Patent ID: 7475853

Claim:
An external fluid flow regulator incorporated into the surface of an object for regulating pressure gradients and influencing fluid flow across said surface, said regulator comprising: a removeably attached fluid flow regulator comprising: a leading edge comprising a surface capable of receiving a fluid thereon; an pressure recovery drop orthogonally disposed relative to the leading edge that extends a pre-determined distance away from said leading edge and said fluid and its flow, wherein said pressure recovery drop comprises at least one drop face therein, said at least one drop face having a pre-determined height, wherein the height of a drop face varies along the length of a given drop face, and wherein the drop face further comprises a length of a blended segment which transitions between the variable heights along the length of a given drop face said pressure recovery drop functions to regulate existing pressure gradients along said surface to optimize and equalize said fluid flow, wherein said regulation of said pressure gradients positively influences the flow properties and behavior of said fluid across said surface of said object, and the performance of said object subject to said fluid flow; a sub-atmospheric barrier that is suddenly generated as said fluid encounters and flows over said pressure recovery drop, said sub-atmospheric barrier comprising a low pressure area of fluid molecules having decreased kinetic energy that serve as a cushion between said higher kinetic energy fluid molecules in said fluid and the molecules at said surface to facilitate laminar flow and assist in the reduction of the separation potential of said fluid; and a trailing edge orthogonally disposed relative to the recovery drop that defines and extends from the base of said pressure recovery drop that provides a trailing flow boundary for said fluid.