Flute headjoint

Abstract

A flute headjoint includes a cylindrical pipe section (2), an embouchure hole (3) bounded by a reinforcing element (4), a crown (6) terminating the pipe section (2) situated to the left of the embouchure hole (3), and a concave tuning plug (8) disposed in the pipe section (2) in a sonic chamber (5) situated under the embouchure hole (3). The cylindrical pipe section (2) is longer compared to conventional configurations, the crown (6) is open, the tuning plug (8, 12, 15, 23) is a cylindrical body with its face situated facing the embouchure hole (3) having a sunken three-dimensional configuration made as a combination of regular or irregular arcuate and flat faces. A balance weight (40) is positioned in the resonator cavity (5a) between the tuning plug (8, 12, 15, 23) and the crown (6). Pipe section (2) includes an additional extension piece (42, 43) which is removable

Claims

1. Flute headjoint comprising a cylindrical pipe section (2) having a free end (7), an embouchure hole (3) in the pipe section (2) bounded by a reinforcing element (4), a crown (6) terminating the pipe section (2) at an end opposite the free end (7) and a concave tuning plug (8, 12, 15, 23) disposed in the pipe section (2) in a sonic chamber (5) defined in the pipe section (2) under the embouchure hole (3), characterised in that the crown (6) is open in the direction of the pipe section (2) of the flute, the tuning plug (8, 12, 15, 23) is a cylindrical body having a face situated facing the embouchure hole (3), the face having a sunken three-dimensional configuration of a combination of regular or irregular arcuate faces, and the headjoint having a balance weight (40) in a resonator cavity (5a) defined in the pipe section (2) between the tuning plug (8, 12, 15, 23) and the crown (6).

2. The flute headjoint according to claim 1, characterised in that the cylindrical pipe section (2) has a length in the range of 220 mm to 450 mm.

3. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the crown (6) consists of two hollow portions, a bottom portion (33) and an upper portion (34), with a membrane being disposed between the bottom and upper portions, and with a groove (9) being disposed on the cylindrical surface of the bottom portion (33).

4. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the bottom (33) and upper portions (34) of the crown (6) are joined together by a releasable connection.

5. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the tuning plug (8) is a cylindrical body comprising grooves (9) adapted for receiving rubber rings disposed on the cylindrical body thereof, with the surface of the tuning plug facing the embouchure hole (3) having an inwardly tapering configuration.

6. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the tuning plug (12) is a cylindrical body comprising grooves (9) disposed on its cylindrical surface, with its face (13) facing the embouchure hole (3) being formed of an inner conical portion (14a), a frustum-shaped portion (14b) and a concave flared portion (14c).

7. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the tuning plug (15, 23) is formed of two portions, an upper and a bottom portion (19, 30).

8. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the upper portion of the tuning plug (12) is formed of a stem portion (16) and an upwardly tapering portion (17) joined to the stem portion (16) via an intermediate portion (18), with a recess consisting of an inner conical portion (14a), a frustum-shaped portion (14b) and a concave flared portion (14c) being disposed in the interior of the upper portion, and with a connection cavity, extending along the entire height of the bottom portion (19), being disposed in the bottom portion (19).

9. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the upper and bottom portion (19) of the tuning plug (15) are joined together firmly or by a releasable connection, by way of example a screw thread.

10. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the upper portion of the tuning plug (23) consists of a head portion (24), a stem portion (25), a cylindrical portion (26), and an outwardly tapering portion (28) terminated in a cylindrical portion (29), with a recess consisting of a inner conical portion (14a), a frustum-shaped portion (14b) and a concave flared portion (14c) being disposed in the interior of the upper portion and with an inner bore (31) adapted for receiving the upper portion and a conical portion (32) connected to the bore (31), being disposed in the bottom portion (30).

11. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 10, characterised by a releasable connection between the upper and bottom portions (30) of the tuning plug (23).

12. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 1, characterised by a balance weight (40) in the resonator cavity (5a) between the tuning plug (8, 12, 15, 23) and the crown (6), and further including an extension piece (42, 43) in pipe section (2).

13. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the balance weight (40) is a disc- or ring-shaped body comprising one or more grooves (41) adapted for receiving a respective rubber ring.

14. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 1 wherein pipe section (2) includes a removable extension piece.

15. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 14, characterised in that the extension piece (42) is a thin-walled pipe, with a groove (48) being disposed at one end (44) thereof, its other end (45) being adapted for receiving the crown (6).

16. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 14, characterised in that the extension piece (43) is a thin-walled pipe, with the end (46) thereof connected to the flute headjoint (1) having a tapering configuration, its other end (47) being adapted for receiving the crown (6).

17. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 14, characterised in that the crown (6), the tuning plug (8, 12, 15, 23), the balance weight (40) and the extension piece (42, 43) are made of: gold, silver, alpaca, copper, brass, aluminium, steel, titanium, platinum, tantalum, zirconium, wood, bone, plastic, etc.

18. The flute headjoint (1) according to claim 14, characterised in that the crown (6), the tuning plug (8, 12, 15, 23), the balance weight (40), and the extension piece (42) are attached to the flute headjoint (1) by means of rubber rings disposed in grooves (9, 41, 48) in the cylindrical surface thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred embodiments of the flute headjoint according to the invention are explained in detail referring to the attached drawings, where

(2) FIG. 1 shows a view of the flute headjoint according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 1a shows a partial section view of the flute headjoint according to the invention,

(4) FIG. 2 shows in section view an embodiment of the tuning plug of the flute headjoint according to the invention,

(5) FIG. 3 shows in section view a further embodiment of the tuning plug of the flute headjoint according to the invention,

(6) FIG. 4 shows a view of the two-part tuning plug of the flute headjoint according to the invention,

(7) FIG. 5 is a section view of the two-part tuning plug illustrated in FIG. 4 taken along the plane A-A,

(8) FIG. 6 is a top plan of the two-part tuning plug illustrated in FIG. 4,

(9) FIG. 7 is a section view of the bottom portion adapted for receiving the upper portion of the two-part tuning plug illustrated in FIG. 4,

(10) FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the two-part tuning plug of the flute headjoint according to the invention,

(11) FIG. 9 is a section view of the two-part tuning plug illustrated in FIG. 8, taken along the plane B-B,

(12) FIG. 10 is a top plan of the two-part tuning plug illustrated in FIG. 8,

(13) FIG. 11 is a section view of the bottom portion adapted for receiving the upper portion of the two-part tuning plug illustrated in FIG. 8,

(14) FIG. 12 illustrates the bottom portion of the crown of the flute headjoint according to the invention,

(15) FIG. 13 is a section view, taken along the plane C-C, of the bottom portion of the crown illustrated in FIG. 12,

(16) FIG. 14 illustrates the upper portion of the crown of the flute headjoint according to the invention,

(17) FIG. 15 is a section view, taken along the plane D-D, of the upper portion of the crown illustrated in FIG. 14,

(18) FIG. 16 illustrates the balance weight of the flute headjoint according to the invention,

(19) FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of the extension piece of the flute headjoint according to the invention, and

(20) FIG. 18 illustrates another embodiment of the extension piece of the flute headjoint according to the invention.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(21) In FIG. 1 a view of the flute headjoint 1 according to the invention is shown, which consists of a pipe section 2 configured similarly to, but longer than conventional headjoints, with an element 4 bounding an embouchure hole 3 being disposed on the pipe section 2. A so-called sonic chamber 5 is disposed in the part of the pipe section 2 of the flute headjoint 1 situated under the embouchure hole 3. The sonic chamber 5 is terminated at the side facing the crown 6 by a so-called tuning plug 8. The sonic chamber 5 is essentially a region with an approximate size of 4 cm, with the air blown in through the embouchure hole 3 flowing in the direction of the free end 7 of the pipe section 2 through the middle of this region. The body of the flute with the keywork adapted for playing the instrument is attached to the free end of the pipe section 2 of the flute headjoint 1. In the region of the flute headjoint 1 near the crown 6 there is situated a tuning plug 8. The blown-in air collides against this plug and, taking a u-turn it flows in the direction of the free end 7.

(22) In conventional flutes a fraction of the sound and oscillations is absorbed at this pipe section due to the configuration of the tuning plug 8. The tuning plug 8 applied with the flute headjoint 1 according to the invention is adapted for eliminating this effect, with the application of further additional components and configuration modifications allowing for improving the sound of the flute.

(23) FIG. 1a is a partial section view of the flute headjoint 1 according to the invention, where the size of the full pipe section is X=220-450 mm, with the pipe section situated to the left of the embouchure hole 3 being significantly longer than usual, having a length of Y=30-230 mm. In the resonator cavity 5a situated between the crown 6 and the tuning plug 8 there is disposed a balance weight 40, the role of which will be addressed later on. As a result of the longer pipe section 2 also the resonator cavity 5a is larger, the larger resonator cavity 5a having a greater amplification effect on the sound of the flute.

