Patent US4361069A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4361069A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronically controlled swell shutter operator for pipe organs
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-09-23
•
Granted: 1982-11-30
•
Expires: 2000-09-23
Abstract
Abstract An electronically controlled swell shutter operator for pipe organs includes an electric motor driving a speed reducer whose output is connected to move the shutters of a pipe organ swell chamber, in order to control the volume of sound heard by the listeners. A swell pedal controlled by the organ player operates a first potentiometer and establishes a first voltage of a given polarity, the magnitude of which represents the exact position that the shutters should be in. The output of the speed reducer operates a second potentiometer which establishes a second voltage of a polarity opposite to that of the swell pedal potentiometer, the magnitude of this second voltage being dependent on the position of the swell shutters. A system of integrated circuit comparators compares the above-mentioned first and second voltages to produce an error signal. A logic system responds to the comparison result to cause the shutters to move in a desired direction and at a suitable speed to reduce the error and to achieve a balance, whereby the swell shutters assume a position corresponding to the position of the swell pedal. Dynamic braking and a system of automatically adjustable dead bands prevents overshoot and hunting.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard H. Peterson
- 👤 James A. Mornar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:27
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10B; G10B3/00; G10B3/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
An electronically controlled swell shutter operator for pipe organs, comprising: drive motor means; operator means responsive to the operation of said drive motor and adapted to drive a swell shutter; first variable voltage means responsive to the position of said operator means, said first variable voltage means comprising a photocell having a resistance value proportional to the rotational position of said operator means for producing a first signal indicating the position of the swell shutter; means for producing a second signal indicating a desired position for the swell shutter; electronic circuit means including a plurality of integrated circuit comparators for sensing the magnitude and the direction of any imbalance between said first and second signals and for producing comparator output signals; and logic circuit means responsive to said comparator output signals for operating said drive motor in a selected direction at a selected speed to cause said drive motor to drive the swell shutter to the desired position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
An electronically controlled swell shutter operator for pipe organs, comprising: drive motor means; operator means responsive to the operation of said drive motor and adapted to drive a swell shutter; first variable voltage means responsive to the position of said operator means, said first variable voltage means comprising a photocell having a resistance value proportional to the rotational position of said operator means for producing a first signal indicating the position of the swell shutter; means for producing a second signal indicating a desired position for the swell shutter; electronic circuit means including a plurality of integrated circuit comparators for sensing the magnitude and the direction of any imbalance between said first and second signals and for producing comparator output signals; and logic circuit means responsive to said comparator output signals for operating said drive motor in a selected direction at a selected speed to cause said drive motor to drive the swell shutter to the desired position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The swell shutter operator of claim 1, wherein said means for producing said second signal comprises second variable voltage means responsive to the position of an organ swell controller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The swell shutter operator of claim 2, wherein said second variable voltage means comprises potentiometer means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The swell shutter operator of claim 2, wherein said second variable voltage means comprises a plurality of individually adjustable potentiometer circuits, switch means responsive to the position of said swell controller to select one of said potentiometer circuits, and output means for producing as said second signal a voltage proportioned to the setting of the particular potentiometer circuit selected by said switch means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The swell shutter operator of claim 4, further including indicator means for each of said potentiometer circuits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The swell shutter operator of claim 1, wherein said operator means includes speed reducer means connected to and driven by said drive motor, said speed reducer having an output shaft adapted for connection to a swell shutter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The swell shutter operator of claim 6, wherein said drive motor is reversible to drive said speed reducer output shaft in a selected direction to open or close a swell shutter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The swell shutter operator of claim 7, wherein said drive motor is a variable speed electric motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
154 words
An electronically controlled swell shutter operator for pipe organs, comprising: drive motor means; operator means responsive to the operation of said drive motor and adapted to drive a swell shutter; cam means responsive to the position of said operator means, cam follower means engaging said cam, and first variable resistance means responsive to the motion of said cam follower for producing a first signal indicating the position of the swell shutter; means for producing a second signal indicating a desired position for the swell shutter; electronic circuit means including a plurality of integrated circuit comparators for sensing the magnitude and the direction of any imbalance between said first and second signals and for producing comparator output signals; and logic circuit means responsive to said comparator output signals for operating said drive motor in a selected direction at a selected speed to cause said drive motor to drive the swell shutter to the desired position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
