WO2002075717A2

WO2002075717A2 - Upright piano mechanism allowing for adjustment of the response of a particular key and/or keys

Info

Publication number: WO2002075717A2
Application number: PCT/SI2002/000009
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antun Merkoci
Original assignee: Antun Merkoci
Priority date: 2001-03-20
Filing date: 2002-03-20
Publication date: 2002-09-26
Also published as: WO2002075717A3; SI20444A

Abstract

The invention involves the upright piano mechanism allowing for adjustment of the response of a particular key (9). The upright piano mechanism referred to in this invention provides for separation of the damper (1) from the string (6) with an adjustable force that can be adjusted from the exterior of the upright piano referred to in this invention and is felt by the pianist as hardness and/or weight of the key in the second phase of its depression, which influences the feeling of the pianist when playing the piano.Instead of one damper lever associated with each key, the mechanism referred to in this invention includes an attachment (2a) with the damper (1) mounted on its upper end. The attachment (2a) is flexibly clamped in the carrier pole (5). Due to the operation of the spring wire (3), the damper 1 presses against the string (6). Part (2b), lying within the reach of the spoon (4) that is flexibly mounted in the axle (12). The axle (12) can be moved vertically up and down in the direction of the arrow A, which results in the fact that the force with which the arm (13) presses against the attachment (2a) is different when the spoon (4) presses against the attachment (2b). This provides for different responses of a particular key.

Description

UPRIGHT PIANO MECHANISM ALLOWING FOR ADJUSTMENT OF THE RESPONSE OF A PARTICULAR KEY AND/OR KEYS

The invention involves the upright piano mechanism allowing for adjustment of the response of a particular key and/or keys. The upright piano mechanism referred to in this invention provides for separation of the damper from the string with an adjustable force that can be adjusted from the exterior of the upright piano referred to in this invention and is felt by the pianist as hardness and/or weight of the key in the second phase of its depression, which influences the feeling of the pianist when playing the piano. The invention has been classified into class G 10C 3/12 of the International Patent Classification.

The technical problem solved by the invention in question is to provide for simple adjustment of the hardness of particular keys and/or for adjustment of the response of particular keys in the second phase of the respective depression through adjustment of the standard piano mechanism that on depression of the key moves the hammer and the damper without requiring any intervention into the piano mechanism at its adjustment. When playing the keyboard instruments, e.g. piano, upright piano and the like, the depression of a particular key triggers the mechanism that makes the hammer strike the tightened strings. On depression of the key the hammer starts moving along its path to the string. Once the hammer has made one half of its stroke, the spoon together with the damper lever starts removing the damper from the string. The pressure of the spoon to the damper lever is transferred back to the key, which is felt by the pianist as the hardness and/or the weight of the key in the second phase of its depression. This "hardness" and/or "weight" of the key influences the pianist's feeling at playing the piano.

As a matter of fact, the pressure exerted by the spring wire on the upper part of the damper lever, that is flexibly clamped into the carrier pole, is transferred via the lower part of the damper lever and via the spoon to the key at the moment when the latter is depressed and the damper is separated from the string.

In case of the upright piano, the problem of key response at playing and adjusting the hardness and/or the weight of the key in the second phase (i.e. when the damper lever is separated by means of the key via the spoon) can only be solved by adjusting the force with which the spring wire presses the damper against the string. It is, however, only possible with the disassembled mechanism for each key apart. There are also solutions whereby it is possible to simulate different hardness of a particular key. For this purpose it is possible to insert under a particular key a pair of permanent magnets with contrary polarity that bounce against each other and contribute to softer response of each particular key. One of such solutions with two pairs of permanent magnets inserted under the key is described in the patent document WO 00/54248. Individual keys may also be adequately balanced by adding lead inserts into the key lever, such as described in the patent document WO 98/55989 or they may be balanced according to the method for balancing of the keyboard in accordance with the patent document US 5.585.582.

All the above solutions allow for simulation of different key response, but they do not provide for easy individual adjustment of the key response at identical pressure of the damper against the string, and/or via the whole piano mechanism to the keyboard, nor its momentary adjustment to a particular mode of playing and/or to a particular pianist.

The upright piano mechanism, that allows for adjusting the response of a particular key and/or keys referred to in the invention, has the uniform damper lever replaced by a damper holding attachment, such as clamped in the carrier pole, and a special piece lying within the reach of the spoon and via the carrier part connected with the arm for removal of the damper holding attachment, whereby the carrying part is flexibly suspended and can move vertically. The invention will be described in detail on the basis of a concrete example and the corresponding figures as follows:

Figure 1 side view of the cross-section of a standard upright piano mechanism;

Figure 2 side view of the cross-section of a standard upright piano mechanism, such as to enable the adjusting of the response of a particular key and/or keys; Figure 3 part of the upright piano mechanism referred to in the invention, showing the arm 13 at the lowest possible point; Figure 4 part of the upright piano mechanism referred to in the invention, showing the arm 13 at the highest possible point.

