Title:
CLARINET
United States Patent 3844193
Abstract:
Clarinet comprising a lower body and an upper body, a barrel, and a mouthpiece fitted in said barrel, characterized in that it comprises in said barrel a pair of air outlet passages having different cross-sectional passage areas, adapted to produce the fifth harmonic sounds or the seventeenths of the fundamental sounds of the clarinet, and two keys carrying stop valves for selectively opening said air outlet passages, the existing so-called key of twelfth being actuated simultaneously to its open position.
US Patent References:
Key mechanism for clarinets
Leblanc - April 1958 - 2832250
Electrical musical instrument with percussion apparatus
Christensen - September 1967 - 2951412
CLARINETS
Robbins - September 1970 - 3526165
Key mechanism for clarinets
Leblanc - April 1958 - 2832250
Electrical musical instrument with percussion apparatus
Christensen - September 1967 - 2951412
CLARINETS
Robbins - September 1970 - 3526165
Application Number:
05/427013
Publication Date:
10/29/1974
Filing Date:
12/13/1973
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
984/133
International Classes:
G10D7/06; G10D7/00; G10D7/00
Field of Search:
84/382,380,383
Primary Examiner:
Tomsky, Stephen J.
Assistant Examiner:
Miska, Vit W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Fleit, Gipple Jacobson
Claims:
What is claimed as new is
1. Clarinet comprising a lower body and an upper body, a barrel, and a mouthpiece fitted in said barrel, characterised in that it comprises in said barrel a pair of air outlet passages having different cross-sectional passage areas, adapted to produce the fifth harmonic sounds or the seventeenths of the fundamental sounds of the clarinet, and two keys carrying stop valves for selectively opening said air outlet passages, the existing so-called key of twelfth being actuated simultaneously to its open position.
2. Clarinet according to claim 1, wherein said barrel comprises a shoulder engaged by said mouthpiece in its innermost or abuting position, and is characterised in that the two air outlet passages are so disposed as to have their upper edges substantially flush with the level of said mouthpiece abutment shoulder.
3. Clarinet according to claim 1, characterised in that the diameter of the major air outlet passage opened by means of one of the keys for producing the lower seventeenths ranges from 4.5 to 6 mm, and the diameter of the minor air outlet opened by means of the other key for producing the upper seventeenths ranges from 1.5 to 3 mm.
4. Clarinet according to claim 1, characterised in that one of the stop valves is normally seated against the edge of a hole formed in the barrel and constituting the aforesaid major air outlet passage, the other stop valve being superposed to said one stop valve and normally seated against the edge of another hole formed in said one stop valve and constituting said minor air outlet passage.
5. Clarinet according to claim 4, characterised in that said one stop valve associated with said major air outlet passage is carried by a rocker urged by first spring means to its open position, the control key of said one stop valve being urged against said rocker by other spring means having a force greater than that of said first spring means, another key, carrying the stop valve superposed to said one stop valve, being also pressed against said one stop valve by a spring force greater than that of said first spring means.
6. Clarinet according to claim 4, characterised in that said superposed stop valve control key comprise actuating means including a member adapted when operated to open the twelfth key.
7. Clarinet according to claim 4, characterised in that the key controlling the stop valve associated with the major air outlet passage is actuated from the lower ring of the group of three ring keys normally provided on the lower clarinet body and adapted to be actuated by the instrumentalist's right hand, said lower ring being rendered independent of the other two by unidirectional coupling means provided therebetween and such that said lower ring can actuate said other rings without being actuated thereby.
1. Clarinet comprising a lower body and an upper body, a barrel, and a mouthpiece fitted in said barrel, characterised in that it comprises in said barrel a pair of air outlet passages having different cross-sectional passage areas, adapted to produce the fifth harmonic sounds or the seventeenths of the fundamental sounds of the clarinet, and two keys carrying stop valves for selectively opening said air outlet passages, the existing so-called key of twelfth being actuated simultaneously to its open position.
