A device streamlines air flow inside a hard disk drive with a stationary
afterbody that is located adjacent to the disks. The device gradually
expands the air flow so that the speed of the air flow gradually
decreases while pressure increases. This design reduces losses in system
momentum due to sudden expansion of the air in the drive. In addition,
air flow moving toward the disk pack may be contracted to allow efficient
energy conversion from pressure energy to kinetic energy prior to merging
of the bypass air flow with the air flow among the disks. The device has
a comb-like structure that is offset slightly from the spinning disk pack
in the radial direction. The structure fulfills an aerodynamic function,
reduces track misregistration, lowers overall aerodynamic dissipation and
fulfills a filtration function.