Patent ID: 7670098

Claim:
A tool for attaching to the hydraulic arm of a backhoe or trackhoe machine for unloading ties from a railroad car comprising: an upper plate having a first side and a second side; means for attaching the tool to the hydraulic arm on the first side of the upper plate; a plurality of substantially c-shaped tines having upper and lower ends, wherein the tines are connected at the upper ends to the second side of the upper plate, wherein the tines have upper and lower surfaces and wherein the upper and lower surfaces are flattened near the lower ends such that the tines taper to a point at their lower ends; and a lower plate connected to the tines along the upper surfaces of the lower ends of the tines to form a pointed front edge; wherein the lower surface of the lower end of each tine forms substantially straight edge that is generally parallel to the upper plate so that the tool has a flat lower edge that is useful for sliding the tool along the floor of the railroad car when the front edge is pointed toward the machine and useful for sliding the tool along a wall of the railroad car when the front edge is pointed downward; wherein the upper surface of the lower end of each tine is substantially smooth so that ties can slip off the tool when the front edge is pointed somewhat downward; wherein the substantially c-shaped tines form a deep pocket with unobstructed sides when the front edge is pointed upward so that the tool can hold ties.