Automatically aligning tool for uniformly applying a controlled force to an object

摘要

An apparatus for applying a uniform load to an object includes a load application element supported to be rotatable about a first axis and movable relative to the object along a second axis to obtain an initial contact sufficient to cause any needed rotation of the load application element until an alignment is obtained between the load application element and a load receiving surface of the object. Further movement of the load application element relative to the object results in a uniformly applied load or the test object.