Abstract: An apparatus grips tie plates and guides new ties during replacement of worn out ties in the road bed of a railroad track. Mechanical grip elements grip tie plates and secure them against the rail, while an old tie is removed and a new tie is inserted. A spring arrangement automatically self-centers opposing pairs of grip elements. That is, when beginning to grip a tie plate, each pair of mechanical grip elements will automatically center about the tie plate prior to securely gripping the tie plate and without moving the tie plate. The grip elements are supported by an apparatus frame. A frame lifter moves the apparatus frame vertically between an upper and a lower position relative to a vehicle frame of a tie replacer vehicle. A tie guide includes rollers on the underside thereof for minimizing friction between ties being inserted and the tie guide. Sweepers are mounted to the apparatus frame to clean off a tie as it is being inserted.

Abstract: An apparatus grips tie plates and guides new ties during replacement of worn out ties in the road bed of a railroad track. Mechanical grip elements grip tie plates and secure them against the rail, while an old tie is removed and a new tie is inserted. A spring arrangement automatically self-centers opposing pairs of grip elements. That is, when beginning to grip a tie plate, each pair of mechanical grip elements will automatically center about the tie plate prior to securely gripping the tie plate and without moving the tie plate. The grip elements are supported by an apparatus frame. A frame lifter moves the apparatus frame vertically between an upper and a lower position relative to a vehicle frame of a tie replacer vehicle. A tie guide includes rollers on the underside thereof for minimizing friction between ties being inserted and the tie guide. Sweepers are mounted to the apparatus frame to clean off a tie as it is being inserted.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell, carried along a cell production line, is filled with liquid electrolyte under pressure. First, the electrolyte is dispersed on top of the cell electrode assembly within an open ended cell casing. Then a pressurizing chamber is mated with the cell support member of the conveyor mechanism so as to form a pressurizing volume surrounding the cell, whereupon a gas under pressure is introduced into the chamber and forces the electrolyte into the separator of the electrolyte assembly for rapid and complete absorption of the electrolyte.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying and affixing sleeves of dielectric plastic material to galvanic cells. The apparatus includes a carrousel having a cell receiving station, a sleeving station and a discharge station with a tester for testing and rejecting cells between the receiving and sleeving stations. The apparatus further includes feeding means for feeding sleeve length units from a spool supply, gripping means for gripping each fed length, while such length is cut and for opening the cut length, pusher means for pushing the cut length from the gripper onto the cell and heater means for heating and shrinking the cut length on the cell into gripping contact with such cell.