What are bed slats?

Aerodynamically, slats work in the same way as fixed slots but slats can be retracted at higher speeds when they are not needed. Slats, in turn, are heavier and more complex than slots. At low angles of attack the airflow through the slot is insignificant, although it contributes to drag. At progressively higher angles of attack, the flow of air through the slot becomes increasingly significant, accelerating from the higher pressure region below the wing to the lower pressure region on top. Slats are installed vertically and precut to the height of the fence. Using a unique manufacturing process, the locking notch and top end of slats are a fixed distance, assuring a straight edge along the top of the slats. UV-inhibited thermoplastic designed slats will not fade, chip or discolor for 15 -years.

Slots Vs Slats For Full Size Bed

Mar 01, 2019 Answer: The slats on the leading edge of the wing allow the airplane to take off and land at lower speeds. When extended they alter the airflow so the wing can produce more lift at lower speed. Slats Versus Slots While moveable slats are found on large transport aircraft, slots are more common on smaller planes. A slot is a permanent opening in the front of the wing, so the relative wind has two possible paths to follow. During high-speed flight, with the nose level, the wind flows over the wing normally.

Slats are one type of bed frame base. They consist of a series of connected wooden planks or bars that stretch across the width of the bed in question. They are almost always made of solid, sturdy wood. There are two types of slats: solid and sprung, with sprung slats being slightly arched and made of a softer wood that can bend to a certain degree.

Purpose of bed slats

The general purpose of bed slats is to support your mattress, much like a box spring. However, they are also designed so that a box spring is not necessary, catering to those who feel that box springs are a waste of money and space. They’re commonly used in situations where a sleeper benefits from a supported mattress but does not want to invest in a bulky box spring.

Slots Vs Slats Vs

Read also: Do I Need A Boxspring If I Have Slats?

Do bed slats make a difference?

In short, yes. Bed slats do make a difference. The difference when compared to boxsprings specifically comes in when you consider that a slatted base is lighter, easier to maneuver, and cheaper than box springs. In terms of support, though, there isn’t too much of a difference unless your slats are unevenly or unfavorably spaced, or the material used to make your slats is not strong enough, in which case, the slats will not work properly.

How big should the gap between slats be?

There are no specific rules when it comes to slat spacing. In general, though, the closer the slats are together the more support you’ll have. Slat spacing should be 2”-4 ½” inches apart, with the sweet spot being 3 inches.

Types of bed slats

Slats are made of either wood or metal. Wood slats can be prone to bowing, whereas metal slats will not. Both are great options.

What is the best wood for bed slats?

Wooden slats can be made out of a variety of woods. This includes cherry, mahogany, and pine. Any wood that is easy to work with and relatively strong will do. Softwoods are not usually used to make slats, as they bend and bow and are not as resistant to pressure or weight.

Can you put a mattress on wood slats?

Yes, you can – but should you? This is debatable because it is physically possible to put a mattress onto slats, but it may compromise your bed’s support. Wood slats come in packages and are the most popular type of slats for resting a mattress on. Metal slats aren’t as flexible and are not as easy to arrange for optimal support, so they almost always need something between them and the mattress.

Question:
Can I remove the fixed leading edge slats of my STOL CH 701 and replace them with vortex generators (VGs)?:

The following short article is in answer to the above question asked to designer Chris Heintz on his opinion regarding the replacement of the wing leading edge slats with vortex generators (or VGs) on the STOL CH 701 (or CH 801):

By Chris Heintz

When you remove the wing’s leading-edge slats, the wing chord is decreased. This increases the wing loading as well as the aspect ratio:

• An increased wing loading will need a higher lift coefficient for the same flying speed (resulting in a higher angle of attack and thus limiting forward visibility).
• A larger aspect ratio will slightly decrease the induced drag of the wing
• Both together will have a very small drag decrease in cruise as the wing drag is only a part of the total airplane drag (and my STOL designs are not very “clean”), and the stall speed will be higher.

The airfoil of my STOL airplanes is relatively thick with an unusually large leading edge radius. On this type of airfoil vortex generators (also called micro-vortex generators, or VGs) add very little improvement with respect to the maximum lift coefficient (or stall speed). Without slats the high lift coefficient allowing take-offs is only achieved in ground effect (it is when the wheels are only 2 to 3 feet above the runway) so you have to accelerate at this low height before you can climb safely. By adding VGs you do not need as much speed to climb than without the slats, but with leading edge slats you can climb immediately after rotation (thereby maximizing the short field capability of the aircraft)

The same is also true when landing the aircraft:
The high sink rate (or lower glide ratio) of a STOL airplane allows it to land in a smaller area. This is best achieved with the leading edge wing slats:

A higher glide ratio increases the area required to land an aircraft in, and thus diminishes the STOL capability of an aircraft.

From a design standpoint, I have no objection to the removal of the leading edge slats (and their attachment brackets) and replacing them with VGs, but be aware that the take-off distance will be longer and the initial climb rate will not be as good (nor will your approaches over trees be as steep), and the cruise speed will only increase slightly. I added “STOL” to the name of the CH 701 and CH 801 designs right from the beginning so that it would be immediately obvious that the designs are made for short take-offs and landings (STOL), and replacing the slats with VGs diminishes the STOL capability of these designs.

Use of Vortex Generators:
The use of vortex generators is quite intriguing in its own right (as opposed to replacing the wing leading edge slats) and, when used properly, may improve the stall on small leading edge radius airfoils (so-called laminar airfoils) by “pumping” energy from the free airstream into the boundary layer which will then separate at a higher angle of attack, and the airfoil will have a larger maximum lift coefficient, thus reducing the stall speed.

Note also that because of the above-mentioned “energizing” of the boundary layer with the use of VGs, the local stall can be delayed on a large deflection of a control surface, as illustrated below on the STOL elevator:

STOL CH 701 and CH 801 Horizontal Tail Sections (side view)

To better understand why (and how) I designed my STOL airplanes the way that I did, I wrote that following article a few years ago: “Anatomy of a STOL Airplane”

Note: It’s my experience that those individuals claiming great “cure-all” results with VGs are also the very same people that are trying to sell them to you, so I’m somewhat skeptical of their claims.

© Chris Heintz, 2007

Related Article: Anatomy of a STOL Aircraft:Designing a Modern Short Take-Off and Landing Aircraft.

Click here to read other Chris Heintz design articles.

Slots Vs Slats Double

Additional resources about vortex generators:

Slots Vs Slats