Keyboard Hammer Weight with Variable Thickness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In existing hammer mechanisms for keyboard instruments, adjacent hammers tend to collide due to the design of the weight and pivot axis, leading to unwanted sound generation and mechanical interference.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a weight with a specific gravity greater than the pivot member, featuring a plate portion with varying thicknesses in the pivot-axis direction, where the area of the thinner region is less than the thicker region, reducing contact between adjacent hammers by optimizing the distance and mass distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the weight is moved in a pivot-axis direction, then the hammer can achieve proper pivotal movement and striking action, but a portion of the weight located far from the pivot shaft easily comes into contact with an adjacent weight, causing unwanted sound and mechanical interference
Solution Approach 1:
The weight is designed with non-uniform thickness, having a first region with smaller thickness and a second region with larger thickness. This local variation in geometry allows different portions of the weight to serve different functions: the thinner region minimizes contact with adjacent hammers during pivotal movement, while the thicker region provides necessary mass and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight's thickness is varied in the direction perpendicular to the pivot axis, creating a three-dimensional configuration where the weight has different cross-sectional areas at different positions. This dimensional change allows the weight to maintain proper pivotal movement while reducing the projection area that could contact adjacent weights.
2Ease of manufacture
If the weight has uniform thickness, then manufacturing is simpler, but contact between adjacent hammers occurs more easily, generating unwanted sound
Solution Approach 1:
The weight features localized thickness variations with a first region having smaller thickness and a second region having larger thickness. This local quality differentiation specifically targets the areas prone to contact with adjacent hammers, reducing sound generation while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard forming processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harmful effect of the weight's mass, which could cause it to contact adjacent hammers and generate sound, is converted into a benefit by strategically distributing the mass through varying thickness. The thicker region provides necessary mass for proper pivotal movement, while the thinner region prevents unwanted contact and sound generation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration minimizes collisions between adjacent hammers, reducing unwanted sound and enhancing the mechanical stability and operation of the keyboard instrument.
Implementation Method 1
a weight (230) having a specific gravity greater than that of the pivot member (240)
Data Source
AI summary
A hammer assembly includes: a pivot member that pivots about a pivot axis; and a weight supported by the pivot member and including a plate portion. The plate portion has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The plate portion has: a first region with a thickness defined by a length between the first surface and the second surface in a pivot-axis direction at a portion farthest from the pivot axis; and a second region with a thickness greater than that in the first region. In a case where the areas of the first region and the second region on a projected plane when the first region and the second region are viewed in the pivot-axis direction are compared with each other, the area of the first region is less than the area of the second region.