Adjustable String Instrument Neck With T-Rail Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stringed instruments, particularly in the violin family, lack a mechanism that allows for both adjustable neck height and complete removal of the neck from the body, which is necessary for convenient transport and adaptation to different playing styles without requiring frequent bridge adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A T-rail and U-joint adjustment mechanism that enables the neck to be moved and completely removed from the body using a hex wrench, allowing for adjustable string height without affecting the neck's angle, and can be retrofitted onto existing instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional fixed neck mechanism is used in violin family instruments, then the neck remains stable and firmly attached to the body, but the neck cannot be removed or adjusted in height, making transport inconvenient and requiring frequent bridge adjustments for humidity changes
Solution Approach 1:
The neck assembly is segmented from the body through the tongue-block interface, allowing independent movement and adjustment. The T-rail and U-joint create a segmented connection that permits both fixed operation and removable operation, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic adjustable connection. The T-rail within the U-joint allows the neck to move vertically along the rail, and the adjustment screw provides dynamic height control, enabling the system to adapt between fixed and removable states.
2Volume of moving object
If the neck is made removable for travel purposes, then space for instrument case is reduced, but the mechanism required to achieve removal increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The T-rail and U-joint mechanism serves multiple functions: it allows complete removal for compact storage, enables height adjustment during performance, and maintains a secure fixed connection during normal play. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The T-rail is nested within the U-joint structure, with the T-rail fitting into the U-shaped opening of the joint. This nested arrangement allows the neck to be compact when attached and easily separated when removed, optimizing both the fixed and removable states while minimizing the space required for the mechanism itself.
3Reliability
If bridge adjustments are made frequently to accommodate humidity changes, then string height can be maintained, but time and effort are lost and the process becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The neck height is pre-adjusted to account for anticipated humidity changes. By moving the entire neck assembly on the T-rail rather than making small bridge adjustments, the system performs a preliminary positioning action that compensates for environmental variations, saving repeated adjustment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment function is extracted from the bridge and relocated to the neck assembly itself. The T-rail and U-joint mechanism separates the height adjustment function from the bridge, allowing the neck to be repositioned independently of the bridge and soundpost, thereby eliminating the need for frequent bridge adjustments.
4Ease of operation
If a large access hole is provided in the body for neck adjustment (as in some guitar designs), then neck height can be adjusted, but the aesthetic appearance and structural integrity of the instrument body are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment screw acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates rotational motion into linear movement of the T-rail. This intermediary mechanism allows adjustment to be performed through a small access hole rather than requiring a large opening, as the screw mechanism amplifies the operator's input force and controls the movement precisely through the confined space.
Data Source
AI summary
This system provides an acoustic string instrument that allows a musician to carefully adjust the height of the fingerboard relative to the body of the instrument by means of two slidable machined inserts that are inserted into the neck and body of the instrument. The inserts are adjusted by a hex wrench inserted into the back of the body of the instruments. The neck can also be completely removed by disengaging the inserts for transport.