Patent ID: 8127899

Claim:
A system comprising: a torque tube; a plurality of stators mounted on the torque tube; a wheel surrounding the torque tube; a plurality of rotors connected to the wheel, wherein each rotor of the plurality of rotors projects into a space between adjacent ones of the plurality of stators; a backing plate comprising a first surface facing the plurality of rotors and a second surface facing away from the plurality of rotors; and a torque pad coupled to the torque tube, the torque pad comprising a substantially planar surface and a key projecting outward from the substantially planar surface, wherein the second surface of the backing plate includes a keyway configured to mate with the key of the torque pad to couple the backing plate to the torque tube, wherein the backing plate defines a contact region on the second surface, the contact region extending outward from and at least partially surrounding a perimeter of the keyway on the second surface, and wherein, when the key and keyway are mated, a portion of the substantially planar surface adjacent the key contacts the contact region of the backing plate and, of the torque pad, only the key is positioned within the keyway.