2. Clarinet according to claim 1, wherein said barrel comprises a shoulder engaged by said mouthpiece in its innermost or abuting position, and is characterised in that the two air outlet passages are so disposed as to have their upper edges substantially flush with the level of said mouthpiece abutment shoulder.
3. Clarinet according to claim 1, characterised in that the diameter of the major air outlet passage opened by means of one of the keys for producing the lower seventeenths ranges from 4.5 to 6 mm, and the diameter of the minor air outlet opened by means of the other key for producing the upper seventeenths ranges from 1.5 to 3 mm.
4. Clarinet according to claim 1, characterised in that one of the stop valves is normally seated against the edge of a hole formed in the barrel and constituting the aforesaid major air outlet passage, the other stop valve being superposed to said one stop valve and normally seated against the edge of another hole formed in said one stop valve and constituting said minor air outlet passage.
5. Clarinet according to claim 4, characterised in that said one stop valve associated with said major air outlet passage is carried by a rocker urged by first spring means to its open position, the control key of said one stop valve being urged against said rocker by other spring means having a force greater than that of said first spring means, another key, carrying the stop valve superposed to said one stop valve, being also pressed against said one stop valve by a spring force greater than that of said first spring means.
6. Clarinet according to claim 4, characterised in that said superposed stop valve control key comprise actuating means including a member adapted when operated to open the twelfth key.
7. Clarinet according to claim 4, characterised in that the key controlling the stop valve associated with the major air outlet passage is actuated from the lower ring of the group of three ring keys normally provided on the lower clarinet body and adapted to be actuated by the instrumentalist's right hand, said lower ring being rendered independent of the other two by unidirectional coupling means provided therebetween and such that said lower ring can actuate said other rings without being actuated thereby.
Description:
The present invention relates in general to clarinets and has more particularly for its object improvements in clarinets.
During his research works with a view to improve existing clarinets, the Applicant found that it was possible to produce the fifths harmonic sounds of the fundamental sounds emitted by this instrument, that is, the seventeenth notes above these fundamental sounds, by forming in the clarinet barrel a hole adapted to be opened to this end by means of a key, these sounds being thus obtained by using a simpler fingering than the fingering now required for obtaining the same sounds.
This arrangement, based on the principle of the natural resonance of the sound body or resonator, is however only partially satisfactory as far as the correctness of the sounds thus produced is concerned, considering the principle of the tempered chord governing musical intervals.
It is the essential object of the present invention to provide an improvement in clarinets with a view to obtain the aforesaid fifth harmonic sounds with an automatic correction of their pitch, that is, with a high degree of accuracy, these fifth harmonic sounds being obtained by using a particularly simple mechanism and very easily, thus affording a hitherto unnattainable degree of virtuosity.
At the same time, this invention permits not only of widening the clarinet register but also of hearing notes considerably above the usual musical range, and in any case practically not feasible with the present clarinets of the BOEHM or HOELLER system.
Basically, the clarinet according to this invention is characterised in that its barrel comprises two air outlet holes or passages of different cross-sections, adapted to produce the fifth harmonic sounds or seventeenths notes of the fundamental sounds of the clarinet, corrected to comply with the tempered chord, with the assistance of a pair of stop valve keys permitting of selectively opening or uncovering these two air outlets, the existing so-called twelfth key being opened simultaneously.
More particularly, these two additional air passages are so located that their upper edges are substantially flush with that of the shoulder limiting the penetration of the clarinet mouthpiece into the instrument tube or upper body.
More particularly, in the case of B flat and A clarinets, the diameter of the major air outlet passage uncovered by one of the keys for producing the low seventeenths ranges from 4.5 to 6 mm, and the diameter of the minor air outlet passage uncovered by the other key for producing the upper seventeenths ranges from 1.5 to 3 mm.
A typical embodiment of an improved clarinet according to this invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
FIGS. 1 and 2 are two elevational views, taken perpendicularly to each other, of the upper tube of a clarinet with the keys associated therewith;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are two elevational views, taken perpendicularly to each other, of the upper tube or body and of the barrel of a clarinet with the means for actuating one of the keys according to this invention;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are two elevational views, taken perpendicularly to each other, of the lower body or tube of the clarinet, and
FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken along the line VII--VII of FIG. 3.
