Abstract: An improved refractory removal system may provide a top, bottom, and nozzle assemblies. At least one of the top or bottom assemblies may provide a rotation mechanism that allows a nozzle or the nozzle assembly to be rotated about a central axis or axis of rotation. The system may provide one or more securing mechanism(s) that allow the system to be secured in a desired position of a refractory vessel that refractory material is to be removed from. The nozzle assembly may provide an axial actuation mechanism that allows the nozzle to be moved away or towards the central axis. The nozzle assembly may also provide a linear actuation mechanism that allows the nozzle to be moved up or down along the central axis. It shall be recognized that the system provides at least three degrees of motion to the nozzle, thereby allowing the system to be utilized for a variety of situations.

Abstract: An improved refractory removal system may provide a top, bottom, and nozzle assemblies. At least one of the top or bottom assemblies may provide a rotation mechanism that allows a nozzle or the nozzle assembly to be rotated about a central axis or axis of rotation. The system may provide one or more securing mechanism(s) that allow the system to be secured in a desired position of a refractory vessel that refractory material is to be removed from. The nozzle assembly may provide an axial actuation mechanism that allows the nozzle to be moved away or towards the central axis. The nozzle assembly may also provide a linear actuation mechanism that allows the nozzle to be moved up or down along the central axis. It shall be recognized that the system provides at least three degrees of motion to the nozzle, thereby allowing the system to be utilized for a variety of situations.

Abstract: A method for optimizing a test sequence to diagnose a failure mode of a device, such as a vehicle, is provided. At least one symptom of a fault of the device is received, and a plurality of taxonomies is generated. The taxonomies include a device component taxonomy, a fault taxonomy, and a diagnostic taxonomy, and each taxonomy has a plurality of nodes. At least one diagnostic test sequence, based on the symptom and the taxonomies, is generated, costs associated with the diagnostic test sequence are determined, and a cost optimal test sequence, based on the costs and the diagnostic test sequence, is generated.

Abstract: A vehicle diagnostic test sequence authoring module includes a flowchart display screen, an add node display screen, an expression builder display screen, a panel editor display screen, a phrase editor display screen, and a meter editor display screen. Each of the author module display screens include a combination of selectable fields, including editable text fields, dropdown menu fields, checkbox fields, selectable bullet fields, logical display buttons, and logical links, that facilitate development of diagnostic test sequences, represented by hierarchical flowcharts, by vehicle diagnostics experts who do not have substantial knowledge of a computer programming language. A flowchart includes multiple nodes, representing individual test steps, and branches that connect the nodes. Logical expressions based on vehicle test conditions determine the flow of the test sequence.