Patent ID: 7752883

Claim:
A tribometer comprising: a first support assembly configured to receive a central test piece, which test piece is circularly cylindrical, and to drive it in rotation about its axis; a second support assembly configured to receive three peripheral test pieces and to enable said central test piece to come simultaneously into contact with said three peripheral test pieces in an isostatic configuration, such that while being driven in rotation the central test piece can rub against the peripheral test pieces, the second support assembly comprising three support parts each carrying a respective peripheral test piece, each of these three support parts being movable relative to the other two, wherein the load-application device comprises three pushers configured to exert on each of the respective support parts a force that is substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the central test piece, each pusher being driven by an actuator comprising a hinged arm secured at one end to a stationary portion of the tribometer, and at its other end to a moving drive member; and a load-sharing device for controlling the displacement of the drive members, wherein each drive member is secured to a drive pulley, and by the fact that the load-sharing device comprises a belt engaged on the three drive pulleys, the load-sharing device being configured to exert variable tension on the belt.