Wing leading edge slat

A leading edge high-lift generating device for an airfoil, comprising:

• a spanwise slat segment forming the nose structure of the airfoil, and having both an upper and a lower trailing edge surface faired into the cross-sectional configuration of the airfoil, without any aerodynamic surface discontinuities, when in a fully retracted and stowed position;
• a cam track mechanism for curvilinear extension movement of said spanwise slat segment from a stowed position to a forward and downward extended operative position relative to the airfoil;
• a spanwise panel member being exposed by forward curvilinear extension of the spanwise slat segment from the stowed position;
• said spanwise panel member being hinged spanwise along its trailing edge to the airfoil and having its leading edge supported and guided by said cam track mechanism for forming an aerodynamically continuous surface contour between said spanwise slat segment and the airfoil during extension of said spanwise slat segment from the stowed position;
• said cam track mechanism comprises an I-beam having a lower flange forming a first cam track and an upper flange forming a second cam track, and each of said cam tracks being separately contoured;
• said I-beam being fixedly attached at its forward extremity to said spanwise slat segment and slidably supported along its aft portion within the airfoil by said first cam track;
• said first cam track being contoured to cause the spanwise slat segment to describe a predetermined curvilinear trajectory;
• said second cam track being slidably connected to the leading edge of said spanwise panel member and being contoured for simultaneously altering the angle-of-deflection of said spanwise panel member during forward extension movement of said spanwise slat segment to produce an aerodynamically streamlined upper surface contour between the extended spanwise slat segment and the upper surface of the airfoil.

A leading edge high-lift generating device for an airfoil, comprising:

• a spanwise slat segment forming the nose structure of the airfoil, and having both an upper and a lower trailing edge surface faired into the cross-sectional configuration of the airfoil, without any aerodynamic surface discontinuities, when in a fully retracted and stowed position;
• a beam being translatingly mounted along a chordwise aft portion to support structure of the airfoil and fixedly attached at a chordwise forward portion to said slat segment;
• a dual cam track being structurally integral with said beam and comprising a first and a second cam track;
• said first cam track providing for curvilinear extension movement of said spanwise slat segment from a stowed position to a forward and downward extended operative position relative to the airfoil;
• a spanwise panel member being exposed by forward curvilinear extension of the spanwise slat segment from the stowed position and being hinged spanwise along its trailing edge to the airfoil;
• said second cam track mechanism being operatively connected to the leading edge of said spanwise panel member for supportably guiding said spanwise panel member, during forward extension movement of said spanwise slag segment, to a first position to form an aerodynamically continuous surface contour between said spanwise slat segment and the airfoil during extension of said spanwise slat segment from the stowed position.

A leading edge high-lift generating device for an airfoil, comprising:

• a spanwise slat segment forming the nose structure of the airfoil, and having both an upper and a lower trailing edge surface faired into the cross-sectional configuration of the airfoil, without any aerodynamic surface discontinuities, when in a fully retracted and stowed position;
• a dual-cam track mechanism comprising a first and a second cam track, and being translatingly mounted along a chordwise aft portion to support structure of the airfoil and fixedly attached at a chordwise forward portion to said spanwise slat segment;
• said first cam track providing for curvilinear extension movement of said spanwise slat segment from a stowed position to a forward and downward extended operative position relative to the airfoil;
• a spanwise panel member being exposed by forward curvilinear extension of the spanwise slat segment from the stowed position;
• said spanwise panel member being hinged spanwise along its trailing edge to the airfoil and having its leading edge guided by said second cam track to form an aerodynamically continuous surface contour between said spanwise slat segment and the airfoil during extension of said spanwise slat segment from the stowed position;
• said dual-cam track mechanism comprising an I-beam having a lower flange forming said first can track and an upper flange forming said second cam track, and each of said cam tracks being separately contoured;
• said I-beam being fixedly attached at its forward extremity to the spanwise slat segment and slidably supported along its aft portion within the airfoil by said first cam track;
• said first cam track being contoured to cause the spanwise slat segment to describe a predetermined curvilinear trajectory;
• said second cam track being slidably connected to the leading edge of said spanwise panel member and being contoured for simultaneously altering the angle-of-deflection of said spanwise panel member during forward extension movement of said spanwise slat segment to produce an aerodynamically streamlined upper surface contour between the extended spanwise slat segment and the upper surface of the airfoil.

