Actuator for a pipe valve of an organ

Abstract

Actuator (1) for a pipe valve of an organ, comprising a rotationally or linearly driven element (2), driven by a drive (7), a position measuring device (3) for measuring the position of the driven element (2), a torque measuring device or a force measuring device (4) for measuring the output torque or the transmitted force of the driven element (2), a data processing and control unit (5) structurally connected to the actuator or arranged separately for processing the measured position, torque or force signals and for positioning the driven element (2) based on a predetermined target position and an interface (6) for receiving target position data and for outputting torque or force data.

Description

[0001] For some time now, keyboards for keyboard instruments have been available whose playing feel can be quickly altered by the user (see DE 20 2024 001 264 U1). This allows the playing feel of the original instruments (pipe organs) to be recreated on electronic organs. Playing feel refers to a force dependent on the key position, speed, acceleration, and other parameters, which can be generated, for example, with an electromagnet at each key. Such keyboards allow the original instrument to be imitated even more closely, and the player is less dependent on the original instrument, for example, when preparing for a concert.

[0002] The invention recognizes that the use of these keyboards for electronic organs can also bring advantages to real pipe organs. However, due to the fundamentally different nature of pure electronics on the one hand and pure mechanics on the other, this is not possible without an innovation beyond the state of the art. Further details regarding the problem of pipe organs are presented below.

[0003] In mechanical pipe organs, the player's movements are transmitted via the keys to an abstract device, which moves the valve of a pipe or wind chest at the other end. The corresponding note sounds or disappears as the airflow is released or stopped.

[0004] Because the abstracts are required separately for each key or note and must span the entire path from the keyboard to the pipe, the construction and maintenance of these complex mechanical systems (also known as the action mechanism or key mechanism) is particularly laborious. Nevertheless, the effort is invested because it is extremely important for the player to be able to precisely control the opening and closing of the valve and, at the same time, to feel the force acting on the valve (e.g., the pressure point). Both of these features are currently only possible in pipe organs with a rigid, mechanical connection between the key and the valve: the mechanical action mechanism. For the reasons stated above, this is the preferred option today.

[0005] Space constraints often arise when building or expanding pipe organs. As a result, one or more manuals often cannot be connected to the corresponding valves via mechanical abstracts. Pneumatic and electric systems are then used as a compromise. A switch on the key activates a corresponding actuator on the valve (e.g., a pull magnet or pneumatic cylinder). Since hoses or cables are generally easier to route and take up less space than mechanical abstracts, this is often a solution to the space problem.

[0006] For mobile consoles that are set up away from the organ, mechanical action mechanisms cannot generally be used.

[0007] However, there are two disadvantages: firstly, the valve always opens and closes at a constant speed specified by the system. Controlled opening and closing of the valve, as is standard for the player with a mechanical action, is not possible here. The state-of-the-art Espressivo system (DE 10 2015 009 589 B3) offers an improvement in this regard: the speed at which the key is pressed by the player is measured. As soon as the key position required to trigger the note is reached, the corresponding actuator is operated faster or slower depending on the measured speed. The player can therefore influence the speed at which the valve opens and closes.However, with this system, the valve position does not follow the key position, as would be the case with a mechanical action. Instead, the valves are always fully opened or closed, just like with a conventional electric action – only at different speeds. Holding the valve in any position (e.g., half-open) is not possible.

[0008] To overcome this disadvantage, proportional actuators are necessary. They move the valve proportionally to the button position. These systems are state-of-the-art.

[0009] The second disadvantage of a non-mechanical action is the lack of feedback of the valve force to the keys. This means that the player cannot feel the force on the valve when pressing the keys and therefore cannot determine the point at which the valve opens or closes. Even with proportional actuators, the player would not be able to feel the pressure point and thus open or close the valve as controlled as would be possible with a mechanical action. Furthermore, such keyboards feel significantly different from those with a mechanical action. This can be confusing for the player when switching between mechanical and alternative action systems, especially when both types of action are used in an organ.

[0010] DE 20 2024 001 264 U1 discloses keyboards that can both provide position information for each key and simultaneously generate a counterforce on each key. This avoids the two aforementioned disadvantages.

[0011] This requires a proportional actuator, as described above. This actuator is continuously supplied with the position data from the keyboard and moves the valve to the desired position. To achieve realistic behavior, it may be necessary to preprocess the position data (e.g., adjusting the key travel to the valve travel using a factor). Furthermore, if necessary, the behavior of a mechanical action mechanism (e.g., its elasticity) must be simulated.

[0012] The subject of this invention is to solve the second disadvantage by means of the subject matter of the main claim, and thus in particular by means of an advantageously designed actuator that can measure the force with which it actuates the valve. This force information is fed back to the keyboard in a suitable manner. There, the values are also adjusted as needed (just as with a mechanical action, the forces and travels acting on the keyboard are varied by levers), and these forces are then generated at the keys so that the player can feel them.

