US535807A - Keyed wind instrument - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. ANTHONY.

KEYED WIND INSTRUMENT.

Patented Mar. 19,1895.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ANTHONY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

KEYED WIND INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,807, dated March 19, 1895.

Appli filed January 16, 1895. Serial No. 535,095. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM ANTHONY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Golu mbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Keyed Wind Instruments;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates generally to flutes and kindred instruments having a series of holes to be opened and closed to produce notes of difierent pitch and concerns more particularly such as have keys operated by the fingers to open and close such holes. In order to preserve the equality and identity of timber of the higher notes it is necessary to provide vent openings above the note sounded. It is also essential, as is well known, that there should be a free vent for the column of air immediately below the note sounded. The open end of the flute is sufficient for the lower notes but in the higher register it is important that at least three of the holes below the note sounded shall be open.

The object of my invention is to provide keys and mechanism whereby the sounding hole and the proper vent holes above and below may be opened and closed with the least possible shifting of the fingers from one key or lever to another.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents as nearly as practicable a flute provided with my key mechanism, the end of the flute containingthe embouchure being broken OE and omitted. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic or plan View. Fig. 3 represents one group of the keys; Fig. 4, another group; and Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 show details of the group represented 'in Fig. 4 and how they are constructed and put together.

In the different views of the drawings like characters of reference designate correspon ding parts, and for convenience I have first numbered the keys from 1 to 16 inclusive, the key 1 being at the lower end of the flute. If the flute be a C flute, that is, one whose lowest tone is produced by closing all the open keys the key 1 will cover the C sharp hole, key 2 will cover the D natural hole,key 3 the D sharp hole, and so on through sixteen notes chromatically.

As the foot keys 1, 2, and 3 and the devices for operating them are like those on the well known Boehm flute no detailed description of them is needed.

My improvements are directed to the keys and mechanism above the first three keys, and my mechanism comprises principally two groups of keys substantially as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. One of the groups (Fig. 3) includes the keys 5, 6, 8, 9, l0 and 15, and the other (Fig. 4) includes the keys at, 7, 11, 12 and 13. The keys 14 and 16 are added to these two groups to complete the series and are operated by the thumb of the left hand.

Extending longitudinally on the flute and journaled to rock in posts thereon is an axle or shaft 17 fixed to the lower end of which is the key 5. Keys 6, 8, 9 and 10 having suitable sleeves are placed to rock on this shaft 17. The sleeve of key 8 has two lateral projections which lie under and are engaged by projections on the sleeves of keys 6 and 9 so that when either of the keys 6 and 9 is pressed down key 8 is likewise operated. Key 9 has formed on it a disk 9 which projects over key 10 so that when key 9 is pressed down to close a hole it also closes key 10 but key 9 may rise independently of key 10. Fixed on the upper end of shaft 17 is a T-shaped projection 40 upon one side of which rests a projection of the sleeve of key 10. Journaled between suitable posts in line with and above the shaft 17 is a shaft or axle 18 to the upper end of which is fixed the key 15. The lower end of the shaft 18 is provided with an L-shaped projection 41 which rests on the upper part of the T-shaped projection 40 on the shaft 17 so that when key 5 is pressed down keys 10 and 15 are similarly operated. Pivoted on a short separate axle opposite key 8 is a closed key 8 having a lever operated by the fourth finger of the left hand.

Key 4 is fixed to the lower end of a rocking sleeve 19 on a shaft or axle fixed between suitable posts and extending parallel to the shaft 17. At the upper end of this sleeve 19 is fixed an L'-shaped projection 42. Journaled between suitable posts above and in line with shaft 19 is another shaft 20 on the upper end of which is key 13, and at the lower end of which is an L-shaped projection 43 which is engaged by the projection 12 on the upper end of shaft 19. Extending between the projection at the lower end of shaft and key 13 on said shaft is a long sleeve 21 fixed to the lower end of which is key 7 and on the upper end of which are the short sleeves 22 and 23 of the keys 11 and 12 respectively. The sleeve 22 of key 11 has a projection extending over and engaginga projection on the sleeve of key 12 so that when key 11 is pressed down key 12 is likewise operated and these keys 11 and 12 are movable independently of sleeve 21.

