Patent ID: 7594625

Claim:
A proprotor blade comprising: a proprotor airfoil for a tiltrotor aircraft having an inboard end and an opposing outboard end, an upper airfoil surface and an opposing lower airfoil surface, and a leading edge and an opposing trailing edge, wherein the inboard end is adapted for coupling to a rotor hub; a recessed portion disposed proximate the inboard end of the airfoil in the leading edge; a fixed slat having an inboard end and an opposing outboard end, the slat being disposed over the recessed portion forming a leading edge slot passing from the lower airfoil surface to the upper airfoil surface; a structural member disposed at the inboard end of the airfoil; and a tension/shear joint for coupling the inboard end of the slat to the structural member; whereby centrifugal force loads are transmitted from the slat to the airfoil only through the structural member.