An electronically controlled swell shutter operator for pipe organs, comprising: drive motor means; operator means responsive to the operation of said drive motor and adapted to drive a swell shutter; cam means responsive to the position of said operator means, cam follower means engaging said cam, and first variable resistance means responsive to the motion of said cam follower for producing a first signal indicating the position of the swell shutter; means for producing a second signal indicating a desired position for the swell shutter; electronic circuit means including a plurality of integrated circuit comparators for sensing the magnitude and the direction of any imbalance between said first and second signals and for producing comparator output signals; and logic circuit means responsive to said comparator output signals for operating said drive motor in a selected direction at a selected speed to cause said drive motor to drive the swell shutter to the desired position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The swell shutter operator of claim 9, wherein said means for producing said second signal comprises second variable voltage means responsive to the position of an organ swell controller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The swell shutter operator of claim 10, wherein said second variable voltage means comprises a plurality of individually adjustable potentiometer circuits, switch means responsive to the position of said swell controller to select one of said potentiometer circuits, and output means for producing as said second signal a voltage proportional to the setting of the particular potentiometer circuit selected by said switch means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
210 words
An electronically controlled swell shutter operator for pipe organs, comprising: drive motor means; operator means responsive to said drive motor adapted to drive a swell shutter; first variable signal means responsive to the position of said operator means for producing a first signal; second variable signal means for producing a second signal indicating a desired position for said operator means; first comparator means responsive to said first and second variable signal means for producing a first error signal to activate said drive motor in a first direction of rotation; second comparator means responsive to said first and second variable signal means for producing a second error signal to activate said drive motor in a second direction of rotation; threshold means responsive to said first variable signal means for producing a speed control signal to vary the speed of rotation of said drive motor in accordance with the position of said operator means; and inhibitor means responsive to said first and second variable signal means for disabling said threshold means when said drive motor is energized in said first direction of rotation, whereby said drive motor is operated in a selectable direction at predetermined, variable speeds to drive said operator means, and a swell shutter connected thereto, to a desired position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
210 words
An electronically controlled swell shutter operator for pipe organs, comprising: drive motor means; operator means responsive to said drive motor adapted to drive a swell shutter; first variable signal means responsive to the position of said operator means for producing a first signal; second variable signal means for producing a second signal indicating a desired position for said operator means; first comparator means responsive to said first and second variable signal means for producing a first error signal to activate said drive motor in a first direction of rotation; second comparator means responsive to said first and second variable signal means for producing a second error signal to activate said drive motor in a second direction of rotation; threshold means responsive to said first variable signal means for producing a speed control signal to vary the speed of rotation of said drive motor in accordance with the position of said operator means; and inhibitor means responsive to said first and second variable signal means for disabling said threshold means when said drive motor is energized in said first direction of rotation, whereby said drive motor is operated in a selectable direction at predetermined, variable speeds to drive said operator means, and a swell shutter connected thereto, to a desired position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The swell shutter operator of claim 12, further including adjustable deadband means for each of said first and second comparator means, said deadband means prevent hunting of said drive motor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The swell shutter operator of claim 13, wherein said circuit means further includes automatic deadband adjustment means for at least one of said first and second comparators.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The swell shutter of claim 13, wherein said deadband means is responsive to said threshold means for automatic adjustment of said deadband in accordance with the speed of rotation of said drive motor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The swell shutter operator of claim 12, further including a dynamic braking circuit operative upon deactivation of said drive motor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US500040A
Cited
US2072844A
Cited
US2005643A
Cited
US3043998A
Cited
US3513247A
Cited
US3495145A
Cited
US3749997A
Cited
US3701833A
Cited
US3736486A
Cited
US3995208A
Cited
US4216422A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-29 | 1986-05-31 | 1986-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-29 | 1990-05-31 | 1990-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-29 | 1994-05-31 | 1994-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |