Retractable alphorn, constructed from wood and composite materials

Abstract

A device for creating a non-monolithic alphorn in which the two parts—the bell and the body—are each constructed from separate, retractable materials. This manufacturing process results in an instrument that is easy to transport, lightweight, stable, and possesses sound characteristics extremely close to those of a traditional instrument made entirely of wood. The wooden bell, to the inside of which is glued a carbon sleeve that acts as a joint connecting the second part of the instrument, rests on a removable stabilizing device consisting of two long, oblong wooden supports screwed beneath the bell. The body, made of pre-impregnated, heat-cured carbon-linen composite material, is subdivided into nine retractable segments that interlock with one another. (See Figure 1 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: Retractable Alphorn, made of wood and composite materials

[0001] Device: the object of the present invention is to create a non-monolithic retractable Alpine Horn whose two parts, the bell of the instrument and the body of the instrument, are each constructed from distinct materials:

[0002] - The bell of the instrument, made of wood, inside which is glued a sleeve in carbon acting as a joint connecting the second part of the instrument, rests on a removable stabilizing device composed of two long oblong wooden supports, screwed under the bell.

[0003] - The body of the instrument, made of pre-impregnated and po- hot-melted is subdivided into nine retractable conical segments that fit inside each other.

[0004] Traditionally, Alpine horns, typical instruments of rural populations in the Alps, are built monolithically from a single piece of wood 340cm long, making the instrument heavy, bulky and difficult to transport.

[0005] A first attempt was made to overcome these drawbacks by making Alphorns entirely from carbon. While this solved the problems of weight, size and transport, the monolithic nature of the carbon used was not without consequences for the sound quality and stability of the instrument.

[0006] Indeed, the sound obtained with an all-carbon instrument is very poor in harmonics and remains far from being worth that of traditional wooden models, which remain a reference in the field.

[0007] Furthermore, the stability of the instrument was not reliable, because the instrument was too light and the ground contact too weak.

[0008] The device proposed according to the invention makes it possible to overcome all these drawbacks.

[0009] Combining a wooden bell with a complete body made of pre-impregnated, heat-polymerized, carbon-linen composite subdivided into nine retractable conical segments that fit into each other, makes it possible to obtain a retractable instrument that is easy to transport, light, stable, and has sound characteristics extremely close to the traditional instrument made entirely of wood.

[0010] The composite material used allows for the production of a rich sound thanks to the presence of flax fibers which enhance the harmonic balance of the sound.

[0011] The stability of the instrument is ensured by a removable stabilizing device composed of two long, oblong wooden supports, screwed under the bell and which allow perfect contact with the ground, thus avoiding any vibration and instability. preventing the playing and holding of the instrument. The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

[0012] [Fig.l] representation in longitudinal view and in section, of the device of the invention scale. AA(l:5)

[0013] [Fig.2] 3D view and sectional representation of the instrument's bell. The stability of the instrument is ensured by two removable supports of oblong and elongate shape, screwed to the base of the bell scale A (1:2) & B (1:2)

[0014] [Fig.3] longitudinal sectional representation of the body of the instrument, composed of nine retractable conical segments made of carbon and linen composite material, pre-impregnated and heat-polymerized, fitting into each other. Presentation and technical implementation of the invention:

[0015] With reference to these drawings, the device comprises 2 distinct parts:

[0016] 1st part: The instrument's bell

[0017] It will be made of wood (1), in two half-shells hollowed out with a gouge and glued together, then worked on the outside to give it its final shape.

[0018] Inside the smaller end of this bell, a carbon sleeve (1.1) of a slightly smaller diameter is glued, which will allow better contact and good grip of the composite tubes of the part called “body of the instrument” which will fit inside.

[0019] A collar (1.2), made of wood, consolidates and decorates the exit of the bell.

[0020] This bell will rest on the ground thanks to the removable stabilizing device composed of two long oblong wooden supports, screwed under the bell (1.3 and 1.4). This device being removable, it will facilitate the transport of the instrument when the latter is folded.

[0021] Part 2: The body of the instrument

[0022] It is composed of 9 retractable conical segments (2.1 to 2.9) which fit into each other.

[0023] When the complete instrument is folded, it measures 70 cm. But once the nine segments are unfolded, the complete instrument measures 340 cm, the size of a traditional alphorn.

[0024] These retractable segments are slightly conical in shape, which will allow each one to be locked into the previous one. They are made of carbon flax composite material, pre-impregnated and heat-polymerized. The tubes are obtained by sandwich cooking. The carbon and flax composite material, pre-impregnated with resin, is placed on an aluminum mold and compressed using a layer of heat-shrinkable film which will coat it. Thanks to the coefficient of expansion of aluminum under heat and the compression of the heat-shrinkable film, the composite material is taken into sandwich and compressed. Cooking polymerizes the materials and stabilizes them with great hardness. The thickness of the tubes thus obtained is 0.1 cm.

[0025] Once these two parts are made, all that remains is to assemble them by sliding the body of the instrument into the bell

Claims

Claims

1. Device for creating a non-monolithic Alpine Horn whose two parts, the bell of the instrument and the body of the instrument, are each constructed from distinct materials: The bell of the instrument (1) made of wood and the body of the instrument made of a composite material combining carbon and linen (2.1 to 2.9).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the two parts of the instrument, the bell of the instrument and the body of the instrument, is ensured by the presence of a carbon sleeve acting as a seal (1.1).

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the body of the instrument is constructed from a composite material combining carbon and flax, pre-impregnated and heat-polymerized. It is subdivided into nine retractable conical segments (2.1 to 2.9), which fit into each other.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the instrument rests on the ground thanks to the removable stabilizing device composed of two long oblong wooden supports, screwed under the bell (1.3 and 1.4).

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