Figure 1 shows the cross-section of a standard upright piano mechanism. The damper 1 , pressing against the string 6 due to the operation of the spring wire 3 is mounted on the upper end of the damper lever 2 that is approximately in the center flexibly clamped in the carrier pole 5, while the lower end of the damper lever 2 is lying within the reach of the spoon 4 that is mounted at the end of the lever part 7, moved by lever 8 of the key 9. As a matter of fact, the pressure generated by the spring wire 3 via the damper 1 to the string 6 is transferred to the key 9 via the lower part of the damper 1 lever 2 and via the spoon 4 while the key is depressed and the damper 1 is separated from the string 6. The force with which the damper 1 operates on the string 6 varies between 55 and 80 g, while this force is transferred to the key 9 as values ranging from 20 to 45 g. With this standard version of the upright piano mechanism, the control of the force active on the key 9 is only possible by means of reshaping of the spring wire 3 and cannot be reduced below the limit value at which the damper 1 still presses against the string 6. Operation on the spring wire 3 is only possible with the upright piano mechanism open. Figure 2 shows the cross-section of the upright piano mechanism that allows for adjusting the response of a particular key and/or keys of the mechanism referred to in this invention. The essential difference with regard to the known version of the mechanism is the difference in the damper lever 2. The latter is replaced by the attachment 2a with the damper 1 mounted on its upper end. The attachment 2a is flexibly clamped in the carrier pole 5. Due to the operation of the spring wire 3 the damper 1 presses against the string 6. Part 2b, lying within the reach of the spoon 4, is connected with arm 13 through the carrier part 11. Part 2b along with the carrier part 11 is flexibly mounted in the axle 12 that can be moved vertically up and down in the direction of the arrow A. The lower end of the attachment 2a continues into an oblong attachment 10 that lies within the reach of the lever section (not shown in Fig, 2) of the pedal mechanism. Via the attachment 10 it is possible to separate part 2a and in turn the damper 1 even by depression of the pedal.

The pressure on the key 9 that via the lever 8 and the lever section 7 makes the spoon 4 press against the attachment 2b is transferred, via the flexibly clamped carrier part 11 , to the arm 13, active against the force of the spring wire 3 to the attachment 2a and accordingly separating the damper 1 from the string 6. With reference to the vertical position of the arm 13 that depends on the position of the vertically mobile axle 12 with the clamped in carrier part 11, the force with which the arm operates on the attachment 2a and in turn on the damper 1 is different. This force is transferred to the key 9 via the attachment 2b and the spoon 4 at the moment when the key 9 is depressed and the damper 1 is separated from the string 6. When the arm 13 is in its lowest possible point (Figure 3), i.e. near the carrier pole 5, the force required to move the attachment 2b and to separate the damper 1 is the highest - the playing is the most difficult. At the highest point of the arm 13 (Figure 4), the force required to move the attachment 2b and to separate the damper 1 is the lowest - the playing is the most easy. The force with which the damper 1 operates on the string 6 is identical in spite of the vertical position of the arm 13. It varies between 55 and 80 g, while the force on the key 9 depends on the vertical position of the arm 13 and varies between 15 and 100 g. Accordingly, in the version referred to in this invention, the force operating on the key 9 allows for a broad control range, whereby this force does not depend on the force with which the damper 1 presses against the string 6. Vertical movements of the clamping point of the carrier part 11 into the vertically mobile axle 12 in the direction of arrow A can be made by means of the lever mounted outside the upright piano mechanism. Likewise it is possible to interconnect in a simple manner the axles 12 of the carrier parts 11 of particular keys, of a set of keys or of the whole keyboard.

The above described upright piano mechanism allows for easy and fast individual adjustment of the upright piano key response without any intervention into the upright piano mechanism. The invention does not influence the characteristics of correct playing the instrument, while the mere upright piano mechanism works in the same way as the standard mechanism, except that it allows for easy changing of the adjustable response of the keys.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. The upright piano mechanism that allows for adjustment of the response of a particular key and/or keys, characterized in that it fits on the attachment (2a), flexibly mounted in the carrier pole (5) and fitted with the spring wire (3), including the damper (1) and the arm (13) that is connected to the part (2b) through the carrier part (11), lying within the reach of the spoon (4), whereby the carrier part (11) is flexibly clamped into the axle (12) that is vertically mobile in the direction of the arrow (A).

2. The upright piano mechanism that allows for adjustment of the response of a particular key and/or keys, such as referred to in Claim 1 , characterized in that the vertical movements of the clamping point of the carrier part (11) into the vertically mobile axle (12) in the direction of the arrow (A) can be made by means of the lever mounted outside the upright piano mechanism.

3. The upright piano mechanism that allows for adjustment of the response of a particular key and/or keys, such as referred to in Claim 1 , characterized in that the axles (12) of the carrier parts (11) of particular keys, sets of keys or of the whole keyboard are interconnected and the vertical movements of the clamping points of the carrier parts (11) in the vertically mobile axles (12) in the direction of the arrow (A) can be made by means of the lever mounted outside the upright piano mechanism.

4. The upright piano mechanism that allows for adjustment of the response of a particular key and/or keys, such as referred to in Claim 1 , characterized in that the lower end of the attachment (2a) continues into an oblong attachment (10) that lies within the reach of the lever section of the pedal mechanism.