 202. Then the valves are in their normal seated position, as illustrated in Figure 1, the passage 257 to the pneumatic 230 is open to atmospheric air through the port 258 and the pneumatic 230 remains therefore in expanded condition. On the other hand, the passage 259 is subjected to exhaust from the exhaust chamber 255 and the pneumatic 231 therefore is normally maintained in collapsed position.

The normal position, therefore, of the pneumatics will be as illustrated in Figure 5, and the normal degree of exhaust in the exhaust chamber 202 will be at the first step above its minimum. If, under these conditions, atmospheric air is admitted to the diaphragm chamber 261 through the passage 262. the valve 252 will be raised cutting off the passage of atmospheric air through the port 258 and allowing suction through the passage 263 to collapse the pneumatic 230. Under these conditions the pneumatics assume the position of Figure 3, both of the pneumatics 23() and 231 being collapsed, and the degree of exhaust in the exhaust chamber 202 will be at a minimum.

If, under these conditions, atmospheric air is admitted to the diaphragm chamber 265 through the passage 266, valve 251 will be raised, exhaust from the vchamber 255 will be cut off, and atmospheric air will be allowed to enter the pneumatic 231 through the port 267 to thereby expand the pneumatic. The pneumatics will then assume the position of Figure 6 and the degree of exhaust in the chamber 202 will be somewhat increased. By manipulation of the valves 251 and 252 through the admission of atn'rospheric air to the passages 262 and 266 the pueumatics 230 and 231 may be controlled at will to cause them to assume the positions of Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 to thereby establish and maintain varying degrees of exhaust in the high exhaust chest 14 as before set forth.

The valves 251. and 252 are in effect secondary valves and may be conveniently controlled b v primary `valves 270 and 270a mounted in valve chests 271 and 271e. Sin"c these valve mechanisms are duplicates only one will be described in detail herein. The valve 270 is normally seated to cover the port 272 to prevent the admission of atmospheric air to the passage 266. Movement of the valve is controlled by a diaphragm 273 which is operated by the admission of atmospheric air to the diaphragm chamber 274 through the duct 275 to the tracker bar. When atmospheric air is admitted to the duct 275 by the uncovera Aing oF the tracker vent 276 through an opere ing in the note sheet, the valve 270 is raised and atmospheric air is admitted to the duct 266 to operate the secondary valve.

When the valve 270 is once open by venting the tracker duct 275, the valve preferably continues open even though the tracker vent' may be immediately closed. In the specific apparatus this results from the fact that simultaneously with the operation of the valve 270, atmospheric air is admitted past the valve 27 0 to a duct 277 through a bleeder vent 278 and through the duct 279` to the diaphragm chamber 274. The chamber 280 is connected to high exhaust through the passage 281 and the continued admission of atmospheric air through the duct 279 to the diaphragm chamber 274 will cause the valve 270 to remain in raised position.

From the preceding description it will be apparent that small perforations in a music sheet may be employed to open the tracker vents 276 and 276at which may be immediately closed if desired.

In order to nullify the action just described and to cause the valve 270 to again seat, the valve 285, controlled by the diaphragm 286, may be operated. If valve 285 is raised, the continued passage of atmospheric air to the diaphragm chamber 274 is prevented due to the closing of communication between ducts 277 and 279 and the valve 27() immediately drops back to its seat.

As has been described in Patent N o. r1,409,- 492 before referred to, a single cancel valve 84 is provided to cancel the effects caused by setting the valves 58, 58a and 58b through the admission of atmospheric air to the duct 86. In the present embodiment this feature has been combined with the present apparatus to cause the cancel valve 84 to return the valves 270 and 27 0 to normal position. Duct 287 is provided opening into the chan nel 86, the result being that when the valve 84 is raised to admit atmospheric air to the duct 86, the valve 285 is operated to cause the valve 270 to return to normal position. lVhen the duct 86 is subjected to exhaust, valve 285 remains in seated position.

The operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the foregoing description. To sum up, however',l valves 270 and 270a are controlled by openings in the note sheet to operate .the pneumatics 230 and 231 to cause varying pressures to be established in the chamber 202 and in the high exhaust chest 14. Such pressures, when established, are maintained at a substantially uniform level by the regulating action of the regulator bellows 201. In normal operation, that is, with tracker vents 276 and 27 6a both closed, the pressure of the exhaust may conveniently be maintained at an intermediate level in order that pressures both below and above (lil this level may be established by proper open-- ings in the note sheet. Such changes in pressure being established in the high exhaust chest also effect changes in playing intensities as before described. The step change mechanisms, however, `operated by the bellows 3l, 35 and 3G, and the crescendo apparatus, however, maintain their respective capacities to produce step changes and crescendo changes Whatever 'the pressure established in the high exhaust chest may be. The step changes and the crescendo changes established, however, will vary depending on the particular pressure established in the high exhaust chest as ivill be understood.

