Patent ID: 7258308

Claim:
An airfoil assembly, comprising: a first portion having a first leading edge, a first flow surface, a second flow surface facing opposite from the first flow surface, and a hinge support; a second portion having a trailing edge body, a leading edge body, a second leading edge and a trailing edge, at least part of the second leading edge being positioned aft of the first leading edge, the second portion being movable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position, wherein the second leading edge is separated from at least part of the first portion by an airflow gap when the second portion is in the second position, and wherein the second portion includes a flexible flow surface adjacent to the airflow gap and connected to the leading edge body, the flexible flow surface having a first shape when the second portion is in the first position, the flexible flow surface having a second shape different than the first shape when the second portion is in the second position; and a guide structure including a first pivot joint between the trailing edge body and the hinge support, a second pivot joint between the trailing edge body and the leading edge body, and a coupling link pivotably coupled between the hinge support and the leading edge body, wherein at least one pivot joint of the guide structure is coupled between the first portion and the second portion, and located at least approximately at or within a flow contour of the first and second portions.