Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > May 2004 > 2004.05.01 > 07Prev  Next


Optimizing Hand-Cranked Organ Feeders
By Mark Kinsler

Without illustrations or a knowledge of cranked organs I should not
be sticking my oar in, but it sounds interesting.  If the goal is to
maintain a constant air pressure to the organ under varying load,
wouldn't it be just as effective to vary the speed of the pump instead
of its stroke?

Amplifying on this assumption, and further assuming a sealed system
without a 'dump' valve, it would seem that the air pressure should be
proportional to the force needed to depress the pump, and thus the
torque applied to the crank by the operator.  If the mechanism were to
be driven by a belt or chain, this torque could be measured by the
tension in the belt or chain.

Specifically, a "V-belt" drive might be rigged with the sort of
torque-sensing pulley found in some washing machines.  The two sides of
the pulley are separate and, in response to increased tension on the
belt, will separate and thus change the drive ratio.  Similar schemes
are occasionally used on bicycles, but these chain-driven 'automatic
transmissions' are somewhat noisy.

I freely admit that I may have interpreted the problem backwards.
I offer the comment in the hope that it may encourage different
strategies.

Mark Kinsler


(Message sent Sat 1 May 2004, 15:01:34 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Feeders, Hand-Cranked, Optimizing, Organ

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page