# US 11,298,789 B2 · Method and device for determining and/or monitoring the state of a protective cover

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- Number: US 11,298,789 B2
- Document ID: US11298789B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/477,059
- Filed: 2018-01-16
- Published: 2019-11-07
- Granted: 2022-04-12
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-20
- Assignees: Arno Arnold GmbH
- Applicants: Arno Arnold GmbH
- Inventors: Thomas Kreutzer; Wolf-Matthias Mang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298789B2

## CPC

- B23Q 11/08: Protective coverings for parts of machine tools; Splash guards
- B23Q 11/0891: {arranged between the working area and the operator}
- B23Q 11/0816: {Foldable coverings, e.g. bellows}
- B23Q 11/0825: {Relatively slidable coverings, e.g. telescopic}
- B23Q 17/007: {for managing machine functions not concerning the tool}
- B23Q 17/008: {Life management for parts of the machine (tool life management B23Q17/0995)}
- F16P 3/02: Screens or other safety members moving in synchronism with members which move to and fro
- B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- F16P: SAFETY DEVICES IN GENERAL; {SAFETY DEVICES FOR PRESSES}

## Abstract

A method for determining and/or monitoring the state of a protective cover, includes the steps of a) obtaining a first state value of at least one characteristic physical, mechanical and/or chemical property of the protective cover at a first point in time; and b) obtaining a second state value of the at least one characteristic property of the protective cover at a second point in time, which is to subsequent to the first point in time; and c) comparing the obtained state values; and d) determining the state of the protective cover based on the comparison performed in step c).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for determining and/or monitoring the state of a protective cover, the method comprising the steps of
a) obtaining a first state value of at least one characteristic physical, mechanical and/or chemical property of the protective cover at a first point in time; and
b) obtaining a second state value of the at least one characteristic property of the protective cover at a second point in time, which is subsequent to the first point in time; and
c) comparing the obtained state values; and
d) determining the state of the protective cover based on the comparison performed in step c), wherein the characteristic property is translucence, light absorption, light reflection, viscosity, acceleration, speed, elasticity, stiffness, temperature, moisture content, electrical conductivity, pressure force, compressive load, tensile load, pre-load, porosity, weight, brittleness, thickness and/or density, and wherein the protective cover comprises at least one length-adjustable protective cover element, a support frame, at least one frame element and/or a length-adjustable restraining element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method additionally comprises a step of
e) displaying the determination performed in step d).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises an additional step b1) after step b):
b1) obtaining a third state value of the at least one characteristic property of the protective cover at a third point in time, which is subsequent to the second point in time.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the first state value of the characteristic property is a reference value.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the first, the second and/or a third state value are obtained under substantially similar conditions.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the first, the second and/or a third state value are obtained under different conditions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the state of the protective cover is selected from the list of remaining useful life, state of health, wear, existence of damage and/or imminence of a maintenance interval.

### Claim 8

A device for determining and/or monitoring the state of a protective cover, the device comprising
a) a means for obtaining a first state value of at least one characteristic physical, mechanical and/or chemical property of the protective cover at a first point in time; and
b) a means for obtaining a second state value of the at least one characteristic property of the protective cover at a second point in time, which is subsequent to the first point in time; and
c) an evaluation unit for comparing the obtained state values; and
d) an analysis unit for determining the state of the protective cover based on the comparison performed in item c), wherein the means for obtaining the first state value and the means for obtaining the second state value each register translucence, light absorption, light reflection, viscosity, acceleration, speed, elasticity, stiffness, temperature, moisture content, electrical conductivity, pressure force, compressive load, tensile load, pre-load, porosity, weight, brittleness, thickness and/or density, and wherein the protective cover comprises at least one length-adjustable protective cover element, a support frame, at least one frame element and/or a length-adjustable restraining element.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device according to claim 8, wherein the device additionally comprises
e) an output unit for displaying the determination performed in item d).

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The device according to claim 8, wherein the device comprises an additional item b1) after item b):
b1) a means for obtaining a third state value of the at least one characteristic property of the protective cover at a third point in time, which is subsequent to the second point in time.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The device according to claim 8, wherein the first state value of the characteristic property is a reference value.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The device according to claim 8, wherein the means, the evaluation unit, the analysis unit and/or the output unit are partially or fully integrated in the protective cover.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The device according to claim 8, wherein the means, the evaluation unit, the analysis unit and/or the output unit are disposed outside the protective cover and are rigged for non-contact or contact action.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The device according to claim 8, wherein the means is a counting mechanism, an operating time counter, a sensor and/or a sensor system.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The device according to claim 14, wherein the sensor is a nanosensor and/or a microsensor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The device according to claim 8, wherein the state of the protective cover is selected from the list of remaining useful life, state of health, wear, existence of damage and/or imminence of a maintenance interval.