US1289391A - Control device for pneumatics. - Google Patents

Description

F- CARNAHAN. CONTROL DEVICE FOR PNEUMATICS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC- 21, IQIS- Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK CARNAHAN, OF SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO EMERSON PIANO COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CONTROL DEVICE FOR PNEUMATICS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 31', 1918.

Application filed December 21, 1 916. Serial n6. 138,144.

To all whom it may concern: r

Be it known that I, FRANK CARNAHAN', a citizen of the United States, residing at South Boston, in the county of Sufi'olk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Control Devices for Pneumatics; and I dohereby 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 consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of the invention selected by me for purposes of illustration together with a modified formof the invention, and the said invention is fully disclosed at the same time preventing the POSSibility'f in the following description and claims.

In the operation of pneumatics for effecting the operation of various parts of a piano,

in a pneumatic piano player, difficulty i'sex-' perienced in securing an instantaneous action of pneumatics of relatively large capacity, such as are employed for the purpose of producing, forexample, the loud and soft effects bythe operation of the hammer rail or rails or the dampers usually con trolled by the loud and soft pedals when the instrument is played by hand. Such actuating pneumatics are ordinarily connected at the time ofuse with the suction apparat-us by means of secondary pneumatic devices controlling primary valve mechanisms which require an appreciable time for their. operation, and normally control such small openings or passages that the exhaustion of proved control devlce shown, 1n this in- The object of my invention is to provide a novel control device, which may be operated manually or automatically from the tracker board, and which will instantane' ously place in communication with the suc-v tion apparatus of the player a relatively large passage communicating with the pneumatic to be actuated so as to secure an' inl stantaneous actuation of the latter, while small apertures.

of whistling or other noises, which frein Figures 1, 2 and 3 I have shown an embodiment of the invention which may be conveniently employed for the purpose of 'con trolling pneumatics operatively connected with th hammer rail or rails for the production of soft effectsundermanual control. It is customary to form the hammer rail in two parts, one-of which is supported in rear of the bass hammers, and the other of which is supported in rear of the treble hammers, so that either section of the hammer rail can be operated separately, or both portions may be operated simultaneously as desired. In this instance, therefore, I have shown a duplex embodiment of my invention for the purpose of independently or simultaneously actuating the sections of the hammer rail. Referring to the drawing: Fig. 1 is a view partly in section of my improved control device for pneumatics showing it applied to the control of the pneumatics for operating the hammer rail or rails of a piano in connection with a pneumatic player action.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a modification of my imstance, as arranged for lifting the dampers to produce loud effects and controllable either manually through suitable push buttons or through the tracker board.

In this form of my invention 1 represents a valve casing provided with a suction chamber, 2, adapted to be connected with the suction devices of the player, in this instance, by means of a relatively large pipe or passage, 3, leading to the wind chest (not shown) which may be of ordinary construc tion, and provided with the usual feeders or pumping bellows operated by foot pedals or by a suitable motor. The valve casing,

is also provided on each sideof the suction chamber with-a valve chamber, 41, whiclris preferably open to the atmosphere at the top, and is provided with a normally open valve, 5, in this instance, a hinged valve,

which is provided with means normally tending to close it. In this instance, I have shown the valve, 5, provided with a weight,

6, for this purpose. Each of the valve.

chambers, 1, communicates with the suction chamber by means or a passage, 7, of sub order to obviate the necessity of too great a travel for said slide ;valves, I "prefer, to make the aperturesor passages, 7, oblong, with their greatest dlamete'r s perpendicular to the direction of travel" of theyalves,"

as shown in Figs. Qand 3. Each of the valves 1s flexibly secured to"'an actuating valve stem 9, in this instance, by means of a screw, 10, loosely engaging aperture in the valve stem, which 1s flattened in that portion through which the screw passes, and I provide an operative connection between each valve 8 and its corresponding valve, 5, in which there is a provision for lost motion to the end'that the valve, 5, shall be permitted to close before the valve, 8, opens the passage, 7 and by which the valve, 5, is positively opened after the valve, 8, is clo sedb Various means can be employed for this purpose, but I have shown a very simple means whichconsists in providing the valve stem, 9, with an extension, 11, projecting upwardly into position to engage the valve, 5, at the instant that the valve, 8, closes the aperture, 7, so-as tolift the valve, 5, and place the valve chamber 4, in communication with the atmospl'iere. It follows fromthis construction that on the downward movement of 'the"valv e, 8, the valve, 5, will bepermitted"to'close before the valve, 8, opens the passage, 7, as will be readilv understood.

