US3418417A - Electric piano incorporating multicomponent tuning forks - Google Patents
Electric piano incorporating multicomponent tuning forks Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3418417A US3418417A US466534A US46653465A US3418417A US 3418417 A US3418417 A US 3418417A US 466534 A US466534 A US 466534A US 46653465 A US46653465 A US 46653465A US 3418417 A US3418417 A US 3418417A
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tine
- leg
- mass
- piano
- mass leg
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- G10H3/00—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means
- G10H3/12—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument
- G10H3/14—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument using mechanically actuated vibrators with pick-up means
- G10H3/20—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument using mechanically actuated vibrators with pick-up means using a tuning fork, rod or tube
Definitions
- This invention relates to an electric piano or the like, in which tone generators are provided in the form of multi-component tuning forks.
- the invention relates to an acoustically-integral connection between a cylindrical tine and an element with which such tine is associated in fixed-free relationship.
- the present invention constitutes an improvement over the apparatus described and claimed in my prior Patent No. 2,972,922, issued Feb. 28, 1961, for Electrical Musical Instrument in the Nature of a Piano. Reference is hereby made to such patent for a description of the basic principles of operation of the present type of electric piano.
- the relatively rigid portions of the tuning forks were specifically described as being integral castings.
- such relatively rigid portions are not integral castings but are instead formed of two or three interconnected elements.
- such elements are preferably formed of different materials.
- An additional object is to provide an improved manner of mounting the base or fixed end of a cylindrical piano wire to the base region of the tuning fork, thereby achieving extremely important advantages including minimization of the possibility of breakage of the piano wire as the result of fatigue.
- FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an electric piano incorporating a tuning-fork tone generator constructed in accordance with the present invention
- FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the upper region of the showing of FIGURE 1, portions being broken away to illustrate the manner of connection of the various components of the tuning fork;
- FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the tuning fork
- FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the means for preventing relative rotation between the cross-member portion of the tuning fork and the relatively rigid leg thereof;
- FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2.
- FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the inner end of the cylindrical piano wire (tine or reed) as mounted in the cross member of the tuning fork.
- the apparatus may be seen to comprise a plurality of horizontal support elements 10, 11 and 12 which may be suitably mounted above a horizontal bottom element 13, for example by means of upwardly-extending end elements one of which is shown at 14.
- the various elements 10-14 support all of the components of the electrical musical instrument.
- a piano key 16 having an outer portion 17 adapted to be struck (depressed) by the pianist.
- the key also has an inner portion 18 adapted to actuate a hammer element 19 which is pivoted at 21 to the support element 12.
- depression of the outer key portion 17 effects upward pivotal movement of hammer element 19 in a vertical plane until the hammer head 22 engages the tine or reed 23 of the associated tone generator 24.
- upward pivotal movement of the hammer effects downward movement of an associated damper means 25 until it no longer contacts the tine or reed 23.
- this comprises two legs one of which is formed by the above-indicated tine or reed 23 and the other of which is formed by an inertia bar element 26 having a much greater mass.
- Legs 23 and 26 are connected to each other, in acoustically-integral relationship, by means of a crossbar or cross-member 27.
- Such member 27 may be regarded as forming a portion of the base of a tuning fork because the two legs 23 and 26 extend therefrom and vibrate freely at their portions remote from the cross-member 27.
- the member forming inertia bar 26 extends for a substantial distance past the connection to cross-member 27, thereby providing an additional base portion 28 which serves as a means for mounting the tone generator to the aboveindicated support 10 or other suitable support.
- the low-mass leg 23 and high-mass leg 26 of the tuning fork are tuned or resonated to each other.
- the lowmass leg 23 comprises a cylindrical section of piano wire or the like, the plane of vibration does not vary or rotate (as is normal with cylindrical tines) but instead extends through the high-mass leg 26.
- Fine tuning of the tone generator 24 is readily effected by merely sliding along the cylindrical wire 23 a helical compression spring 29 which is bent or twisted at the midportion thereof in order to insure against undesired movement.
- the described manner of mounting not only substan tially isolates the tone generator from the support 10, but also facilitates adjustment of the tone generator relative to a mechanical-electric transducer 38 which is disposed adjacent the free end of the wire 23.
- a mechanical-electric transducer 38 which is disposed adjacent the free end of the wire 23.
- Such transducer is preferably of the electromagnetic variety, incorporating a permanent-magnet core 39, a coil 40, and support means 41 for adjustably connecting the core and coil to element 11 or other support.
