Patent ID: 7119986

Claim:
An apparatus comprising at least one windage plate adapted for placement adjacent at least one rotatable surface that is at least partially surrounded by a shroud surface, the plate comprising: an inner circumference that is in close proximity to an inner edge of the at least one rotatable surface; an outer circumference that is adjacent the shroud surface; an edge surface that extends between the inner circumference and the outer circumference of the plate and configured to extend adjacent a movement path of an access element across the rotatable surface, said edge surface supporting a ramp structure adapted to receivingly support said access element at a position away from the rotatable surface; wherein the edge surface is characterized as a selected one of a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the leading edge and the trailing edge cooperate to form a gap area to permit access for the access element; and wherein the ramp structure is supported by said leading edge so that fluidic currents established by rotation of the rotatable surface pass the access element immediately prior to passing the ramp structure.