Each of the valve chambers, l, communicates by a relatively large-air passage, with the pneumatic controlled by its valves, and, in this instance, I have showneach valve chamber provided with a pipe, 12, which is connected by a tube, 13, with' a pneumatic, ll. One of the pneumatic's, 14:, is provided with a rod, 15,'operatively'connected with one section of the hammer rail, for eX- ample, the base section, and the other pneumatic, 1 1, is connected by a rod, 15?, with the other section of the hammer rail, as the treble section. When the valve, 5, is open the pneumatic connected with the corresponding valve chamber will be in expanded condition as it will beplaced in connection with the atmosphere, while thevalve, 8, closes the aperture, 7, communicating with the suction. The loose connection permits the valve, 8, to seat accurately and said valve will be firmly held in closed position a by the suction.

Various means may be provided for actuating the valves, 8 and 5, either manually or otherwise. In the present instance, in

Fig. 1, I have shown the valve mechanism supported in a recess, 16, in the underside of the key rail or front rail of the piano, in which it is held, for example, by means of the screws, 17, but obviously it may be located at any other convenient part of the structure, and the manual or other devices for actuating it may be connected 'to the 'valve stems, 9, in any desired manner; Where, as shown in Fig. 1, it is supported in the key rail, the valve stems, 9, may be conveniently actuated by means of push buttons 011 the upper surface of the rail as indicated at 18 and 19, saidpush outtons being-connected with rods', 20, passing through the key rail and connected at their lower ends to the respective valve stems, 9, eachof the rods, 20, being provided with a retracting spring, 21, engaging a nutor collar, 22, on the rod, 20, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be seen that a passage of relatively large cross sectional area is provided-from each of the'pneumatics, 1 1, to the suction mechanism oi' the player through the pipes, 13, passages, 7, and suction pipe, 3, the valves,-8, bemg located across said passages depressthe button, 19, manually, as indicated in Fig. 1, thereby depressing the valve stem, 9. The first effect of this is to permit the valve, 5, for the corresponding valve chamber to close and shut ofl the communication with the atmosphere. The it'urther movement of the valvestem, 9, opens the valve, 8, and instantlyplaces the pneumatic in communication with suction through a passage o f relatively large cross sectional area, thereby causing the-instantaneous collapse of thepn'eumatic and the instantaneous operation of the part connected therewith, in this instance, the treble hammer rail. Inlthe same manner, the bass hammer rail canbeactuated by depressing the button, 18, and obviously- I both hammer rails can be-inst'antaneously' and simultaneously a ndthe-valves, 5, controlling the communivalve, 8, and then instantly opening the valve, 5, placing the corresponding pneumatic in communication with the atmosphere so that it may be instantly filled with air and open, thus restoring its connected section of the hammer rail or other part to which it may be connected to its normal posltion. 7

Obviously if only one pneumatic is to be operated only one of the valve chambers, 4, and the associated parts is required, and my improved control device may be actuated directly by hand, or indirectly by means of a pneumatic, which may be controlled either manually or from the tracker board, and in Fig.4, I have shown a modified form of my invention, in this instance, arranged to operate a single pneumatic as the pneumatic for lifting the dampers to produce loud effects, the control device being arranged to be operated either by a push button, as in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or by a special pneumatic which may be actuated either by hand or from the. tracker board.

