Feb 3, 2026

US12540804 - Drag reduction fin deployment mechanism

A projectile having a body that includes a nose, a tail opposite to the nose, a chamber defined between the tail and the nose, and a longitudinal axis defined between the nose and the tail. The projectile also includes a payload stored in the chamber of the body, and a propulsion system equipped with the body. The projectile also includes a fin assembly operably engaged with the body between the nose and the tail and is positioned outside of the chamber, wherein a fin of the fin assembly is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, the fin is stowed completely between the nose and the tail. In the deployed position, a portion of the fin extends away from the nose or from the tail.

Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
Inventors: Matthew M. Hall, Jack T. Nigro, Elizabeth A. Deloia, Ross J. Wendell, Richard N. Jorgenson
Filing date: 2024-09-20

projectilemechanismdeploymentfindryicefogdefensesprayselfdefense

The patent describes a projectile featuring a moveable fin assembly that can transition between stowed and deployed positions, enhancing aerodynamic performance. The fin is designed to be housed within the projectile’s body when stowed and extends outwardly when deployed, utilizing a biasing mechanism to facilitate this movement.

Claim 1

1 . A projectile, comprising: a body having a nose, a tail opposite to the nose, a chamber defined between the tail and the nose, and a longitudinal axis defined between the nose and the tail; a payload stored in the chamber of the body; a propulsion system equipped with the body; and a fin assembly operably engaged with the body between the nose and the tail and is positioned outside of the chamber, the fin assembly comprising: a fin having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein the fin is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position; a pivot member pivotably engaging the first end of the fin with a base of the fin assembly formed with the body; a biaser operably engaged with the fin and the base, wherein the biaser is configured to apply a biasing force on the fin to pivot the fin from the stowed position to the deployed position; and a slot defined between a top end of the base and a bottom end operably engaged with the body and being opposite to the top end, wherein the biaser and a portion of the fin are housed inside of the slot; wherein when the fin is in the stowed position, the fin is stowed completely between the nose and the tail; wherein when the fin is in the deployed position, a portion of the fin extends away from the nose or from the tail; a retaining pin operably engaging the base and a first end of the biaser with one another; and an anchor extending outwardly from the fin and operably engaging a second end of the biaser and the fin with one another. a body having a nose, a tail opposite to the nose, a chamber defined between the tail and the nose, and a longitudinal axis defined between the nose and the tail; a payload stored in the chamber of the body; a propulsion system equipped with the body; and a fin assembly operably engaged with the body between the nose and the tail and is positioned outside of the chamber, the fin assembly comprising: a fin having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein the fin is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position; a pivot member pivotably engaging the first end of the fin with a base of the fin assembly formed with the body; a biaser operably engaged with the fin and the base, wherein the biaser is configured to apply a biasing force on the fin to pivot the fin from the stowed position to the deployed position; and a slot defined between a top end of the base and a bottom end operably engaged with the body and being opposite to the top end, wherein the biaser and a portion of the fin are housed inside of the slot; wherein when the fin is in the stowed position, the fin is stowed completely between the nose and the tail; wherein when the fin is in the deployed position, a portion of the fin extends away from the nose or from the tail; a retaining pin operably engaging the base and a first end of the biaser with one another; and an anchor extending outwardly from the fin and operably engaging a second end of the biaser and the fin with one another.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12540804

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12540804