Torque plate barrel having blended barrel support pedestal

A torque plate barrel for a braking system, comprising:

• a torque tube having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end along a central axis, the torque tube having an inner surface;
• and
• a pedestal disposed intermediate the first end and the second end, the pedestal having a first circumferential surface configured to engage an outer surface of an axle and having an axial midpoint, a second circumferential surface configured to engage the inner surface of the torque tube, a first surface facing toward the first end of the torque tube and a second surface facing toward the second end of the torque tube,
• wherein a radial plane extending through the axial midpoint of the first circumferential surface defines a first cross sectional area encompassing an area of the pedestal on the side of the radial plane facing the first end of the torque tube to a first point where the first surface intersects the inner surface of the torque tube and a second cross sectional area encompassing an area of the pedestal on the side of the radial plane facing the second end of the torque tube to a second point where the second surface intersects the inner surface of the torque tube,
• wherein the first cross sectional area is greater than the second cross sectional area,
• wherein a head portion of the pedestal includes a first radius of curvature defining a first surface facing toward the first end of the torque tube and a second radius of curvature defining a second surface facing toward the second end of the torque tube, the first radius of curvature being at least about two times greater than the second radius of curvature and
• wherein a foot portion of the pedestal includes a third radius of curvature defining a third surface facing toward the second end of the torque tube, the third radius of curvature having a value about equal to the second radius of curvature.

A torque plate barrel for a braking system, comprising:

• a torque tube having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end along a central axis, the torque tube having an inner surface;
• and
• a pedestal, comprising
• a foot portion having a circumferential surface configured for engagement with an axle, the circumferential surface having an axial midpoint,
• a head portion connected to the inner surface of the torque tube and
• a web portion radially disposed between the head portion and the foot portion,
• wherein the head portion includes a first radius of curvature defining a first surface facing toward the first end of the torque tube and a second radius of curvature defining a second surface facing toward the second end of the torque tube, the first radius of curvature being at least about two times greater than the second radius of curvature,
• wherein a foot portion of the pedestal includes a third radius of curvature defining a third surface facing toward the second end of the torque tube, the third radius of curvature having a value about equal to the second radius of curvature and
• wherein a radial plane extending through the axial midpoint of the circumferential surface defines a first cross sectional area encompassing an area of the pedestal on the side of the radial plane facing the first end of the torque tube to a first point where the first surface intersects the inner surface of the torque tube and a second cross sectional area encompassing an area of the pedestal on the side of the radial plane facing the second end of the torque tube to a second point where the second surface intersects the inner surface of the torque tube, the first cross sectional area being greater than the second cross sectional area.