Wear gauges and methods to electrically monitor the wear extent of a wear surface

A system for monitoring wear of a liner, the system comprising:

• a wear gauge comprising:
• an elongate substrate having a proximal end and a distal end;
• at least a first row of spaced electronic components and a juxtaposed second row of spaced electronic components provided on the substrate, the first and second rows extending in a direction from the proximal end towards the distal end of the substrate;
• and
• the electronic components in the second row being at least partially interposed between the electronic components in the first row and the electronic components of the first and second rows being electrically connected in parallel, wherein
• the first and second rows of spaced electronic components are arranged such that an electrical parameter relating to the parallel electrical connection as measured at a port of the parallel electrical connection towards the proximal end of the substrate changes as electronic components are removed from the electrical connection from the distal end of the substrate;
• and
• electronic circuitry which is connected to the port for repetitively measuring the parameter.

A method of monitoring wear of a body having a wear surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) utilizing an elongate substrate having a proximal end and a distal end;
• at least a first row of spaced electronic components and a juxtaposed second row of spaced electronic components provided on the substrate, the first and second rows extending in a direction from the proximal end towards the distal end of the substrate;
• the electronic components in the second row being at least partially interposed between the electronic components in the first row and the electronic components of the first and second rows being electrically connected to one another in an electrical connection having a port, wherein the first and second rows of spaced electronic components are arranged such that an electrical parameter relating to the electrical connection as measured at the port changes as electronic components are removed from the electrical connection in a direction from the distal end of the substrate;
• (b) embedding the substrate in the body with the distal end adjacent the wear surface of the body and allowing electronic components to be removed from the connection as the body wears;
• and
• (c) repeatedly measuring the electrical parameter thereby to determine an extent of the wear of the body.