In this figure, 1*, represents the valve casing, which is provided with a suction chamher, 2', connected to the suction apparatus of the piano, as by a pipe, 3, and said valve casing is also provided with a valve.

chamber, 4*, communicating by a passage,

7*, with the suction chamber and normally open to the atmosphere at its upper end, the

- the pneumatic,

said open end being provided with the valve, 5, in this instance, provided with the weight, 6 to assist in closing the same. The passage, 7*, is controlled by the slide valve, 8, flexibly mounted on the valve stem, 9, to which it is secured by the screw, 10*, the upper end, 11 of the valve stem extending into position to raise the valve, 5 when the valve, 8, is closed, and to permit the valve, 5*, to close before the valve, 8, is opened.

The valve chamber, 4, is connected by meansof a pipe, 12", and tube, 13*, with a large pneumatic, 25, connected by a rod, 26, in this instance, to the dampers for elevating the same when the pneumatic has collapsed. The valve stem, 9*, is operatively connected with a push button, 18 of a rod, 20, provided with a nut, 22, and retracting spring, 21*, as in the form here inbefore described, which normally holdsthe button in retracted position, and the valve stem, 9 in position to close the valve, 8, and open the valve, 5,

The foregoing portions'of the apparatus, shown in Fig.4, are substantially'identical with the corresponding parts, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In this instance,'I have shown a small pneumatic, 30, provided with an arm, 31, for engaging a nut or collar, 32, on the valve stem, 9, the movable member of indicated at 30, to which the arm, 31, is connected, being provided mally held closed by a sprlng,

' 5 and 8*, by the spring,

by means ample passage so that as before stated the with a retracting spring, 33, of greater strength than the retracting spring, 21*. The pneumatic, 30, is connected with the suction apparatus, in any desired way, for example,

erated valve will be provided for admitting air from the atmosphere to the pneumatic, 30.

a In this instance, I have shown such a valve at 40, in connection with a small valve casing, 41, connected by pipes, 42 and 43, with the pneumatic, 30, the valve, 40, being nor:

' 44, and provided with an actuating button, 45. The

connection between the pneumatic, 30, and

suction will normallycause the collapse of the pneumatic, 30, and will overcome the spring, 33. By depressing the button, 45, the valve, pneumatic, atmosphere, thus permitting-the pneumatic, 30, to expand under the action of its spring, 33, which will actuate the valve stem, 9,

Where it is desired to control the pneu- 'matic, 30, manually a suitable manually op- I 40, will be opened placing the 30, in communication with the overcoming the weaker spring, 21, to 'close the valve, 5 and open the Valve, 8 .in the manner hereinbefore described. The air inlet pipe, 43, leading to, the pneumatic, 30, may also be placed in connection witha special aperture, 50, in the tracker board, in-

dicated at 51, by means of a pipe, 52, for example, the aperture, 50, being normally closed by the paper'roll. When it is desired to operate the pneumatic,-25, a suitable aperture in the paper roll indicated at 53, in. dotted lines, passing over the aperture, 50, will admit air to the small pneumatic, 30, and permit the actuation of the valves, 33, in the manner hereinbefore described. Obviously either one or the other of the manual controls or the tracker control, shown in Fig. 4, could be omitted, if desired. v

In the operation of my improved control device, the depression of the valve stem instantaneously places the V pneumatic controlled thereby in communication with the suction apparatus by means of a large and action of the pneumaticis rendered instantaneously responsive and by reason of this large passage the movement of the air therethrough is silent, and whistling and other noises are entirely obviated.

