USRE9830E - horton - Google Patents

Description

H. B. HORTON. MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. No. 9,830. Reissued Aug; 9,1881.;

E E E 1 E E, E14 E E ER E- E E Eu E Eu Ek E E E E E r' x UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. HORTON, 0F ITHAOA, NEW YonK.

, MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

IPIOII'IOATION forming of Beissned Letters PatentNo. asso, dated August 9, 1881.

Original -14 0.196.5Wydated October-30, Application for reissue filed November 2, 1880.

ing myiniprovement. Fig.2 is aplan'view of 8; perforated strip, which I term the valve or valve-sheet, forming a part of my invention, and used in connectionwith the instru-; ment.

My-invention-is specially applicable to windinstfuments having pipes or reeds,suoh as are usually operated by keys and supplied with.

air through theaction of bellows; and its ob- 2o jeet is to 'provide a simple and convementim strumeiit whereby tunes maybe playedby persons .unacquainted with music, and learners assisted in acquiring a knowledge of musical notes.

My invention consists in the combination, in amnsical instrument, of bellows, sound-producing devices, a traveling music-sheet for controlling the operation of said sound-pro- 'ducing devices, and a ratchet-wheel and pawl for feeding the musicsheet, the whole being so organizedthat the bellows when operated will efl'ect the operation of the pawl and the feedin or travel of the music-sheet intermittently.

t also consists in the combination, with a. music-sheet and means for feeding the same, of an auxiliary feed mechanism, whereby its feed I may be accelerated.

It also consists m-thecombiiiation, with-a music-sheet, of a mechanism for feeding it and controlled by it. I

It also consists in the combination of amusic-sheet and a presser of novel form for holdiug the music-sheet to its rest.

It also consists in the combination of a music-sheetand a presser arranged and adapted toserve as means for feeding the music-sheet.

In thedrawings, A represents the bellows by which the wind necessary for the operation of the instrument is induced; B, the reedboaid, containing cells b b, fitted with reeds of different pitch, for producing the various musical notes. The reed-board is shown as of the passage of air through or pasti made separate from the frame or part A of the instrument, in which it tits, and as susceptible of removal sidewise therefrom, buttons a being employed. to retain it in place when in use. The wind induced by the-bellows A-is caused to pass through the cells I) the reeds therein.

Several reed-boards, B, of varying compass, maybe provided forthe instrument, giving it a more extensive range.

The operation of the reeds is controlled by what I term a music-sheetorvalve-sheet,

-,K, which travels over the top of the reedboard, the top of the reed-board forming a rest for said valve-sheet. This valve-sheet K of the reed-board, and cause the speaking of is made of cardboard or other suitable thin material. It has on each side a row of equidistant perforations, k 7:, to receive the teeth of wheels E, carried by the shaft 0, when it is applied to the instrument, the two working after the manner of, andin reality,coustitut-' lug, racks and pinions,andit has perforations It It, 860., which, when opposite the reed;cells. 'b b, permitthe passage of wind through the same. I

To the part A of the'instrument are attachpd standards D D, having bearings which receive the journals of a rotary shaft,0. As here shown, thesestandards are made with feet D, whereby they are supported. This shaft 0 can be rotated at greaterjor less speed,

in the manner hereinafter described.

The spur-wheelsE E, engaging with the valvesheet K, as explained, serve to move it forward over the .top of the reed-board, and'ratchetwheels E F, arrangedon said shaft, are the meanswhereby motion is transmitted thereto.- Plain disks G G G, arranged on said shaft,

press the valve-sheet down on the partitions between the reed-cells b of the reedboard and hold the sheet in close contact with the top of the reed-board... The: disks constitute a rotary pres'ser, and one, moreover, which permits H H are bent arms, connected with or attaohed to the movable board of the bellows A, and respectively carrying clicks or pawls h It, which engage, respectively, with the ratchetwheels F F, to cause the rotation of the shaft 0. When the movable board of the bellows A is moved inward by the hand ofthe operator the pawl or click h of the arm H draws the ratchet-wheel Fover a short distance,and when the said movable board ismoved or allowed to move outward the pawl or click h plays ov'er the teeth of the ratchet-wheel F, and takes a new hold, so as who readyto draw the wheel forward .again when the said movable board is next moved inward. Thus it will be seen that the bellows A not only'induce the wind for operating the reeds,but also serve to operate the valve-sheet, and, in fact, constitute the prime mover of the entire instrument. I desire it to be observed, also, that I thus produce an intermittent feed of the valvesheet, it being alternately left stationary and fed forward, for such a feed is productive of important results.

