Abstract: Poly(vinyl alcohol) used in combination with a marking composition including a fluorescent pigment or dye can be used to identify the location of variations, e.g. radial variations, in a pneumatic tire so the tire can be precisely mixed and matched with other components such as tire rims which may have compensating radial variations. The fluorescent marking can include poly(vinyl alcohol) or alternatively be applied as another layer over a poly(vinyl alcohol) based protective coating in which case the fluorescent marking composition need not contain poly(vinyl alcohol).

Abstract: A slurry pump (40) pumps a slurry of vulcanized rubber pellets and water from a slurry mixing region (30) to a mill (B). The slurry passes through a comminuting zone (80) defined between an abrasive stator (66) and an abrasive rotor (76). As the slurry is comminuted in the comminuting zone, heat is generated, which heat is absorbed by at least the water. The comminuted rubber particles and water pass from the mill to a separator (C) which separates the rubber particles from the heated water. The heated water is conveyed to a hot water reservoir (24) from which it is recirculated to the slurry mixing region. Additional pellets from a pellet supply (10) are fed to the mixing region to be mixed with the recirculated heated water. In this manner, the slurry is preheated above room temperature prior to comminution. It has been found that increasing the water temperature to about 130.degree. F. rather than using city water of about 55.degree. F., increases the production rate of the mill by about 20 to 25 percent.

Abstract: A slurry feeding assembly (A) feeds a mixture of water and rubber pellets to a comminuting region defined between a rotor (74) and a stator (66). As an electric rotor motor (70) rotates the rotor relative to the stator, a power monitor (114) monitors of a control circuit (D) the amount of electrical power drawn thereby. The control circuit controls a pressure regulator (C) to increase and decrease the pressure between the rotor and stator in such a manner that the power drawn by the electric rotor motor remains substantially constant. The control circuit further initiates operation of various components of the comminuting apparatus in a preselected order. Specifically, the control circuit first starts the feed of water or other fluid to the rotor and stator. Thereafter, the electric rotor motor is started, followed by enabling of the pressure regulator assembly.