# US 11,029,275 B2 · Device for detecting a wear level of a wear plate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,275 B2 - Document ID: US11029275B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/165,467 - Filed: 2018-10-19 - Published: 2020-04-23 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-19 - Assignees: Deere & Company - Applicants: Deere & Company - Inventors: Michael L. Rhodes; Kevin P. Cowles - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029275B2 ## CPC - G01N 27/20: Investigating the presence of flaws - G01N 27/24: Investigating the presence of flaws - G01N 27/221: {by investigating the dielectric properties (using microwaves G01N22/00; measuring loss factors or dielectric constants per se G01R27/26)} - G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold} - H03K 19/20: characterised by logic function, e.g. AND, OR, NOR, NOT circuits (H03K19/003 - H03K19/01 take precedence) - F16D 66/024: {Sensors mounted on braking members adapted to contact the brake disc or drum, e.g. wire loops severed on contact} - F16D 66/026: {indicating different degrees of lining wear} - G07C 5/0808: {Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005)} - G07C 5/0816: {Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - F16D: COUPLINGS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION; CLUTCHES; BRAKES - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract A first conductor is embedded in the first dielectric layer to a first wear depth, where the first wear depth is associated with a first threshold wear level. A second dielectric layer overlies the first dielectric layer to a second wear depth. The second wear depth is associated with a second threshold wear level greater than the first threshold wear level. A second conductor is embedded in the second dielectric layer and separate from the first conductor. An indicator is adapted to indicate whether the wear plate is the first threshold wear level or the second threshold wear level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for detecting wear of a wear plate, the device comprising: a first dielectric layer; a first conductor embedded in the first dielectric layer to a first wear depth, the first wear depth associated with a first threshold wear level; a second dielectric layer overlying the first dielectric layer; a second conductor embedded in the second dielectric layer to a second wear depth and separate from the first conductor; the second wear depth associated with a second threshold wear level greater than the first threshold wear level; an indicator for indicating whether the wear plate is worn to the first threshold wear level or to the second threshold wear level, the indicator comprising a first continuity circuit that detects no continuity of the first conductor if the wear plate is worn to the first threshold wear level and a second continuity circuit that detects no continuity of the second conductor if the wear plate is worn to the second threshold wear level; wherein the first continuity circuit comprises a first amplifier that is configured to change a logic level in response to detection of no continuity of the first conductor and wherein the second continuity circuit comprises a second amplifier that is configured to change a logic level in response to detection of no continuity of the second conductor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises: a first resistive voltage divider coupled to one end of the first conductor; a first light source in series with a resistor connected to a direct current voltage bus; the first amplifier having an input coupled to the divided voltage and an output coupled to the first light source, wherein the first amplifier activates the first light source to indicate that the wear plate is worn to the first threshold wear level. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2 wherein an opposite end of the first conductor is grounded and wherein the first amplifier is an inverting amplifier such that if there is continuity in the first conductor the first light source is off because the input to the first amplifier is a low logic level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2 wherein an opposite end of the first conductor is grounded and wherein the first amplifier is an inverting amplifier such that if there is no continuity in the first conductor the first light source is on because the input to the first amplifier is a high logic level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2 wherein the first resistive voltage divider provides a low logic level input to the first amplifier if there is continuity in the first conductor and provides a high logic level input to the first amplifier if there is no continuity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2 wherein the first light source comprises a light emitting diode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises: a second resistive voltage divider coupled to one end of the second conductor; a second light source in series with a resistor connected to a direct current voltage bus; the second amplifier having an input coupled to the divided voltage and an output coupled to the second light source, wherein the second amplifier activates the second light source to indicate that the wear plate is worn to the second threshold wear level. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7 wherein an opposite end of the second conductor is grounded and wherein the second amplifier is an inverting amplifier such that if there is continuity in the second conductor the second light source is off because the input to the second amplifier is a low logic level. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7 wherein an opposite end of the second conductor is grounded and wherein the second amplifier is an inverting amplifier such that if there is no continuity in the second conductor the second light source is on because the input to the second amplifier is a high logic level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7 wherein the second resistive voltage divider provides a low logic level input to the second amplifier if there is continuity in the second conductor and provides a high logic level input to the second amplifier if there is no continuity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7 wherein the second light source comprises a light emitting diode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the first wear depth indicates a first wear level of between approximately twenty five percent of a maximum wear level and approximately fifty percent of the maximum wear level. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device according to claim 12 wherein the second wear depth indicates a second wear level of between approximately fifty percent of the maximum wear level and approximately seventy-five percent of the maximum wear level. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein a first wear level or a second wear level of the wear plate indicates a remaining longevity of the wear plate or when the wear plate is to be scheduled for replacement. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer comprise a wear plate composed of ceramic, a polymer, a plastic, a fiber-filled polymer, a fiber-filled plastic, a plastic composite with ceramic filler particles, or a polymer composite with ceramic filler particles. ### Claim 16 A device for detecting wear of a wear plate, the device comprising: a first dielectric layer; a first conductor embedded in the first dielectric layer to a first wear depth, the first wear depth associated with a first threshold wear level, the first conductor having a first input terminal and a first output terminal; a second dielectric layer overlying the first dielectric layer a second conductor embedded in the second dielectric layer to a second wear depth and separate from the first conductor, the second conductor having a second input terminal and a second output terminal; the second wear depth associated with a second threshold wear level greater than the first threshold wear level; a logic level source coupled to the first input terminal and the second input terminal; a multiplexer having mux inputs coupled to the first output terminal and the second output terminal; a controller for selecting multiplexer output data from among the mux inputs; a shift register for storing the multiplexer output data; a data port for communicating the multiplexer output data to user interface to indicate whether the wear plate is worn to the first threshold wear level or to the second threshold wear level. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16 further comprising: a third dielectric layer overlying the second dielectric layer to a third wear depth, the third wear depth associated with a third threshold wear level greater than the second threshold wear level; a third conductor embedded in the third dielectric layer and separate from the first conductor and the second conductor, the third conductor having a third input terminal and third output terminal; the logic level source coupled to the first input terminal, the second input terminal and the third input terminal; the multiplexer having mux inputs coupled to the first output terminal, the second output terminal, and the third output terminal; the data port for communicating the multiplexer output data to user interface to indicate whether the wear plate is at the first threshold wear level, the second threshold wear level, or third threshold wear level. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17 further comprising: a fourth dielectric layer overlying the third dielectric layer to a fourth wear depth, the fourth wear depth associated with a fourth threshold wear level greater than the third threshold wear level; a fourth conductor embedded in the fourth dielectric layer and separate from the first conductor the second conductor, and the third conductor, the fourth conductor having a fourth input terminal and fourth output terminal; the logic level source coupled to the first input terminal, the second input terminal, the third input terminal, and fourth input terminal; the multiplexer having mux inputs coupled to the first output terminal, the second output terminal, the third output terminal, and the fourth input terminal; the data port for communicating the multiplexer output data to user interface to indicate whether the wear plate is at the first threshold wear level, the second threshold wear level, third threshold wear level, or a fourth wear level. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device according claim 17 wherein the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer, and fourth dielectric layer collectively comprise a wear plate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17 wherein the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer and fourth dielectric layer collectively comprise a wear plate composed of ceramic, a polymer, a plastic, a fiber-filled polymer, a fiber-filled plastic, a plastic composite with ceramic filler particles, or a polymer composite with ceramic filler particles.