The perforationsk k &c.,which are intended to effect, the sounding of notes of ordinary length, need only be as large as the reed-cells,

because the dwell in the feed of the valve-sheet will allow the notes to sound for the desired length of time, For notes which are to be sounded for more than the ordinary length of time, slightly longer perforations k k, &c., may. be made. By thus enabling a short perforation to subserve the purpose of a much longer one in a valve-sheet having a continuous feed, 1am enabled to use a. much shorter valvesheet.

The arm H maybe in constant operation to impart motion throughthe ratchet-wheel F to the shaft 0, or it may operate'only from time to time. Its operation is controlled by a bent lever, I, pivoted to the part A of theinstrumen t. This arm H, the ratchet-wheel F, and the lever I constitute an auxiliary mechanism whereby the motion of the valve-sheet may be accelerated throughout the whole or any portion of a tune. The bent lever has three arms, a" t" i. The arm ie'xtends upwardly and bears against the arm H. The arm 1" also extends up- 1 wardly, and-it bears against the adjacent edge of the valve-sheet; and the arm t exteudslaterally, and constitutes a weig'htwhereby the arm 1" is kept in contact with the edge of the valve. sheet. When the lever is allowed by the edge of the valve-sheet to move nearer the reedboard, the pawl or click h engages with the ratchet-wheel F, and then at each outward movement of the movable board of the bellows A the said click or pawl pushes the under portion of the wheel F forward,-and hence the sheet are of equal width with the mouths of v valve-sheet is fed at each' movement of the movable board of the said bellows. When the intermediate arm, i, of the lever I ispressed against by the valve-sheet, the lever serves to,

throw the click or pawl h out of contact with teeth of the ratchet-wheel F. There may be more than one of these accelerating-wheels F and accompanying levers I.

The perforations k k, &c., of the valvethe reed-cells b b, and are made at suitable intervals and in proper places longitudinally of the valve-sheet and in line with the pipes. These openings, as before explained, may be made of various lengths, so as I to governthe duration of the note, making a semibreve, crotchet, quaver, &c., as may be required. That portion of the valve-sheetno't thus cut away being pressed firmly down by the disks G G G closes the mouths of all the reed-cells except the one which may be immediately under one of the openings, and prevents air from escaping from them.. Consequently they emit no sound. A separate valve-sheet is provided for each tune. The number, length, and posi-. tion of the opeuings'k k, &c., in each correspond to those of the notes in the tune, which are sounded successively as each opening comes overthe proper reed-cell.

The edge of the'valve-sheet which operates places where a more than ordinarily rapid succession of the notes is required, and in pieces demanding a quick movement the valve-sheet may be made narrower throughout its length, so that the click h may constantly engage the wheel F.

' the lever I has indentations l l, &e., at those When it is desired to perform a tune, the appropriate valve-sheet is placed over the reedboard B, so that the perforations k h at the successively engage the teethof the wheel F, 1

and in some'cases the click h to engage with the wheel F,'-rotatiug the shaft 0 and advancing the valve-sheet K. Each of the openings the corresponding reed-cell b b, permitting the passage of air through the same, and the note is sounded. Where the valve-sheet K is of full width, its edge, pressing against the middle arm, 5, of the bent lever I, presses that lever back, and the click h does noteugagethe wheel F; but where the ed geof the sheet iscut away,

'thevalve-sheet, quickens the movement of the piece. 1

Though I have only represented my invention as applied to an accordion, or instrument wherein the bellows is operated by the hand .of the operator applied thereto, yet it is obvious that it is applicable in part to instruments in general having a plurality of pipes, tubes, or reeds, and that the devices shown maybe modified in various particulars without departing h h, &c., is thusbrought in its due order over I from the essential features of the invention.