The key 12 has a disk 12 which projects over key 13 so that when key 12 is pressed down key 13 is likewise operated.

On the upper end of the sleeve 21 is a short sleeve 25 having a ring key 26 which surrounds the disk 12'. The sleeve 25 of the ring key 26 is fixed to the sleeve 21 by means of a feather 27 which engages a groove 28 in the sleeve of said ring key. If the feather 27 is fixed to the sleeve 21 the sleeves 22 and 23 of keys 11 and 12 will be grooved in the same way so as to allow them to be passed into their places on sleeve 21, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. There are, of course, other ways of connecting the sleeve of the ring key to the sleeve 21. The projection 41 on the lower end of shaft 18 is also engaged by a lever 29 to be operated by the thumb of theleft hand. By this means the key 15 may be closed independently of the other keys.

Arranged above and in line with the shaft 20 is a short shaft 30 on which rocks the key 14 closed by a thumb piece 32. A closed key 16 is arranged on a shaft 31 parallel to shaft 30 and is operated bya thumb piece 33 extending partially over the thumb piece of key 1 1. The thumb pieces 29. 32 and 33 are located near one another so that the thumb of the left hand may be slipped from one to another readily.

All the keys herein described except keys 3, 8 and 16 are provided with the usual springs that tend to hold them open and the keys 3, 8' and 16 have springs that hold said keys closed. These springs are well known and no illustration is needed.

In use, the first three fingers of the right hand are placed on the keys 6, 5 and 1 and the fourth or little finger of that hand operates the footkeys, while the first three fingers of the left hand are placed on disk 12, key 11 and disk 9 and the fourth or little finger of this hand operates the lever of key 8'. When the fingers of the left hand are on their proper keys the thumb of that hand rests on the the first three fingers of the left hand, thumb piece 32, the keys 6, 5 and 4 with the first three fingers of the right hand and the keys 1 and 2 with the little finger of the right hand, the note 0 may be produced. C sharp is produced by allowing key 1 to rise. D natural is produced by allowing keys 1 and 2 to rise. D sharp is produced by pressing down the lever of key 3. E is produced by raising the third finger of the right hand and keeping the key 3 open with the little finger of that hand. F natural is produced by raising the second finger of the right hand. F sharp is produced by lifting the first finger of the right hand. G natural is produced by raising the first finger of the left hand and thus allowing the ring key and with it key 7 to rise by its spring. Because of the flatting effect of an inclosed column of air the first finger of the left hand remains up and with it key 7 for the three succeeding notes. G sharp is produced by opening key S with the little finger of the left hand, the open G sharp key being held closed by the projection on the sleeve of key 9 when G sharp is produced with key 8. A natural is produced by raising the third finger of the left hand and closing key 5 with the second finger of the right hand, thus holding key 10 closed. A sharp is produced by raising the second fiir ger of the right hand from key 5 then allowing key 10 to rise by its spring. B natural is produced by raising the second finger of the left hand and at the same time holding keys 12 and 13 closed with the first finger of the left hand. Vt hen this is done key 7 is closed by the ring key but as this hole is so remote from the hole of key 11 the note of this hole is not affected by closing the F hole. To produce 0 natural or the tone of key 12 the first finger of the left hand is raised and key 4 pressed down by the third finger of the right hand thus closing key 13. C sharp is produced by raising the third finger of the right hand thus allowing key tto rise and with it key 13. The note of key 14 or D natural is produced by lifting the thumb of the left hand off thumb piece 32 and holding down key 5 which closes key 15. Tolproduce D sharp, that is, the note of key 15, the second finger of the right hand is raised from key 5 and the key 15 rises by its own spring. The closed key 16 is opened by pressing down thumb piece 33. The hole of key 16 makes the note E natural.