While I have shown my invention applied to pneumatics for controlling the, hammer rail or rails, and for raising the dampers, it can be applied, as Wlll be evident, to pneumatics designed for any other purpose, and may be constructed smgly or in multiple and operated manually or automatically, or

' manually and automatically as desired and V as fully set forth herein. I do not limit my- What I claim and desire; to secure by Let-.

ters Patent is: 1. In a pneumatic piano. player, the combination with a powerv pneumatic. and any air connection extending from said pneu 111211310 to the suction'means forthe player, a valve casing located lnsaid connection and provided with a control valve aperture ;of.

unequal diameters, .and with :a .vent aperture communicatingwith the atmosphere, a controlling slide :valve normally engaging said controlling valve aperture andclosingthe same, a manually operated valve stem forsaid control valve,.a vent valve for closing the vent. aperture, y elding means normally tending [to .move the vent valve-toward the vent aperture, a party connected with the. valve stem for engagingithe; vent; valve and.

holding. it in open position ,when the control valve is closed, and a spring operatively connected withthevalve stem for normally holding the control. valve closed and the vent valve open, said control valve aperture havingits greatest diameter disposed perpendicularly. to the direction of travel of the controlling slide. valve.

2. In a pneumatic plano player, theicombination with a power pneumatic, and van air connection extendingtherefrom to they suction means for the player, of a valve casingin said connection provided with a con-v trolvalve aperture having unequal diameters, and providedwith a vent. aperture, a controlllng slide valve normally closlngsald control aperture, a manually operable valve; stem flexibly connected with .said slide valve to permit the slide valve to remain tightly closed,when in closed. position, by suction, a spring operatively' connected with said valve stem for holding .the slide valve normally in closed position, a vent valve for closing said vent aperture, said valve stem having a part connected therewith" for normally holding the vent valve in open posit1on, and yielding means normally tending to move the vent valve toward the vent aperture, said valve, control aperture having its greatest diameter perpendicular to the direction of movement of the controlling slide valve.

3. The combination with a power pneumatic, suction means for exhausting air therefrom, and an air connection of relatively'large capacity connecting said pneumatic and suction means, of a valve casing in said connection provided with a valve control aperture of substantially the same cross sectional area as the said air connection, a controlling slide valve normally closing said aperture, said valve casing being-provided witha vent. aperture, a normally open vent trollingvalve and having a part engaging,

the. vent. valve and holding it open, and yielding means connected with said device for maintaining the, controlling valve closed and the, vent .v-alve open..

4:. The combination with a power pneumatic, suction means forexhausting air therefrom, andfanair connection of relatively large capacity connectingsaid pneumatic .and suction means, of a valve casing in said connection provided with. a valve control aperture of, substantially the same cross sectional'area as. the said air connection,'a controlling slide valve normally clos ing said aperture, said .valve casing being provided with'a vent aperture, a normally open vent valve for closing said vent aperture, a valve stem connected with said controlling valve and having a part engaging the vent valve for holding the latter open when the controlling valve is closed, a spring operatively connected with the valve stem for moving it in a direction to close the controlling valve and open the vent valve, and

a manually operable device connected with said valve stem for moving it in the direction to openthe controlling valve and permit the vent valve to close.

5. The combination with a. pneumatic, suction .means for exhausting the air therefrom, and an air connection betweenv said pneumatic and suction means, of .a normally closed sliding control valve for opening and closing said connection, said connection be ing provided witha vent aperture between said control valve and said pneumatic. communicating with the atmosphere, a normally open vent valve for closing said aperture, means normally tending. to close the vent valve, a longitudinally movable actuating stem for the control valve having a part for engaging the vent valve and opening it after the control valve is completely closed, said part being capable of movement away from its operative position with respect tothe vent valve before the control valve is opened, to permit the vent valve to close,.yielding means for holding thecontrol valve normally inclosed position, and means including a manually operated device connected with the valve stemfor moving it in the direction to open the control valve.

6. The combination with a pneumatic, suction means for exhausting the air therefrom and an air connection between said pneumatic and'suction means, of a normally closed sliding control valve for opening and closing said connection, said connection being provided with a vent aperture between said control valve and said pneumatic, communicating with the atmosphere, a normally open gravity vent valve adapted to be closed by gravity, a vertically disposed actuating stem connected with said control valve and having a part extending into position to envalve and open the vent valve, and means ineluding a manually operated device for moving sald stem in the opposite direction to permit the vent valve to close and thereafter open the control valve.

