Oct. 1l, 1949,
c. F. HUBLEY
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2,484,408
FRENCH HORN
Filed sept. 15, 1945
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2 sh'eetsçsheet 1
Il
Inventor
By @emma
www#
Oct. l1, 1949.
. `
C, F, HUBLÉY"
FRÉN'GH Hom!
Filed sèpt. 13, _1.945
2,484,408
2 shears-shuts' ~
Inventor
By QMaa/¿ízm
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mm
Patented Óct. 131‘, 194g
2,484,408
UNITED
PATENT OFFICE
2,484,408
Fersen HQIRN
:Claude
Hubley, Utica, N. Y.
App1ieanens~eprember 13, 1e_4„5,ser,ie1 ne. 515,127
1
2
This invention relates >to certain `new K4ançifìuse
ful _improvements _susceptible of satisfactory and
practicable 4embodiment -in French horns.
It is ra vmatter V_of common knowledge Athat
Frençhhorns utilize àthree or more conventional
valves, these being incorporatedin the air column
or tubing and lying «vvithin the perimeter of lthe
usual main «coil or convolution. Some ylê‘rerioh
horns use the pistgn or plunger type valvesand
registerofthe horn are raised above high C Where
tliey‘no“ `longer"can"do any' har'm. `We 'c'aiîï'fot
eliminate _these false‘itcjne's, `but'"'this invention
others the lso-,called `now customarily employed
rotary valve. ,These rotaryA valves are provided
döe'swraisethejni olit‘of ‘and above the"usabl`e"high
nete fange.' Or; ‘te state‘the situatien'etnerwise,
the adoption and use o_f an auxiliary v'al'velpl'us
the ` úfse‘ öf standard' Valve ‘ I' 'as an ‘Lopen oir'ciiit
10
valve instead ö'f theÍcus’toniary‘usage o_fîthis" valve
as a closed 'circuit va'lyegßvvhichiis‘my invention',
addebito’ the’ three regniar _valves :makes "itpcs:
sible to practically isolate _the ril’no1ejsiralole har
monies above the‘norinal‘high register and force
withusual levers, one fashioned for depression or
them up and above"therangerof‘hígh notes" used
operatio'nïby thethuinb of the left hand and the
others by the fingers of the same hand.
by’
" In
the
‘accordance
professional
'with
player."
the principles‘of
` .the
‘I ' inven
One of the main 4difficulties in playing _the 15
tion hereunder advisement, the existing'so‘called
Verve ne.' i jle ¿changed ¿so met it remains open
until the Vthuinl’l' lever >»is pressed. Ordinarilyj' the
French horn is the productionrand controlling of
the _high tonesf Due to the fact that tones in
the upper register occur at closely spaced inter
vals, even the skilled performer has di'lûiculty pro
ducing the exactvhigh tone wanted, thatis, with
No. l valve 'remains normally closeìi‘inY the con
20 ventional Erenchrhorn. ` By adding a fifth valve
in theregular“ airÍc‘olumn'orjtubing and connect
ing "same" för ‘simultaneous’ yoperation with the
a desired degree of perfection and precision.
»Generally when trying to produce a predet'erf
mined lqightone, thenea?est tone higherorglovver
than the Wantedoneis loften lilïely‘to sound, this
accidentally, of lcourse;` zAlso, the player may
regular ,valve No, I, the latterfrer‘naining open
normally, ythe pitch of the’instrumen'b Arepressed
25
start the desiredhigh itone and slide intothe
nearest higher Ãtone, i.thereby producing ¿a very
disagreeable‘souridl
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tyvo tones,y r`by _depressing _the thumb lever, vthis
makingit’possible toaehieve theairn's and results
above'setíförth. ' Usuallyhigh tones on a__French
horn are 'obtained only with dilñiculty, _and even
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then with' a lack of suretygAb'ut' with this invention
Instrument manufacturers have attempted to
remedy the condition refierredtoïby producinga 351 the addition of an' _extra valve ina predetermined'
part offtheair column or' maincírcuit, the basic
so-called double nFrench hornf Itis'pitched Iin
pitch of the instrument is> raised"sufficientlythatr
“F,” whichiis the regular'pitchfor most French
horns, andby pressingathumb valve, the vsound the‘ highJ notes. aremore' ea'sily‘obtainedy and y‘voith
Waves >go through a second set _of :valves and
"More specifically.; ‘novelty is predicated upon
shorter tubing, which raises the pitch .two and
assurance
and expediency
»1 -
f A
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__ _
one-half tonestp B-ñat. Manifestly, thedouble
the adoptiçn and use of "a standard' 'so-called ro'
here 11S femensivíe eedeifûwli 11.0 make’landjonl'y
tary Frenohhornfvalve, this_bemg embodied „in
partly solvestheproblem.> It actually rfai's'e's'> the
the relatively/_short‘Ueshaped air circuit of the
third'valve. This extra' or' fifth valve lthus pro
vided isv ‘attachedtö valve No. _I by a connecting
dependable range of tones up to G abovevtheÍstaiî,
but the tones 'from G up to high C are stilliver’y
uncertain and notv dependableandr the horn costs
about twice asv much as the regular single horn.
