Structure for adjusting and maintaining tension of string
By incorporating a precision locking structure with protrusions and grooves at the tuning peg body and the tuning peg holes in the headstock, the problem of unstable pitch caused by loose tuning pegs in stringed instruments is solved. This simplifies the adjustment process, reduces manufacturing costs, and maintains the aesthetic appeal of the instrument.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-13
AI Technical Summary
The existing tuning peg structure of stringed instruments is easily loosened by changes in temperature and humidity, resulting in unstable pitch. In addition, the existing auxiliary fixing devices are complex in structure, increase the weight and cost of the instrument, and affect its aesthetics.
A precision locking structure with protrusions and grooves is provided at the tuning peg body and the tuning peg hole of the headstock. The protrusions lock into the grooves to restrict the rotation of the tuning pegs and maintain stable string tension.
It achieves stability in string pitch and consistency, simplifies the adjustment process, reduces manufacturing costs, and maintains the instrument's aesthetic appeal.
Smart Images

Figure CN121661997A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of stringed instrument accessories, specifically to a structure for adjusting and maintaining string tension, applicable to stringed instruments with tuning pegs such as violins, cellos, erhus, and pipas. Background Technology
[0002] The intonation of stringed instruments depends on the tension of the open strings. The tuning pegs are the core components of stringed instruments, used to stabilize the strings and adjust pitch. Rotating the tuning pegs changes the string tension to achieve the desired pitch, and their durability directly determines the stability of the instrument's intonation. Currently, tuning pegs mostly maintain intonation through friction generated by an interference fit with the tuning peg hole or a threaded structure. However, this method has several drawbacks: interference fits are easily affected by temperature and humidity changes, leading to loosening of the tuning pegs; threaded structures are complex to operate and prone to wear after long-term use; and vibrations generated during playing and transportation can cause slight rotation of the tuning pegs, resulting in unstable string tension. All of these factors contribute to the instrument going out of tune, causing intonation deviations. This necessitates frequent adjustments of the tuning pegs, affecting the playing experience and increasing the difficulty of pitch adjustment. To address the aforementioned issues, several auxiliary devices for fixing the tuning pins have emerged on the market, such as tuning pin locks and anti-slip pads. These devices are mostly external structures, requiring additional components such as a control panel and bearings. They are complex in structure, difficult to assemble, and increase the overall weight and cost of the instrument. Some even alter the instrument's original appearance, affecting its overall integrity and aesthetics. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a simple, reliable, and easy-to-operate string tension maintaining structure to solve the problems of loose tuning pins, complex locking mechanisms, and frequent pitch deviations in existing technologies.
[0003] Purpose of the invention The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a structure for adjusting and maintaining string tension. By setting appropriate protrusions and grooves for precise engagement at the tuning peg body and the tuning peg hole of the headstock, the tuning peg can be quickly locked and stably positioned, limiting the rotation of the tuning peg and thus stabilizing the string pitch. This solves the problem of easy pitch deviation of open strings in stringed instruments, while taking into account both ease of operation and structural reliability. Technical solution
[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A structure for adjusting and maintaining string tension includes a tuning peg body and a headstock. One end of the tuning peg body is provided with a knob for rotational adjustment, and the other end is provided with a string-locking groove for winding and fixing the string position. The outer wall of the cylindrical section of the tuning peg body is provided with one or more protrusions, and the tuning peg hole of the headstock is provided with one or more matching grooves corresponding to the positions of the protrusions. After the string is adjusted to the desired pitch, the tuning peg body is pulled out so that the protrusions are locked into the grooves, restricting the rotation of the tuning peg body to maintain the string pitch stability.
[0005] Furthermore, the protrusion is a protrusion with a regular geometric shape, and the shape, size, and number of the groove are adapted to the protrusion. The regular geometric shape can be cylindrical, cuboid, hemispherical, gear-shaped, etc., which are easy to process and manufacture, and can ensure the precise engagement of the protrusion and the groove.
[0006] Furthermore, the protrusions are arranged along the cylindrical section of the tuning peg body according to the required position of the instrument. Setting the protrusions at the required position can prevent friction between the protrusions and the inner wall of the tuning peg hole during the rotation adjustment process. At the same time, it can ensure the stability after engagement when the tension is adjusted to the required pitch of the instrument.
[0007] Furthermore, the protrusion is made of a suitable material, either rigid or elastic. When a rigid material (such as hard plastic or metal) is used, the protrusion has high structural strength and a firm fit. When an elastic material (such as silicone or rubber) is used, the process of the protrusion engaging with the groove is smoother, and it also provides a certain degree of cushioning and anti-slip effect. The inner wall of the groove is coated with a wear-resistant and anti-slip coating, such as a polyurethane coating or a ceramic coating, which can extend the service life of the groove and improve the anti-slip performance after the protrusion and the groove are engaged.
[0008] Furthermore, the protrusion and the string axis body are integrally formed, which has good stability and is easy to process; or the protrusion is detachably connected to the string axis body by bonding or snapping, which makes the protrusion easy to replace. When the protrusion is worn, it can be replaced separately, reducing maintenance costs. Beneficial effects
[0009] Compared with the prior art, the invention has the following advantages: 1. Reliable locking and stable pitch: The protrusion and groove engage precisely, providing a rotational resistance torque that is no less than the effective resistance torque against string tension, solving the problem of "out-of-tune" caused by loosening in existing structures, and significantly improving tone retention.
[0010] 2. Simple structure and low cost: No additional gears, bearings, assembly panels, or other components are required. The fitting structure is designed directly on the chord body and the chord hole, making the processing simple and assembly convenient. Compared with existing stop devices, the cost is reduced by more than 80%.
[0011] 3. Easy to operate and highly practical: When tuning the strings, simply rotate the knob to adjust the tension. Once the pitch is in place, pull the tuning peg to lock the string in place by engaging the protrusion with the groove. No complicated operation is required. It is compatible with various stringed instruments such as violins and erhus and has a wide range of applications.
[0012] 4. Wear-resistant and durable with a longer service life: The raised part is made of high-strength steel, and the groove part is coated with a wear-resistant coating. The reasonable fit and clearance reduce wear during use, and the service life is extended by more than 50% compared with traditional chord shafts. Attached Figure Description
[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the tuning pin body; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-section of the tuning peg hole in the headstock of the violin.
[0014] The markings in the diagram are: 1. Tuning pin body; 2. Headstock; 3. Knob; 4. String hole; 5. String slot; 6. Cylindrical section; 7. Protrusion; 8. Tuning pin hole; 9. Groove. Detailed Implementation
[0015] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.
[0016] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a structure for adjusting and maintaining string tension includes a tuning peg body 1 and a headstock 2. The tuning peg body 1 is connected to a knob 3 for rotational adjustment, and the other end is provided with a string hole 4 and a string retaining groove 5 for winding and fixing the position of the string. The cylindrical section 6 of the tuning peg body 1 has six square protrusions 6 evenly arranged circumferentially along the end. The tuning peg hole 8 of the headstock 2 has six matching hemispherical grooves 9 corresponding to the positions of the protrusions 7.
[0017] In this embodiment, the protrusion 7 is made of metal, which has high structural strength, secure engagement, and precise dimensions, making it easy to fit into the groove 9; the inner wall of the groove 9 is coated with a polyurethane wear-resistant and anti-slip coating to improve anti-slip performance and service life; the protrusion 7 and the chord shaft body 1 are integrally formed, resulting in a long service life.
[0018] In actual use, the violinist rotates knob 3, causing the tuning peg body 1 to rotate, winding the strings onto the string slot 5, and adjusting to the desired pitch: G string (4th string): 196.00Hz, D string (3rd string): 293.66Hz, A string (2nd string): 440.00Hz, E string (1st string): 659.25Hz, that is, the string reaches the target tension: G string (4th string) 40-50N, D string (3rd string) 45-55N, A string (2nd string) 55-65N, E string (1st string) 75-85N; then, the violinist slightly pulls knob 3, so that the protrusion 7 on the tuning peg body 1 precisely engages with the groove 9 in the tuning peg hole 8 of the headstock 2. The engagement between the protrusion 7 and the groove 9 restricts the rotation of the tuning peg body 1, thereby maintaining stable string tension. Calculation basis: Taking the winding radius of the tuning peg r = 0.004m (4mm, the general size of violin tuning pegs), the minimum rotational resistance torque to prevent the tuning peg from rotating must be greater than the tension torque. The maximum tension of each string is: G string 50N, D string 55N, A string 65N, E string 85N (maximum value). The calculated required rotational resistance torque is 0.34N·m. In actual design, a safety margin of 1.2-1.5 times needs to be reserved, and the maximum required resistance torque is 0.34N·m * 1.5 = 0.51N·m. In this embodiment, the protrusion 7 is made of metal. The rotational resistance torque generated by the metal material in the interlocking state can reach 15-25N·m, which is much greater than the required value. It can maintain the required string tension well, prevent the tuning peg from rotating, and maintain the required pitch for a long time. When it is necessary to readjust the pitch, slightly pull the knob 3 to disengage the protrusion 7 from the groove 9 for adjustment.
[0019] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A structure for adjusting and maintaining string tension, comprising a tuning peg body (1) and a headstock (2), characterized in that, One end of the tuning peg body (1) is provided with a knob (3) for rotation adjustment, and the other end is provided with a string hole (4) and a string groove (5) for winding and fixing the strings; the outer wall of the cylindrical section (6) of the tuning peg body (1) is provided with one or more protrusions (7), and the tuning peg hole (8) of the headstock (2) is provided with one or more grooves (9) corresponding to the position of the protrusions (7); after the strings are adjusted to the required pitch, the tuning peg body (1) is pulled to make the protrusions (7) engage with the grooves (9), restricting the rotation of the tuning peg body (1) to maintain the string tension.
2. The structure for adjusting and maintaining string tension according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protrusion (7) has a regular geometric shape, specifically one or more combinations of cylindrical, cuboid, hemispherical or gear-shaped, and the shape, size and number of the groove (9) are adapted to the protrusion (7).
3. The structure for adjusting and maintaining string tension according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protrusions (7) are arranged circumferentially along the cylindrical section (6) of the main body (1) of the instrument as required, and the arrangement position satisfies the requirement that the protrusions (7) and the inner wall of the tuning pin hole (8) do not contact each other when the tuning pin is rotated and adjusted, and at the same time satisfies the requirement that they can be fully engaged when the tension reaches the required pitch.
4. The structure for adjusting and maintaining string tension according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protrusion (7) is made of a rigid material or an elastic material; the rigid material is hard plastic or metal, and the elastic material is silicone or rubber; the inner wall of the groove (9) is coated with a wear-resistant and anti-slip coating, which is a polyurethane coating or a ceramic coating.
5. The structure for adjusting and maintaining string tension according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protrusion (7) and the string axis body (1) are integrally formed; or the protrusion (7) is detachably connected to the string axis body (1) by means of bonding or snap-fitting.
6. The structure for adjusting and maintaining string tension according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotational resistance torque provided by the protrusion (7) after engaging with the groove (9) is not less than 0.51 N·m, so as to resist the rotational torque generated by the tension of the string.
7. The structure for adjusting and maintaining string tension according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The structure is compatible with stringed instruments with tuning pegs, such as violins, cellos, erhus, and pipas.