(24) In FIG. 2 the tuning plug 8 of the flute headjoint is illustrated in section view. The tuning plug 8 is a cylindrical body having a diameter of D=9-46 mm (depending on the diameter of the flute headjoint 1), and a height of L=3-120 mm. There are grooves 9 with rounded-off edges situated in the cyldindrical body of the tuning plug 8, with rubber ringsnot shown in the drawingadapted for fixing the tuning plug 8 inside the pipe section 2 of the flute headjoint 1 being placed in the grooves.

(25) Thereby, one, two or more grooves 9 are disposed on the outside surface of the cylindrical portion of the tuning plug 8. The two or more rubber rings placed into respective grooves 9 provide for improved centring of the tuning plug 8.

(26) The bottom end 10 of the tuning plug 8 has a flat surface, while the upper face 11 that is parallel with the end 10 and faces the embouchure hole 3 of the flute headjoint 1 has a three-dimensional configuration, namely, in this embodiment it constitutes an inner conical surface with a cone angle =0-120 and a depth of L.sub.1=2-110 mm.

(27) The tuning plug 8 can be made of a wide range of materials including silver, gold, alpaca, copper, brass, zirconium, titanium, platinum, tantalum, bone, wood, or plastic. Metal tuning plugs 8 are preferably coated with rhodium which forms a strong, anti-scratch coating and provides an aesthetically pleasing, brilliant surface finish.

(28) The tuning plug 8 is preferably made of a compact, homogeneous or alloyed material.

(29) It should be noted that the tuning plug may also be made of sheet metal, but in that case a balance weight has to be applied in order to improve sound quality (see FIG. 16).

(30) In FIG. 3 a tuning plug 12 configuration is shown, comprising a gradual-transition three-dimensional configuration of the surface 13 facing the embouchure hole 3 of the flute headjoint 1, the configuration including the conical portion 14a that has a cone angle =0-120 mentioned above in relation to FIG. 2 and extends from 3-25 mm to 2-70 mm below the upper face of the tuning plug 12. The diameter d.sub.1 of the conical portion 14a is 1-30 mm. A frustum-shaped portion 14b with a diameter d.sub.2 of 2-40 mm is connected to the conical portion 14a via a radiused transition section (R.sub.1=1-58 mm), with a flared portion 14c being connected thereto via a radiused transition section (R.sub.2=1-58 mm). This configuration allows for the lower notes of the flute to be sounded more in pitch.

(31) The external configuration of the tuning plug 12 is identical to the external configuration of the tuning plug 8.

(32) It is proved by experimental results that the tuning plug can also have a bimetallic configuration. Such bimetallic tuning plug 15 configurations, made of two or more different metals or metal alloys, are disclosed in FIGS. 4-7 and in FIGS. 8-11.

(33) FIG. 4 illustrates an upper portion 15, showing that the upper portion consists of a cylindrical stem portion 16 and a conically configured portion 17 that is connected to the stem portion 16. The transition between the stem portion 16 and the portion 17 is provided by an also conically configured portion 18. The configuration of the inner three-dimensional surface of the tuning plug 15 (see FIG. 5) is identical with the internal configuration of the single-material tuning plug 12 described in relation to FIG. 3 above.

(34) In FIG. 6 a top plan view of the tuning plug 15 according to FIG. 4 is shown.

(35) FIG. 7 shows a section view of the bottom portion 19 of a bimetallic tuning plug 15. The bottom portion 19 is also configured identically to the external configuration of the tuning plugs 8 and 12, i.e. there are grooves 9 disposed on the cylindrical surface.

(36) The internal configuration of the bottom portion 19 is similar to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4, i.e. a cylindrical portion 20 adapted for receiving the stem portion 16 is disposed in the bottom portion 19. The cylindrical portion 20 is connected with a portion 21 having a rounded-off flared surface which is terminated in a conical portion 22 that is adapted to support the portion 17 illustrated in FIG. 4.

(37) The components of the tuning plug 15 are assembled by adhesive bonding or soldering, but rubber-ring or screw joints can also be implemented.

(38) FIGS. 8-11 illustrate the configuration of a bimetallic tuning plug comprising a rubber-ring joint.

(39) In FIG. 8 the upper portion of the tuning plug 23 is illustrated, the bottom portion of which is composed of a head portion 24, a stem portion 25 having a lower diameter than the head portion 24, a cylindrical portion 26 that has a diameter identical to the diameter of the head portion 24 and is connected to the stem portion 25, a conical portion 27, a further conical portion 28 that has a lower cone angle than the conical portion 27 and is connected thereto, and a cylindrical portion 29.

