Patents by Inventor Peter O. Sorensen

Peter O. Sorensen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11104459
    Abstract: Capture assemblies and compliant extension assemblies may be utilized for insertion into a nozzle of a liquid engine of a spacecraft. The capture assembly may include an apparatus such as a probe for insertion into the nozzle and an assembly at least partially enclosed in a forward portion of the probe. The assembly may include a plurality of actuated fingers for deploying outwardly from the probe when the probe is inserted into the nozzle. The compliant extension assembly may be at least partially enclosed in a housing connected to the capture assembly for axial movement of the probe. The compliant extension assembly may facilitate axial movement of the probe between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the probe is extended forwardly, relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Peter O. Sorensen, Matthew Alan Michel, William A. Llorens, David M. Murphy, Jeffrey Braden, Michael Edward McEachen, Michael Foster
  • Publication number: 20180297723
    Abstract: Capture assemblies and compliant extension assemblies may be utilized for insertion into a nozzle of a liquid engine of a spacecraft. The capture assembly may include an apparatus such as a probe for insertion into the nozzle and an assembly at least partially enclosed in a forward portion of the probe. The assembly may include a plurality of actuated fingers for deploying outwardly from the probe when the probe is inserted into the nozzle. The compliant extension assembly may be at least partially enclosed in a housing connected to the capture assembly for axial movement of the probe. The compliant extension assembly may facilitate axial movement of the probe between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the probe is extended forwardly, relative to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Peter O. Sorensen, Matthew Alan Michel, William A. Llorens, David M. Murphy, Jeffrey Braden, Michael Edward McEachen, Michael Foster
  • Patent number: 6279173
    Abstract: A toilet ventilation device includes a housing that defines an air inlet aperture and an air outlet aperture. Within the housing are an air movement apparatus for drawing air into the device, a filter for removing malodorous elements in the air, and a radar sensor for activating the air movement apparatus in response to the presence of a user and, optionally, deactivating the air movement apparatus when the user leaves. The toilet ventilation device is configured and arranged to draw air, using the air movement apparatus, from the toilet, through the air inlet aperture, into contact with the filter, and out the air outlet aperture. In one embodiment, the toilet ventilation device is disposed over the overflow conduit of the toilet to draw air from the bowl of the toilet, through the overflow conduit, and into the toilet ventilation device. The entire toilet ventilation device is preferably disposed within a tank of a toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: D2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Michael J. Merritt, Fred Judson Heinzmann, Kyle L. Petrich, Jennifer A. Schlee, John F. Larkin, Erik C. Lincicum, Peter O. Sorensen