Method and apparatus are provided for reducing vibration in bearings.
There are provided first and second bearing rings with races, rotating
members rollingly engaging both first and second bearing races, a cage
for aligning the rotating members between the first and second bearing
races, and vibration reduction means coupled to the cage. The vibration
reduction means preferably comprises one or more resonant spring-mass
combinations mounted in or on the cage. Damping means is preferably
included with the resonant spring-mass combinations. The resonant
frequencies of the unmodified bearing cage are first determined and then
the spring-mass combinations tuned so that the spring-mass combinations
when attached to the cage absorb vibrational energy that would otherwise
excite cage vibrations. By selecting the type of spring-mass combination
different vibrational modes can be suppressed and/or controlled.