A leading edge high-lift generating device for an airfoil, comprising:

• a spanwise slat segment forming the nose structure of the airfoil, and having both an upper and a lower trailing edge surface faired into the cross-sectional configuration of the airfoil, without any aerodynamic surface discontinuities, when in a fully retracted and stowed position;
• a beam mounted chordwise and fixedly attached at its forward extremity to said spanwise slat segment;
• a triple-cam track being structurally integral with said beam and comprising a first, a second, and a third cam track;
• said first cam track being translatingly mounted along a chordwise aft portion to support structure of the airfoil for providing a curvilinear extension movement of said spanwise slag segment from a stowed position to a forward and downward extended operative position relative to the airfoil;
• a pair of panel members comprising a first upper and a second lower panel member, and each of said panel members being hinged spanwise along its trailing edge to the airfoil and being exposed for spanning a gap formed between said spanwise slat segment and the airfoil during extension of said spanwise slat segment from the stowed position;
• said first upper and second lower panel members each having its leading edge guided by said second and third cam tracks respectively, for varying the angle-of-deflection of said first upper and second lower panel members in combination with extension movement of said spanwise slat segment from the stowed position, to form an aerodynamically continuous upper and lower surface contour between the trailing edge surfaces of said spanwise slat segment and the airfoil, during extension of said spanwise slat segment from the stowed position.

A leading edge high-lift generating device for an airfoil, comprising:

• a spanwise slat segment forming the nose structure of the airfoil, and having both an upper and a lower trailing edge surface faired into the cross-sectional configuration of the airfoil, without any aerodynamic surface discontinuities, when in a fully retracted and stowed position;
• a dual-cam track mechanism fixedly attached at a chordwise forward portion to said slat segment and comprising a first and a second cam track;
• said first cam track being translatingly mounted along a chordwise aft portion to support structure of the airfoil for providing a curvilinear extension movement of said slat segment from a stowed position to a forward and downward extended operative position relative to the airfoil;
• a pair of panel members comprising a first and a second panel member, and each of said panel members being hinged spanwise along its trailing edge to the airfoil and being exposed for spanning a gap formed between said slat segment and the airfoil during extension of said slat segment from the stowed position;
• said first panel member having its leading edge guided by said second cam track for varying the angle-of-deflection thereof in combination with extension movement of said slat segment from the stowed position;
• actuator means interconnected between said second panel member and the airfoil for varying the angle-of-deflection of said second panel member, independently of an extended operating position of said slat segment;
• and each of said panel members forming an aerodynamically continuous surface contour between both the upper and lower trailing edge surfaces of said slat segment and the airfoil, during extension of said slat segment from the stowed position.

A leading edge high-lift generating device for an airfoil, comprising:

• a spanwise slat segment forming the nose structure of the airfoil, and having both an upper and a lower trailing edge surface faired into the cross-sectional configuration of the airfoil, without any aerodynamic surface discontinuities, when in a fully retracted and stowed position;
• a beam fixedly attached at its forward extremity to said spanwise slat segment and being the primary load carrying member for said spanwise slat segment;
• a first means comprising a cam track and roller followers;
• said cam track being integral with said beam and arcuate contoured for programming curvilinear extension movement of said spanwise slat segment from a stowed position to a forward and downward extended operative position relative to the airfoil;
• said roller followers having their axes fixed to the airfoil and operatively engaging said cam track for supporting said beam along its rearward portion within the airfoil to transfer aerodynamic lift loads imposed on said spanwise slat segment through to airfoil structure during extension movement of said spanwise slat segment;
• a spanwise panel member fixedly hinged spanwise along its trailing edge to the airfoil and being exposed by forward curvilinear extension movement of said spanwise slat segment from the stowed position;
• a second means attached to said spanwise panel member for programming rotational movement of said exposed spanwise panel member about its trailing edge hinge, between a first position for forming an aerodynamically continuous surface contour between said extended spanwise slat segment and the airfoil, and a second position for forming an aerodynamic slot between said extended slat segment and said exposed panel member;
• said spanwise panel member and said entire first and second means, being completely enclosed within an airfoil envelope, which encompasses said airfoil and said spanwise slat segment, when fully retracted.