Leading edge flap for an airfoil

Abstract

The invention is a leading edge flap for an airfoil. The leading edge (24) is rotatably mounted to the airfoil (14). A first flap segment is (48) attached to the leading edge (24) and has an external aerodynamic surface (50a) adapted to form a portion of the bottom aerodynamic surface of the airfoil (14), when the flap (20) is in the retracted position. A second flap segment (60) is pivotally attached to the first flap segment (48) and is adapted to be retracted within a recess (80) within the airfoil (14). A link (70) is pivotally connected to both the second flap segment (60) and the airfoil rib structure (22) such that rotation of the leading edge (24) extends the first and second flap segments (48 and 60) from their retracted positions downwardly and forwardly of the leading edge (24), forming an aerodynamic extension of the airfoil (14). In an additional embodiment, the rotatable leading edge is coupled to a source of heated and/or pressurized air, and contains a spanwise duct (26') which is adapted to distribute the air along the airfoil (14) heating the leading edge (24') surface so as to remove or prevent ice forming thereon. A plurality of nozzles in the first flap segment (48') are coupled to the duct (26) and/or the bottom surface (142) and adapted to distribute pressurized air over the top surface of the airfoil (14), providing boundary layer control.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.