Crane Co., headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, was one of the largest and most historically significant manufacturers of industrial valves, pipe fittings, and fluid handling products in the United States throughout the twentieth century. Crane supplied the United States Navy with gate valves, globe valves, angle valves, check valves, butterfly valves, and steam trap assemblies for installation in shipboard steam propulsion plants, auxiliary steam systems, and fresh water distribution systems aboard destroyers, cruisers, carriers, and auxiliary ships. Crane valves were specified for Navy steam system applications requiring reliable high-pressure, high-temperature valve performance throughout the Cold War period. According to asbestos litigation records, Crane Co. valves supplied for Navy steam system applications incorporated asbestos-containing braided packing in valve stem stuffing boxes and asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at valve body-to-bonnet flange connections, creating exposure for Machinist’s Mates and Pipe Fitters who maintained steam system valve assemblies in naval vessel engineering spaces.

Crane Valve Asbestos

Crane valves incorporated asbestos in valve sealing components:

  • Valve stem stuffing box packing — Crane gate valves, globe valves, and angle valves supplied for Navy steam system applications incorporated asbestos-containing braided packing in the valve stem stuffing boxes sealing the valve stem at the valve body exit. Machinist’s Mates repacking Crane valve stem stuffing boxes in naval vessel engineering spaces removed and replaced the asbestos-containing stem packing material during each valve repacking operation, with direct handling of worn asbestos packing during removal releasing asbestos fiber in the engineering space
  • Valve body-to-bonnet gaskets — Crane globe valves and gate valves incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the valve body-to-bonnet flange face. Machinist’s Mates removing Crane valve bonnets for disc inspection, seat grinding, or internal valve maintenance encountered and replaced the asbestos-containing body-to-bonnet gasket material during each valve disassembly operation
  • Steam trap body gaskets — Crane steam trap assemblies used in steam distribution systems aboard Navy ships incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the steam trap body connections and cover flanges. Machinist’s Mates servicing steam traps in ship’s steam distribution systems encountered asbestos-containing gasket materials at steam trap connections during steam system maintenance

Crane Pipe Fitting Asbestos

Crane pipe fittings and flanged connections incorporated asbestos gasket materials:

  • Flanged pipe fitting face gaskets — Crane flanged elbows, tees, reducers, and other pipe fittings used in Navy steam piping systems required asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at flanged connection faces. Machinist’s Mates making up and breaking flanged piping joints at Crane pipe fittings in naval vessel engineering spaces handled asbestos-containing flange gasket materials during piping maintenance and pipe replacement operations

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Crane Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy valve and piping maintenance. Machinist’s Mates who performed steam system valve maintenance on Crane Co. valve installations in naval vessel engineering spaces and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.