Keyboard Percussion Dampening System with Progressive Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyboard percussion instruments face issues with uneven dampening, buzzing due to initial contact at tone bar ends, inconsistent dampening across the instrument, and lack of adjustable pedal resistance and vibration isolation, which affect musical quality and player control.
Innovation Solution
An improved dampening system with a progressive dampening mechanism using a damper bar with a central region and edges that contacts tone bars closer to nodes first, and a mechanism allowing independent adjustment of dampening pressure and leverage, along with a vibrationally isolated harp assembly for better noise reduction and portability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the damper contacts the tone bars at the ends first, then the dampening action is initiated, but buzzing occurs due to maximum vibration at these locations
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is designed with an arched shape that causes the central region to contact the tone bars first at the nodes (points of minimum vibration), before the edges contact the tone bar ends. This preliminary contact at the nodes prevents buzzing by establishing dampening control from the vibration-minimal points outward.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper features non-uniform geometry with an arched central region and edges at different heights. This local quality variation ensures that different parts of the damper contact the tone bars at different times and locations, with the central region contacting first at optimal nodes and edges contacting later at the ends.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a flat felt damper contacts the bars evenly, then uniform dampening is achieved, but buzzing occurs due to contact at maximum vibration points
Solution Approach 1:
The damper employs an asymmetric arched design where the central region protrudes higher than the edges, creating a deliberate height difference. This asymmetry ensures that the central region contacts the tone bars first at the nodes, establishing uniform dampening control while avoiding buzzing that would result from simultaneous edge contact.
3Ease of operation
If the damper is deformed by direct pulling with the user actuation mechanism, then the dampening system is simple to operate, but the dampening surface does not contact the tone bars evenly
Solution Approach 1:
A pull bar serves as an intermediary element between the user's foot actuation and the damper. The pull bar transfers the actuation force to the damper without causing deformation, maintaining the precise arched geometry and ensuring even contact across the dampening surface while preserving simple foot-operated control.
4Ease of operation
If the spring tension is adjusted to change pedal resistance, then the dampening pressure is modified, but the dampening balance is simultaneously and indiscriminately affected
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into independent components: the spring tension can be adjusted separately from the damper geometry and contact characteristics. This allows pedal resistance to be modified without affecting the dampening balance, as the arched damper shape and node contact points remain unchanged despite spring tension variations.
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
The solution enhances musicality by reducing buzzing, ensuring consistent dampening across the instrument, and allowing adjustable pedal resistance and leverage, while improving vibration isolation and portability of the harp assembly.
Implementation Method 1
elastic members mounted on the support members and on which the support rails rest to facilitate vibration isolation of the frame and resonators from the tone bars
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard percussion instrument may include an improved dampening system that provides wave dampening or progressive dampening of the tone bars. A keyboard percussion instrument may also include a dampening system with a mechanism capable of retracting the damper without distorting the damper and capable of adjusting the leverage of the dampening system independently of the spring tension. A dampening system may further include an adjustable mounting for the damper that allows the dampening action to be adjusted at either end of the damper. A keyboard percussion instrument may further include an improved bar rail assembly that facilitates removability, adjustment of various dampening zones and/or vibration isolation.