Patent ID: 8312729

Claim:
A flow discouraging system, comprising: a stator assembly including one or more stationary components forming a side wall, the side wall including an annular groove defined by an outer axially-extending surface, an inner axially-extending surface, and a radial surface extending between the outer and inner axially-extending surfaces; one or more outer axial fins disposed in the annular groove and extending along the outer axially-extending surface of the side wall; one or more inner axial fins disposed in the annular groove and extending along the inner axially-extending surface of the side wall; one or more radial fins disposed in the annular groove extending axially from the radial surface of the side wall; and a rotor assembly disposed adjacent to and spaced apart from the stator assembly to form a portion of a cavity, the rotor assembly including an annular rim extending at least partially into the annular groove and disposed between the one or more outer axial fins and the one or more inner axial fins.