7 The combination with a pneumatic, suction means for exhausting the air therefrom, and an air connection of relatively large cross sectional area between said pneumatic and suction means, of a normally closed controlling valve for said connection, said connection being provided with a vent aperture between said control valve and the pneumatic, a normally open vent valve for closing said vent aperture, a valve stem for said control valve provided with a part normally engaging the vent valve and holding it open, a spring operatively connected with said valve stem for holding the control valve closed and the vent valve open, a pneumatic actuating device operatively connected with said valve stem, an air connection of relatively small cross sectional area extending from sald pneumatic actuating deviceto said suction means, and manually operated means for establishing communication between said pneumatic actuating device and theatmosphere. p

8. The combination with a pneumatic, suction means for exhausting the air therefrom, and an air connection of relatively large cross sectional area between saidpneumatic and suction means, of a normally closed controlling valve for said connection, said connection being provided with a vent aperture between said control valve and the pneumatic, a normally openvent valve for closing said 'vent aperture, a valve stem for said control valve provided with a part normally engaging the vent valve and holding it open, a spring operatively connected with said valve stem for holding the control valve closed and the vent valve open, a pneumatic actuating device operatively connected wlth said valve stem, an air connection of relatively small cross sectional area extending from said pneumatic actuating device to said suction means, a tracker board, an air connection from said pneumatic actuating device to an aperture in the tracker board, and 7 an independent manually operable device for effecting the actuation of said valves independently of thetracker board.

9. Thecombination with a pneumatic, suction means for exhausting the air therefrom, and an air connection of relatively large the vent valve and hold it ally operable cross sectional area between said pneumatic and suction means, of a normally closed controlling valve for said connection, said connection being provided with a vent aperture between said control valve and the pneumatic, a normally open vent valve for closing said vent aperture, a valve stem for said control valve provided with a part normally engaging the vent valve and holding it open, a spring operatively connected with said valve stem for holding the control valve closed and the vent valve open, a pneumatic actuating device operatively connected with said valve stem, an air connection of relatively small cross sectional area extending from said pneumatic actuating device to said suction means, and an independent manually operable valve for actuating said pneumatic actuating device independently of the tracker board.

10. The combination with a pneumatic, suction means for exhausting the air therefrom, and an air connection between said pneumatic and suction means, of a normally closed control valve for said connection, said connection being provided with a vent aperture between sa1d control valve and said pneumatic, communicating with the atmosphere, a normally open vent valve for closing said vent aperture, a pneumatic actuating device for both of said valves, connections between said pneumatic actuating device and said valves including means for efi'ecting the closing of the vent valve before the opening of the control valve, and the opening of the vent valve afterlthe closing of the control valve, an air connection between said pneumatic actuating device and said suction means, a tracker board and an air connection from said pneumatic valve actuating device to an aperture in .the tracker board, and an independent manudevice for actuating said valves independently of the tracker board.

11. The combination with a pneumatic, suction means for exhausting theair therefromand'an air connection between said pneumatic and suction means, of a normally closed control valve for said connection, said connection being provided with a vent aperture between sa d control valve and said pneumat1c commun catlng wlth the atmosan air connection from said pneumatic valve actuating device to an aperture in the tracker board, a secondary air connection from said valve actuating pneumatic to the atmosphere, and a manually controlled normally closed valve for said. secondary air connection.

12. The combination With a pneumatic,

suction means for exhausting the air therefrom, and an air connection between said pneumatic and suction means, of a valve casing forming part of said air connection, and provided With a port in communication With the suction means, and also provided With a vent aperture communicating With the atmosphere, a sliding valve in said casing for normally closing said port, a normally open vent valve for closing said vent aperture, yielding means operative to close said vent valve, a valve stem connected.

With said sliding control valve and having vent valve and the opening of the control valve.

