Apparatus for testing rolling contact fatigue resistance of materials with possible interruptions

An apparatus for testing rolling contact fatigue with possible interruptions comprising

• a loading unit having a testing ball for rolling along a testing surface of a tested object, said loading unit having a guide plate defining a rolling position of said testing ball, said guide plate being attached to a bottom side of said loading unit in the direction of said tested object such that said guide plate extends parallel to said testing surface of said tested object such that said testing ball is partially surrounded by said guide plate at said testing ball's equatorial plane;
• a driving assembly connected to said loading unit, said driving assembly capable of driving said loading unit;
• a clamping unit having a clamping area for receiving said tested object and grooves adjacent thereto for receiving five protrusions being adjustably secured to each of said grooves, each of said protrusions having a slotted bore extending in a longitudinal direction with regard to each of said grooves, each of said protrusions capable of releasably securing said tested object;
• and
• said protrusions being arranged upon said clamping unit to allow the removal of said tested object from said clamping unit upon adjustment of only two of said five protrusions, the remaining three of said five protrusions being held firmly in place to provide positional guidance for said tested object such that said tested object may be reinserted for subsequent testing at substantially the same location occupied by said tested object prior to the removal of said tested object from said clamping unit.