Utility tamper workhead

Claim 1

In a tamper having a workhead support horizontally translatable and vertically positionable relative to a rail mounted on cross ties supported in ballast, the combination comprising, a pair of cross arms mounted on said support transversely to said rail, a pair of platforms pivoted on said cross arms with one platform on each side of said rail, two pairs of tamping blades one pair pivoted on each of said platforms on axes parallel to and spaced wider than the width of said ties, a single vibration motor mounted on each of said platforms for transmitting vibration to said blades, a pair of actuators with one actuator coupling each pair of blades for squeezing the blades toward a tie, said platform-cross arm pivots being disposed laterally of said rail and outwardly of said blades so that downward movement of the blades into the ballast tilts the platform and the blades of each pair toward the rail, and means for vertically positioning said support between a travel position when said blades are clear of said rail, ties and ballast to a working position when said blades are inserted into the ballast for tamping the ballast region beneath the tie portions underlying the rail.