Windage shield

A windage shield for use with a pair of annular members oriented in an abutting end-to-end arrangement to define one boundary of a fluid flow path, each of the members having a radially extending flange at their respecting abutting ends for coupling the members to each other. The flanges (60,62) are coupled by a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolts (87) having a head (86) and a nut (74) which protrude into the fluid flow path. The windage shield comprises an annular ring (100) having a first surface with a plurality of circumferentially spaced arcuate grooves (102) formed therein. Each of the grooves (102) is shaped to receive a preselected number of the bolt heads (86) when the ring (100) is positioned against a corresponding flange. A second surface of the ring (100) opposite the first surface includes a plurality of apertures (106) extending through the ring to the first surface with each of the apertures being located between a respective adjacent pair of the arcuate grooves (102). Each aperture (106) has a countersunk portion (108) on the second surface. The shield is attached to the flange by passing at least some of the bolts (87) through the apertures with the bolt heads recessed in the countersunk portion (108) such that a top of the bolts is flush with the second surface. The other bolt heads (86) are contained within the arcuate grooves on the first surface of the ring.