(40) The configuration of the inner three-dimensional surface of the upper portion of the tuning plug 23 is identical to the internal surface configuration of the tuning plug 12 described in relation to FIG. 3 above.

(41) FIG. 10 shows a top plan view of the tuning plug 23, while in FIG. 11 a section view of the bottom portion 30 of the tuning plug 23 is shown.

(42) In the bottom portion 30 there is disposed a bore 31 that is adapted for receiving the head portion 24 of the upper portion, the stem portion 25 and the cylindrical portion 26 and has a diameter of d.sub.3=1-44 mm and a depth of L.sub.3=2-45 mm.

(43) In the region of the bottom portion 30 that is situated above the bore 31 there can be found a conically configured portion 32 against which the upper portion, i.e. the conical portion 27 is supported.

(44) The tuning plug 23 is assembled by first putting a rubber ring on the stem portion 25 of the upper portion, and then attaching the upper portion and the bottom portion 30. As the head portion 24 is inserted into the bore 31, the rubber ring is adhered to the wall of the bore 31, with the upper portion being be pushed into the bore 31 until the face 27 is fully supported against the portion 32. Being adhered to the wall of the bore 31, the rubber ring keeps the two portions attached.

(45) With such a two-part configuration of the tuning plugs 15 and 23 the upper and bottom portions are made from different metals or metal alloys.

(46) On the one hand this solution allows that a wider timbre range can be achieved by the combination of metals, while it also reduces the cost of the flute because it is now not necessary to make the entire tuning plug of (very expensive) silver or gold.

(47) Thanks to the three-dimensional tuning plug applied in the flute according to the invention a consistently full sound can be achieved. Pitch precision is also significantly improved.

(48) The tuning plug has a very significant influence on the sound produced playing the flute. Different metals have different effects on the quality and the characteristics of the flute sound. The shape of the tuning plug allows that it can be easily and quickly replaced with another one even during a performance, i.e. a different tuning plugallowing for achieving a timbre and sound quality that better match the next piececan be inserted into the flute headjoint between the different pieces performed.

(49) Due to the configuration of the tuning plug the crown 6 adapted to close off the instrument at one end can now have an effect on sound quality. It therefore became necessary to replace the conventional crown with a crown having an open configuration, i.e. a crown comprising a cylindrical cavity was provided.

(50) In FIGS. 12-15 the crown 6 is illustrated.

(51) The crown 6 consists of two parts, a bottom portion 33 and an upper portion 34.

(52) There is a groove 9 disposed on the outer cylindrical surface of the bottom portion 33. A rubber ring adapted for securing the crown 6 in the flute headjoint 1 is inserted in the groove 9.

(53) A bore 35 having a diameter d.sub.4=1-30 mm and a height L.sub.4=3-30 mm extends along the full length of the bottom portion 33 (see FIG. 13).

(54) The upper portion 34 consists of a cylindrical portion 36 and a portion 37 that is connected to the cylindrical portion 36 and is configured with a dome-like shape.

(55) In the upper portion 34 there is disposed a stepped bore 38 adapted to be connected to the bottom portion 33, the bore 38 ending in a narrower cylindrical bore 39. The diameter of the bore 38 is d.sub.5=2-32 mm, which finally ends in a bore 39 having a diameter d.sub.6=1-30 mm. Between the bottom portion 33 and the upper portion 34 of the crown 6 a membrane (not shown in the drawing) is disposed, the bottom and upper portions 33, 34 being joined by a screw joint.

(56) The membrane can be made of a wide range of materials, such as silver, gold, steel, aluminium, etc.

(57) The crown 6 can also be made from a wide range of different materials, i.e. copper, brass, zirconium, titanium, silver, gold, platinum, tantalum, alpaca, bone, wood, plastic, etc.

(58) The crown has a less significant effect on the sound quality of the flute, but the material of the crown subtly affects the quality of the produced sound. The above described shape of the crown allows that it can be easily and quickly replaced with another one even during a performance, i.e. a different crown can be inserted into the flute headjoint in approximately 30 seconds, which allows for achieving a sound quality that better match the next piece.

(59) The end result of is that the flute according to the invention comprising the novel tuning plug and crown has much better sound quality compared to a conventional flute. For the same amount of in-blown air it has stronger, more dynamic, clearer, more flexible sound; both piano and forte notes can be played more easily. A lot less pitch compensation is necessary.

