A mathematical analysis of the Geneva mechanism was conducted to determine the potential of this device as a tinting mechanism, and the feasibility of replacing the widely used pallet and starwheel escapement with a Geneva mechanism.
The primary objective of the study was to determine if the Geneva mechanism will attain a terminal velocity, and if so, how much time is required to reach this velocity.
To accomplish this objective, the differential equation of motion for the system was derived using Lagrangian dynatos. The equation was programmed and solved on a digital computer.
The study indicated that the Geneva mechanism does reach a terminal velocity, and consequently can be used as a timing device. The mechanism, however, requires as much as fifty milliseconds to attain this terminal velocity
