Compact tribology tester

A testing apparatus comprising:

• a hermetically sealed vessel;
• a tribology tester mounted completely within said hermetically sealed vessel;
• and
• drive means located externally of said hermetically sealed vessel, said drive means operatively engaging said tribology tester;
• wherein said tribology tester includes a pair of lever arms, each said lever arm has a first and second end, said first end of one of said lever arms pivotally connected to said first end of said other of said lever arms.

A testing apparatus comprising:

• a hermetically sealed vessel:
• a tribology tester mounted completely within said hermetically sealed vessel;
• and
• drive means located externally of said hermetically sealed vessel, said drive means operatively engaging said tribology tester;
• wherein said tribology tester includes:
• a pair of lever arms, said lever arms pivotally connected;
• a test block assembly mounted between said lever arms, said test block assembly including a block and a pin, at least one of which is a test specimen;
• and
• a spring located between said lever arms, said spring biasing said block into contact with said pin.

A testing apparatus comprising:

• a hermetically sealed vessel;
• drive means located externally of said hermetically sealed vessel;
• and
• a tribology tester mounted completely within said hermetically sealed vessel, said tribology tester comprising,
• a test block assembly comprising a block and a pin, said drive means operatively engaged with said pin, said pin rotatable driven by said means, said test block assembly including at least one test specimen, at least one of said block and said pin being said test specimen;
• and
• means for loading said block against said pin, said means located completely within said hermetically sealed vessel, said means for loading including a pair of lever arms, said lever arms pivotally connected, said means for loading further including a spring located between said lever arms, said spring biasing said block into contact with said pin.

A tribology tester comprising:

• a test block assembly comprising a pair of blocks and a pin, said test blocks located on radially opposite sides of said pin, said test block assembly including at least one test specimen, at least one of a said test block and said pin being said test specimen;
• and
• means for applying a substantially equivalent and constant load between each said block and said pin during wearing of said test specimen
• wherein said means for loading includes a pair of lever arms, said lever arms pivotally connected and wherein said means for loading further includes a spring located between said lever arms, said spring biasing said blocks into contact with said pin.