Patent ID: 6884029

Claim:
A vortex-reducing fluid guide component comprising: a base portion; a body portion extending from said base portion and being characterized by a leading edge, a first side, and a second side; a blending element disposed between said base portion and said leading edge, said blending element being characterized by a deflection region adapted to accelerate fluid flow, said blending element including an interior passageway in fluid communication with a source of cooling fluid; and a cooling channel disposed between said blending element and said leading edge, said cooling channel being adapted for fluid communication with a source of cooling fluid and being bounded by said leading edge, said base portion and said blending element, whereby said blending element is adapted for cooling by said cooling fluid and is effective to disrupt horseshoe vortex formation adjacent an interface of said base portion and said leading edge, and whereby said cooling channel is customizable to selectively cool said interface of said leading edge and said base portion and an interface of said base portion sides and said body portion.