~My new inventionraises the dependablelplayé
ing` rangevof tones uptoh'igh C and costsro’nly
slightly more ‘ to manufacture _ than“ a’. single ,f horn; 45
It accomplishes stability of .high tones'í'by’hiaving
erlnfthyaive;
a shorter lengthoftubing than any Frencl'iflíorn
heretofore; that is,A the length of tubing iront
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IThis ¿Shorter length» Qf tubing _resemble Lhier:
pitch of thehorntwo. tones higher thanithat used
heretofore, thereby raisingfthe pitch of trigge
pend'able hightones twoltones‘or up'to'highC.
Byi»essere.-feélaleioee @regenerate
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' ,Other featuresand advantages ofthe. invention
will vbeco'rrie l more readily apparent‘fr‘om' the fol
lowing descrilótíon Aandfthe acycornpanying'eíllus'.
mpgtlipieße ‘1_0 _ eed _df _hat hypes-Sigg _all Lvelre
crooks or slides.
link so _thatthetwovalves operate simultaneous
1y: "miie, andprieflnrtheneveny neste de' with
leaving the No.'"l ‘v_alvefopen instead of closed as
inthe normal horn setup, and incorporatin'gin
themcrook _or circuit _0f,tlhle third valve the entra
5.0,
trative
drawings.
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' In the drawings, whereiniike numerals are em
p_loyed to designate like parts throughout .the
Views:
_
_
_
_
_
’_ Figure 1 is >a sideielìevational‘view of a conven
tieriel French hern'wlil1~reta~ry` valves. Showing
2,484,408
3
4
the additional ñfth or auxiliary valve and the
above G above the staff can be played either with
lever 'I depressed alone, or, with levers ‘I and 9
combined and depressed in unison.
The horn shown in Figure 1 comprises a bell
il connected through tubing I2 to a mouthpiece
i3. Three rotary valves 2, 3 and 4 are placed
in the tubing for controlling connections to valve
parts enlarged and showing only the first valve
slides I4, I5 and I6 to vary the pitch of the in
with its thumb lever and the extra or auxiliary
strument. These three valves are rotated by de
valve and the manner in which the two are
linked together.
10 pressing the three linger levers 8, 9 and I0. The
thumb valve I controls connections to valve slide
Figure 3 is a View in elevation, observing the
I1. Valve I is so connected in the circuit that
assemblage of Figure 2 in a direction from right
in the normal open position, without depressing
to left.
thumb lever 'l, the tone goes through branches
Figure 4 is also a view with the standard ñrst
or tubing I8 and valve slide I'I.
valve and auxiliary improvement valve grouped
If thumb lever 1 is depressed, valve I is closed,
together, the link being removed.
thereby removing tubing I8 and valve slide I1
Figure 5 is a detail section taken approximately
from the circuit. This raises the pitch of the
on the plane of the line 5_5 of Figure 2.
horn by shortening the total length of tubing.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of
the improved or auxiliary valve showing the , Depressing thumb lever 1 also rotates valve 5
because of the connecting link 6.
same in one position, which may be said to be
Valves 2, 3` and 4 operate in the usual manner.
its vnormal “open” position.
position it takes and the manner in which it is
linked to the valve-operating arm of the first
valve, said view also showing the air travel with
the lever of the ñrst valve in its normal position.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view with the
Figure 7 is a similar view of the same arrange
'if finger levers 8 or 9 or I0 are depressed, the
ment showing said auxiliary valve turned and
in “closed” position.
