Patent ID: 7013812

Claim:
A railroad ballast tamping tool comprising: a) a blade having a height, a width and a depth, being substantially rectangular in shape, the blade tapering at a bottom end and having a groove cut into the bottom end of the blade across the width, a front side of the blade having a layer of tiles of a wear-resistant material secured thereto, overlaying substantially the entire front side of the blade; b) a tip of tiles of a wear-resistant material having a “T” shape with a rounded top being secured in the groove along the bottom width of the blade, such that the rounded top projects below the bottom end of the blade; and c) at least one pin secured into a hole running through the width of the blade at a top end; and d) a substantially cylindrical shank having an upper end capable of being attached to a tamping machine, and a lower end that tapers, the tapered portion being attached to the top end of the blade.