- the coil '40 is suitably electrically connected to an amplifier 42 and loudspeaker 43 so that the vibrations of the tine 23 will be reproduced in the speaker as desired.
- the high-mass leg 26 of the tuning-fork tone generator is formed of a relatively light-weight (low specific gravity) metal such as extruded aluminum bar stock (e.g., No. 6061T6).
- a relatively light-weight (low specific gravity) metal such as extruded aluminum bar stock (e.g., No. 6061T6).
- the bar stock may be substantially square in section, the dimension of each side of the square being inch.
- a counterweight 45 which is preferably formed of a relatively heavy (high specific gravity) metal such as steel.
- counterweight 45 is also formed of a section of bar stock, having the same cross-sectional size and shape as element 26.
- the size of the counter-weight 45 may be reduced considerably, while still maintaining the correct tuned or resonated relationship to the tine 23 struck by the hammer, by recessing or indenting a portion of the leg 26 between the counterweight and the cross-member 27.
- a suitable recess or indentation 51 may be provided in the underside of the inertia bar 26.
- the cross-member (or base component) 27 which constitutes an important element of the present invention, is shown as a rectangular metal bar which (for example) has the same cross-sectional shape and size as do bars 26 and 45. Stated more definitely, the cross-member 27 is a bar of relatively soft metal the surface region of which is caused to be relatively hard but less hard than the piano wire 23. Preferably, bar 27 is a ferrous metal or alloy, such as cold-rolled mild steel, which is case hardened to a substantial surface hardness less than that of the reed 23.
- the mild steel forming cross-member 27 may be No. B1113, provided with a 0.005 inch case and drawn back to number 30 or 35 Rockwell hardness.
- the piano wire forming tine 23 is substantially harder, for example on the order of 5 6 Rock-well. The relative hardnesses are important, as will be described below, to the mounting of the tine or reed (piano wire) 23 in the crossmember 27.
- Cross-member 27 may also be formed of a hardenable steel such as 'No. C1137, which has been tempered (heat treated) to about a 30 or 35 Rockwell hardness. Such hardness exists throughout the steel, yet the steel is surficiently tough to withstand the tine-insertion operation to be described hereinafter. Very importantly, a hardenable steel of the indicated type is also cheap, being much less expensive than (for example) spring steel.
- a hardenable steel of the indicated type is also cheap, being much less expensive than (for example) spring steel.
- such member is provided at the upper end thereof with an internally-threaded axial bore 52 adapted to receive the lower shank region of a cap screw 53.
- the cap screw extends through a cylindrical bore 54 (FIGURE 3) which is formed in bar 26-28 parallel to bores 33, 34 and 46. Bore 54 separates the working or vibrating portion 26 of tuning fork from the base region 28 thereof.
- the upper end of the cross-member 27 is dished or recessed in such manner that the corners of such end are upwardly protuberant and sharp, forming teeth which are designated by the numeral 56.
- the teeth 56 which are hard because of the above-indicated hardening operation
- the described assembly achieves, in a simple manner, a very elfective acoustically-integral connection between bar 27 and bar 26-28.
- FIGURE 8 of the cited Patent No. 2,972,922 there is illustrated what was previously regarded as the optimum manner of mounting a cylindrical tine to the base region of a tuning fork of the present general type.
- the end of the tine is made frustoconical and is driven into a cylindrical bore in the base until there is close cont-act between the outer (surface) region of the base and a portion of the frustoconical surface.
- the tine was not driven into the bore sufliciently to cause the cylindrical region of the time to engage the cylindrical wall of the bore.
- the small-diameter tine 23 is constructed in substantially the same manner as described in the cited patent, being a cylindrical piano wire having a frustoconical end portion 57 which is slightly tapered (for example, about one degree on each side as stated in the patent). It is to be understood that the degree of taper illustrated in the drawing is greatly exaggerated.
- the end portion of cross-member 27 remote from bar 26-28 is provided with a cylindrical bore 58 the size of which is so related to the diameter of the cylindrical main body of tine 23 that such main body may only be inserted in the bore 58 in a very tight force-fit relationship.
- the tine or reed 23 is forced into bore 58 until the cylindrical surface of the tine engages the cylindrical wall of the bore. Because the core of cross-member 27 is formed of relatively soft material such as cold-rolled mild steel, or of a hardened steel, such forcing of the tine into the member 27 cannot effect breakage of such member. Because at least the outer region of bar 27 is hardened but is still less hard than the tine 23 itself, there will be a very close and tight contact between member 27 and tine 23 at the region 59 (FIGURE 6) adjacent the face of the member 27. This, as stated above, is important in causing the tine to vibrate effectively and with a long dwell, in the absence of undesired harmonics. Very importantly, there will be no stripping of the tine material as it is driven into the bore 58 because the tine is itself harder than even the hard region 59 of the member 27.
- Element 23 should be substantially larger than bore 58, :by about 0.003 inch to about 0.006 inch.
- the diameter of bore 58 may be 0.070 inch, whereas that of tine 23 may be 0.075 inch.
- the present construction greatly minimizes breakage of tines in response to fatigue stresses caused by long-continued vibration because there is no concentration of stresses adjacent the region 59. It has been discovered that even the minute reduction in diameter effected at the face (indicated at 29 in Patent 2,972,922) caused a stress concentration which tended to increase the possibility of breakage of the tine. In the present construction, on the other hand, bending and stresses are equally distributed along a very substantial length of tine, so that there is no stress concentration and no substantial tendency toward breakage.
- the present invention has not only drastically reduced the weight and manufacturing costs of the tone generators 24 but has also substantially eliminated the problem of breakage of tines, even after long use. Furthermore, the present invention has eliminated the problem of breakage of the cross-member portions of the tuning forks during assembly. In addition, the invention has made it possible to replace assemblies comprising reeds 23 and cross-members 27 by merely removing and reinserting a cap screw 53.
- An electric piano which comprises:
- a mechanical-electrical transducer adapted to be utilized relative to the delivery of musical signals to a loudspeaker
- a vibratory assembly comprising:
- said connector element being formed of metal which has been case hardened to make the surface region thereof hard in the vicinity of said transverse bore
- one end of said low-mass leg being inserted in press-fit relationship into said transverse bore whereby to cause said low-mass leg to be closely adjacent said case-hardened surface region of said connector element,
- said low-mass leg having a hardness greater than the hardness of said rigid metal connector element
- said low-mass leg being adjacent said transducer whereby vibrations of said low-mass leg in the common plane of said highmass and low-mass legs will generate a signal in said transducer
- said low-mass leg being disposed to be struck by the hammer portion of said piano action in the plane of said high-mass and low-mass legs whereby to vibrate in said plane.
- An electric piano which comprises:
- a mechanical-electrical transducer adapted to be utilized in the delivery of musical signals to a loudspeaker
- a vibratory assembly comprising:
- said connector element also having a transverse bore in the other end thereof and which receives one end of said low-mass leg in tight press-fit relationship, said connector element being less hard than said low-mass leg, the surface of said connector element being harder than said high-mass leg,
- said connector element being so turned that said low-rnass leg is generally parallel to and co-planar with the cantilevered portion of said high-mass leg,
- said low-mass leg being disposed adjacent said transducer whereby vibration of said lowmass leg will generate an electrical signal in said transducer
- said low-mass leg also being disposed to be struck by the hammer portion of said piano action in the plane of said high-mass and low-mass legs whereby to vibrate in said plane.
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Stringed Musical Instruments (AREA)
Description
Claims (1)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US466534A US3418417A (en) | 1965-06-24 | 1965-06-24 | Electric piano incorporating multicomponent tuning forks |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US466534A US3418417A (en) | 1965-06-24 | 1965-06-24 | Electric piano incorporating multicomponent tuning forks |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US3418417A true US3418417A (en) | 1968-12-24 |
Family
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US466534A Expired - Lifetime US3418417A (en) | 1965-06-24 | 1965-06-24 | Electric piano incorporating multicomponent tuning forks |
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US (1) | US3418417A (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3711617A (en) * | 1970-08-20 | 1973-01-16 | Columbia Broadcasting Syst Inc | Electronic piano with thump-generating means |
US3937117A (en) * | 1969-07-08 | 1976-02-10 | Philamon Incorporated | Composite tuning fork and method of making same |
US4040321A (en) * | 1975-07-18 | 1977-08-09 | Cbs Inc. | Electromagnetic pickup and method for tine-type electric piano, and piano incorporating such pickup |
US4058044A (en) * | 1974-06-29 | 1977-11-15 | Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha | Electrical musical instrument |
