Flat belt tester with moving endless support member

A testing machine comprising:

• a frame;
• and
• a roadway assembly comprising:
• a first roller joined to the frame;
• a second roller joined to the frame;
• an endless belt supported by and rolling on the first roller and the second roller;
• an endless support member supported by the frame and disposed between the first and second roller and engaging the endless belt from below, the endless support member moving with the endless belt;
• a stationary support disposed between the first roller and the second roller, the stationary support supporting the endless support member from below;
• and
• a bearing disposed between the stationary support and a surface of the endless support member facing the stationary support, wherein the bearing comprises a fluid disposed between the endless support member and the stationary support.

A testing machine comprising:

• a frame;
• and
• a roadway assembly comprising:
• a first roller joined to the frame;
• a second roller joined to the frame;
• an endless belt supported by and rolling on the first roller and the second roller;
• an endless support member supported by the frame and disposed between the first and second roller and providing support to the endless belt from below, wherein the endless support member comprises a plurality of interconnected elements directly facing a lower surface of the endless belt;
• and
• a drive motor coupled to the endless support member configured to move independently from the endless belt.

A method of supporting a test specimen for rotation, comprising supporting the test specimen with an endless belt rotating below the test specimen;

• and
• supporting the endless belt with an endless support member on a side of the endless belt opposite the side engaging the test specimen, wherein the endless support member is supported by a first rotatable member and a second rotatable member for rotation, and a rotatable drive motor is operably coupled to the first rotatable member to rotate the first rotatable member, wherein frictional engagement of the first rotatable member drives the endless support member with rotation of the first rotatable member by the rotatable drive motor;
• and
• controlling the rotatable drive motor to rotate the first rotatable member so that a velocity of the endless support member below the test specimen matches a velocity of the endless belt below the test specimen.