US1078078A - Combination organ stop-action. - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. AUSTIN, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO AUSTIN ORGAN COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

COMBINATION ORGAN STOP-ACTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN T. AUSTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Organ Stop-Actions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combination organ stop actions, one of the primary objects of the invention being to provide effective mechanism by which the stops of the organ can be operated in different combinations to thereby obtain different effects.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I have represented in detail two of the several forms of embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the art to practice the same will be set forth fully in the following description. I do not, of course, restrict myself to this particular disclosure; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of combination organ stop action involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same with additional parts.

Like characters refer to like parts through the several figures of the drawings.

In a pipe organ there are what are known as stops, and I provide means whereby these stops can be operated in different combinations, or I may at one time effect the action of but a single stop, while just en suing this I may operate two or a large number of stops.

The invention comprises as to one of its broader aspects, a plurality of stops, a primary controlling member, and improved intermediate means for operating the stops in different combinations. There may be instances where there are several of these controlling members and they may be either manually or mechanically operable. In case they are manually operable they will be located at diil'erent places about the organ, but preferably readily accessible to the player.

'There are as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 several stops 5 each comprising a stop slider 6 which it is necessary for me to describe in detail as they are of an ordinary and wellknown kind and because there is nothing novel in the stops themselves, which as will be understood are operated by the opening of the stop sliders 6. The stop sliders 6 are closed-by retracting the same, all as well understood. As a matter of fact I might employ stops totally different from those illus trated. In the organization shown in said Figs. 1 and 2 there is preferably a carrier for a stop combination-sheet, and this carrier may vary decidely as to nature; the one represented being denoted by 7 and be ing preferably of conducting material, for example sheet aluminum for a reason that will hereinafter appear. Although this carrier or traveling table is shown as rectangular in form, its shape is an immaterial matter. Said carrier or table 7 as will hereinafter appear sustains the combination sheet 8 of insulating material hereinafter more particularly described, and in turn is mounted on the stationary table or shelf 9, being given through the aid of suitable means an intermittent or step-by-step advancing movement. The means shown for accomplishing this particular action of the traveling carrier or stop combination sheet table 7 will be hereinafter described. The said carrier or table 7 is shown having at one end th erect the cross piece 10 of insulating material provided with binding posts 11 corresponding in the construction shown, with the number of stops 5. To the lower ends of the binding posts 11 are connected the butts or shanks ofthe resilient contact members or spring fingers 12, the free ends of which are bent practically in V-form for a reason that will hereinafter appear. As a means for advancing the stop sliders 6 or their equivalents, the electromagnets 13 or analogous means may be conveniently provided, the bases of said magnets being fastened in some convenient manner to the framework of the organ and the armatures thereof being carried upon levers 14 pivotally mounted on the framing and loosely connected with the stop sliders which are normally held closed in some suitable manner as by the springs 15.

The stop sliders 6 are retracted when their cooperating magnets have been deencrgized, by springs 15 connected therewith.

Any source of energy may be provided for the electromagnets, there being as will be understood one magnet for each stop; for this purpose I have shown the battery 16. From one pole of the-" battery 16 the conductor or wire 17 extends, the conductor 18 hereinafter described extending from the opposite pole of the battery. The conductor 17 as shown is connected with the binding post 19 carried by the cross piece 20 of insulating material, (on the stationary table 9.) To the lower end of the binding post 19 is connected the resilient contact member 21, the free portion of which is bent downward to engage the upper surface of the metallic plate 7, for example through an elongated slot- 22 in the combination sheet 8. From the conductor 18 lead the branch wires 23 eachconnected to one pole of a magnet 13, branch wires 24 leading from the opposite poles of said magnets, and being connected with the binding posts 11. When, therefore, a contact or spring finger 12 engages the conducting plate or table 7, the local circuit including a magnet, will be closed, so that said magnet can effect the operation of a stop. If several of such contacts engage the table 7 or what is the same thing, conducting means thereon, several stops will be operated, thus obtaining a combination as it is known, it being the purpose of the combination sheet 8 to secure different combinations in desired sequence. For example one piece of music may require in its execution certain combinations, while another piece may necessitate entirely different combinations. Of course, in employing electrical means, it is not necessary to use therein the construction described as I can obtain the same results by entirely different means. There is an advantage in employing a flat combination sheet such as that de-- scribed, in that the sheet if of paper can be placed between the pages of music or if of metal can be otherwise conveniently stored away for use as occasion requires. Preferably though not necessarily the combination sheet is of paper, and relatively heavy cardboard can be advantageously utilized in this connection from which it will be apparent that said sheet is inherently flat being different in this respect from the thin very flexible sheets used in automatic piano players and organs and which are wound on rolls. This sheet 8 is laid upon the table 7 and is removably associated therewith in any desir-- able manner, for instance by the clips 25 fastened suitably to said table 7. As shown this combination sheet has perforations 26 disposed in transverse rows, there being as shown fifteen of such rows, although the number of rows is inconsequential. The perforations are so placed as to receive the free ends of the spring contacts 12 which are projected therethrough and onto the table 7 automatically or by the. resilience of said spring contacts. There are as illustrated seven perforations in the first row, and as the table 7 is advanced seven of the spring contacts 12 are projected through these perforations to simultaneously effect as already indicated, the energization of the seven corresponding magnets 13 and the seven associated stops 5, the stops being in act-ion as long as the free ends of the contacts 12 are against the table 7. As said table is advanced the free ends of the contacts ride out of the holes, thus deenergizing said magnets, which condition continues until the spring contact-s ride in perforations of a second row to obtain either a different or the same combination of stops, the action so far as the intermediate mechanism is concerned being automatic.