Figure 8 is a fragmentary view which shows
the path cf the tone wave from the mouthpiece
(not shown) thru valves when valve No. l is
closed and thus brought into play for producing
valve rotates, allowing the tone to go through
the lateral tubing and the valve slide connected
to that particular valve.
its shortest route of travel.
Figure 9 is a view based on Figure 8, but show“
ing the thumb lever of the ñrst valve and the
finger lever of the third valve both depressed
and illustrating the path of the tone waves under
these conditions.
Figure l0 is still another view also of a diagram
matic character carrying the procedure of Fig
ure 9 a step further, this showing the thumb lever
of valve No. l not depressed but normal, the
third finger lever depressed, and the course of
travel the tone waves take under these valve
closing operations.
Referring now to the drawings and different
Explanation of the operation of valve 5: When
ñnger lever 9 is depressed and finger lever ‘I is
the normal undepressed position, the tone goes
through valve tubing I5, through valve 5 and
through valve slide I9 (Figure 6).
If thumb
lever ï and finger lever 9 are both depressed,
valve E closes (Figure 7) and cuts valve slide I9
out of the circuit.
Using any French horn, either this type or the
regular French horn, depressing fingervalve 9
only, will lower the pitch of the instrument one
half tone, but with my invention, when ñnger
lever l is depressed, raising the pitch of the
horn, the total length of the tubing connected
to valve 3 (that is, tubing I5 and valve slide I9)
will be too long to lower the pitch exactly one
half tone. Valve 5 compensates for this by re
views by distinguishing reference numerals, and
moving valve slide I9 from the circuit.
starting with the numeral i, it will be seen that
this denotes the first valve, that is, so-called
valve No. l which controls the pitch of the horn.
For the high tones above G at the top of the
Therefore, what is stressed is: a French horn
pitched in high D and a lower` pitch of B ñat or
F or both available to the player through the
use of two open circuit valves connected together
by a link. One open circuit valve shifts the
pitch from F or B ñat to high D. The other open
staff, this valve I is rotated by depressing thumb
lever ï. To play the tones from the above G
down to the lowest tone, valve I should be in the
non-rotated or stationary position with the
thumb piece or lever not depressed. Valve 2,
circuit valve compensates the one-half tone valve
so it is in tune on both pitches. Three other
valves, used in the conventional manner; com
plete the instrument.
when rotated, lowers the pitch of the horn ex
actly one whole tone and 2 is used only when E: >Although in Figures 2 to 5 I have shown certain
of the details of the conventional so-called rotary
valve I is not rotated. Valve 3, when rotated,
valve, I do not deem it necessary to illustrate
lowers the pitch of the horn one-half tone.
these details with any special particularity. Each
Valve 4, when rotated, lowers the pitch of the
valve embodies a circular casing 2U provided with
horn one and one-half tones and is used only
when valve I is not rotated. The sole function 60 the usual stops 2I and rocker arm 22 for the valve
of valve 5 is to shorten the length of tubing of
rotor 23 on the interior. I also show the usual
of valve 3 automatically when using valve I for
trip cord 24, but, as stated, I do not feel that I
the high notes. If valve 5 were omitted, the
have invented a valve, but rather the incorpora
tubing connected to valve 3 would be too long
tion of an auxiliary or extra valve, that is, valve
to lower the pitch exactly one-half tone when 65 5- of the valving system.
valve I is rotated. Valves 2, 3 and 4 function
Novelty is thought to reside in the addition of a
exactly the same as the first three valves on anl7
simple extra or so-called ñfth valve, the same
modern French horn. The player uses them as
being installed in the half-tone crook embodying
he is accustomed to doing on the conventional
normally closed valve No. 3, said extra valve being
horn. When valve I is rotated for the high tones 70 linked or otherwise mechanically connected with
from G to high C, the player depresses a diiîerent
the No. I valve, which latter valve is held normally
combination of finger levers than used on the
open by complemental spring means, the same
regular French horn. This invention greatly
spring means acting upon the link to maintain the
simpliñes the ñnger lever combinations to be de
extra valve also open. Accordingly, therefore, it
pressed- for the high notes. Every high note 75 is ingenious in this line of endeavor, lt is be-4
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6.
