Abstract: The present invention relates to an article having an integrated contact surface, such as a melting vessel, and compositions for forming the article. The composition for forming the articles, such as melting vessels, includes from about 25% to about 99% binder material including clay and zirconia or a blend of alumina and zirconia. The composition also includes from about 1% to about 75% by weight of a filler material. The surface of the an article formed from the composition, such as a melting vessel, essentially is comprised of the binder material. The body of the melting vessel includes a blend of binder material and filler material. The present invention also relates to a process for making an article, such as a melting vessel from the composition.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the output of at least one plant process output parameter is implemented by adaptive model predictive control using a neural network. An improved method and apparatus provides for sampling plant output and control input at a first sampling rate to provide control inputs at the fast rate. The MPC system is, however, provided with a network state vector that is constructed at a second, slower rate so that the input control values used by the MPC system are averaged over a gapped time period. Another improvement is a provision for on-line training that may include difference training, curvature training, and basis center adjustment to maintain the weights and basis centers of the neural in an updated state that can follow changes in the plant operation apart from initial off-line training data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for slitting an endless strip of material having substantially planar surfaces by forming a pair of adjacent grooves in each surface of the material with corresponding grooves in each surface of the material being orthogonally aligned and applying a force normal to the planar surfaces of the material and between adjacent grooves and of sufficient magnitude to shear the material along a line connecting corresponding grooves. For this purpose a pair of scoring knives for each slit are mounted in relative orthogonal alignment with respect to the planar surfaces of the material with one on each side of the material. The knives form the adjacent grooves in each surface of the material.

Abstract: A fail-safe actuator for a disc brake system. A housing contains a reciprocating piston having a retracted position, a spring which urges the piston forward away from its retracted position, and means for retracting the piston against the urging of the spring. An expansible linkage, which connects the piston to the friction element of the brake is expanded in response to retraction of the piston, thereby maintaining a uniform spring expansion per brake application regardless of friction element wear.

Abstract: A brake system in which brake control units are isolated for redundancy and including a comparator to detect unacceptable degradation in available fluid pressure.