Deployment mechanism of a projectile fin

Abstract

A mechanism is described for attaching a fin to a projectile and for deploying the fin from a stowed position to a deployed position. In the stowed position the fin is parallel to a centrally located axis which extends from the front portion to the rear portion of the projectile. A mounting which is disposed in a bearing and to which the fin is attached permits pivoting of the fin and deployment of the fin in two phases. During the first phase the fin moves from the stowed position to a semideployed positions by rotation in the bearing about an axis normal to the projectile's centrally located axis. During the second phase the fin moves from the semideployed position to the deployed position by pivoting relative to the mounting.