Caterpillar Inc.

Benjamin J Bargfrede

Thomas J Yaniak

Chetan Vilas Dahiwal

Timothy F Nusz

Scott A Johnston

Michael Alan Pershing

Swetha Suresh

Akilan Appavu

Gary C Yerby

Todd M Blindt

Roller cone drill bits and methods of increasing the wear resistance of a roller cone drill bit are disclosed. The roller cone drill bit includes a plurality of rolling elements within a bearing assembly of a cone. Each rolling element of the plurality of rolling elements may have a surface hardness of HRC 59-63, a hardened depth that is 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm deep, and may be derived from a low carbon bearing steel material. The hardened depth is measured from the surface of each rolling element and the low carbon bearing steel material has, by weight percent, from 0.12% to 0.25% carbon.

Bearing materials for tricone bit rolling elements

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

Benjamin J Bargfrede