Patents by Inventor William S. Niaura

William S. Niaura 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).

  • Publication number: 20240218165
    Abstract: A method for forming a polymer-filler composite having advantageous bound filler content, the method comprising (a) providing a guayule cement; (b) introducing particulate filler to the guayule cement to form a solution masterbatch; and (c) desolventizing the solution masterbatch to form a polymer-filler composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2024
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Michael R. HARTZELL, Robert W. WHITE, Piotr KOZMINSKI, Mark N. DEDECKER, Erin SHEEPWASH, Yingyi HUANG, William S. NIAURA
  • Patent number: 11932759
    Abstract: A method for forming a polymer-filler composite having advantageous bound filler content, the method comprising (a) providing a guayule cement; (b) introducing particulate filler to the guayule cement to form a solution masterbatch; and (c) desolventizing the solution masterbatch to form a polymer-filler composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Hartzell, Robert W. White, Piotr Kozminski, Mark N. Dedecker, Erin Sheepwash, Yingyi Huang, William S. Niaura
  • Publication number: 20220048324
    Abstract: A web structure for a non-pneumatic tire includes a first corrugated ring having a first plurality of peaks and a first plurality of valleys. The first corrugated ring is a metal ring. The web structure further includes a second corrugated ring having a second plurality of peaks and a second plurality of valleys. The second corrugated ring is a metal ring. The second plurality of valleys are affixed to the first plurality of peaks by brazing or welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventor: William S. Niaura
  • Patent number: 7380799
    Abstract: An adjustable vehicle suspension system includes a plurality of damping members and an air spring operatively associated with each of the damping members. The suspension system also includes a compressed air source, a valve assembly, and a controller. The compressed air source is in fluid communication with each of the air springs. The valve assembly is operatively disposed between the compressed air source and each of the air springs. The controller is operatively associated with the valve assembly for selective activation thereof. A user can selectively adjust one of a damping rate of the damping members, a spring rate of the air springs, and a ride height of the air springs, such as by using a control panel. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: BFS Diversified Products, LLC
    Inventors: William S. Niaura, Dean R. Tener, Christopher R. Monroe, David J. Mickler, Graham R. Brookes
  • Patent number: 6460662
    Abstract: A vibration damping device is mounted between two spaced portions of a vehicle for absorbing road forces exerted on the vehicle. A cylindrical housing forms an internal piston chamber and is connected at one end to one portion of the vehicle, with an outer end of the rod of a piston which is slidably mounted within the piston chamber, being connected to another portion of the vehicle. A fluid transfer duct is formed between the housing and piston and provides communication between fluid subchambers formed on opposite sides of the piston within the piston chamber. An electrode is attached to either the housing or piston for applying a voltage across the duct to affect the rheological response of an electrorheological (ER) fluid flowing therethrough to provide a controllable mechanism to modify the damping force characteristics of the device. Each end of the piston rod is slidably supported by a slide bushing assembly which is mounted within an end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: BFS Diversified Products, LLC
    Inventors: William S. Niaura, Peyman Pakdel
  • Patent number: 6352143
    Abstract: A vibration damping system for absorbing shock loads includes a hydraulic damper containing a piston slidably reciprocating within an oil filled chamber and dividing the chamber into a pair of subchambers. A hydraulic motor is in fluid communication with and located between the subchambers and is controlled by a field responsive fluid, such as an electrorheological (ER) actuated device. The hydraulic motor transforms fluid motion into rotating motion by a pair of meshing gears. The ER device is a flow cell and is connected to a shaft of one or both of the meshing gears. The magnitude of an electric field applied to the ER fluid controls the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid passing through the hydraulic motor by controlling the resistive force to the rotary motion of the gears. A plurality of check valves controls the direction of flow of the hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic motor and the subchambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Niaura, Peyman Pakdel
  • Publication number: 20020020593
    Abstract: A vibration damping device is mounted between two spaced portions of a vehicle for absorbing road forces exerted on the vehicle. A cylindrical housing forms an internal piston chamber and is connected at one end to one portion of the vehicle, with an outer end of the rod of a piston which is slidably mounted within the piston chamber, being connected to another portion of the vehicle. A fluid transfer duct is formed between the housing and piston and provides communication between fluid subchambers formed on opposite sides of the piston within the piston chamber. An electrode is attached to either the housing or piston for applying a voltage across the duct to affect the rheological response of an electrorheological (ER) fluid flowing therethrough to provide a controllable mechanism to modify the damping force characteristics of the device. Each end of the piston rod is slidably supported by a slide bushing assembly which is mounted within an end of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: William S. Niaura, Peyman Pakdel
  • Patent number: 6318521
    Abstract: A vibration damping device is mounted between two spaced portions of a vehicle for absorbing road forces exerted on the vehicle. A cylindrical housing forms an internal piston chamber and is connected at one end to one portion of the vehicle, with an outer end of the rod of a piston which is slidably mounted within the piston chamber, being connected to another portion of the vehicle. A fluid transfer duct is formed between the housing and piston and provides communication between fluid subchambers formed on opposite sides of the piston within the piston chamber. An electrode is attached to either the housing or piston for applying a voltage across the duct to affect the rheological response of an electrorheological (ER) fluid flowing therethrough to provide a controllable mechanism to modify the damping force characteristics of the device. Each end of the piston rod is slidably supported by a slide bushing assembly which is mounted within an end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Niaura, Peyman Pakdel
  • Patent number: 5588509
    Abstract: A vibration damping device for mounting between two spaced portions of a vehicle. An inner metal cylindrical housing forms an internal piston chamber and is connected at one end to the vehicle, with a piston which is slidably mounted within the piston chamber, being connected to another portion of the vehicle. An outer housing surrounds a portion of the inner housing and forms a fluid duct or flow channel between fluid chambers formed on opposite sides of the piston. An electrode is mounted in the fluid duct for applying a voltage across the duct to affect the viscosity of an electrorheological (ER) fluid flowing therethrough to increase the damping force of the device. The electrode includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced splines and intervening grooves extending longitudinally along the fluid duct. The bottom portions of the grooves have a decreased electric field applied thereto than do the splines, providing bleed grooves or leak paths for the ER fluid to decrease the shear-rate of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Weitzenhof, Isao Watanabe, Carmen S. Santa Maria, William S. Niaura, Gareth H. McKinley