For the notes of the second octave the fingering of the first is employed except that in addition to the hole for the fundamental and those below it the fifth hole above is opened. For example in playing E natural of the sec ond octave on the flute illustrated the hole of that note as well as that of A natural or key 9 will be opened. For F natural the key 10 or A sharp hole will be opened, but key 10 opens by a spring when the second finger of the right hand is raised from key 5 and the Open G sharp hole (or key 8) is held closed with key 6. For F sharp key 11 is allowed l l l to rise, and for G natural key 12. For G sharp key 13 is allowed to rise but as in this case both keys 12 and 13 rise at the same time it will be necessary to close keys 5 and 6 with the first and second fingers of the right hand. ForA natural key 14 is opened. For A sharp key 15 is opened but this key opens by a spring simultaneously with the A sharp key or key 10. The hole of key 15 I have found may also serve as a vent for B natural, but the character of the tone is improved by the use of the hole of key 16 which is opened by shifting the thumb to the lever 33, as before described.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, the combination of a rocking shaft 17 having a key 5 fixed thereon, keys 6, 8, 9, and having sleeves on said shaft, the keys 6 and 9 having devices for closing key 8, and key 9 having a device for closing key 10, substantially as described.

2. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, the combination of a rocking shaft 17 having keys thereon substantially as shown and a projection 40 fixed on the end of said shaft, and the independent shaft 18 arranged in line with shaft 17 having key and a projection 41 to be engaged by the projection on the shaft 17, substantially as set forth.

3. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, the combination of a rocking shaft 17 having keys thereon sub stantially as shown and a projection 40 fixed to the end of said shaft, a shaft 18 arranged in line with shaft 17 having a key 15 and a projection 41 to be engaged by the projection on the shaft 17, and a thumb lever 29 fulcrumed on the instrument also to engage the projection 41 to operate the shaft 18 independently of shaft 17, substantially as set forth.

1. In a key mechanism formusical instruments of the kind described, a rocking-shaft 17 having a key 5 fixed at one end, a projection 40 at the other, and a key 10 with a sleeve on said shaft having a projection to be engaged by the projection 40, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, a rocking shaft 17, keys 8, 9, and 10 having sleeves on said shaft, projections on key 9 to engage keys 8 and 10, whereby when key 9 is closed keys 8 and 10 are likewise operated.

6. In akey mechanism of the kind described, a shaft 17 having the open keys 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 connected and arranged substantially as shown and described, combined with a closed key 8' opposite key 8 for the purpose set forth.

7. In a key mechanism of the kind described, a shaft 20 having key 13, a rockable sleeve 21 on said shaft having key 7, and keys 11 and 12 having sleeves rockable on sleeve 21, substantially as set forth.

8. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, a rockable shaft 20 having key 13, a movable sleeve 21 having key 7 on said shaft, keys 11 and 12 having sleeves on sleeve 21, a disk 12' on key 12 projecting over key 13, and a ring key 26 fixed to said sleeve 21, substantially as set forth.

9. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, a rockable shaft 19 having key 1 at one end, and a projection 42 at the other, a shaft 20 havingkey 13 fixed at one end and a projection 43 at the other to be engaged by the aforesaid projection 12, a rockable sleeve 21 on said shaft 20 having key 7 and ring key 26 fixed thereon, and rockable keys 11 and 12, operating substantially as set forth.

10. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, a rockable shaft 17 having a key 5 fixed thereon, keys 6, 8, 9,- and 10 having sleeves on said shaft, the keys 6 and 9 having devices for closing key 8, and key 9 having a device for closing key 10, combined with a rockable shaft 20 having key 13, a rockable sleeve 21 on said shaft 20 having key 7, and keys 11 and 12 having sleeves rockable on sleeve 21, all constructed and operating substantially as set forth.

11. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, two groups of keys one comprising the keys 5, 6, 8, 8, 9, 10, and 15, and the other group comprising keys 1, 7, 11, 12, and 13, connected together and to be operated by the fingers, combined with keys 14 and 16 to be operated by the thumb, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ANTHONY.

Witnesses:

GEO. M. FINOKEL, LEWIs L. RANKIN.

Images