A device streamlines air flow inside a hard disk drive with a stationary
afterbody that is located adjacent to each of 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 from the disk pack in the
radial direction. The structure fulfills an aerodynamic function, reduces
track misregistration, lowers overall aerodynamic dissipation, and
fulfills a filtration function.