US845565A - Pianissimo device. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907.

I H. METZGBR. PIANISSIMO DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20.1906.

7 QVNVENTOR ffizry Jfelzyer gW/TNESSES ATTORNEYS HENRY METZGER, OF CASTLETON,-NEW YORK.

PIANISSIMO DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

Application filed June 20,1906. Serial No. 322,567.

To a, whom it 771,114 concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY ME'rzeER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Castleton, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented new and Improved Pianissinzo Devices, of which the following is a-full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to upright pianos; and its object is to provide a new and improved piano-action arranged'to take up all lost motion between the jack and the hammer-butt when the soft pedal is used.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, which will be more fully described hereinafter and then ointed out in the claims.

A practica embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is a cross-sect on ofv the improvement', showing the parts in position when the soft pedalis off; and Fig.2 is a like view of the same, showing the parts in position when the soft pedal is on.

It is well known that when the soft pedal is pressed in ordinary pianos and the hammer-rest rail is swung rearwardly then the hammer-butt moves away from the u per end of the jack, and when the key is su sequently pressed and the jack is raised, it moves a distance inactively before rengaging the hammer-butt and impartingmovement to the han'nner. To compensate or overcome this inaction or lost motion of the jack is the object of the invention, presently to he described in detail. 4

Each key A of the piano-action engages by the capstan B the extension C, pivotally connected at its upper end with a lever D, also pivotally connected with the wippen E, fulcrumed on the fixed center rail F. The wippen E carries the jack G, engaging the butt II of the hammer H, adapted to sound the string I and normally resting on the hammer-rest rail J, capable of being thrown into a half-stroke position upon pressing the soft pedal in the usual manner. The leyer D normally rests flat against the under side of the wippen E, {see Fig. 1,) and its free end abuts against the licveled face K of an auxiliary rail K, pivotally connected by arms K to the center rail l. The ends of the auxillower ends of levers L, fulcrumed between their ends on the center rail F, and connected at their upper ends with the ham-' mer-rail J N ow when the hammer-rail J is swung rearward into a half-stroke osition on pressing the soft pedal then a orward swinging motion is given to the auxiliary rail K, (see Fig. 2,) whereby the latter imparts a swinging motion to the lever D, now turning on the extension C as the fulcrum, so that an upward-swinging motion is given to the wip pen E to keep, the upper end of the jack G in engagement with the hammer-butt H.,

When the key A is now pressed, the extension C imparts a swinging motion to the lever D, the latter now turning on the beveled face K of the auxiliary rail K as the fulcrum, whereby the wippen E is swung upward and the jack G imparts a swinging motion to the hammer H to sound the corres onding string I. It will be noticed that wfien the auxiliary rail K is swung forward, as abovede scribed and shown in Fig. 2, the lever D as sumes an angular 'positlon relative to the wippen E as the first end of the lever D moves downward, and the other end, which is pivotally connected with the wippen E, rises to "keep the u per end of the 'ack G in engagement wit the hammerutt H, and hence all lost motion between the said jack G and the hammer-butt H is avoided when the soft pedal is pressed. The lever D is referably provided with felts D and D or engagement with the wippen E and the face K, as will be readily understood by reference to the drawings, to avoid undue noise and vi bration.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the compensating device shown and described is actuated from the hammer rail J and connects with the extension C and the wippen E to insure contact or enga ement of the u per end of the hammer H. a

The device is very simple and durable in construction, composed of comparatively few parts, and not order.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters,

Patent 7 1. A pia'nissirpo device comprising a hammcr, a hammer-rest rail, a center rail, an auxiliary, rail, an extension, a M en, a lever fuler'umed on the extension and haVing one iary rail K are pivotally connected with the l end engaging the auxiliary rail and the other iable easily to get out.,,ef-" T.

pivotally lack with t e butt Hof t e I I ice med to the xvi-open, e jack connected w gpen and engaging the henimen "ever .tniezumed on the center mil and tiled ends pivoteii eonneeted -V 5L mat, and the auxiliary xieniss ilfif-IGSh r211 a center rail, an m1}, an extension, 8. wlppen, a'lever oted to the wiipen, jack connected 1 eoy the movement of inipzn'ted to the euxthe extent of'ionl ied on the extension and having one mg the eumhery fall and the other i i i with the Wippen and engaging the hmnmer, and :1 lever fulcrumeal on the center rail and having its ends pivotulty connected with the hennnemest rail and the zuL'iiizn-y mil, respectively whereby the movement of the hammer-rest mil is imparted to the auxiliary rail to very the extent of longitudinal 1novement thereof.

In testimony whereoii I have signed my name to this specification in 011% presence of 25 two subscribing; Witnesses.

HENRY METZGER. Witnesses:

GEORGE T. CHANDLER, JOHN A. METZGER.

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