For examplefln certain cases a-pedal or treadle might be used -to operate the devices which move the valve-strip, or the same might be actuated byautomatic mechanism. The arrangement of the click-bearing arms H H, clicks, wheels, and disks, or substitutes therefor, may also be variously modified.

mean a e I am aware that it is old to provideamnsical instrument with a music-sheet, a rest therefor, and a roller at oneside of said rest, under which the music-sheet passes; but such ar-.

rangement is not as efiective to prevent leak- .ageas when the roller is arranged immediately over-the rest, and .I do not claim it as of my invention.

Having. thus described my invention, what no I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a musical instrument, bellows, sonnd producing devices, a traveling'music-sheet controlling the operation of said sound-producing do I and aratchet-wheel and pawl'for feeding sai music-sheet, the whole being soeombiued and organized that the bellows, when operated, will efl'ect the operation of the pawl and the feeding or travel of, the music-sheet ,sc intermittently, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the bellows A, the

armsIEH, securedthereto and operated there by, and provided with clicks It It, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

s5 3. In combination with the cog-wheels E E,

the ratchet-wheels F F and clicks h h, for hpcrating the valve-propelling mechanism and giving aquick movement thereto, substantially as described.

3o. 4. In a musical instrument, the combination of sound-producing devices, a music-sheet for controlling the operation of the same, means for feeding'the music-sheet, and an auxiliary mechanism which may be brought into operation to accelerate the feed of the music-sheet,

' substantially as specified. v

5. In a musical instrument, the combination of soundfproducing-devices, a music-sheet for controlling the operation of the same, meaus- 0 for feeding the music-sheet, and an auxiliary mechanism eontrolled'by the edge of the music-sheet and capable of being hi-ought. into play to accelerate the feed .of the music-sheet, substantially as specified.

. 4'5 8. In a musical instrument, the combination a of sound producing devices, amusic-sheet controlling their operation, and an auxiliary feed mechanism i'or regulating the. feed of the music-sheet eontrolled,by said music-sheet, substantially as specified.

' 7. In combination with arms H and clicks ll','the bent lever I, substantially as and for h pu p le g ifi da i 8. The com ina'tion and arrangement of arm constructed with apertures k k, the cogawheels H, click h, bent lever I, and wheelF, for .55. giving a quick or alternate movement with the wheel Fto the valve-sheet, substantially as specified.

- 9. The combination and arrangement of the I arms H H clicks h h, bent lever I, shaft C, 6 wheels as F F, and clicks e e e, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified. 1

10. The valve-sheet K, constructed upon one or both sides with lateral indentations l l, &c., 65. to give a quick movement to the music, substa'ntially as specified.

11. The valve-sheet K, constructed with apertures in k, note-apertures k k, &c'., and lateral indentations l l, &c., substantially as and the purpose described.

12. Inamusical instrument,thecombinati0u of 'a reed-board fitted with reeds and having its top made to form a rest, a musicsheet for controlling the operation of the reeds, and afor 70 v rotary presser arranged immediately above the a rest and holdingfthe music-sheet thereto, sub stantially as specified. 13. In a musical instrument, the combination of. a reed-board fitted with reeds and having its top made to form a rest, a music-sheet for controlling the operation of the reeds, and a rotary presser arranged immediately above' the rest, holding the music-sheet thereto, and constructed to permit of the passage of air through it, substantially as specified.

- 14. In amnsiealiustrument, thecombination of a reed-board fitted with reeds and having its top made to form a rest, a music-sheet controlling theoperation of the reeds, and a rotary presser arranged and adapted to operate as'means for feeding the music-sheet, substantially as specified.

15. In combination with the valve-sheet K, a 1 E E, and disks'G G, mounted on shaftO, for holding the valve-sheet down in place and advancingit over the cells b b, substantially as described.

p 1.6. In combination with the wind-chest or bellows A A, the reed-board B, madereadily detachable from the body of the instrument, substantially as and for the purpose described.

' HENRY B. HORTON.

.Witnesses:

H. M.--Hrsamn.

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