Aluminum driveshaft with balancing composition

• US 4,998,448 A
• Filed: 07/03/1990
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC (Dana, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dana Corporation (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, William P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): KOZMA, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US07/457,376
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 74/572-574, 301/5 B, 301/5 BA, 51/169, 156/330
• US Class Current: 464/180
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/003 Balancing means attached to the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/06 Drive shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/32 Correcting- or balancing-weights or equivalent means for balancing rotating bodies, e.g. vehicle wheels suppression of vibrations in rotating systems by using freely rotating masses F16F15/14; compensation of inertia forces F16F15/22; compensating unbalance for testing purposes G01M1/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/322 the rotating body being a shaft F16F15/34, F16F15/36 take precedence

Abstract

A balanced aluminum driveshaft includes a driveshaft, which is adapted to rotate in service about an axis therethrough but which is unbalanced relative to rotation about the axis, and a balancing composition for balancing the driveshaft. The balancing composition includes a polymer carrier of an adhesive composition which is cured by the application of ultraviolet light and a particulate material having a density higher than the adhesive composition dispersed therein. The particulate material includes metal particles having a particle size in the range of 0.080 to 0.120 inches and comprising 90% to 94% of said balancing composition by weight. Predetermined amounts of the balancing composition are adhered at selected locations on the outer surface of the driveshaft to balance the article for rotation about the axis.

Claims

1. An article comprising an aluminum driveshaft which is adapted to rotate in service about an axis through the driveshaft, but is unbalanced relative to rotation about the axis, and balancing means comprising a polymer carrier cured by the application of ultraviolet light of an adhesive composition and a particulate material having a density higher than said adhesive composition dispersed therein, said particulate material including metal particles having a particle size in the range of 0.080 to 0.120 inches and comprising 90% to 94% of said balancing means by weight, predetermined amounts of said balancing means being adhered at selected locations on the outer surface of the driveshaft to balance the article for rotation about the axis.

2. A mechanical component according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive composition includes a thermoset resin.

3. A mechanical component according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive composition includes a thermoplastic resin.

4. A mechanical component according to claim 1 wherein said metal particles comprise one of steel and lead shot.

5. A mechanical component according to claim 1 wherein said metal particles have a particle size in the range of 0.090 to 0.110 inches and comprise 90.5% to 93.5% of said balancing means by weight.

6. A mechanical component according to claim 1 wherein said metal particles have a particle size in the range of 0.095 to 0.105 inches and comprise 91% to 93% of said balancing means by weight.

7. A balanced aluminum driveshaft comprising:

an aluminum driveshaft which is adapted to rotate in service about an axis through the driveshaft, but is unbalanced relative to rotation about the axis; and

balancing means adhered at selected locations to the outer surface of said driveshaft for balancing it for rotation about the axis, said balancing means including a polymer carrier of an adhesive composition having a particulate material dispersed therein, said particulate material having a density higher than said adhesive composition and including metal particles having a particle size in the range of 0.080 to 0.120 inches and comprising 90% to 94% of said balancing means by weight.

8. A balanced aluminum driveshaft according to claim 7 wherein said adhesive composition includes a thermoset resin.

9. A balanced aluminum driveshaft according to claim 7 wherein said adhesive composition includes a thermoplastic resin.

10. A balanced aluminum driveshaft according to claim 7 wherein said metal particles comprise one of steel and lead shot.

11. A balanced aluminum driveshaft according to claim 7 wherein said metal particles have a particle size in the range of 0.090 to 0.110 inches and comprise 90.5% to 93.5% of said balancing means by weight.

12. A balanced aluminum driveshaft according to claim 7 wherein said metal particles have a particle size in the range of 0.095 to 0.105 inches and comprise 91% to 93% of said balancing means by weight.