lieved. to unite the No. I valve 'and'fth’è »"extraror
air intake `’end »with va conventional moutl'ipiec‘ë,4
said tubing having at its opposite discharge end
aregulation tone-wave discharge bell, the inter
fifth valve so that they are open at oneand'fthe
same time, which is the normal condition under
the action of the spring-closing meansof the No. I
mediate; portion'fof the tubing being fashioned
intov customary‘coiled form and said rtubing be
ing provided lwithinfth'e bounds of said coiled por
which is the condition which lexist‘sewhen the
tion‘with-'a regulationk assemblage of individually
thumb lever of the No. I valve is' depressed-‘t0
valved slide-equippedfcrooks, there being in said
rotate said valve to closed position'.
valve-'assemblage the usual group of four selec
Additional novelty has to do with’-a'^^valve=ar
rangement of the kind herein shownfand'des'cribed 10 tivelylusableevalvesfor controlling the passage
of* air through'l‘the tubing and selected crooks,
wherein, after valves I andÁ 3' are‘closed and the
three of said valves being normally closed by
extra valve is also closed, the No. 3 valve in’the.
spring ‘means and provided with usual ~ñnger
corresponding or third crook may be opened to
levers for opening purposes, the remainingvalve,
assist in playing the high notes from G to high C
in tune, especially through the aid of the extra ¿ the usual number I valve, being held normallyvalve; and are closed at one and the same time,
valve in said third crook which then comes into
play to effectively achieve the wanted ends.
It is -thought that persons skilled in the art to
which the invention relates will be able to obtain
a clear understanding of the invention after'con
sidering the description in connection with the
drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description
is regarded as unnecessary.
Minor changes in the shape, size and arrange
ment of details coming within the field of inven
tion claimed may be resorted to in actual prac
tice, if desired.
I claim:
1. In a French horn of the class described, a
length of tubing of conventional shape and ypro
portions having a mouth-piece pipe at the air in
take end, a bell at the tone wave outlet end, the
usual coil intermediate said ends, and a group of
four individual but complemental slide-equipped
crooks for selectively shunting and controlling
the passage of air through said tubing, said crooks
being mechanically and communicatively at
tached to the tubing by way of four rotary valves,
valve number I normally open and provided with
an actuating thumb lever, valves number 2, 3 and
4 all normally closed and provided With customary
controlling ñnger levers, and an effective length
regulating and pitch compensating auxiliary valve
incorporated in the crook of the valve number 3,
said auxiliary valve being normally open, and
means connecting the number I and auxiliary
Valves for operating same in unison.
2. In a French horn of fthe class described, a
length of tubing of conventional shape and pro
portions having a mouth-piece pipe at the air in
take end, a bell at the tone wave outlet end, the
usual coil intermediate said ends, and a, group of
open by spring means and provided with a thumb`
lever; and an extra valve included in one of said
crooks and employed as a compensating valve,
said Vextra valve, in conjunction with said num
ber I valve, making it possible to effectively
shorten the tubing from the mouth-piece’to the>
bell, whereby to course the air directly through
the tubing along the shortest route possible and
to thus raise the pitch of the horn two tones and
to, as a result thereof, stabilize high tones fromk
G> above the staff to high C.
4.1 The structure speciñed in claim 3, together
with a single rigid linkv positively and pivotally
connecting said extra valvev with said number
30' I valve.
5. In a French horn of the class described,-
a length of tubing of conventional proportions
having a regulation mouth-piece at the air intake
end, a bell at the tone-emitting end, the inter
mediate portion of said tubing embodying" the
usual coil and further including four lateral
slide-equipped crooks, the branches of the crooks
being connectedv for communication with the ad
jacent portion of said tubing, an individual hand
operated spring-return valve for each crook, said
valves being identiiied and distinguished as valves
I, 2, 3 and 4, and an extra valve embodied in
the crook in which valve 3 is incorporated, a
link connection between said extra valve and the
number I valve, said number I valve and extra
valve being operable in unison and being nor
mally open, said extra valve and number I valve,
when pressed by hand, both closing, valves 2, 3,
and 4 being held normally closed, and the num
50 ber I valve being spring held normally open.
