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Title:
UNIVERSAL SYSTEM FOR MECHANICAL TUNING OF ACOUSTIC DRUM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2017/221278
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
At the moment, the tuning process of the torn of a drum is determined by the traction of a membrane which is placed on top of a cylindrical shell, which amplifies the acoustic resonance of the torn itself. A metallic ring applies a pressure on the membrane, tightening it through the adjustment of many screws; unfortunately this system do not allow to obtain a uniform traction of the membrane. Otherwise, the suggested tuning system allows to obtain an equal traction of the membrane acting on a single regulation screw. Two ring gears work in the aforementioned system: the former is fastened on the shell, while the latter is placed on the membrane which is in turn positioned on the shell. The regulation key screws itself into the first ring gear, acting on the metallic border of the membrane, that will be tightened. The screwing of the regulation key into the lower ring gear is made through the help of a mandrel that will act on the rotation process, allowing a simple tuning.

Inventors:
CASCONE GIULIO (IT)
BALISTRIERI VALERIO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IT2016/000162
Publication Date:
December 28, 2017
Filing Date:
June 23, 2016
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
CASCONE GIULIO (IT)
BALISTRIERI VALERIO (IT)
International Classes:
G10D13/02
Foreign References:
US3439573A1969-04-22
US4218952A1980-08-26
US20090064844A12009-03-12
US2425996A1947-08-19
US5739448A1998-04-14
GB2372370A2002-08-21
GB2349009A2000-10-18
US20090025532A12009-01-29
FR933228A1948-04-14
Other References:
None
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
BRULLO, Federico (IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:
PATENT CLAIMS

Assembling and Tuning system of a drumhead above an acoustic drum, made up of: a former ferrule (11), internally threaded (22), supplied with an inner overhang (24) along the upper border and with an indentation (17) along the lower border; a further ferrule (12), which is fastened to the shell (10) through fixing screws, which is externally threaded (23) and supplied with a buttonhole (18) in which lies a spring guide (19), in which it has been inserted in turn a spring (20) supplied with a buttonhole at its extremity (21), this allows the insertion of a regulation key (16); mandrel (16) which permits the screwing of the upper ferrule (11) that hangs on its indentation along the lower border. The overhang (24) in the upper ferrule (11), hangs on the framework (9) of the drumhead (3) which is placed on top of the shell (10), producing a uniform tuning through a vertical stroke due to the screwing to the lower ferrule (12) in correspondence to the threaded connection (22-23).

Adjustment system for the screwing of the upper ferrule (11) to the lower ferrule (12) as shown in patent claim 1, through a specific mandrel regulation key (16). This regulation key

(16) fastens on a specific buttonhole (18) of the lower ferrule (12), hanging on the indentation (17) of the upper ferrule (11) and allowing it to make a vertical stroke through a stable hold, which is facilitated by the spring (20) contained into the buttonhole (18).

System to keep the regulation key (16) fastened to the upper ferrule (11), which is indented

(17) along the lower border, as shown in previous patent claims. The buttonhole of the lower ferrule (12) contains a spring (20) which is inserted into a spring guide (19) with a buttonhole at its extremity that allows the insertion of the mandrel regulation key (16)

Description:
DESCRIPTION

UNIVERSAL SYSTEM FOR MECHANICAL TUNING OF ACOUSTIC DRUM TECHNICAL FIELD: tuning musical instrument (drum)

BACKGROUND ART:

The toms of a traditional drum are composed of a shell (part 4 in Fig. 3), usually made of wood, metal or other plastic material, on top of which is placed a drumhead (part 3 in Fig. 3) that when hit, it vibrates producing a sound that is amplified by the sound box of the tom. The pitch of the sound produced by the instrument is highly influenced by the traction of the drumhead on the shell and, as in other stringed instruments, the tension level has to be controlled periodically, due to its natural inclination to loosening (tuning).

At the moment the tuning of the toms is made through the manual adjustment of bolts (part 1 in Fig. 3), which are all placed in an equidistant way along the circumference of a metallic ring (rim) (part 2 in Fig. 3). These bolts pull down the metallic ring, screwing themselves into a threaded cavity of a chunk named lugs (part 5 in Fig. 3), which is steadily fastened to the shell through some other bolts (part 7-8 in Fig. 3b).

By adjusting the tightening of the screws(Fig. 2) it is therefore possible to operate on the tension level employed by the metallic ring on the outer circumference (Frame-part 9 in Fig. 3a) of the drumhead, optimizing its auditory output. Despite this, such tuning system shows some complexity due to the difficulty in calibrating the screwing of the threaded elements, in order to obtain a uniform traction of the drumhead, impacting negatively on the sound quality. Moreover the current tuning system is made up of many elements (Fig. 3), this makes the assembling and the disassembling processes more difficult and it increases the weight of the toms and the encumbrance during transportation and storage.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The above mentioned tuning system allows to adjust the traction of the drumhead on the tom equally and acting on a single regulation screw. Although the operating principle of the mechanism could be applied to toms of different sizes, its application to a specific tom type (10 inches tom) will be discussed further, in order to have a full-scale knowledge of its operation. The system is made up of the following elements:

