Abstract: Singulation apparatus (10) for transforming a plurality of randomly oriented tires (T) in an inlet hopper to a linear alignment of tires reposing on their sidewalls including, a singulator assembly (20) having a plurality of stepped conveyor stages (21-24) with tire sidewall engaging surfaces (25-29) which are angularly upwardly inclined, mechanisms (35, 35', 36, 37, 38, 39) for driving the sidewall engaging surfaces of each of the conveyor surfaces at differing linear velocities for unscrambling and spacing tires passing through the singulator assembly, an unloading chute (70) for accumulating tires received from the singulator assembly in laterally aligned relation, a download conveyor (85) for intermittently receiving tires from the unloading chute and depositing the tires in linear alignment on a discharge conveyor (100).

Abstract: An overlapping layer (24) of a first body of deformable material is pressed by an edge (78) of each of a plurality of blade members (42) into an overlapped layer (26) of a second body of resilient material forming slots (74) in the second body with ribs (88) of the first body displaced therein. The blade members (42) are removed while the ribs (88) are retained in the slots (74) and gripped by the surrounding resilient material. The blade members (42) may be adjustably clamped in a cartridge (40) which is removable from the splicing apparatus (10) for adjustment and replacement of the blade members (42) so that they conform to the surface profile (82) and splice interface line (80) of the bodies to be spliced.

Abstract: An overlapping layer (24) of a first body of deformable material is pressed by an edge (78) of each of a plurality of blade members (42) into an overlapped layer (26) of a second body of resilient material forming slots (74) in the second body with ribs (88) of the first body displaced therein. The blade members (42) are removed while the ribs (88) are retained in the slots (74) and gripped by the surrounding resilient material. The blade members (42) may be adjustably clamped in a cartridge (40) which is removable from the splicing apparatus (10) for adjustment and replacement of the blade members (42) so that they conform to the surface profile (82) and splice interface line (80) of the bodies to be spliced.

Abstract: A floating inductor assembly for use in heating a generally conical valve seat formed concentrically around a central bore in an engine component, wherein the assembly is adapted to be moved toward and away from the valve seat by a selectively movable element. This floating inductor assembly comprises a carrier, an inductor having a shape generally matching the valve seat and mounted on the carrier, an aligning nose member extending from the carrier in a given direction and generally concentric with the inductor, and first and second flange portions supported on the carrier and extending radially outwardly in a direction perpendicular to the given direction of the nose member, whereby each flange portion is adapted to engage a coupling member for supporting the assembly onto the movable element in a manner to allow floating in the radial direction only.