US1802791A - Automatic pitch control for horns - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1931. M. A. STOVER ,8

AUTOMATIC PITCH CONTROL FOR HORNS FiledJan. 31, 1950 fin/77227; Zwrrqyflr pea.

Patented Apr. 28, 1931 mama:

PATENT OFFICE MURRAY A. STOVER, OI? PASADENA, CALIFORNIA AUTOMATIC PITCH CONTROL FOR HORNS Application filed January 31, 1930.

This invention relates to horns and more especially to a means for altering the pitch of horns, such as clarinets and saxophones in a manner that will make the scale more equalized and perfect throughout the whole length of the tube.

An object, in other words, is to regulate the sharpness or flatness of the horn, without varying the volume of the sound from the horn, of the above mentioned class of musical instruments.

It is a common practice to lower the pitch of a horn, as usually constructed, by drawing out the mouthpiece to the desired degree.

This effects the tone emitted from the hole nearest the mouthpiece the greatest amount and each one beyond it proportionately less so that the ones at the extreme lower end of the tube are affected very little, and the result is an unequal scale much out of tune.

A purpose, here, is to make it possible to lower the tones produced from the holes fur ther from the mouthpiece without affecting those in the upper portion near the mouthpiece thus making a more equalized scale throughout the whole range.

Further an aim is to provide for the automatic change of horn tune or pitch by and with the action of a given note key of the lower position group to be affected.

A desideratum is to provide a supplemental tone controlling chamber which is not open to the atmosphere and may be considered as hermetically sealed except for certain operative means to provide communication between said chamber and the horn tube proper, and, in this connection, an object is to provide means to regulate the volume of the pitching chamber, and to provide a controlled and variable passage therefrom to the horn tube and to provide a quick-action valve operative in connection with a given key of a selected group whose note tones are to be pitched by reason of effect of the pitching chamber.

Additionally, it is intended to provide a means for effecting a change of octave register and control its pitch in one action.

The invention consists in certain advancements in this art as set forth in the ensuing Serial No. 424,851.

disclosure and having, with the above, additional objects and advantages, and whose con struction, combination and details of means, and the manner of operation will be made manifest in the description of the herewith illustrative embodiment; it being understood that modifications, variations and adaptations may be resorted to within the scope, principle and spirit of the invention as it is more directly claimed hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a horn tube showing the incorporated pitching chamber.

Figure 2 is a sectional detail of the chamber and passage control means thereof.

Figure 3 is a section of the passage regulator.

Figure 4 illustrates the combined register key action and pitching valve couple.

In its present'adaptation the pitch or tun- 7O ing device is combined with a horn tube 10 having a mouthpiece 11 which is slidable to vary the upper position key notes.

Combined with the tube 10 is a supplemental chamber 12, of cylindrical form and having a piston 13 by which the volume of the chamber may be easily varied. The variable pitch chamber connects with the horn through a small passage or conduit 12'. The flow capacity in this passage is varied by a regulator such as a screw 14, whose inner end may choke to the desired degree.

The passage 12 is provided with a valve 13 which, in this case, is rotative and has a port 14 to open or close the passage instantly for air flow as determined by the master regulator 14.

While the pitch valve 13 may be actuated in various ways it is here shown as combined with a key-pad shaft 15, mounted in bearings 9 19, and connected by a suitable action 16 to the stem of the valve 13. So that, in effect, the operation of the pitch valve 13' may be regarded as automatic, as it occurs at the time of actuation of the key shaft 15 and does not require direct action by the player of the instrument.

In Fig. 4 the supplementary, pitching device has two compartments, one for group pitch valve 13' and one for an octave regis- W ter key 17 which controls its pitch chamber 18 by a valve 13 which is concurrently brought into action with and by the octave register key.

It will be seen that this device is effective to change the pitch of one register independently of the other, or of a group of notes that require correction independentlyofthe other. And this correction is made without magnifying or altering the tone of the instrument. The use of theoctave register keyis known to slightly sharpen the upper register and in this invention the automatically controlled. pitching device comes into effect to remedy this defect of the register.

Various keypads 71-6 inclusive are shown, and to one of these the shaft 15 is attached.

What is claimed is:

1. A horn having, in combination and communicative with its tube, means including a closed supplementary air chamber whereby the tuneof the communicating tube may be varied in its tonal pitch.

2. A horn having, in combination and communicative with its tube, means including a closed supplementary air chamber whereby the tune of the communicating tube may be varied in its tonal pitch, and means for varyingpitching effect of the said chamber.

8. A horn having, in combination and communicative with its tube, means including a closed supplementary air chamber whereby the tune of the communicating tube may be varied in its tonal pitch, means for varying pitching effect of the said chamber, and including a displacement piston adjustable therein.

4. A horn having, in combination and communicative with its tube, means including a closed supplementary air chamber whereby the tune of the communicating tube may be varied in its tonal pitch, and means for regulating communication between the chamber and the tube.

5. A horn having, in combination and communicative withits tube, means including a closed supplementary air chamber whereby the tune of thecommunicating tube may be varied in'ijts tonal pitch, and means for regulating communication between thechamber and the tube, and a valve for opening and closing communication independently of the regu a ion 6. A'horn having, in combination and communicative with its tube, means including a closed supplementary air chamber whereby the tune of the communicating tube may be var ed in its tonal pitch, and a key controlled valve controlling communication between the tubeiand the chamber; whereby pitch may be varied .Qoincidently with sound production in a lven register.

7 A horn pitching device including a .QlQSBd supplementary chamber communicating with'the horn tubethrough a small passage.

MURRAY A. STOVER.

Images