The capacity of the apparatus to produce variation in tone intensities in the instrument, it 'will be observed, has a Wide range. For instance,rin the .illustrative prior art apparatus forming a part of the present combination, it was possible to obtain a scale of seven grades or steps of playing intensitics, Whereas With the present apparatus it is possible to obtain four different scales of seven grades or steps. lt is furthermore possible with the apparatus herein described to shift immediately from one range of playing intensities to a diii'erent range as for instance from an imaginary scale of intensities ranging from l to l2 to another range from 7% to The similarity of this capacity to actual playing conditions in the rendition of musical compositions manually may be mentioned. ln manual playing the performer, when playing a forte or fortissimo passage, 'frequently assumes, y either consciously or unconsciously, an attitude of tenseneffss, and While various grades of tone intensities may be noticed as the passage proceeds, as for instance the melody notes may stand out more prominently than the accompaniment notes, yet in general the rendition is characterized by brilliance or contrast. Similarly, when 'the performer is playing` a piano or pianissimo passage the pervading spirit is that of delicacy even though certain notes may stand out above the others. Se, in the operation of the present apparatus, when the degree of exhaust in the high exhaust chest is increased, a feeling of tenseness may be observed and the general range of tone intensities gives brilliance to the performance even though through the operation of the step mechanism some of the notes may be sounded more softly. Similarly, when the degree of exhaust in the high exhaust chest is decreased, a feeling of delicacy and moderation may be sensed and the general range of tone intensities is soft although certain notes may stand out above the others.

The foregoing is merely set forth as representative of one of the capacities ol: the apparatus, although as will be apparentto those skilled in they art, other eifects maybe 1,ee5,ses

produced in playing either due to the capacity of the apparatus itself or to its combination With the prior art structure.

lt is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment herein shown and described for purposes of illustration, but that on vthe contrary it may be variously modified and embodied Within the scope of the subjoined claims.

l claim as my invention:

l. ln an automatic musical having player pneuinatics and a sourceof pneum tic power, in combination, means to govern the press re applied to said'player pne'umatics by said source of power to thereby govern playing intensities including a regulator responsive to changes in pressure applied thereto by said Source of power, and means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said governing` means y said source of power to thereby additionally govern playing intensities.

Q. ln an automatic musical instrun'ient having player pneun'iatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics by said source Vof power te thereby govern playing intensities including a regulator resi onsive 'te changes in pressure applied thereto by said source of power, and traclror controlled means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said governing means by said source ofpovver to thereby additioi'ially govern playing intensities`- S. ln an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics by said source of power to thereby govern playing intent ties including a regulator responsive to changes in pressure applied thereto, and means t vary by perceptible increments the pressure produced by said source of power to thereby additionally govern playing intensities.

4,-. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics by said souriice of povvcr tethereby govern playing intensities including a regulator` responsive to changes in pressure applied thereto, and tracker controlled means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure produced by said source of power to thereby additionally govern playing intensities. f

5. ln an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics anda source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby establish a scale of'p'laying intensities; and means 'to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said pressure varyinstrument Sti ing means to thereby vary incrementally the established scale of playing intensities.

6. In an automatic musical :instrument having` player pneumatics and a source ot pneumatic power, in combination, means to Vary by perceptible increments the pre. u applied to said player pneumatics to thereby establish a scale of playing intensities; and tracker controlled means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said pressure varying means to thereby vary incrementally the established scale or playing intensities.

7 In an automatic musi lal instrument having player pneumatics and a source ol pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said plaver pneumatics to thereby establish a scale o playing intensities; and means to var f by perceptible increments the pressure proc uced by said source ot power to thereby vary incrementally the established scale of playing intensities.

8. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source ot pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby establish a scale of playing intensities; means to vary by substantially continuous progression from any point in said scale the pressure applied to said player pneumatics; and means to vary the pressure produced by said source of power by perceptible increments to thereby vary incrementally the established scale of playing intensities.

9. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby establish a scale of playing intensities; means to vary by substantially continuous progression fromv any point in said scale the pressure applied to said player pneumatics; and tracker controlled means to vary the pressure produced by said source of power by perceptible increments to thereby vary incrementally the established scale of playing intensities.

vl0. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source ot pneumatic power, in combination7 means to govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby govern playing' intensities; means to govern the pressure applied to said governing means to thereby additionally govern playing intensities, comprising a regulator pneumatic having free pneumatic communication with said source of power, and auxiliary means having pneumatic communication with said source of power to control the effective operation of said regulator pneumatic.

ll. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means io govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby govern playing intensities; means to govern the pressure applied to said governing means to thereby additionally govern playing` intensities, comprising a regulator pneumatic having free pneumatic communication with said source of power, and auxiliary means having tracker controlled pneumatic communication with said source of power to control the efectlive operation of said regulator pneumatic.

12. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source ot pneumatic power, in combination, means to govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby govern playing intensities; means to govern the pressure applied to said governing means to thereby additionally govern playing intensities, comprising a regulator pneumatic havingr free pneumatic conm'nmication `with said. source and auxiliary `pneumatic means mounted exteriorly of said regulator pneumatic to control the effective operation thereof.

13. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby govern playing intensities; means to govern the pressure applied to said governing means to thereby additionally govern playing intensities comprising a regulator i'meumatic having free pneumatic communication with said `source of power, and auxiliary pneumatic means mounted exteriorly of said regulator pneumatic having tracker controlled pneumatic communication with said source oit flmwer and adapted to control the eilectivc operation of said regulator pneumatic.

14. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source oit pneumatic power, in combination, means lo govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby govern playing intensities; means to govern the pressure applied to said governing means to thereby additionally govern playing intensities, comprising a regulator pneumatic having pneumatic communication with source oi' power, means controlled by said pm-umatic to admit atmospheric air to said source ot powerr` and auxiliary means having tracker' controlled communication with said source of power to vary effective operation ol' said regulator pneumatic. f

l5. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby govern playing intena Lacasse sitios; means to govern the pressure applied power, and auxiliary pneumatic me s mounted extcriorly ol said regulator pmatic to control the effective thereo't.

16. ln an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics| and a source of pneumatic power, in combination`r` means to I govern the pressure applied to saidplayer pneumatics to thereby govern playing intensities; means to jgoveru tlie pressure applied to said governing means to thereby additionally govern playing intensities, comprising a regulator pnemnatichavingv a lined leat and a movable leaf, said pneumatic havingI pneumatic communication with said source ol power, means controlled b ysaid pneumatic to admit atn'iospheric air to said source of power, connections l l means rwtween said and the movable leaf oit said pneumatic, and means to vary the operative relationship therebetween.

17. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneuniatics and a source oii pneumatic power, in combination, means to govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby govern playingl intensities; means to govern the pressure produced by said source ot power to thereby additionally govern playing intensities, coinprising a regulator pneumz'ltic havin g a lined leaf and a. movable leat, said pneumatic having pneumatic communication with said source oiI power, n'ieans controlled by said pneumatic to admit atmospheric air to said source ot power, connections between said means and the movable leale ot said pneumatic including auxiliary pueumatics, and tracker controlled means 'to vary the operation oit said auxiliary pneumatics to thereby vary the operative relationship therebetween.

itl. lnan automatic musical instrument havingV player pneumatic." and a source oit pneumatic power, in combination. means to govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatica to thereby govern play intensitios; means to igovern tle pres-@sure produced by said i .urce ot' power to thereby ad itionally govern playD ug intensities, comprisiru;` a regpilator pneumatic having a lived leait and a movable leal, said 'pneumatic having` pneumatic communication with said source oit power, means controlled by said pneumatic to admit atmospheric air to said source oit power, connections between said means and the movable leat' oit said pneumatic including a plurality of pneumatics, and. means to control the operation o;t said last named pneumatics to vary the operative relationship therebetween.

lf). ln an automaticV musical instrument, in combination, a source of pneumatic power includingw enhauster pneumatica andan eX- haust chamber; means to pgoif'ern the pressure 'irodnced by said source o' power to thereby govern playing intensities comprising); a connnunication with said exhaust chamber; means control led by said pneumatic to admit atmospheric air to said exhaust chamber; and means to vary the eiliective operation ot said pneumatic.

