Diffuser for reducing fluid velocity near disk surfaces in a rotating storage device

A disk drive comprising:

• a drive housing;
• a rotating first storage disk coupled to the drive housing, the first storage disk having a first storage surface;
• an adjacent rotating second storage disk that is spaced apart from the first storage disk, at least one of the storage disks generating fluid flow during rotation;
• and
• a fluid diffuser that is coupled to the drive housing, the fluid diffuser including a first diffuser wing and a second diffuser wing that are positioned substantially between the first storage disk and the second storage disk, one of the diffuser wings including a first surface deviation that disrupts the fluid flow near one of the storage disks.

A disk drive comprising:

• a drive housing;
• a rotating storage disk that is coupled to the drive housing, the storage disk including a storage surface having an inner data track and an outer data track, the storage disk generating fluid flow during rotation;
• and
• a fluid diffuser that is coupled to the drive housing, the fluid diffuser including a first diffuser wing that is positioned near the storage surface and is substantially stationary relative to the drive housing, the first diffuser wing including a first surface deviation that extends substantially between the inner data track and the outer data track of the storage disk, the first surface deviation disrupting the fluid flow near the storage surface.

A method for enhancing the reliability of a disk drive, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a first diffuser wing and a second diffuser wing of a fluid diffuser between a first rotatable storage disk and an adjacent second rotatable storage disk, one of the diffuser wings including a first surface deviation;
• generating fluid flow from rotation of at least one of the storage disks;
• and
• disrupting the fluid flow near at least one of the storage disks with the surface deviation.