Mike ...... I have build several planes with the configuration shown below. They were, as far as I know, the idea of a fellow Houston flyer Charles Hofacker. He had them on a fairly heavy diesel powered plane and I was impressed by it. I flew it and was amazed at the powerful turn in the tops of hourglasses. We decided to call them Hofflappers.
I made a model of them for my garage wind tunnel. The results are shown below. With a piece of tape over the gap, the flow over the flap separates, but with the gap open to function as a slotted flap, the flap flow is attached and produces more lift. There is some sailing data on similar items.