Method for balancing a movable member and member formed thereby

1 . A method for balancing a movable member of an article of manufacture, the method comprising:

providing a movable member;

determining an imbalance of the movable member about at least one point; and

applying a weighted adhesive to the member to counter the imbalance.

2 . A method as in claim 1 wherein the member is selected from an axle, a pulley, a propeller, a propeller shaft, a wheel or a flywheel.

3 . A method as in claim 1 wherein the article of manufacture is selected from a lawn mower, an appliance, a transportation vehicle, a pulley system, a weed whacker, a press, a drill or a saw.

4 . A method as in claim 1 wherein the movable member is configured to rotate about at least one point upon assembly to the article of manufacture.

5 . A method as in claim 1 wherein the member is a driveshaft, the article of manufacture is an automotive vehicle and the imbalance is determined by a balancer.

6 . A method as in claim 1 wherein the adhesive includes a substantial weight percentage of one or more dense ingredients.

7 . A method as in claim 6 wherein the adhesive includes one or more polymeric materials and one or more curing agents.

8 . A method as in claim 7 wherein the adhesive includes a polymeric resin selected from an epoxy based resin or a polyurethane resin.

9 . A method as in claim 8 wherein the dense ingredients are provided as particulate matter and the dense ingredients include a metal selected from steel, iron, tungsten, aluminum, silver, gold, tin, lead or mercury.

10 . A method as in claim 8 wherein the one or more dense ingredients include tungsten.

11 . A method as in claim 6 wherein the one or more dense ingredients have density of at least about 8 grams/cm 3 .

12 . A method as in claim 1 wherein the weighted adhesive has a density of at least about 2 grams/cm 3 .

13 . A method for balancing a driveshaft of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a driveshaft of an automotive vehicle wherein the driveshaft has an axis of rotation about which the driveshaft is configured to rotate about upon assembly to an automotive vehicle;

determining an imbalance of the driveshaft by loading the driveshaft to a balancer wherein:

i) the balancer rotates the driveshaft about the axis of rotation;

ii) the balancer detects one or more imbalances of the driveshaft; and

iii) the balancer indicates one or more target locations upon the driveshaft to which counterweight should be added to counter the one or more imbalances;

applying a weighted adhesive to the one or more target locations to counter the one or more imbalances.

14 . A method as in claim 13 wherein the adhesive includes a substantial weight percentage of one or more dense ingredients.

15 . A method as in claim 13 wherein the adhesive includes a epoxy-based polymer resin and one or more curing agents.

16 . A method as in claim 14 wherein the dense ingredients are provided as particulate matter and the dense ingredients include a metal selected from steel, iron, tungsten, aluminum, silver, gold, tin, lead or mercury.

17 . A method as in claim 14 wherein the one or more dense ingredients include tungsten.

18 . A method as in claim 14 wherein the one or more dense ingredients have density of at least about 8 grams/cm 3 and the weighted adhesive has a density of at least about 2 grams/cm 3 .

19 . A method for balancing a driveshaft of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a driveshaft of an automotive vehicle wherein the driveshaft has an axis of rotation about which the driveshaft is configured to rotate about upon assembly to an automotive vehicle;

determining an imbalance of the driveshaft by loading the driveshaft to a balancer wherein:

i) the balancer rotates the driveshaft about the axis of rotation;

ii) the balancer detects one or more imbalances of the driveshaft; and

iii) the balancer indicates one or more target locations upon the driveshaft to which counterweight should be added to counter the one or more imbalances;

iv) the balancer also provides an indication of how much counterweight is needed to counter the one or more imbalances;

applying a weighted adhesive to the one or more target locations based upon the indication of how much counterweight is needed to counter the one or more imbalances, wherein:

i) the adhesive includes a substantial weight percentage of one or more dense ingredients;

ii) the adhesive includes one or more polymeric materials and one or more curing agents;

iii) the adhesive include a polymeric resin selected from an epoxy based resin or a polyurethane resin;

iv) the one or more dense ingredients include tungsten;

v) the one or more dense ingredients have density of at least about 8 grams/cm 3 ; and

vi) the weighted adhesive has a density of at least about 2 grams/cm 3 .

20 . A method as in claim 19 wherein the driveshaft is formed of a composite material that includes fiber windings impregnated in a matrix material.

21 . A method as in claim 20 wherein the driveshaft is part of a driveshaft assembly that includes a yolk and a constant velocity joint.