6. A French horn of the class shown and de
scribed comprising tubing of standard length,
cross section and shape and provided at its regu
four individual but complemental slide-equipped
lar air-intake end with a conventional mouth
crooks for selectively shunting and controlling Ul .Ji piece and at its opposite end with a regulation
the passage of air through said tubing, said crooks
tone Wave discharge belly the intermediate por
being mechanically and communicatively at
tion of said tubing being fashioned into custom
tached to the tubing by way of four rotary valves,
ary coiled form and the said tubing being pro
valve number I normally open and provided with
vided with the confines of said coiled portion
an actuating thumb lever, valves number 2, 3 and
with a rectilinearly straight portion, a. slide
4 all normally closed and provided with customary
equipped crook attached to said straight portion,
controlling ringer levers, and an effective length
a number I valve built into said crook at its
regulating and pitch compensating auxiliary valve
incorporated in the crook of the valve number 3,
said auxiliary valve being normally open, and a
single push-pull link directly and pivotally con
necting the auxiliary valve with the number I
junctural communicative point with the tubing,
three additional slide-equipped crooks also con
nected with said rectilinearly straight portion
and angularly thereto, a rotary valve mounted
in each of said three crooks and providing valved
communication between the branches of said
other, whereby when said number I valve and
crooks and said main tubing, said three valves
auxiliary valve are in use, they both open at one 70 being identified as numbers 2, 3 and 4, the latter
valve for operation in conjunction with one an
and the same time and are both closed at one and
the same time.
~
3. In a French horn of the class described,
tubing standard in length, cross-section and
three valves being provided With ñnger pieces
and having spring means whereby they are all
normally held in closed positions, said number
I valve having a thumb piece, spring means con
customarily fashioned and provided at; its regular 75 nected with said thumb piece and serving to hold
aie-1,40@ ‘
7
said number I valve in normally open position
permitting unhampered passage of air through
the intake end and said first-named crook and
into the rectilinearly straight portion of the tub
ing, an extra valve mounted in the intermediate
8.l The structure specified in claim 3, said fifth
valve being connected for operation in unison
with the iirst valve of the group of four valves,
this by way of a pivotally connected, rigid push
pull link.
portions of the branches of the crook in which
9. In a French horn of the class described, a
the number 3 valve is incorporated, said extra
length of tubing of conventional proportions hav
valve being normally in open positiony and a link
ing a regulation mouth-piece at the air intake
connecting the eXtra valve with said number I
end, and having a bell at the tone discharge end,
valve, the spring means on the latter serving to 10 the intermediate portion of said tubing embody
actuate the number I valve and extra valve
ing the usual coil and further including a plu
simultaneously to open positions.
rality of lateral slide equipped crooks, the
7. In a French horn of the class described, tub
branches of the crooks being connected for com
ing standard in length, cross-section and custom
munication with the adjacent portion of said
arily fashioned and provided at its regular air 15 tubing, there being four such crooks, and an in
intake end with a conventional mouth-piece, said
dividual hand-operated valve for each crook, said
tubing having at its opposite discharge end a
valves being identiñed and distinguished as
regulation tone-wave discharge bell, the inter
valves I, 2, 3 and 4, and a Iifth valve embodied
mediate portion of the tubing being fashioned
in the crook in which valve 3 is incorporated, a
into customary coiled form and said tubing be 20 link connection between said ñfth valve and the
ing provided within the bounds of said coiled por
valve I, said I valve and lifth valve being op
tion with a regulation arrangement of indi
erable in unison and being normally open, and
vidually Valved crooks, there being in said valve
said valves 2, 3 and 4 being normally closed.
arrangement the usual group of four selectively
CLAUDE F. HUBLEY.
usable valves for controlling the passage of air 25
REFERENCES CITED
through the tubing and crooks; and a ñfth valve
included in said valve arrangement and employed
The following references are of record in the
as an auxiliary valve, said ñfth valve, in conjunc
ñle of this patent:
tion with one of the iirst-named valves, making
UNITED STATES PATENTS
it possible to temporarily shorten the tubing 30
from the mouth-piece to the bell, whereby to
Number
Name
Date
course the air directly through the shortest route
935,626
Lockhart ________ __ Sept. 28, 1909
possible and to thus raise the pitch two tones
1,100,199
Rossi ___________ __ June 16, 1914
and to, as a result thereof, stabilize high tones,
FOREIGN PATENTS
said ñfth valve being situated within the conñnes 35
of one of the crooks, and a link positively and
Number
Country
Date
operatively connecting said ñfth valve with the
18,699
Great Britain ____________ __ 1908
first Valve of said group arrangement.
368,379
Germany ________________ __ 1923