Equilibrium piston valve for brass instruments
OwnerKevin Toksöz Fairbairninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved piston valve for brass instruments facilitates adding a length of tube for playing in a lower range, while minimizing the overall air resistance as well as the air resistance differential between disengaged and engaged positions. The piston casing accommodates two input tubes on one side and two output tubes at the same level on the other side. The piston cylinder is comprised of one air passage in one position, and two parallel air passages in a second position. The second position utilizes the attachment of additional tubing for a lower range.
Claims12
A piston valve device for adjusting the length of tubing in a musical instrument, the device comprising:
- a. a piston casing for holding a piston cylinder, the piston casing being comprised of four ports arranged on a port level around a perimeter of the piston casing, coinciding to four attached air tubes, wherein;
- i. a first air tube is a mouthpiece tube, connecting a mouthpiece to the piston valve;
- ii. a second air tube is an attachment-out tube, connecting the piston-valve to an attachment tube;
- iii. a third air tube is an attachment-in tube, connecting the attachment tube back to the piston valve, and
- iv. a fourth air tube is a bell tube, connecting the piston valve to a bell;
- b. a piston cylinder having a height, wherein the piston cylinder is positioned within the piston casing, and the piston cylinder is comprised of three air passages, wherein;
- i. a first air passage is on a first level of the piston cylinder, a second air passage is on a second level of the piston cylinder, and a third air passage is also on the second level of the piston cylinder;
- ii. the first air passage travels straight through the piston cylinder at a 180-degree angle, connecting the mouthpiece tube to the bell tube;
- iii. the second air passage travels through the piston cylinder at a slight bend no more acute than a 155-degree angle, connecting the mouthpiece tube to the attachment-out tube;
- and
- iv. the third air passage travels through the piston cylinder at a slight bend no more acute than a 155-degree angle, connecting the attachment-in tube to the bell tube;
- and
- c. a means for actuating the piston between a disengaged position and an engaged position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.