The clarinet illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 is partially illustrated by showing its upper body or tube 1 on which the barrel 2 is mounted in the conventional manner.
In this barrel, at the level of the area where the note of the fifth harmonic sounds (or seventeenth note above the fundamental sound) is formed, there is provided below the level of the shoulder 3 limiting the penetration of the mounthpiece (not shown) a hole 4 having its upper edge substantially flush with said shoulder and adapted to receive (optionally) a bevelled air-intercepting tubular element 5 having its inlet directed upwards, i.e., towards the mouthpiece-receiving end of the instrument. The corresponding air outlet is controlled by means of a pair of keys 6, 7 carrying corresponding superposed stop valves 8, 9, respectively, so disposed that stop valve 9 engages directly the edge of said hole 4, and comprises in its portion nearest to the shoulder 3 a passage 9a of smaller size than said hole 4 and normally closed by the other stop valve 8. The key 7 co-acts with a rocker 10 supporting the stop valve 9. This key 7 pivoted to the barrel by means of a pin 11 is responsive to a spring (not visible in the drawing) urging said key against the rocker 10 with a force greater than that of another spring (also not shown in the drawings) urging the rocker 10 itself in the direction to open said stop valve 9. The key 6 fulcrumed to the barrel by means of a pin 12 is responsive to another spring 13 normally holding the stop valve 8 in engagement with stop valve 9 and also stronger than the spring urging stop valve 9 to its open position, for a reason to be explained presently.
As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the key 6 is controlled by means mounted to said upper clarinet body 1 and comprising a lever 15 having its finger-actuated portion 15a located in close vicinity of the existing twelfth key 16. The lever 15 is fulcrumed to a pivot pin 15b and its arm 15c constitutes the control member of the aforesaid twelfth key 16 of which the stop valve 17 is lifted or unseated when the control member 15a is depressed. Moreover, the arm 15c co-acts with the end of an arcuate lever 18 fulcrumed at 19 and engaging with its other end the key 6, so that the stop valve 8 is urged to its open position with said control member 15a is depressed. This simultaneous opening of stop valves 17 and 8, when playing the instrument, produces the seventeenths of the following fundamental sounds: ##SPC1##
The first four seventeenths of this stave correspond to one portion of the fundamental sounds that can be produced with the lower body of the clarinet, by using the same fingering as usually contemplated for these fundamental sounds, the next seventeenths corresponding to the fundamental sounds of the upper half of the clarinet and being obtained likewise by using a suitable fingering.
Now it will be seen that the other seventeenths corresponding to the other portion of the fundamental sounds that can be obtained by using the lower half of the clarinet body are also obtainable by using the same fingering as for these fundamental sounds.
Existing clarinets comprising on their lower body half a group of three interconnected rings and, as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the lowermost ring 20 of this group of three is made independent of the other two 21, 22, according to a feature characterising this invention, by providing a free pivot mounting at 23, but said ring 20 is operatively connected to the other two rings 21, 22 by means of a unidirectional coupling 24 so that it can actuate these other rings 21, 22 but these cannot operate ring 20, for the purpose of preserving all the possibilities of known clarinets. The pivot pin of this ring 20 carries a lug or arm 20a co-acting with linkage means so arranged that stop valve 9 is open when ring 20 is depressed, this action being obtained through the lowing means. The lug 20a engages with its free end one end of a rocker 25 engaging in turn with its other end a lug 26a of a lever 26 pivotally mounted by means of its shaft or pivot pin 26b to the lower clarinet body, this lever 26 comprising another lug 26c engaging a lug 27a formed on a lever 27 pivotally mounted to the upper clarinet body 1 by means of its shaft or pivot pin 27b (see FIG. 4), this lever 27 carrying at its upper portion a lug or arm 27c partially surrounding the upper clarinet body so as to engage with its free end the key 7, as shown in FIG. 7.
Thus, when ring 20 is depressed, its lug or arm 20a causes lever 25 to rotate in the direction to lower the lug 26a of lever 26 whose lug 26c lifts the arm 27a of lever 27, so that the arm 27c of this lever 27 engages the key 7 which, by rotating, permits the opening of stop valve 9 under the force of the spring associated with the rocker 10, provided that at the same time the member 15a controlling the key 6 is also actuated.
From the foregoing it is clear that actuating the ring 20 and lever 15 simultaneously will open the major air outlet passage or hole 4, thus producing, with the fingering of the following fundamental sounds generated in the lower body, the corresponding seventeenth harmonic sounds, i.e.: ##SPC2##
If ring 20 alone is actuated, the acute E flat will be heard as usual, for while actuating the key 7 the key 6 will nevertheless hold the two stop valves 8 and 9 in their closed or seated positions due to the aforementioned preponderance of the force of its spring over the force of the spring urging said stop valves to their open position.
Moreover, with these arrangements the following high-pitched notes can be produced: ##SPC3##
which cannot be obtained with present clarinets, under normal playing conditions, these sounds being obtained with the clarinet of this invention by simply opening either of the two holes 4 or 9a and, of course, a corresponding fingering.
More particularly, in the case of B flat and A clarinets, a particularly satisfactory result is obtained by using an air outlet diameter in the range of 4.5 to 6 mm for the hole controlled by stop valve 9, and a diameter in the range of 1.5 to 3 mm for the hole formed in said stop valve and controlled by stop valve 8, these dimensions also depending, of course, on the clarinet bore which differs from one maker to another.
Of course, other means may be conceived for obtaining the above-described functions, without inasmuch departing from the field of this invention, without disregarding the fact that the two holes described hereinabove may be formed in the barrel and controlled by means of separate stop valves disposed independently of each other, that is, not superposed; however, the above-described embodiment is preferred for obvious reasons of constructional simplicity.
It may be emphasized, as a fact particularly important for the instrumental performer, that the means contemplated according to the present invention enable the clarinettist of emitting the seventeenths of the fundamental sounds obtainable from the lower body or tube of the clarinet, with the same fingering as that necessary for producing these fundamental sounds, plus the actuation of the mechanism according to this invention, as set forth hereinabove, thus simplify considerably his task and enabling him to attain a higher degree of virtuosity.
This improvement is applicable to all existing clarinets, of the BOEHM or HOELLER system, and particularly to the "simple" or "Albert" E-flat clarinet, the C clarinet, the B-flat clarinet, the A-clarinet, the altoclarinet or basset horn, the tenor clarinet and F clarinet, the bass clarinet (modern), the contrabass clarinet, double-bass clarinet or pedal clarinet, the Denner clarinet, etc.., by simply adapting the dimensions of the superposed major and minor holes, for all these instruments have different lengths and cross-sectional dimensions.
During his research works with a view to improve existing clarinets, the Applicant found that it was possible to produce the fifths harmonic sounds of the fundamental sounds emitted by this instrument, that is, the seventeenth notes above these fundamental sounds, by forming in the clarinet barrel a hole adapted to be opened to this end by means of a key, these sounds being thus obtained by using a simpler fingering than the fingering now required for obtaining the same sounds.
This arrangement, based on the principle of the natural resonance of the sound body or resonator, is however only partially satisfactory as far as the correctness of the sounds thus produced is concerned, considering the principle of the tempered chord governing musical intervals.
It is the essential object of the present invention to provide an improvement in clarinets with a view to obtain the aforesaid fifth harmonic sounds with an automatic correction of their pitch, that is, with a high degree of accuracy, these fifth harmonic sounds being obtained by using a particularly simple mechanism and very easily, thus affording a hitherto unnattainable degree of virtuosity.
At the same time, this invention permits not only of widening the clarinet register but also of hearing notes considerably above the usual musical range, and in any case practically not feasible with the present clarinets of the BOEHM or HOELLER system.