• Shell (part 10 in Fig. 5);

• Internally threaded (22) ferrule (11) notched along the lower border (17) with an inner overhang (24) which allows the accommodation of the frame of the membrane (9) along the upper border (Fig. 5, 6, 7, 9a);

· Externally threaded (23) ferrule (12) with integrated drum key anchoring system (18) (Fig. 5 - 8);

• Anchoring drum key (regulation key) system made up of buttonhole (18), linchpin (19), spring (20) and loop (21) (Fig. 8a);

• Fixing screws (13), washer (14) nut (15) (Fig. 5);

· Hide (part 3 in Fig. 5);

• Drum key (regulation key) (part 16 in Fig. 5);

Assembling of the set:

The ferrule (12) is assembled and fastened on top of the shell (10) through the fixing screws (13).

The hide (3) is leaned on the shell (10), and in turn a further threaded ring gear or female screw (11) is placed on the hide (3); this screw hangs on to the first (12) one coinciding the threaded connection (22-23). Instrument tuning: how to adjusting the traction of the drumhead (membrane):

The membrane (3) is closed in between the upper circular ring gear (11) and the shell (Fig. 6). By screwing the upper circular ring gear (11) into the lower one (12) , the overhang (24) acts on the metallic border (9) of the membrane (3), which is therefore tightened. Through this procedure the traction of the membrane can be easily adjusted by rotating the upper ring gear (11) on the lower one (12) which is integral to the shell. By rotating the upper ring gear clockwise (screwing), it executes a vertical downward stroke, and the membrane is being tightened under the pressure of the overhang (24). On the contrary an anticlockwise rotation (unscrewing) determines the raising of the ring gear, and in consequence a minor pressure is being applied along the circumference of the membrane (tension loosening). The movement on the upper ring gear (11) can be directly carried out, just by rotating it manually in order to screw or unscrew it; this makes it particularly practical in assembling and disassembling phase, or for high scale variations. As for the tuning, which requests a high accuracy and sensibility, the adjusting can be made through the regulation key (part 16 in Fig. 5, 6 and 9) which is inserted into the specific buttonhole (18) that is obtained within the lower circular ferrule (12) as shown in Fig. 6 and 9. Thanks to the reduction ratio (lx), it allows the exact calibration of the screwing of the ring gear (11 and 12) as well as of the traction of the membrane (3). A spring (20) placed within the buttonhole (18) have an effect on the linchpin (16) of the regulation key (drum key), through a shaped tappet (21) (particular in Fig. 8). Thus the regulation key is constantly kept clinched to the crenature (17) of the upper ferrule during the screwing and unscrewing phases and as a consequence to the variation of distance between both ferrules.

Analysis of the achieved result and advantages compared to the existing technology (system)

Almost in the majority of the currently manufactured drums the tuning of the membrane or drumhead is made through the adjusting of many independent screws (Fig. 2), ranging from a minimum of six screws for the smaller toms, to a maximum of twelve for the larger ones; the proposed mechanism allows to adjust the tuning of the toms acting on a single regulation parameter through the reciprocal screwing of two circular ring gears (as in Fig. 6). With this system the instrument can be tuned simply and intuitively, while the traditional system requires experience and a high precision in regulating numerous screws. Moreover, in the suggested configuration, it is no longer indispensable the presence of the lugs (5) and the screws (1) (Fig. 3b), nor of the metallic rings (part 2 in Fig. 3) which are entirely replaced by the threaded combination between the ring gears (part 11 in Fig. 7 and part 12 in Fig. 8). The removal of these parts entails a notable reduction of the whole of the torn and of the relative weight, making the assembly during the production process, disassembling and transport easier. In effect the lack of projecting parts on the external outline of the shell, allows to insert the toms constituting the drum one inside the other (matrioska system, explained in Fig. 10) in order to minimize encumbrance. It has not to be omitted that the acoustics (sound) of the torn is highly influenced by the number of holes made on the shell. While the traditional system envisions many holes for the application of lugs (from twentyfour for smaller toms to forty-eight for larger toms, as shown in Fig. 3), in the proposed mechanism the only needed holes are those employed to fix the two ferrules integral to the shell (12) (three fixing screws, as shown In Fig. 5). In this way the acoustic resonance within the shell will result clearer and loyal to the construction material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:

Fig 1. Traditional system assembled

Fig 2. Traditional tuning system section Fig 3. Exploded of traditional system Fig 3a. Membrane/Drumhead Fig 3b. Lug detail Fig 4. New system assembled Fig 5. Exploded of the new system Fig 6. New tuning system section

Fig 7. Internally threaded ferrule notched along the lower border with an inner overhang which allows the accommodation of the frame of the membrane along the upper border

Fig 8. Externally threaded ferrule with integrated drum key anchoring system; Fig 8a. Anchoring drum key system detail

Fig 9. Side view drawing of the "Tom" with anchoring regulation key hangs on notched ferrule

Fig 9a. Side view drawing section

Fig 10. Possible accommodation transport