US4373418A (en) * | 1981-01-09 | 1983-02-15 | Cbs Inc. | Tuning fork mounting assembly in electromechanical pianos |
US4679477A (en) * | 1985-06-20 | 1987-07-14 | Charles Monte | Percussive action silent electronic keyboard |
US9514725B1 (en) * | 2015-07-31 | 2016-12-06 | Joseph A. Brandstetter | Musical instrument |
US20190304425A1 (en) * | 2016-07-10 | 2019-10-03 | The Trustees Of Dartmouth College | Modulated electromagnetic musical system and associated methods |
US11410635B1 (en) | 2021-11-22 | 2022-08-09 | Vintage Vibe Llc | Adjustable capstan for an electric piano action |
US11475868B1 (en) | 2022-01-14 | 2022-10-18 | Vintage Vibe Llc | Electric piano with adjustable pickup rail |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2949052A (en) * | 1955-06-09 | 1960-08-16 | Wurlitzer Co | Tone generating assembly for electronic piano |
US2972922A (en) * | 1959-03-09 | 1961-02-28 | Harold B Rhodes | Electrical musical instrument in the nature of a piano |
US3038363A (en) * | 1959-03-17 | 1962-06-12 | Wurlitzer Co | Electronic piano |
US3077137A (en) * | 1951-11-08 | 1963-02-12 | Wurlitzer Co | Electrical pick-up for a reed musical instrument |
US3215765A (en) * | 1962-12-18 | 1965-11-02 | Miessner Inventions Inc | Fixed free-reed electronic piano with improved interpartial-ratio integralizing arrangements |
-
1965
- 1965-06-24 US US466534A patent/US3418417A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3077137A (en) * | 1951-11-08 | 1963-02-12 | Wurlitzer Co | Electrical pick-up for a reed musical instrument |
US2949052A (en) * | 1955-06-09 | 1960-08-16 | Wurlitzer Co | Tone generating assembly for electronic piano |
US2972922A (en) * | 1959-03-09 | 1961-02-28 | Harold B Rhodes | Electrical musical instrument in the nature of a piano |
US3038363A (en) * | 1959-03-17 | 1962-06-12 | Wurlitzer Co | Electronic piano |
US3215765A (en) * | 1962-12-18 | 1965-11-02 | Miessner Inventions Inc | Fixed free-reed electronic piano with improved interpartial-ratio integralizing arrangements |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3937117A (en) * | 1969-07-08 | 1976-02-10 | Philamon Incorporated | Composite tuning fork and method of making same |
US3711617A (en) * | 1970-08-20 | 1973-01-16 | Columbia Broadcasting Syst Inc | Electronic piano with thump-generating means |
US4058044A (en) * | 1974-06-29 | 1977-11-15 | Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha | Electrical musical instrument |
US4040321A (en) * | 1975-07-18 | 1977-08-09 | Cbs Inc. | Electromagnetic pickup and method for tine-type electric piano, and piano incorporating such pickup |
US4373418A (en) * | 1981-01-09 | 1983-02-15 | Cbs Inc. | Tuning fork mounting assembly in electromechanical pianos |
US4679477A (en) * | 1985-06-20 | 1987-07-14 | Charles Monte | Percussive action silent electronic keyboard |
US9514725B1 (en) * | 2015-07-31 | 2016-12-06 | Joseph A. Brandstetter | Musical instrument |
US20190304425A1 (en) * | 2016-07-10 | 2019-10-03 | The Trustees Of Dartmouth College | Modulated electromagnetic musical system and associated methods |
US10777181B2 (en) * | 2016-07-10 | 2020-09-15 | The Trustees Of Dartmouth College | Modulated electromagnetic musical system and associated methods |
US11410635B1 (en) | 2021-11-22 | 2022-08-09 | Vintage Vibe Llc | Adjustable capstan for an electric piano action |
US11475868B1 (en) | 2022-01-14 | 2022-10-18 | Vintage Vibe Llc | Electric piano with adjustable pickup rail |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, 1300 EAST Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:CBS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:004378/0847 Effective date: 19850311 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION, A CORP. OF CA, CALIF Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION A CORP OF DE;REEL/FRAME:004391/0460 Effective date: 19850311 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION Free format text: ASSIGNOR AND ASSIGNEE HEREBY MUTUALLY AGREE SAID AGREEMENT DATED APRIL 29, 1985 REEL 4391 FRAME 460-499 AND REEL 495 FRAME 001-40 IS VOID;ASSIGNOR:FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004689/0012 Effective date: 19861218 Owner name: FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION,CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNOR AND ASSIGNEE HEREBY MUTUALLY AGREE SAID AGREEMENT DATED APRIL 29, 1985 REEL 4391 FRAME 460-499 AND REEL 495 FRAME 001-40 IS VOID;ASSIGNOR:FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004689/0012 Effective date: 19861218 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION, CALIFORNIA Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:005075/0517 Effective date: 19881215 |