Basically, the clarinet according to this invention is characterised in that its barrel comprises two air outlet holes or passages of different cross-sections, adapted to produce the fifth harmonic sounds or seventeenths notes of the fundamental sounds of the clarinet, corrected to comply with the tempered chord, with the assistance of a pair of stop valve keys permitting of selectively opening or uncovering these two air outlets, the existing so-called twelfth key being opened simultaneously.
More particularly, these two additional air passages are so located that their upper edges are substantially flush with that of the shoulder limiting the penetration of the clarinet mouthpiece into the instrument tube or upper body.
More particularly, in the case of B flat and A clarinets, the diameter of the major air outlet passage uncovered by one of the keys for producing the low seventeenths ranges from 4.5 to 6 mm, and the diameter of the minor air outlet passage uncovered by the other key for producing the upper seventeenths ranges from 1.5 to 3 mm.
A typical embodiment of an improved clarinet according to this invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
FIGS. 1 and 2 are two elevational views, taken perpendicularly to each other, of the upper tube of a clarinet with the keys associated therewith;
FIGS. 3 and 4 are two elevational views, taken perpendicularly to each other, of the upper tube or body and of the barrel of a clarinet with the means for actuating one of the keys according to this invention;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are two elevational views, taken perpendicularly to each other, of the lower body or tube of the clarinet, and
FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken along the line VII--VII of FIG. 3.
The clarinet illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 is partially illustrated by showing its upper body or tube 1 on which the barrel 2 is mounted in the conventional manner.
In this barrel, at the level of the area where the note of the fifth harmonic sounds (or seventeenth note above the fundamental sound) is formed, there is provided below the level of the shoulder 3 limiting the penetration of the mounthpiece (not shown) a hole 4 having its upper edge substantially flush with said shoulder and adapted to receive (optionally) a bevelled air-intercepting tubular element 5 having its inlet directed upwards, i.e., towards the mouthpiece-receiving end of the instrument. The corresponding air outlet is controlled by means of a pair of keys 6, 7 carrying corresponding superposed stop valves 8, 9, respectively, so disposed that stop valve 9 engages directly the edge of said hole 4, and comprises in its portion nearest to the shoulder 3 a passage 9a of smaller size than said hole 4 and normally closed by the other stop valve 8. The key 7 co-acts with a rocker 10 supporting the stop valve 9. This key 7 pivoted to the barrel by means of a pin 11 is responsive to a spring (not visible in the drawing) urging said key against the rocker 10 with a force greater than that of another spring (also not shown in the drawings) urging the rocker 10 itself in the direction to open said stop valve 9. The key 6 fulcrumed to the barrel by means of a pin 12 is responsive to another spring 13 normally holding the stop valve 8 in engagement with stop valve 9 and also stronger than the spring urging stop valve 9 to its open position, for a reason to be explained presently.
As clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the key 6 is controlled by means mounted to said upper clarinet body 1 and comprising a lever 15 having its finger-actuated portion 15a located in close vicinity of the existing twelfth key 16. The lever 15 is fulcrumed to a pivot pin 15b and its arm 15c constitutes the control member of the aforesaid twelfth key 16 of which the stop valve 17 is lifted or unseated when the control member 15a is depressed. Moreover, the arm 15c co-acts with the end of an arcuate lever 18 fulcrumed at 19 and engaging with its other end the key 6, so that the stop valve 8 is urged to its open position with said control member 15a is depressed. This simultaneous opening of stop valves 17 and 8, when playing the instrument, produces the seventeenths of the following fundamental sounds: ##SPC1##
The first four seventeenths of this stave correspond to one portion of the fundamental sounds that can be produced with the lower body of the clarinet, by using the same fingering as usually contemplated for these fundamental sounds, the next seventeenths corresponding to the fundamental sounds of the upper half of the clarinet and being obtained likewise by using a suitable fingering.
Now it will be seen that the other seventeenths corresponding to the other portion of the fundamental sounds that can be obtained by using the lower half of the clarinet body are also obtainable by using the same fingering as for these fundamental sounds.
