US3590680A

US3590680A - Apparatus for changing the pitch of drums

Info

Publication number: US3590680A
Application number: US14967A
Authority: US
Inventors: Scott Carnes; Richard J Gail
Original assignee: PNEUMATIC DRUM SYSTEM Inc
Current assignee: PNEUMATIC DRUM SYSTEM Inc
Priority date: 1970-02-27
Filing date: 1970-02-27
Publication date: 1971-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-06

Abstract

An apparatus for changing the pitch of drums, comprising a source of compressed gas, a container for holding said compressed gas at a constant pressure and valve means for selectively conducting said pressurized gas into drums, and selectively releasing pressurized gas from said drums, the drums being raised in pitch when pressurized. Also means for independently adjusting the pitch to which each drum may be raised.

Description

United States Patent (72] Inventors Scott Cannes [56] References Cited East Aurora; UNITED STATES PATENTS RkhmlfiflMlmfimMWX- 635,192 10/1899 Sapp 84/411 I211 P 1,054,009 2/1913 Ludwig 84/419 [22] FM FOREIGN PATENTS [45} Patented July 6, 197! 73 Assignee M D system I 589,617 6/l947 Great Brltaln 84/41 1 o my 432,206 9/1967 Switzerland 84/411 Primary Examiner- Richard B. Wilkinson A. :iant Examiner- Lawrence R. Franklin Auomey- Kegan, Kegan and Berkman ABSTRACT: An apparatus for changing the pitch of drums, [54] APPARSATUS FOR CHANGING ml: PITCH OF comprising a source of compressed gas, a container for hold- DRUM 2D in ing said compressed gas at a constant pressure and valve aching g means for selectively conducting said pressurized gas into [52] U.S.Cl. 84/411, drums, and selectively releasing pressurized gas from said 84/4 19 drums, the drums being raised in pitch when pressurized. Also [51] Int. Cl ..Gl0d 13/02 means for independently adjusting the pitch to which each [50] Field of Search 84/41 1, 419 drum may be raised.

/.9 20 36 34 sAucEV. Am I 62 24 PRESSURE PEDAL ACCUMULATOR VALVE 22 I I v v 58 ,26 I? REL A R /6 300 30b 30c COMPRESSOR 33a 33b 330 r 30a 30b 30c SWITCH APPARATUS FOR CHANGING THE PITCH OF DRUMS This application relates to means for selectively raising and lowering the pitch or tone of drums used by musicians. More specifically it relates to an apparatus for pressurizing and depressurizing a set of drums by actuating a foot pedal which controls a supply of compressed air or other gas which is delivered to the interior of the drums.

The desirability of instantaneously changing the pitch of one or more drums in known to musicians. Unusual and novel percussion sounds may be played without the necessity of having a multiplicity of drums permanently tuned to different pitches, so as to be available to render a sound of a given pitch at a desired moment in a piece of music.

Various techniques for increasing the air pressure in a drum to vary the pitch of its sound are known in the prior art. Swiss Pat. No. 432,206 teaches a technique of increasing the air pressure by means of a foot depressed rubber sack connected through a conduit to an opening in the wall of the drum. Other means for introducing the air are bellows, and a foot operated piston pump. None of these prior art devices is satisfactory in that the air pressure cannot be raised instantaneously, and cannot be maintained in the drum for as long as desired. Moreover the prior art devices require excessive physical ex ertion by the drummer, and even then cannot provide sufficient pressure to raise the pitch of a drum appreciably. In addition, the prior art devices cannot be preadjusted to raise the drum to an exact pitch, the pitch achieved being dependent on the skill of the drummer.

' It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus whereby one or more drums may be instantaneously raised in pitch by up to two octaves, maintained at the raised pitch as long as required by the musical piece, and instantaneously returned to the original'pitch. Conversely, one or more drums may be maintained at a high pitch, and instantaneously lowered in pitch.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for raising the pitch of a drum to any of a plurality of preselected notes.

