Music – Instruments – Drums
Patent
1992-06-01
1995-06-27
Shoop, Jr., William M.
Music
Instruments
Drums
84419, G10D 1302
Patent
active
054270090
ABSTRACT:
A hydraulic system for applying tension to musical drum heads. It consists of one or more master cylinders applying pressure to a hydraulic fluid in a sealed circuit. The master cylinders may be hand activated, foot activated, controlled by an external source, or a combination thereof. The hydraulic fluid is then forced through tubing to any number of reacting slave cylinders. The slave cylinders may be either single action (1 moving piston and seal) or dual action (2 moving pistons and seals moving in opposite directions), depending on the size and configuration of the drum. The pistons activate a mechanical lever or combination linkage that in turn pulls on a typical tension screw and rim configuration found on most common musical drums. The system allows for immediate pitch changes through the complete range of the drum while always maintaining uniform tension around the perimeter of each head. It also allows a fixed preset ratio between the tensions of the top and bottom heads on a two headed drum. The system includes a procedure for rapid change of heads with immediate tension balancing.
With the addition of a visual gauge to observe and repeat the fluid pressure in the hydraulic system, accurate pitches can be recalled no matter what source initiated the change.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3541913 (1970-11-01), Severino
patent: 3590680 (1970-02-01), Carnes
patent: 3951032 (1976-04-01), LaPorta et al.
patent: 4709613 (1987-12-01), Powers et al.
patent: 5157212 (1992-10-01), Fleming
Donels Jeffrey W.
Kananen Ronald P.
Shoop Jr. William M.
LandOfFree
Hydraulic drum tension/tuning system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Hydraulic drum tension/tuning system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hydraulic drum tension/tuning system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-280837