Abstract
M. Ing. (Mechanical Engineering)
Runaway escapements of various types are utilised as timing regulators or inertial
governors in clockwork mechanisms. This work developed a computer simulation of a spring driven runaway escapement having a flat sided pallet. The mathematical analysis took into account the three motion regimes of the escapement, that is, coupled motion, free motion and impact, and allows for equal and unequal arm pallets and pallets with arbitrarily located centres of mass. Rotor disc friction was also taken into account. Three escapement types were designed using geometric design principles developed. Two of these escapements were then manufactured and tested for arming time on a specially built test base. Simulation runs using the dimensions of these escapements were in excellent agreement with the experimental results. The simulation model was found to be well suited for conducting parametric studies of the spring driven escapement.