Electrical actuator for percussion instruments

An actuator for striking a sound-producing surface in a percussion instrument, comprising:

• a frame for said musical instrument;
• support bracket means fixedly secured to said frame and including a support arm;
• solenoid means affixed to said support arm and defining a rest position, said solenoid including a fixed core of magnetic material and a coil surrounding at least a part of said core;
• an elongated armature;
• means mounting said armature for motion along a predetermined path between said rest position and a sound-producing surface;
• clapper means mounted on said armature for striking said sound-producing surface upon motion of said armature toward said surface;
• permanent magnet means mounted on said armature, said permanent magnet means attracting said armature toward said solenoid core to normally hold said armature in said rest position;
• and
• means for applying electric current to said solenoid coil to produce a magnetic field in said core in a direction to repel said permanent magnet means on said armature, thereby to propel said armature along said predetermined path to cause said clapper to strike said sound-producing surface, and for terminating said electric current at about the time said clapper means reaches said sound-producing surface, said clapper rebounding from said sound-producing surface to return to said rest position, in the absence of said magnetic field, the motion of said armature being damped by the attraction of said permanent magnet to said solenoid core.