[0013] This system allows the player to open and close the valves just as precisely as with a mechanical action, because they can precisely specify the valve position while simultaneously receiving feedback regarding the force acting on the valve. This combines the advantages of a mechanical action (playability) and an electronic action (simple construction, low maintenance, and freely positionable console).

[0014] Since the system can also work as a force amplifier (low force on the keys, high force on the actuators) and allows large distances between the manuals and the valves, it could be used to build organs that would be difficult or even impossible to play using conventional methods, while retaining the feel of a mechanical action.

[0015] Due to the fact that no keyboard was previously available on the market that could produce a variable playing feel as required by DE 20 2024 001 264 U1, there was no need to develop an actuator for real pipe valves with force measurement, let alone with a non-mechanical feedback interface. Therefore, no actuators are known in the field of organ building that meet the requirements described here to avoid both of the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0016] The invention is described below using a purely exemplary embodiment with reference to the following figure: Fig. 1: Schematic representation of the actuator and its components.

[0017] In the Fig.Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of the actuator (1) and its components. The data processing and control unit (5) receives and sends data via the interface (6). It also controls the drive (7). The drive (7) moves the driven element (2). The driven element (2) is connected to the data processing and control unit (5) via a position measuring device (3). In addition, the torque or force output by the driven element (2) is determined via the torque or force measuring device (4) and forwarded to the data processing and control unit. Two mechanical connections (x, y) are available on the driven element (2) at which the generated torque or force can be taken off and / or the driven element (2) can be moved via an external torque or force.

[0018] This exemplary embodiment shows an actuator (1) with a linear electric drive (7). The data processing and control unit (5) controls a linear electric motor (7) and thus moves the driven element (2) linearly. The target position to which the driven element (2) is to be moved is specified externally via the interface (6). In order to move to this position precisely, the current position of the driven element (2) is first determined using a linear potentiometer used as a position measuring device (3). Its position information is forwarded to the data processing and control unit (5) and evaluated there. This information is used to control the drive (7), thereby closing the control loop. A further measuring device (4) measures the force that the driven element outputs to the outside via the mechanical connections (x, y).This force is also transmitted to the data processing and control unit (5). By disabling the drive (7), freewheeling is achieved, in which the driven element (2) can be moved by an external force at the mechanical connections (x, y). By appropriately designing the linear electric motor, the force required for this can be minimized (e.g., low pole sensitivity).

[0019] Thanks to its freewheel mechanism and low pole sensitivity, the actuator can be integrated into an existing pipe organ in such a way that an existing mechanical action mechanism can continue to be used without noticeable restrictions. If required, the organ can also be played using a suitable electric keyboard, for example, installed on a mobile console, by switching on the actuator. This means that, as with the already known electric action mechanisms without force feedback, both mechanical and electric action mechanisms can be used in parallel with this system. Depending on the design of the action mechanism, an additional mechanical freewheel in one direction must be integrated at the mechanical connections (x, y) to ensure that the movement of the actuator is not transmitted to the keys in the wrong direction.

[0020] An actuator (1) with these features has the advantage that the currently applied force can be output via the interface (6). This data can be used in a suitable keyboard to provide the player with a haptic sense of the current force, resulting (in the case of a pipe organ) in a playing feel similar to that of a mechanical action, with all its advantages. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2024 001 264 U1 [0001, 0010, 0015] DE 10 2015 009 589 B3

[0007]

Claims

[1] Actuator (1) for a pipe valve of an organ, comprising a rotationally or linearly driven element (2), driven by a drive (7), a position measuring device (3) for measuring the position of the driven element (2), a torque measuring device or a force measuring device (4) for measuring the output torque or the transmitted force of the driven element (2), a data processing and control unit (5) structurally connected to the actuator or arranged separately for processing the measured position, torque or force signals and for positioning the driven element (2) based on a predetermined target position and an interface (6) for receiving target position data and for outputting torque or force data. [2] Actuator (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the data processing and control unit (5) sends the position, torque or force signals to an external device which receives the position, torque or force signals and reproduces them, in particular in a modulated, actuator-based manner. [3] Actuator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the driven element (2) is driven by an electric linear or rotary motor (7). [4] Actuator (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that the force or torque is determined via the power consumption of the electric drive (7). [5] Actuator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the driven element (2) is designed with two fastening points (x, y). [6] Actuator (1) according to claim 5, characterized bythat the driven element (2) can also be moved by an external force not generated by the actuator (1), wherein this external force is introduced at one of the two fastening points (x, y) and the other of the two fastening points is connected to a valve of the organ. [7] Actuator (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that the actuator (1) can assume a freewheeling state, so that when the driven element (2) moves due to the external force, a counterforce applied by the actuator (1) which counteracts the movement is minimal. [8] Actuator (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that a movement of the driven element (2) occurs simultaneously both by the actuator (1) and by an external force not generated by the actuator (1). [9] Actuator (1) according to claim 8, characterized bythat the force generated by the actuator (1) is adjusted by means of the data processing and control unit (5) as a function of the external force not generated by the actuator (1).

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