United States Patent I ‘[151 3,660,588 Richardson [451 May 2, 1972

[54] MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WATER 869,033 10/1907 Viol ...... 84/397 VALVE 1,172,298 2/1916 Morris ...... 251/145 [72] inventor: Jesse L. Richardson, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Primary Examiner—Richard B. Wilkinson [73] Assigneez' Federal Operating Co. Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales Attorney-Eugene F. Malin [22] Filed: May 22, 1969 [211 Appl. No.: 826,830 [5 7] ABSTRACT A simpli?ed two-part needle-type valve for use in lieu of the [52] US. Cl ...... 84/397 spring-biased lever-type water key now on all brass wind in

[51] Int. Cl...... Gl0d7/l0 struments such as, for example, , comets, , [58] Field ofSearch ...... 84/387,397;25l/145,146 alto and baritone horns and the like. Both parts can be manu factured on automatic screw machines. The exteriorly [56] References Cited recessed ported body can be soft-soldered to the instrument slide or tubing in communication with the customary water UNITED STATES PATENTS (saliva) eliminating ori?ce. To operate, merely turn the ?nger-grip and either open or close the conical valve at will. 414,464 11/1889 Webb ...... 2l5/145 X 582,507 5/1897 Marchaut et al..; ...... 25l/145 X 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Pmmd May 2, 1912 3,660,588 '

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Jesse L. Richardson liN'V/ENTOK.

