Thrust vectoring mechanism

A combination, comprising:

• an aircraft defining an outlet for discharging a working fluid to produce thrust;
• a rod;
• a plurality of vanes each coupled across said outlet to pivot about a respective one of a number of pivot axes to provide thrust vectoring;
• and
• a plurality of toothed drive members each fixed in relation to a corresponding one of said vanes, said toothed drive members being spaced along said rod and being operable to pivot each of said corresponding one of said vanes in response to movement of said rod, with said vanes each turning a different angular amount relative to said respective one of said pivot axes.

A combination, comprising:

• an aircraft defining an outlet for discharging a working fluid to produce thrust;
• four or more vanes pivotably coupled across said outlet to provide thrust vectoring;
• and
• a rod rotatable to pivot said vanes in accordance with threading defined along said rod.

A combination, comprising:

• an aircraft defining a n outlet for discharging a working fluid to produce thrust;
• a plurality of vanes each coupled across said outlet to provide thrust vectoring;
• a plurality of vane control members each corresponding to one of s aid vanes;
• and
• a rod having a longitudinal axis and threadingly engaging each of said vane control members spaced therealong, said vane control members each causing a corresponding one of said vanes to pivot in response to movement of said rod.

A method, comprising:

• providing an aircraft defining an outlet for discharging a working fluid to produce thrust;
• positioning a plurality of vanes across the outlet, the vanes each being pivotable about a respective one of a plurality of pivot axes;
• and
• controlling pivoting of each of the vanes by turning a rod about a rotational axis, the pivot axes of the vanes each crossing the rotational axis of the rod.