An important feature of this invention enables a drummer to raise instantly the pitch of a drum for a duration of as short as one beat, and to instantly return the drum to its original pitch.

An additional feature of the invention permits separate tuning of each drum so that a plurality of drums may be raised in pitch in unison, or to separate preselected notes.

Another feature of one embodiment of the invention enables a drummer to introduce unusual percussion sounds by pressurized a drum with lighter-than-air gases.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the specification in conjunction with the drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of the compressor, the gas storage and control system, and the drums.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross sectional view valve of the apparatus.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a motor-driven air compressor 8 which is powered by a source of electric current 10. The compressor draws in air through an air filter 12. A pressure-actuated switch 14 controlling electric power for the compressor is pneumatically connected through conduit 16 to the compressed air pipe 18 leading from the compressor. The switch 14 is responsive to pressure in the pipe 18 to turn the compressor 8 on and off at times required to maintain a preset pressure. The compressed air is stored in an air pressure accumulator 20 or container which may be any type of tank commonly used for holding compressed air. A pressure gauge 19 in the pipe 18 provides a visual indication of the amount of pressure in the pipe 18 and the air pressure accumulator 20. A

of the pedal safety valve or pressure relief valve 22 having a selectable pressure release point of up to 150 pounds per square inch is also connected to the pipe 18. A pedal valve 24 described below is connected to the air pressure accumulator 20 so as to pennit air pressure from the accumulator 20 to flow through a duct 26 into a manifold 28 to which are connected by

hoses

30a, 30b, and 300,

drums

32a, 32b and 32c. A pedal having a return spring 36 actuates said pedal valve 24 so that when the pedal 34 is depressed, air pressure from the pressure container 20 is permitted to flow into the

drums

32a, 32b and 320. When the pedal 34 is released, it is raised by the return spring 36, and the pedal valve 24 releases air pressure from the drums into the atmosphere. A set of adjustable pressure valves or regulators 33a 33b and 330 are installed in

hoses

30a, 30b and 300, as is shown in FIGURE 1. The adjustable pressure valves may be preset individually to permit pressurizing gas to flow into each drum at a selectable pressure. In this manner, the pitch to which each drum may be raised is individually selectable.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 2, there is shown a vertical cross section of the pedal valve 24, comprising a cylinder 38 and a piston 40 adapted to slide within said cylinder. An inlet duct 42 is bored in the cylinder 38 to provide an air conduit from the air pressure accumulator 20 to the inner surface of the cylinder wall 44. Similarly, an outlet duct 46 provides an air conduit from the cylinder wall to the manifold 28. The outlet duct 46 opens in the cylinder wall 44 at a point 48 directly opposite and higher than the cylinder wall opening for the inlet duct 50. An air pressure port 52 is bored through the piston 40 at an angle so that when the piston 40 is lowered in the cylinder 26, the air pressure port connects the inlet duct 42 with the outlet duct 46, allowing pressurized air to flow into the manifold 28 and into the drums. A venting port 54 is bored in said piston 40, opening in the wall of the piston at a point directly below the air pressure port 52, and opening in the face 56 of the piston. A venting duct 58 bored in the cylinder head 60 connects the cylinder interior with the atmosphere. In operation, the pedal 34 is depressed, and said movement is transmitted to the piston 40 by means of a stem 62 attached to the piston. The piston 40 slides downwardly so that the inlet duct 42 is connected with the outlet duct 46 by means of the air pressure port 52, allowing pressurized air to flow into the manifold 28 and into the

drums

32a, 32b, and 320. When the pedal 34 is released, the piston 40 is lifted upward by means of the spring 36, the air pressure port 52 is disconnected from the inlet and

outlet ducts

42 and 46, and the venting duct 54 is raised to a position where it connects with the outlet duct 46. Air under pressure in the

drums

32a, 32b and 320 flows through the manifold 28, the outlet duct 46, the venting port 54, and thecylinder interior 62, and is released into the atmosphere through the venting duct 58. Thus, by stepping down on the pedal 34, a drummer may instantaneously pressurize the set of drums, and by releasing the pedal, the drums are instantaneously returned to atmospheric pressure.