1 BY 3,660,588 1 2 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WATER VALVE It is further ‘to be mentioned that the herein disclosed water This invention relates to a musical instrument water releas valve is such that it can be mounted on various types of brass ing valve which is expressly designed and adapted to replace wind musical instruments as already touched upon and that it the manually trippable lever-type water key which is currently lends itself to practical use on a , that is the tubing being used on most brass wind instruments, for instance, 5 thereof, as denoted at 6 in FIG. 1. Here the valve is at right an trumpets, comets, trombones, alto horns, baritone horns, gles to the axis of the tubing, that is the curvate crook or sec and the like, and pertains, more particularly, to a signi? tion 8. The same valve is susceptible of use on the curvate por cantly simpli?ed two-part valve. 7 tion 10 of the slide or tubing of a as at 12 in FIG. 4. ‘The self-evident purpose of the valve shown is to enable Whether the valve occupies the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 manufacturers of brass musical instruments to abandon the 10 to 3 or FIG. 4 the construction is the same. commonly used multi~part water key and to replace it with a To the ends desired the relatively small cylindrical barrel or feasibly simpli?ed herein disclosed two-part needle-type sleeve which constitutes the valve body is denoted by the nu valve. meral 14. It is of requisite length and cross-section and the Water keys such as are presently in use on the tubing, often respective end portions are preferably beveled as at 16 and 18 on the slide, are comparatively complicated and embody from 15 respectively. The open~ended axial or passage is inter~ _ four to six component parts including a pivotally mounted nally screw-threaded at one end as brought out in FIG. 2. The spring-biased lever-type key with a cork or pad serving as the other end is provided with a reduced discharge port 20 and in ' valving element. An object of the valve herein comprehended wardly of the port it is provided with a conical communicating is to provide an adaptation which, being of the utmost in sim valve seat 22. This bore or passage is of a diameter that the plicity, is made up of a cylindrical sleeve-like body with a seat 20 major portion thereof as brought out in FIG. 2 constitutes a and a’ complemental precision-made needle~type valve ele water or saliva trapping and accumulating chamber which is ment. denoted at 24. The centralized exteriorly disposed recess or Brie?y, the improved valve is characterized by a relatively concavity 26 is such in locale and size that it conformingly ?ts small but elongated cylindrical sleeve or barrel. This sleeve is against and is soft-soldered as at 28 to the tubing 8 in a manner preferably made of brass. The axial bore in the sleeve is open 25 that the inlet port 30 registers with the discharge ori?ce 32. at its respective ends. One open end of the bore provides a The valve element which can also be made from brass but discharge port. The proximal part of the bore just inwardly of ' which can likewise be made from a suitable grade of nylon or the port itself is fashioned into and provides a con?ned conical equivalent plastic material is denoted, construed as an entity, valve seat. The other end of the bore is internally screw 30 by the numeral 34. This valve embodies a shank having an en threaded. The median portion of the bore constitutes a water larged screw-threaded portion 36 which is screwed into the trapping and accumulating chamber. The intermediate or threads provided in the cooperating end of the bore in the median portion of the sleeve is provided not only with an inlet manner shown in FIG. 2. The outwardly extending portion 38 ori?ce registering with the chamber but is exteriorly provided ' is provided with a suitably sized and arranged head or ?nger with a concave recess which can be soft-soldered to the instru ment tubing for coaction with the usual discharge ori?ce in 35 grip 40 which can if desired be knurled or milled as at 42. The the tubing. A manually turnable and reciprocable valve ele major portion of the shank constitutes a stem as at 44 in FIG. 2 and extends through the chamber and terminates in a conical ment embodies a stem-like shank which has one end portion operatively screwed into the adjacent screw-threaded end of needle-like tip 46 which seats against the valve seat 22. It will the bore and provided exteriorly with a disk-like or equivalent be noted that the chamber is of a cross-sectional dimension milled head which provides a ?nger-grip. The other end of the 40 greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the stem to pro shank is provided with a conical needle-pointed tip which nor vide the chamber. . ~ . mally abuts the valve seat and closes the discharge port. > As stated the invention eliminates the usual cork, spring, It is signi?cant to note that the cross-sectional dimension of screw, saddle and nipple used on conventional water keys em the chamber portion of the bore is amply large that the smaller ployed on most brass musical instruments. shank or stem passing therethrough provides the desired The component parts 14 and 34 can be produced on an au trapping and collecting chamber. tomatic screw machine._ The plastic construction can be These together with other objects and advantages which will molded in any convenient or practical manner. become subsequently apparent reside in the details of con The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the princi ‘struction and operation as more fully hereinafter described ples of the invention. Further, since numerous modi?cations and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying 50 and changes will readily occur to those'skilled in the art, it is drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and like parts throughout, and in which: operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing the curvate com modi?cations and equivalents may be restored to, falling ponent of a trumpet slide or tubing and showing, what is more within the scope of the invention. signi?cant, the soft welded right angularly positioned needle 55 What is claimed as new is as follows: type water valve. _ 1. A water valve for brass wind instruments which embody FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail view with parts in section and tubing having an exit port for a customarily used water key, elevation taken approximately on the plane of the vertical line said valve including a body, more particularly, a small but 2—-2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the indicating ar elongated cylindrical sleeve, the bore of said sleeve being rows. 60 open at its respective ends, one open end of said bore provid FIG. 3 is a section at right angles taken on the plane of the ing a discharge port, said discharge port being provided with a section line 3-3 ofFIG. 2. self-contained conical .valve seat, and a manually turnable and FIG. 4 is a top plane view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the reciprocable valve embodying a stem-like shank having one valve mounted on the curvate end or slide of a trombone end portion operatively mounted in an adjacent cooperating where it is in a plane with the plane‘ of the axis of the tubing 65 end of said bore and provided with an accessible head provid and is sometimes referred to as parallel. ing a ?ngergrip and its other end provided with a conical nee By way of introduction to the details appearing in the dle-pointed tip normally abutting said valve seat and closing ?gures of the drawing, it is to be pointed out that the conven said discharge port, the intermediate portion of said bore con tional water key usually comprises a pair of outstanding paral stituting a water (saliva) trapping and accumulating chamber, lel ears or lugs between which the median portion of a spring 70 and an intermediate portion of said sleeve having an inlet ori biased lever is pivotally mounted. The lever is provided at one ?ce registering with said chamber. end with a ?ngerpiece and at the other end with a cork, pad or 2. The water valve de?ned in and according to claim 1, and the like which closes the discharge port. This valve is not wherein said chamber is of a cross-sectional dimension greater herein shown but is generally well known to persons conver than the cross-sectional dimension of said shank, said shank sant with the art to which the invention relates. 75 extending axially and longitudinally through the chamber in a 3,660,588 3 4 manner that said chamber provides the aforementioned water stem in a positive closed position to stop the flow of ?uid trapping and accumulating chamber. _ out said exit port. 3. The water valve de?ned in and according to claim 2, and 6. A two part water valve for wind instruments which em wherein said one end portion of said shank is screw-threaded body tubing having a customary liquid release port for and is operatively screwed into said cooperating end of said discharging liquid from the instrument as set forth in claim 5, bore. wherein, . 4. The water valve de?ned in and according to claim 2, and said cam surfaces include a conical seat portion around said wherein said one end portion of said shank is screw-threaded exit port, and and is operatively screwed into said cooperating end of said said stem includes a conical tip that mates with said seat bore, and that portion of said sleeve immediately encom ' portion for positive closing of said exit port. passing said inlet ori?ce being provided with a concavity 7. A two part water valve for wind instruments which em providing an adapter seat for that part of the instrument tub body tubing having a customary liquid release port for ing which is intended to seat and ?xedly anchor itself therein. discharging liquid from the instrument as set forth in claim 6, 5. A two part water valve for wind instruments which em wherein, body tubing having a customary liquid release port for 15 said stem has said manipulating means at one endand said discharging liquid from the instrument, comprising, conical tip at the other end, said stem is reciprocally a single body member including an inlet port, said single moveable into and out of engagement with said conical body member connected to said tubing adjacent the seat, said stem tip rotates in said seat. . release port with said inlet port aligned with said liquid 8. A two part water valve for wind instruments which em release port, said body member including an exit port, a 20 liquid channel connecting said exit port and said inlet body tubing having a customary liquid release port for discharging liquid from the instrument as set forth in claim 7, port, a stem channel connected with said liquid channel, a single moveable stem member moveable in said stem wherein, ' channel for opening and closing the liquid channel said cam surface is at an angle to the longitudinal center line between said inlet port and said exit port, said stem pro 25 of movement of said stem to provide a rotational contact jecting out of said body member with an accessible head under pressure between said tip and said seat for self providing means to manipulate the‘ stem, said stem and cleaning. said body member including cam surfaces to place said it * >ll * *

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