(60) Large-interval slurs and leaps can also be performed easier. It does no longer pose any difficulty to play low notes loudly and high notes softly.

(61) The tuning plug and crown modified in the above described manner make a very marked difference for players.

(62) The flute headjoint according to the invention can also be provided with additional components that positively affect the use and the sound of the flute.

(63) Such an additional component can be a balance weight 40 inserted into the resonator cavity between the tuning plug and the crown.

(64) In FIG. 16 a conceivable balance weight configuration is illustrated, which is essentially a disc- or ring-shaped body having a diameter of 15-18 mm (corresponding to the diameter of the flute headjoint 1) and a height of L.sub.5=1-30 mm.

(65) A groove 41 is machined in the lateral surface of the balance weight 40, with a rubber ring seated in the groove 41 being adapted to retain the balance weight at the desired position.

(66) The balance weight can also be made of a wide range of materials, i.e. of alpaca, aluminium, copper, brass, silver, gold, titanium, zirconium. However, balance weights made of copper, brass or alpaca have to be coated as an anti-corrosion measure and to prevent aluminium oxidation.

(67) Depending on the quality of the flute and according to the needs of the player different effects can be achieved in the sound of the flute by applying a combination of metals. To provide that, multiple different metals or metal alloys may be utilized. Lighter and more pronounced staccato notes (short-duration notes) can be played, or if so desired, a fuller, lighter or more colourful sound quality can be provided. Also, a bigger and richer sound can be achieved with a warmer or cooler timbre.

(68) Finally, by applying an extension piece adapted to be attached to the flute headjoint according to the invention (and to any other flute headjoint manufactured earlier) a special-size flute having a headjoint with greater length than conventional headjoints can be provided. Such extension pieces 42 and 43 are depicted in FIGS. 17 and 18.

(69) The extension pieces 42 and 43 are implemented as thin-walled pipes that are adapted to be temporarily inserted into the flute headjoint 1 replacing the crown 6 and are retained by a rubber ring. Such a solution can be seen in FIG. 17, with the end 44 of the extension piece being connected to the flute headjoint 1 and having a diameter d.sub.7=13-16 mm. To attach the extension piece to the flute headjoint 1 a groove 48 adapted to receive a rubber ring is disposed in the proximity of the end 44, the crown being inserted in the upper end 45 having a diameter d.sub.8=12-25 mm.

(70) The length of the extension piece 42 is preferably L.sub.6=1-28 cm.

(71) The extension piece 43 illustrated in FIG. 18 is also implemented as a thin-walled pipe adapted to replace the crown 6 such that it is temporarily placed on the flute headjoint from outside. It has a length L.sub.7 between 2 cm and 28 cm. The end 46 adapted to be attached to the flute body from outside has a tapered configuration and a diameter d.sub.9=15-30 mm, the crown being inserted in the other end 47.

(72) The extension pieces 42, 43 can be switched quickly and easily, even during a concert.

(73) They can typically be made of copper, brass, alpace, silver, or gold. The metal alloys or high-purity metals provide an improved sound that is different from the average flute sound, is bigger and more beautiful.

(74) The advantages of the flute headjoint according to invention can be summed up as follows: applying the open crown the resonator cavity functions as a kind of amplifier, the flute sound being brighter due to the added amount of metal (especially silver), with the application of a tuning plug with a three-dimensional tuning surface a fuller, richer, more resonant sound can be achieved in addition to higher sound volume and improved dynamics, when redimensioned properly it can be applied for transverse flutes of any tuning and size.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(75) 1 flute headjoint 2 pipe section 3 embouchure hole 4 element 5 sonic chamber 5a resonator cavity 6 crown 7 free end 8 tuning plug 9 groove 10 end 11 face 12 tuning plug 13 face 14a conical portion 14b frustum-shaped portion 14c flared portion 15 tuning plug 16 stem portion 17 portion 18 portion 19 bottom portion 20 portion 21 portion 22 conical portion 23 tuning plug 24 head portion 25 stem portion 26 cylindrical portion 27 conical portion 28 portion 29 cylindrical portion 30 bottom portion 31 bore 32 portion 33 bottom portion 34 upper portion 35 bore 36 cylindrical portion 37 portion 38 bore 39 portion 40 balance weight 41 groove 42 extension piece 43 extension piece 44 end 45 end 46 end 47 end 48 groove 49 membrane 50 rubber ring