In the embodiment of the invention described above, the safety relief valve is set to open at a pressure of pounds per square inch. The pressure controlled switch 14 is set to actuate the compressor 8 when the air pressure in the pipe 18 drops to 50 pounds per square inch, and to turn it off when the pressure reaches 70 pounds per square inch. The

hoses

30a, 30b and 30c connect the manifold 28a to the

drums

32a, 32b and 320 by means of flare connections set in the vent openings already existing in the drums. When the interior air pressure of a drum is changed the resulting change in pitch is proportional to the square root of the total pressure times the square root of the original tension.

Another embodiment of the invention utilizes helium or another light gas rather than air as the pressurizing gas. This is readily accomplished by substituting a bottle of compressed gas such as helium in place of the air compressor 8 and the switch 14. A bottle of compressed air may also be used in place of the compressor and switch. The use of helium or another lighter-than-air gas has two effects on the drum: First, the pitch is higher than with air, other factors being equal, and the rate of change of pitch with respect to pressure is greater being struck, and sounds for a longer time.

While this invention has been described in connection with a' preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the description is illustrative only and is not intended to limit the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claim.

What we claim is:

1. An apparatus for selectively varying the pitch of a drum, said apparatus comprising:

a chamber for holding gas at a selected pressure;

means for maintaining gas in said chamber at said selected pressure;

a drum;

conduit means for conducting pressurized gas between said chamber and said drum;

valve means in said conduit means, said valve means'selectively operable to pass pressurized gas through said conduit means into said drum, and selectively to release pressurized gas from said drum.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining gas in said chamber at said selected pressure is a mechanical air compressor.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining gas in said chamber at said selected pressure is a container of compressed gas.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said compressed gas is helium.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve means is a foot operated valve.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises an inlet duct connected to said chamber for holding gas under pressure, and outlet duct connected to said drum, and a venting duct; and

shiftable port means movable to selectively connect said inlet duct with said outlet duct to permit pressurized gas to flow into said drum, and to alternatively connect said outlet duct with said venting duct to permit pressurized gas to flow out of saiddrum.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6, and further comprising foot pedal means for shifting said port means to connect said inlet duct with said outlet duct, and return spring means for shifting said portto connect said outlet duct with said venting duct.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a plurality of conduit means for conducting pressurized gas to a plurality of drums;

each of said conduit means having an independently adjustable gas pressure regulator to enable independent adjustment of pressure delivered to each drum,

whereby the pitch to which each drum may be raised is independently adjustable.

Claims

1. An apparatus for selectively varying the pitch of a drum, said apparatus comprising: a chamber for holding gas at a selected pressure; means for maintaining gas in said chamber at said selected pressure; a drum; conduit means for conducting pressurized gas between said chamber and said drum; valve means in said conduit means, said valve means selectively operable to pass pressurized gas through said conduit means into said drum, and selectively to release pressurized gas from said drum.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said compressed gas is helium.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises an inlet duct connected to said chamber for holding gas under pressure, and outlet duct connected to said drum, and a venting duct; and shiftable port means movable to selectively connect said inlet duct with said outlet duct to permit pressurized gas to flow into said drum, and to alternatively connect said outlet duct with said venting duct to permit pressurized gas to flow out of said drum.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6, and further comprising foot pedal means for shifting said port means to connect said inlet duct with said outlet duct, and return spring means for shifting said port to connect said outlet duct with said venting duct.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a plurality of conduit means for conducting pressurized gas to a plurality of drums; each of said conduit means having an independently adjustable gas pressure regulator to enable independent adjustment of pressuRe delivered to each drum, whereby the pitch to which each drum may be raised is independently adjustable.