Method and device for determining the life expectancy of components while in operation

{
  "publication_number": "US2009089033A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Method and device for determining the life expectancy of components while in operation",
  "abstract": "A method for determining the life expectancy of machine components (2) during operation; characteristic data are established in order to determine the life expectancy for the relevant machine component (2), loads acting on the machine part (2) during operation are determined by means of a sensor device (10), characteristic values that are characteristic for the loads acting on the machine component (2) are determined, and the life expectancy is determined based on the characteristic values and on the characteristic data for the machine component (2).",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for determining the life expectancy of machine components (2) during operation, wherein characteristic data are established in order to determine the life expectancy for the relevant machine component (2), loads acting on the machine part during operation are determined by means of a sensor device (10), characteristic values that are characteristic for the loads acting on the machine component are determined, and the life expectancy of the machine component is determined based on the characteristic values and on the characteristic data for the machine component. 2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the life expectancy is a remaining life expectancy that is determined taking into account the portion of the machine component (2) service life that has already elapsed. 3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the life expectancy of the machine component (2) is determined repeatedly, at various times. 4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a life expectancy determined at an earlier point in time t 1 is taken into account in the determination of a life expectancy at a predetermined later point in time. 5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the characteristic data for the machine component (2) are determined upon initial operation of the machine component. 6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the loads acting on the machine component (2) are mechanical loads of the machine component. 7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the machine components (2) are taken from a group of machine components that includes bearings, ball screw drives, guides, in particular linear guides, and the like. 8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the characteristic data for the machine component (2) are stored in a drive control unit of the machine. 9. A device for determining the life expectancy of machine components (2), having a memory unit (5) in which the characteristic data for the relevant machine component are stored and having a processor device (8), which calculates the life expectancy of the machine component based on the characteristic data stored in the memory unit (5), wherein the device has a sensor device (10), which determines a characteristic value for a load acting on the machine component (2) during operation and outputs a characteristic value that is characteristic for this load; the processor device (8) is embodied so that it determines the life expectancy of the machine component (2) by taking into account this characteristic value. 10. The device as recited in claim 9, wherein the processor device (8) is embodied so that when determining the life expectancy, it also takes into account the portion of the machine component service life that has already elapsed. 11. A guide carriage equipped with a device as recited in claim 9."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "G05B 19/4065",
    "G05B 2219/37254"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "RINGERING WALTER",
    "SCHWAB GERHARD",
    "WAHLER MATTHIAS"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2008-07-30",
  "publication_date": "2009-04-02",
  "priority_date": "2007-08-17",
  "application_number": "US-18229808-A",
  "family_id": "39938342",
  "citations": [
    "US2006106549A1",
    "US2007284162A1",
    "US2008208516A1",
    "US5680025A"
  ]
}