Patent ID: 8619386

Claim:
An airflow control device for a hard disk drive comprising: an outer perimeter having a radius equal to or greater than an outer radius of a disk in said hard disk drive; a thickness less than a spacing between adjacent disks in said hard disk drive; a central opening having an inner perimeter surface with a radius greater than an outer radius of a spacer ring of said hard disk drive; a notch in said outer perimeter, wherein said notch is configured to accommodate an actuator assembly of said hard disk drive; and a bypass slot defined by a length transecting said outer perimeter, wherein said bypass slot has a bend with a radius nearly centered to said central opening and wherein said bypass slot comprises two surfaces along said length of said bypass slot, said length more than half of said outer perimeter, one of said two surfaces is discontinuous and said two surfaces are separated by a distance that varies, said bypass slot forming a first opening for receiving said airflow and a second opening for exiting said airflow, wherein at least said first opening or said second opening is integral with a base casting of said hard disk drive.