Aerodynamic slot closing mechanism

Claim 1

In an aircraft in which the wing has two airfoil segments chordwise thereof, the relatively forward of which segments is relatively stationary and carries an engine on the leading edge portion thereof which is mounted so that the exhaust from the engine is discharged chordwise over the upper surface of the wing and generates a blowing effect by which the upper surface airflow is caused to ''''stick'''' to the wing as it travels thereover, and the relatively aft of which segments is detachedly mated with the trailing edge portion of the relatively forward segment, to form a single continuously uninterrupted airfoil, but is shiftably mounted on the wing so as to be extendible and retractable in relation to the relatively forward segment, for purposes of opening and closing an aerodynamic slot between the adjacent trailing and leading edge portions of the segments, an auxiliary closure member on the leading edge portion of the aft segment; which is shiftable relatively away from the aft segment, when the aft segment is extended and the slot is open, to assume a position in which the member closes the slot adjacent the upper surface of the wing, relatively crosswise of the slot, and which is reversedly shiftable relatively toward the aft segment, while the aft segment remains extended, to assume a position in which the member reopens the slot and fairs into the leading edge portion of the aft segment, relatively peripherally of the slot, and dual positive displacement drive means on the wing operable independently of one another, on one hand, to extend and retract the aft segment in relation to the forward segment, and on the other hand, to shift the closure member to and from the respective positions thereof when the aft segment is extended and the slot is open.