US1555986A - Tuning device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 6 1925 1,555,986

B. C. KEEFER,JR., ET AL TUNING DEVICE Filed May 29, 1923 Patented Oct. 6, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRUA C. KEEFER, JR., AND EUGENE W. GALETTI, F VILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNORS TO BRUA C. KEEFER MANUFACTURNG COMPANY, OF WIL- LIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TUNING DEVICE.

Application led May 29, 1923. Serial No. 642,279.

To all whom 'it 01mg/ concern Be it known that BnUA C. Kurven, Jr.,

and EUGENE 1V. GALETTI, citizens of the lnited States, residing at lVilliaiuspoi-t, county of Lycoming, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Tuning Devices, ot which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to musical wind instruments and has reference particularly to tuning devices for slide troinbones and like instruments.

The invention aims to provide for easy and convenient assembling and manipulation ot the instrument and the tuning device, which may be incorporated in existing types of instruments with slight changes, whereby to facilitate accurate adjustments and hold the movable parts of the instrument in tuned relation.

Other objects and advantages oit our invention will appear in the 'following ded scription of the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trombone embodying one form of our improved tuning device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the form of improved tuning device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view 4 -4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, we have shown a trombone of the well known type having a bell 1 and the usual U-shaped slide 2 carrying the tuning device 3 which is telescopically mounted on and forms a rearward extension of said slide, whereby the proper intonation may be obtained. The slide 2, together with the tuning device, are removable from the long tube 4 (see Fig. 2) and mouth tube 5 of the instrument.

In the form of instrument shown, the tube 5 for the month piece is secured to the long tube f1 which leads to the bell by means ot a cross brace 6 to prevent the mouth piece from moving with the slide.

The bell and associated flared tube portion of the instrument may be continuous around the first U bend 7 and preferably taken on the line has cross braces S at convenient intervals to brace this portion to the long tube 1. lf desired, the long tube il, which telescopes in the top leg of the slide, as seen in Fig. 1, may be telescoped over the end ot the bell tube attached thereto by means ot a suitable coupling 9 so as to facilitate removal of the slide together with the mouth piece, thereby permitting compact storage in an instrument case.

ln the form of the invention illustrated, our improved tuningl device 3, is telescopically mounted on the rear ends of the legs o't the slide 2 (Figs. 1 and 2), and preferably coniprises two short sections of tubing 10 connected together rigidly by a cross brace 11. The rear ends of the tubing sections engage beads 12 on the long tube i1- and mouth tube 5, respectively, to limit the movement of the slide.

ln order to change from high to low pitch and to adjustthe intonation ot the instrument as desired, the timing device 3 may be moved toward or away from the U bend ot the slide 2, thereby changing the el'lgective length of the whole system ot tubing. To accomplish accurate adjustments ot the tuning device 3 we have provided a cross brace 13 on the legs ot the slide 2, and an adjusting screw 1-1- is connected to this cross brace and to the brace 11, passing through sleeves 15 and 15 secured in said cross braces. The screw has a knurled enlarged portion 16 between the braces, 'for manipulation by the linger or thumb of the user. The shoulder at the left cud of the knurled portion (Fig. 2) abuts against the end oi the sleeve 15 in the brace 11 and the shoulder 17 at the right end forms a limiting stop for th e device when it is moved to the right. The lett end of the screw is swivelled in the cross brace 11; that is, it is freely rotatable in the sleeve or bearing 15a and has a retaining collar 18 removably secured on its end in engagement with the left end ot the bearing sleeve 15a Screw threads 19 are cut from the shoulder 17 to the right end of the screw and are threaded through the sleeve 15 iu the cross brace 13. A threaded collar 20 forming a limiting stop for the device is preferably secured on the end ot the screw by means of a set screw or the like.

Now, it it is desired to change the adjustment of the tuning slide 3 the operator will ill turn the screw 14 in the proper direction, by the knurled portion, and thereb adjust the tuning device to the right or le t to shorten or lengthen the effective length of the slide. After proper tuning is effected, the screw will hold the tuning device on the slide in its adjusted position. It will be observed that the outer limit of the adjustments is governed by the position of the collar 2() which is adjustable on the screw. Also when the tuning device is set in position for proper intonation the collar 20 may be screwed into engagement with the sleeve 15 and then secured to the screw (see the dotted position in Fig. 2) thereby enabling the user to reset the tuning device quickly in case of accidental displacement.

Further, it will be noted that the timing device 3 may be removed from the legs ot' the slide 2 without disturbinv the adjustment or setting of the screw, by simply removing the collar 18 from the left end of the screw and then sliding it off. Thus, no readjust-ment of the timing device is required upon re-assembling.

Obviously our invention is susceptible of various changes.

'hat we claim and desire to Letters Patent is:

1. In a tuning device for slide trombones and the like, the combination of a tuning member mounted on the ends of the sliding tubes thereof and slidable therewith, a cross brace on the tuning member having a bearing sleeve therein, a cross brace on the sliding tubes having a threaded sleeve therein, an adjusting screw swivelly mounted and removably secured in said bearing sleeve and threaded through said threaded sleeve, manipulating means on the screw between said cross braces and stops for limiting the movement of said tuning member' in both directions.

2. In a tuning device for slide trombones secure by and the like, the combination of a tuning member mounted on the ends of the sliding tubes thereof and slidable therewith, a cross brace on the tuning member having a bear` ing sleeve therein, a cross brace on the sliding tubes having a threaded sleeve therein, an adjusting screw swivelly mounted and removably secured in said bearing sleeve and threaded through said threaded sleeve, manipulating means on the screw between said cross braces, said manipulating mem forming a limiting stop for the .tuning member in one direction and adjustable stop means secured on the screw to limit movement of the tuning member in the other direction. -v fj,

3. A tuning device for slide trombones and the like, comprising, in combination, a tuning member mounted on the ends of the sliding tubes thereof, a cross brace on said,

tuning member, a cross brace on said sliditll tubes, an adjusting screw swivell moun in one of said cross braces an threaded through and projecting beyond the other cross brace, a removable retaining means 0n the swivelled end of said screw and manipulating means on said screw between said cross braces.

4. A tuning device for slide trombones and the like, comprising, in combination, a

timing member telescopically mounted onV the ends of the sliding tubes thereof, a cross brace on said sliding tubes, a cross brace on said tuning member, adjusting means for the tuning member swivell)7 connected -ito one of said cross braces.4 and threaded through and projecting beyond the other cross brace, and mampulating means on said adjusting means between said cross braces.

In testimony whereof, we have names to this specification.

BRUA o. KEEFER, JR. EUGENE w. GALETTI.

signed our

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