May 19, 2026

US12631432 - Deployable flap for high-g maneuvers

A tail for a projectile includes a body having a longitudinal axis. A steering assembly is secured to the body. The steering assembly includes a flap movable from a first position in which the flap does not extend radially beyond the body to a second position in which the flap extends radially beyond the body and at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and a flap release mechanism. A projectile including a tail according to the present disclosure is also provided.

Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
Inventors: Glenn Richard Thoren, William Whitcomb McFarland, Rebecca Ann DeFronzo, Stephen Louis Bellio, Jesse M. Carr, Jeffery Brandon DeLisio, Gregory M. Fritz, Sean George
Filing date: 2025-02-28

projectileflapsteeringmechanism

The patent describes a tail for a projectile that features a steering assembly with a fixed flap and a deployable flap, which can move between two positions to enhance maneuverability. The design includes a flap release mechanism that allows the deployable flap to extend radially beyond the fixed flap, improving the projectile’s performance during high-g maneuvers.

Claim 1

1 . A tail for a projectile, the tail comprising: a body having a longitudinal axis; and a steering assembly secured to the body, including: a fixed flap having an inclined surface defined at a constant angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the inclined surface extending from flush with the body at one end along the longitudinal axis of the body, and raised radially with respect to the body at another end, the fixed flap defining a recess therein; a deployable flap translatable from a first position in the recess in which the deployable flap does not extend radially beyond the fixed flap to a second position in which the deployable flap extends radially beyond the fixed flap in a direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the body, the deployable flap having a front surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the deployable flap, normal to the longitudinal axis of the body, and oriented perpendicular to the inclined surface of the fixed flap; and a flap release mechanism. a body having a longitudinal axis; and a steering assembly secured to the body, including: a fixed flap having an inclined surface defined at a constant angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the inclined surface extending from flush with the body at one end along the longitudinal axis of the body, and raised radially with respect to the body at another end, the fixed flap defining a recess therein; a deployable flap translatable from a first position in the recess in which the deployable flap does not extend radially beyond the fixed flap to a second position in which the deployable flap extends radially beyond the fixed flap in a direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the body, the deployable flap having a front surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the deployable flap, normal to the longitudinal axis of the body, and oriented perpendicular to the inclined surface of the fixed flap; and a flap release mechanism. a fixed flap having an inclined surface defined at a constant angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the inclined surface extending from flush with the body at one end along the longitudinal axis of the body, and raised radially with respect to the body at another end, the fixed flap defining a recess therein; a deployable flap translatable from a first position in the recess in which the deployable flap does not extend radially beyond the fixed flap to a second position in which the deployable flap extends radially beyond the fixed flap in a direction that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the body, the deployable flap having a front surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the deployable flap, normal to the longitudinal axis of the body, and oriented perpendicular to the inclined surface of the fixed flap; and a flap release mechanism.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12631432

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12631432