Existing clarinets comprising on their lower body half a group of three interconnected rings and, as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the lowermost ring 20 of this group of three is made independent of the other two 21, 22, according to a feature characterising this invention, by providing a free pivot mounting at 23, but said ring 20 is operatively connected to the other two rings 21, 22 by means of a unidirectional coupling 24 so that it can actuate these other rings 21, 22 but these cannot operate ring 20, for the purpose of preserving all the possibilities of known clarinets. The pivot pin of this ring 20 carries a lug or arm 20a co-acting with linkage means so arranged that stop valve 9 is open when ring 20 is depressed, this action being obtained through the lowing means. The lug 20a engages with its free end one end of a rocker 25 engaging in turn with its other end a lug 26a of a lever 26 pivotally mounted by means of its shaft or pivot pin 26b to the lower clarinet body, this lever 26 comprising another lug 26c engaging a lug 27a formed on a lever 27 pivotally mounted to the upper clarinet body 1 by means of its shaft or pivot pin 27b (see FIG. 4), this lever 27 carrying at its upper portion a lug or arm 27c partially surrounding the upper clarinet body so as to engage with its free end the key 7, as shown in FIG. 7.
Thus, when ring 20 is depressed, its lug or arm 20a causes lever 25 to rotate in the direction to lower the lug 26a of lever 26 whose lug 26c lifts the arm 27a of lever 27, so that the arm 27c of this lever 27 engages the key 7 which, by rotating, permits the opening of stop valve 9 under the force of the spring associated with the rocker 10, provided that at the same time the member 15a controlling the key 6 is also actuated.
From the foregoing it is clear that actuating the ring 20 and lever 15 simultaneously will open the major air outlet passage or hole 4, thus producing, with the fingering of the following fundamental sounds generated in the lower body, the corresponding seventeenth harmonic sounds, i.e.: ##SPC2##
If ring 20 alone is actuated, the acute E flat will be heard as usual, for while actuating the key 7 the key 6 will nevertheless hold the two stop valves 8 and 9 in their closed or seated positions due to the aforementioned preponderance of the force of its spring over the force of the spring urging said stop valves to their open position.
Moreover, with these arrangements the following high-pitched notes can be produced: ##SPC3##
which cannot be obtained with present clarinets, under normal playing conditions, these sounds being obtained with the clarinet of this invention by simply opening either of the two holes 4 or 9a and, of course, a corresponding fingering.
More particularly, in the case of B flat and A clarinets, a particularly satisfactory result is obtained by using an air outlet diameter in the range of 4.5 to 6 mm for the hole controlled by stop valve 9, and a diameter in the range of 1.5 to 3 mm for the hole formed in said stop valve and controlled by stop valve 8, these dimensions also depending, of course, on the clarinet bore which differs from one maker to another.
Of course, other means may be conceived for obtaining the above-described functions, without inasmuch departing from the field of this invention, without disregarding the fact that the two holes described hereinabove may be formed in the barrel and controlled by means of separate stop valves disposed independently of each other, that is, not superposed; however, the above-described embodiment is preferred for obvious reasons of constructional simplicity.
It may be emphasized, as a fact particularly important for the instrumental performer, that the means contemplated according to the present invention enable the clarinettist of emitting the seventeenths of the fundamental sounds obtainable from the lower body or tube of the clarinet, with the same fingering as that necessary for producing these fundamental sounds, plus the actuation of the mechanism according to this invention, as set forth hereinabove, thus simplify considerably his task and enabling him to attain a higher degree of virtuosity.
This improvement is applicable to all existing clarinets, of the BOEHM or HOELLER system, and particularly to the "simple" or "Albert" E-flat clarinet, the C clarinet, the B-flat clarinet, the A-clarinet, the altoclarinet or basset horn, the tenor clarinet and F clarinet, the bass clarinet (modern), the contrabass clarinet, double-bass clarinet or pedal clarinet, the Denner clarinet, etc.., by simply adapting the dimensions of the superposed major and minor holes, for all these instruments have different lengths and cross-sectional dimensions.