E20. ln an automatic musical instrument, in coiiiliiinatioina source ot pneumatic power including; exliauster pneu-.matics and an eX-i haast chamber; means to govern the pressure produced by said source of power to thereby p'ovcrn playin( intensities comprising a regulator pneumatichaving a iXed lear' and a movable leat, said pneumatic having* pneumatic communication with said ei;- liaust chamber; Y ans` controlled by said pneumatic to admit atmospheric air to said exhaust chamber; connections betweensaid means and tlieniovable leaf ot said. pneumatic; and means to vary the operative` relationship therebetween.

2l. ln an automatic musical instrument7 in combination, a source of pneumatic power including exliauster pneumatics and an exhaust chamber; means to govern thepressure produced by said source of powerto thereby govern playing' intensities, comprising a regulator pneumatic having` a iixed leaf and movable leali; means controlled by said pneumatic to admit atmospheric air to said exhaust chamber; connections between said means and the movable leaf ot said pneumatic incliulingr a plurality oi'' pneuiiiatics: and means to control the operation oit said last named pneuinatics to vary the operative relationship therebetween.

22. la an automatic musical instrument having player pneumaticsand av source ot pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby establish a scale ot playing intensities: means to maintain the pressure at-aiiy given incremental level whether one or many notes are sounded; and means to `vary the pres,-Y

surc produced by said source of power by perceptible increments to therebyV vary the established. scale ot playing intensities.`

23. ln an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatica*and arsource ot pneumatic power, in combination, means lo vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said player pneuinatics to thereby establish a scale of playing` intensities; means to maintain the pressure at any given incremental level whether one or many notes regulator pneumatic having pneumatic Y Lacasse are sounded; and tracker controlled means to vary the pressure produced by said source of power by perceptible increments to thereby vary the established scale of playing intensities.

24. In an automatic musical instrument havingplayer pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby establish a scale of playing intensities; moans to maintain the pressure at any given incremental level Whether one or many notes are sounded; means to vary the pressure produced by said source of power by perceptible increments; and means to maintain said pressure at any given incremental level.

25. In. an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power', in combination, means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby establish a scale of playing intensities; means to maintain the pressure at any given incremental level whether one or many notes are sounded; tracker controlled means `to vary the pressure produced by said source of power by perceptible increments; and means to maintain said pressure at any given incremental level.

26. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perce )tible increments the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby establish a scale of playing intensities; means to maintain the pressure at any given incremental level whether one or many notes are sounded; means to vary by substantially continuous progression the pressure applied to said player pneumatics; and means to vary the pressure produced by said source of power by perceptible increments to thereby vary the established scale of playing intensities.

27.- In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combina-tion, means to vary by perce tible increments the pressure applied to sai player pneumatics to thereby establish ya scale of playing intensities; means to maintain the pressure at any given incremental level whether one or many notes are sounded; means to vary by substantially continuous progression the pressure applied to said player pneumatics; and tracker controlled means to vary the ressure produced by said source of power y perceptible increments to thereby var,r the established scale of playing intensities.

28. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perce tible increments the pressure applied to sail, player pneumatica to thereby establish a` scale of playing intensities; means to maintain the pressure at any given incremental level whether one or many notes are sounded; means to vary by substantially continuous progression the pressure applied to said player pneumatics; and means to vary the pressure produced by said source of power to thereby vary the speed at which said continuous progression variations take place.

29. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby establish a scale of playing intensities; means to maintain the pressure at any given incremental level whether one or many notes are sounded; means to vary by substantially continuous progression the pressure applied to said player pneumatics; means to vary the pressure produced by said source of power by perceptible increments; and means to maintain said pressure at any given 1ncremental level.

30. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said player' pneumatics to thereby establish a scale of playing intensities; means to maintain the pressure at any given incremental level whether one or many notes are sounded; means to vary by substantially continuous progression the pressure applied to said player pneumatics; and tracker controlled means to vary the pressure produced by said source of power by perceptible increments; and means to maintain said pressure at any given incremental level.

3l. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby establish a scale of playing intensities, including a high exhaust chest, a regulated exhaust chest, and a throttle valve there' between; and variable pressure means actving directly and pneumatically on said throttle valve and operating independently of the pressure of regulated exhaust to thereby vary the established scale of playing i11- tensities.

In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means toy vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby establish a scale of playing intensities, including a high exhaust chest, a regulated exhaust chest, anda throttle valve therebetween; and tracker controlled variable pressure means operating independently of the pressure 0f .regulated exhaust acting on v said throttle valve to 'thereby vary the established scale oi playing intensities,

33. ln an automatic musical instrument havingl player pneumatics and a source ot pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied to said player pneumatics tothereby establish a scale playing intensities, includ ing' a high exhaust chest, a regulated exu haust chest, and a throttle valve therebetween; and means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure in said high exhaust chest acting on said throttle valve.