13. The combination With a pneumatic,

suction means for exhausting the air there- I from, and an air connection between said pneumatic and suction means, of a valve casing forming part of said air connection, and PI'OVldGClWltll a port in communication 5 With the suct on means, and also provided With a vent aperture communicating With the atmosphere, a sliding valve in sa d casing for normally closing said port, a norv mally open vent valve for closing said vent aperture, yielding means operative to close said vent valve, a valve stem connected Wltll said sliding control valve, and having a part i for engaglng the vent valve to open t after the control valve is'closed, and to hold it ;normally in open position, yielding means connected With said valve stein to normally hold the control valve closed, and the vent valve open, a pneumatic device operatively connected With said valve stem for moving it againstthe action of said yielding means, an air connection from. said pneumatic actuating device to said suction means, an air vent connection from said pneumatic to the from, and an air connection between said pneumatic and suction means, of a valve casmg forming part of said air connection, and provided With a port in communicatlon With the suction means and also provided With a vent aperture communicating With the atmosphere, a sl1d1ng valve in sald casing 'for normally closing said port, a normally open vent valve for closing said vent aperture, yielding means operative to close said vent valve, a valve stem connected With said slide ing, control valve and having a part for envgaging'the vent valve to open it-after the control valve is closed and to hold itcno'r mally in open position, yielding means con nected With said valve stem to normally hold the control valve closed, and the vent valve open, a pneumatic device operatively con nected With said valve stem" formoving it against the action of said yielding means, an air connection from said pneumatic actuating device to said suction means, an air vent. connection, from said pneumatic to the atmosphere, means for opening and closing said vent connection, and an independent manually operated device connected With said valve stem.

15. The combination With a pneumatic, suction means for exhausting the air there from, and an air connection between said pneumatic and suction means, of a valve casing forming part of said 'air connection,

- and provided With a port in communication with the suction means, and also provided With a vent aperture communicating With the atmosphere, a slidingvalve in said casing for normally closing said port, a normally open vent valve fOfClOSll'lg said vent aperture, yielding means operative to close said vent valve, a valve stem connected with said sliding control valve and having a part for engaging the vent valve to openit after 'the control valve is closed, and to hold it normally in, open position, yielding'means connected with said valvejstem to normally hold thecontrol valve 'closed,,. and the vent valve open, a pneumatic. device operatively connected with said valve stem for moving it against the action of said yielding means, an air connection from said pneumatic actuating' device to said suction means, a tracker board, an air vent connection from said actuating pneumatic .to an aperture in ,'the tracker board.

. 16. The combination With a pneumatic,

. suction means forexhausting the 'airthere-v from, and an air connection between said pneumatic and suction means, of a valve casing forming part of said air connection, and provided With a port in-communication 7 With the suction means, and also provided atmosphere, and means for opening and vent valve, a valve-stem connected With said sliding control valve and having a part for engaging the ventvalve to open it after the control valve is closed, and to hold it normally in open position, yielding means connected With said valve stem to normally hold the control valve closed, and the vent valve open, a pneumatic device operatively connected with said valve stem for moving it against the action of said yielding means, an air connection from said pneumatic actuating device to said suction means, a tracker board, an air vent connection from said actuating pneumatic to an aperture in the tracker board, and a manually operated device for efiecting the operation of said valve stem independently of the tracker board.

17. The combination with a pneumatic, suction means for exhausting the air therefrom, and an air connection between said pneumatic and suction means, of a valve casing forming part of said air connection, and provided with a port in communication with the suction means, and also provided with a vent aperture communicating with the atmosphere, a sliding valve in said casing for normally closing said port, a normally open vent valve for closing said vent aperture,

yielding means operative to close said vent valve, a valve stem connected with said sliding control valve and having a part for engaging the vent valve to open it after the control valve is closed, and to hold it normally in open position, yielding means connected with said valve stem. to normally hold the control valve closed, and the vent valve open, a pneumatic device operatively connected with said valve stem for moving it against the action of said yielding means, an air connection from said pneumatic actuating device to said suction means, a tracker board, an air vent connection from said actuating pneumatic to an aperture in the tracker board, a secondary air vent connection from the said actuating pneumatic, a manually operated normally closed valve for said secondary air vent, and an independent manually operated device connected with the said valve stem.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

FRANK CARNAHAN.

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