Airflow control device for a disc drive

A disc drive, comprising:

• a rotatable disc having a disc recording surface configured for rotation in a selected rotational direction, said rotation establishing air currents which flow in the selected rotational direction;
• a rotatable actuator adjacent the disc and comprising an arm and a head supported by the arm, the head configured to be aerodynamically supported in close proximity to the disc recording surface by the air currents, wherein the rotational direction of the disc is selected so that a given point on the disc that initially starts at a location 180 degrees away from the head will pass the head prior to passing the arm over a complete rotation of the disc;
• and
• a stationary airflow control device comprising a diverter member and a screen member which extends from the diverter member, wherein the diverter member is disposed upstream from the head opposite the arm so that the head is disposed between the diverter member and the arm, wherein the screen member is disposed adjacent the head so that the head is disposed between the screen member and the disc recording surface, wherein the diverter member and the screen member cooperatively form a radially extending channel within which the head moves along an arcuate path of travel as the head is moved across the disc recording surface, and wherein air currents established by rotation of the disc impinge upon the diverter member so that a first portion of said air currents passes through a gap between the diverter member and the disc recording surface to aerodynamically support the head and a second, remaining portion of said air currents are diverted away from the head.

A disc drive, comprising:

• a rotatable disc having a disc recording surface configured for rotation in a selected rotational direction, said rotation establishing air currents which flow in the selected rotational direction;
• a rotatable actuator adjacent the disc and comprising an arm and a head supported by the arm, the head configured to be aerodynamically supported in close proximity to the disc recording surface by said air currents, wherein the rotational direction of the disc is selected so that a given point on the disc that initially starts at a location 180 degrees away from the head will pass the head prior to passing the arm over a complete rotation of the disc;
• and
• first means upstream from the head for diverting a substantial portion of the air currents away from the head and for establishing laminar flow in a remaining portion of the air currents adjacent the head.