Leading edge flap

Abstract

A fluid interface device, such as an airfoil assembly, can include a device structure and at least one movable band oriented such that the band moves in a direction of fluid flow. The at least one movable band can be supported on the device structure such that an outer surface of the movable band is exposed along the device structure and is capable of movement relative thereto such that a relative velocity can be maintained between the outer surface and the device structure. The fluid interface device can also include an edge extension disposed along the leading edge of the device structure. An airplane, a wind turbine and a method are also included.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of assembling an airfoil assembly, said method comprising:
 providing an airfoil structure having a longitudinal length and including a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge spaced laterally from said first longitudinal edge, a first side extending longitudinally along at least a portion of said longitudinal length between said first and second longitudinal edges, and a second side extending longitudinally along at least a portion of said length between said first and second longitudinal edges and generally opposite said first side; and,   forming a fluid interface device along at least a portion of said longitudinal length of said airfoil structure, said action of forming said fluid interface device including:
 providing a movable band having a width; 
 supporting said movable band on said airfoil structure such that at least a portion of said movable band is exposed along at least one of said first and second sides of said airfoil structure; 
 providing an edge extension including a third longitudinal edge; 
 positioning said edge extension along said first longitudinal edge of said airfoil structure; and, 
 securing said edge extension along said first longitudinal edge of said airfoil structure for rotational movement about a longitudinal axis extending along and internally within said airfoil structure such that the position of said edge extension is rotatable about said longitudinal axis relative to the airfoil structure with said third longitudinal edges of said edge extension being positionable upon rotation of said edge extension into approximate alignment with at least a portion of said movable band such that relative movement between said airfoil assembly and a gaseous fluid can result in a gaseous fluid flow across said airfoil assembly with said third longitudinal edge of said edge extension functioning as a leading edge of at least a portion of said airfoil assembly. 
   
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein forming said fluid interface device includes positioning said movable band such that said width extends longitudinally along said airfoil structure. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein forming said fluid interface device includes positioning said edge extension along said airfoil structure such that said edge extension spans at least said movable band across said width thereof. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein providing said moveable band includes providing said movable band that includes an outer surface with said movable band supported on said airfoil structure such that said outer surface is exposed along at least a portion of at least one of said first and second sides of said airfoil structure and is supported for lateral movement along said at least one of said first and second sides such that a relative velocity can be maintained between said outer surface and said at least one of said first and second sides of said airfoil structure. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 23  further comprises providing an actuator and connecting said actuator to said edge extension such that said actuator is operative to selectively displace said edge extension about said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein providing said edge extension includes providing said edge extension that includes a first extension surface and a second extension surface disposed at an acute angle relative to said first extension surface such that said edge extension has a wedge-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein providing said airfoil structure includes providing said airfoil structure that includes a reference plane extending lengthwise along said airfoil structure and oriented in tangential relation to a feature of at least one of said airfoil structure and said movable band, and providing said edge extension includes providing said edge extension with said third longitudinal edge of said edge extension forming a forward edge and said edge extension including at least one rearward edge extending longitudinally along said edge extension in laterally spaced relation to said forward edge with said at least one rearward edge disposed in offset relation to said reference plane. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein providing said edge extension includes providing said edge extension with said rearward edge extension being a first rearward edge and a second rearward edge disposed in spaced relation to said first rearward edge with said first and second rearward edges disposed in offset relation to said reference plane. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein providing said airfoil structure includes providing said airfoil structure that includes a reference plane extending lengthwise along said airfoil structure and is oriented in relation to a feature of at least one of said airfoil structure and said movable band with at least one of said first extension surface and said second extension surface disposed at an acute angle relative to said reference plane. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein said reference plane is disposed in approximate alignment with a portion of said movable band disposed along said second side of said airfoil structure. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein said first extension surface is disposed at an angle relative to said reference plane with said angle having a value within a range of from approximately 1 degree to approximately 5 degrees, and said second extension surface is disposed at an angle relative to said reference plane with said angle having a value within a range of from approximately 20 degrees to approximately 70 degrees. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein said third longitudinal edge of said edge extension is formed adjacent a constructive intersection of said first and second extension surfaces. 
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 34 , wherein said first longitudinal edge of said airfoil structure has an edge curvature that has a value, and said longitudinal edge of said edge extension has a cross-sectional profile with an extension curvature that has a value that is 20 percent or less of said value of said edge curvature. 
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein providing said airfoil structure includes providing a first roller supported along said airfoil structure adjacent said first longitudinal edge and a second roller supported along said airfoil structure in spaced relation to said first roller in a direction toward said second longitudinal edge of said airfoil structure. 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 36 , wherein forming said fluid interface device includes supporting said movable band on said airfoil structure by at least said first and second rollers. 
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein said fluid interface device is a first fluid interface device, and said method further comprises providing a plurality of fluid interface devices disposed in longitudinally spaced relation to one another in a lengthwise direction along said airfoil structure. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein forming said fluid interface device includes providing a plurality of movable bands disposed in longitudinally spaced relation to one another in a lengthwise direction alongside airfoil structure. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 39 , wherein positioning said edge extension includes positioning said edge extension along said airfoil structure such that said third longitudinal length of said edge extension spans two or more of said plurality of movable bands. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 23  further comprising installing said air foil assembly on an aircraft. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 23  further comprising installing said air foil assembly on a wind turbine.