Various means may be provided for advancing the table 7; that shown will now be described. Fastened to the under side of said table is the rack 27 cooperative with which is the spring operable pawl 28 pivotally supported in the constructionshown, by the lever 29, the operating spring for the pawl 28 being denoted by 30 and being connected respectively with the tail of said pawl and with the supporting lever 29 therefor, the spring serving constantly to maintain the point or active end of the pawl in the tooth spaces of the rack 27. There is shown pivotally connected with the lever 29 one end of the link 31, the opposite end of said link being likewise jointed to the rod 32 guided by lugs or cars on the supporting bracket 33, fastened in some suitable manner to the framework of the organ. The lever 29, link 31 and rod 32 are held in their retracted positions in some suitable way the coiled spring 3% answering suitably in this connection, encircling the rod 32 and bearing against a collar 35 thereon and also against one of the ears on the bracket 33. The rod 32 is equipped at its outer end with the armature 36 of the electro-magnet 37 attached to the body of the bracket 33, to one pole of which the wire 38 is connected, said wire being also connected with the wire 18 already described. From the opposite pole of said magnet 37, the wire 39 extends, being electrically connected with the switch 40 which may be readily operated by the button 41, said switch 40 being cooperative with the contact member 42 connected as by the wire 43 with the post 19 already described, the circuit embracing the electro-magnet 37 being shown as open in Fig. 2. To close the circuit the switch l0 will be pushed against the contact member 42, thereby energizing the magnet 37 and causing said magnet to attract its armature 36 and imparting through the rod 32 and link 31, a forward oradvancing swing to the lever 29 to cause the pawl 28 to advance the rack 27 and thereby the table 7 and combination sheet 8 one step, a step in the construction shown equaling the distance or interval between two rows of the perforations 26. It, therefore, follows that each time the switch 40 constituting in the' construction now being described, the primary controlling member is operated, the table 7 is advanced one step, and by the action of said switch the table can be so operated as to bring the first row of perforations into position to receive appropriate contact members 12. To play another combination the table will be advanced a step to bring a second row of perforations into position to receive appropriate contacts 12, the steps of movement of the table being preferably the same as the interval between the rows of perfora tions.

The push rod 44 engageable with the pawl 28 can be provided-to disengage the said pawl from the rack 27 when it is desired to draw back the table 7 which action may be accomplished either mechanically or manually. In the construction shown the table is returned by a thrust of the hand thereon.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a substantially flat carrier having a conducting portion, a flat perforated sheet of insulated material fitted tlatwise against and removably mounted on said carrier, means for advancing said carrier, a plurality of stops, magnets for operatingthe stops, a source of energy, electrical connections between the source of energy and the magnets including said conducting portion, and circuit closers supportedindependently of the carrier and automatically projectable through .the perforations in said sheet and into engagement with said conducting portion on the movement of the carrier.

2. The combination of a traveling approximately fiat metallic carrier, a perforated sheet fitted flatwise against and removably mounted upon said carrier, said sheet being of insulating material, a plurality of stops, magnets for operating said stops, a source of electrical energy, circuitconnections between said source of energy and the magnets, including said carrier, and yieldable circuit closers supported independently of the carrier, and automatically projectable through the perforations in said sheet, on the movement of said carrier.

3. The combination of a carrier having a conducting portion, a perforated sheet of insulated material removably fitted against the conducting portion of said carrier, means for moving said carrier to thereby change the position of said sheet, a plurality of stops, magnets for operating the stops, a source of energy, electric connections between the source of energy and the magnets, including said conducting portion, and circuit closers supported independently of the carrier, and automatically projectable through the perforations in said sheet and into engagement with said conducting portio-n, on the movement of said carrier.

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

JOHN T. AUSTIN.

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