Si. ln an ainomatic musical instrument havingl player pneui'natics and a source ot pneumatic power, in combination, means to vary by perceptible incren'ients the pressure applied to said player pneumatics 'to thereby establish a scale ot playing' intensities, in-

cluding a high exhaust chest, a regulated exhaust chest, and a throttle valve there between; and tracker controlled means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure in said high exhaust chest acting on said throttle valve.

35. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics anda source of pneumatic power, in combination., means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure applied t0 said player pneumatics to thereby establish a scale of playing intensities, including,` a hieh ef-haust chest, a regulated exhaust chest, and a throttle valve therebetween; means to vary by perceptible increments the pressure in said high exhaust chest acting` on said throttle valve; and regulator means to maintain the pressure in said high exhaust chest at any given incremental level.

3G. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumaticsand a source oi pneumatic power, in combinatiommeans to variably govern the pressure applied tosaid player pneumatics to thereby establish playing` intensities, includinga. high exhaust chest, a regulated exhaust chest, and a throttle valve therebetween; and variable pressure means :uiting` directly and pneumatically on said throttle valve operating independently Fit! of the pressure ot regulated exhaust to thereby vary additionally the established scale ot playing intensities.

3T. ln an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in combination, means to `govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby govern.playingintensities, including a high exhaust chest, a regulated exhaust chest, and a throttle valve therebetween; and tracker controlled means to vary the pressure applied to said high exhaust chest to additionally vary playing intensities.

38. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source ot' Lacasse pneumatic power,I in combiiuitiou, Ameaiis to govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby govern playing intensities including a high exhaust chest. a resgulated exhaust chest; and a throttle vafve therebetween; means to govern the pressure applied to said high exhaust chest lo ad ditionally govern playing` intensities, couiprising;` regulator means to maintain said pressure at a substantially constant level., and. means to vary the action ot said regulator to cause it to maintain di'lierent degrees of pressure in said chest.

39. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source otl pneumatic power, in con'ihination, means to govern the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to thereby govern playingintensities, includinga high exhaust chest, a regulated exhaustchest, and a. lthrottle v: lve therebetween; means rto govern the pressure applied to said high er;- haust chest to additionally govern playingintensities, comprisingV regulator means to maintain said pressure at a. substantially constant level, and auxiliary pneumatic means having; communication with high eX- haust to vary the action of said regulator to cause it to maintain ditlerent degrees ot pressure in said chest.. y

40. ln an automatic musical instrument having;` player pneumatics and a source o'j pneumatic power, in combination, means by said source ot power to regulate the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to maintain the pressure at a substantially constant level whether one or many notes are sounded; and means to vary the pressure applied to said regulator means by perceptible increments.

ln an automatic musical instrument having; player pneumatics and a source ot' pneumatic power, in combination; means to regulate the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to maintain the pressure at a substantially constant level whether one or many notes are sounded; and tracker controlled means to vary the pressure applied to said regulator means by said source OtV power by perceptible in frements.

42. ln an automatic musical instrlunent having' player pneumatics and a source of pneumatic power, in' combination` means by said source oit power to regulate the pressure applied to said player pneumatica to malin tain the pressure at a substzfmtially constant level whether one or many notes are sounded: means toL vary the pressure applied to said regulator means by perceptible incren'ients: and means to maintain the pressure applied at any given incremental level.

473. in an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatica and a source ot pneumatic power, in combination, means to regulate the pressure applied to said player pneumatics to maintain the pressin'e at a, substantially consta nt level whether one or many notes are sounded; and tracker controlled means to vary the pressure applied to said regulator means by said source ot power by perceptible increments; and means to maintain the pressure applied at any given incremental level.

44. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source ot pneumatic power, in combination, means to regulate the pressure,applied to d player pneumatics including a valve acted on by opposed balanced pneumatic forces acting both directly on said valve and indirectly on said valve, through a regulator pneumatic; means to vary the pneumatic torce act-ing directly on said valve by perceptible .increments to thereby vary the pressure applied to said player pneumatics, and means to maintain said pneumatic force substantially constant at any given incremental level.

45. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source ot pneumatic power, in combination, means to regulate the pressure applied to said player pneumatics including a valve acted on by opposed balanced pneumatic forces acting both directly on said valve and indirectly on said valve through a regulator pneumatic; tracker controlled means to vary he pneumatic force acting directly on said valve by perceptible increments to thereby vary the pressure applied to said player pncumatics, and means to main-tain said pneumatic iforce substantially constant at any given incremental level.

46. In an automatic musical instrument having player pneumatics and a source oi' pneumatic power, in combination, a valve; a chamber in which pressures are governed thereby; a. chamber communicating vvith said last-named chamber in which pressures are unaffected by said valve, but in which said pressures affect the operation et said valve; and means for varying pressures within the latter chamber by perceptible increments to thereby vary pressures in first-named chamber.

47. Expression devices for automatic musical instruments, comprising in combination, a. tracker; tracker controlled means for establishing a normal. scale oit playing iutensities; and tracker controlled means itor altering by pre-established increments each intensity of the normal scale.

48. Expression devicesI tor automatic mii-- sical instruments, comprising, in combination, a t 'acker; tracker controlled means for establishing a` normal. scale o1 playing intensities; and tracker controlled means for altering by al pre-established amount the conditions under which said normal scale is established to thereby cause the establishment of a scale the respective intensities ot establishment; and means for altering the by alter the entire scale of playing intensi.-

yreturn said means to position for normal opwhich. are cach dilercnt 'from those ol the lirst scale.

45). In an automatic musical instrument having the usual player pneumatics and source oi pneumatic power, in combinatimi. a regulated exhaust chest communicating Awith said player pneumatic; a high exhaust chest communicating with said source ot power; means for selectively establishing in said regulated exhaust chest a series ot' ressures which will establish a` scale ot' playing intensities, in which the pressure in said high exhaust chest constitutes a factor in such establishment; and means for selectively establishing various degrees of pressure in said high exhaust chest to thereby establish different scales of playing intensities.

50. In an automatic musical instrument having the usual player pneumatics and source of pneumatic power, in combination, a regulated exhaust chest communicating with said player pneumatic; ahigh exhaust chest communicating with said source ot' power; means for selectively establishing in said regulated exhaust chest a series of'pressures whichv will establish a scale oi playing intensities in which the pressure in said high exhaust chest constitutes a factor in such pressure in said high exhaust chest to thereties.

51. Expression controlling devices for automatic musical instruments including a tracker, a pair of pneumatics having connections to openings in said tracker, and means whereby one of said pneumatics is subjected to exhaust and one is open to atmosphere when the controlling openings ot' the tracker are closed.

52. Expression controlling devices for automatic musical instruments including means to govern playing intensities, and means to govern pump pressures `to thereby additionally govern playing intensities, tracker controlled valve means to control the operation of said means including a plurality of valve means to set said means 'for different conditions ot operation other than normal, and a single tracker controlled valve means to eration.

53. l'n an automatic musical instrument a source ofi pneumatic power, eomprisind, in combination, an exhaust chamber, and a chamber open to atmosphere, means to withdraw air from said exhaust chamber and to spill the air withdrawn to said Open chamber. and means whereby air may pass from said open chamber to said exhaust chamber to thereby govern the pressure therein.

54. In an automatic musical instrument a source of pneumatic power, comprising. in combination, an exhaust chamber, and a chamber open to atmosphere, means to wit-hdraw air from said exhaust chamber and, to spill the air withdrawn to said operi chamber, means whereby air may pass from said open chamber to said exi'iaust chairibera and means whereby the pressure in said. exi'iaust chamber regulates the How between said chambers.

n an automatic musical instrument a source of pneumatic power, comprising, in combination, ari exhaust chai'uber, and a chamber open to atn'iosphere, iriearis to withdraw air from said exhaust chamber and to spill the ar withdrawn to said operi chamber, means whereby air may pass from said open chamber to said exhaust ei'iairiber, a valve for governingv the iiow of air thereberiseaeea tween, means operated by the exi'iaust in said exhaust chamber for controlling saint valve, and means 'or Varying the operation osaid means. Y

5G. In an automatic musical instrument a source of pneumatic power, comprising, ia combination, au exhaust chamber and a chamber open to atmosphere, bellows means to withdraw air from said exhaust chamber at a substantially constant rate, and means whereby air may pass from said open chamber to said exhaust chamber at varying rates.

In *.estiiriony whereof, I have signed my ame to this speciiication this 7th day of March 1924.

CHARLES F. STODDRD.

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