Tamping tool

Abstract

A tamping tool for tamping ballast in place is disclosed. The tamping tool has a shank leading to a paddle having a lower portion and defining an open-ended recess having converging sidewalls and one or more wear tiles made of a hardened materials such as tungsten carbide provided at least partially within the recess and coupled to the sidewalls of the recess.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tamping tool comprising:
 a shank having an upper and lower portion;   a paddle having a lower portion, and having an upper portion coupled to the lower portion of the shank, the lower portion of the paddle defining an open-ended recess having sidewalls that converge inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the shank; and   one or more wear tiles at least partially provided in the recess.   
     
     
         2 . The tamping tool of  claim 1 , whereby the recess has a cross-sectional V-shape. 
     
     
         3 . The tamping tool of  claim 2 , whereby the one or more wear tiles have a coupling portion configured to substantially fit the cross-sectional shape of the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The tamping tool of  claim 3 , whereby the coupling portion of the one or more wear tiles are brazed to the recess. 
     
     
         5 . The tamping tool of  claim 1 , whereby the sidewalls taper to and converge in a radius. 
     
     
         6 . The tamping tool of  claim 5 , whereby the one or more wear tiles have a coupling portion configured to substantially fit the cross-sectional shape of the recess. 
     
     
         7 . The tamping tool of  claim 6 , whereby the coupling portion of the one or more wear tiles is brazed to the recess. 
     
     
         8 . The tamping tool of  claim 1 , whereby the sidewalls curve to form a semi-circular recess. 
     
     
         9 . The tamping tool of  claim 8 , whereby the one or more wear tiles have a coupling portion configured to substantially fit the cross-sectional shape of the recess. 
     
     
         10 . The tamping tool of  claim 9 , whereby the coupling portion of the one or more wear tiles is brazed to the recess. 
     
     
         11 . The tamping tool of  claim 1 , whereby the one or more wear tiles are made of an abrasion-resistant material. 
     
     
         12 . The tamping tool of  claim 11 , whereby the one or more wear tiles are made of tungsten carbide. 
     
     
         13 . A tamping tool comprising:
 a shank having an upper and lower portion,   a paddle having a lower portion, and having an upper portion coupled to the lower portion of the shank, the lower portion of the paddle having multiple leading edges;   whereby sidewalls extend from each edge towards the shank to a shared edge or radius to define at least one open-ended recess;   and whereby one or more wear tiles are at least partially provided in each recess.   
     
     
         14 . The tamping tool of  claim 13 , whereby the one or more wear tiles have a coupling portion configured to substantially fit the recess. 
     
     
         15 . The tamping tool of  claim 14 , whereby the coupling portion of the one or more wear tiles are brazed to the recess. 
     
     
         16 . The tamping tool of  claim 13 , whereby the recess has a cross-sectional V-shape. 
     
     
         17 . The tamping tool of  claim 13 , whereby the recess has a parabolic cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         18 . The tamping tool of  claim 13 , whereby the recess has a semicircular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         19 . The tamping tool of  claim 13 , whereby the one or more wear tiles are made of an abrasion-resistant material. 
     
     
         20 . The tamping tool of  claim 18 , whereby the one or more wear tiles are made of tungsten carbide.