Leading edge high-lift device

Abstract

A leading edge high-lift device, that may be deployable from a wing of an aircraft, may include a leading edge and a trailing edge. A lower surface and an upper surface may both extend between the leading edge and the trailing edge. A trailing edge region may be defined by the trailing edge and an adjacent region thereto. A shaping device may be disposed at the trailing edge region and may be movable between a non-activated position and an activated position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A leading edge high-lift device deployable from a wing of an aircraft, the leading edge high-lift device comprising:
 a leading edge;   a trailing edge;   a lower surface and an upper surface both extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge;   a trailing edge region being defined by the trailing edge and an adjacent region thereto; and   a shaping device disposed at the trailing edge region, the shaping device moveable between a non-activated position and an activated position.   
     
     
         2 . The leading edge high-lift device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaping device includes a curved profile in the activated position. 
     
     
         3 . The leading edge high-lift device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaping device is a shape metal actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The leading edge high-lift device of  claim 3 , wherein the trailing edge includes a saw tooth profile. 
     
     
         5 . The leading edge high-lift device of  claim 3 , wherein the trailing edge includes a serrated profile. 
     
     
         6 . The leading edge high-lift device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaping device is hingedly coupled to the lower surface at the trailing edge region. 
     
     
         7 . The leading edge high-lift device of  claim 6 , wherein the shaping device engages a stop in the activated position. 
     
     
         8 . The leading edge high-lift device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface includes an acoustic treatment. 
     
     
         9 . An aircraft, the aircraft comprising:
 a wing including a fixed wing section;   a leading edge high-lift device in mechanical association with the fixed wing section, the leading edge high-lift device movable between a retracted position and a deployed position relative to the fixed wing section; and   a shaping device disposed at a trailing edge region of the leading edge high-lift device, the shaping device movable between a non-activated position and an activated position.   
     
     
         10 . The aircraft of  claim 9 , wherein the shaping device is a shape metal actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The aircraft of  claim 10 , wherein the fixed wing section is retractably coupled to the shaping device via a retractable conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The aircraft of  claim 11 , wherein the retractable conduit is in operative association with the shaping device to selectively deliver heat thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The aircraft of  claim 12 , wherein the heat delivered to the shaping device is one of hot air and electric heating. 
     
     
         14 . The aircraft of  claim 12 , wherein the shaping device includes a curved profile in the activated position via the selectively delivered heat thereto. 
     
     
         15 . The aircraft of  claim 9 , wherein the shaping device is hingedly coupled to a lower surface of the leading edge high-lift device at the trailing edge region. 
     
     
         16 . The aircraft of  claim 9 , wherein the leading edge high-lift device is one of a Krueger slat and a translating slat. 
     
     
         17 . A method of reducing noise generated at a trailing edge of a leading edge high-lift device, the method comprising:
 deploying the leading edge high-lift device from a retracted position; and   activating a shaping device disposed at a trailing edge region of the leading edge high-lift device to extend noise generation further downstream and provide wing shielding for flyover noise.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein activating the shaping device includes delivering hot air to the shaping device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein activating the shaping device includes delivering electric heating to the shaping device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein activating the shaping device includes activating the shaping device via aerodynamic forces.