Hardie-Tynes Manufacturing Company, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, manufactured reciprocating air compressors and high-pressure air charging systems for naval and industrial applications throughout the mid-twentieth century. Hardie-Tynes air compressors were installed aboard United States Navy vessels for diesel engine starting air systems, torpedo air flask charging systems, and general service compressed air systems requiring the high-pressure air used throughout the ship’s pneumatic systems. According to asbestos litigation records, Hardie-Tynes reciprocating air compressor cylinder assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing gasket materials at cylinder head joints and valve cover flanges, creating exposure for Machinist’s Mates who performed compressor cylinder head and valve maintenance in naval vessel engineering and torpedo spaces.

Air Compressor Cylinder Gasket Asbestos

Hardie-Tynes compressor assemblies incorporated asbestos in cylinder joint gaskets:

  • Cylinder head gasket removal and replacement — Hardie-Tynes reciprocating air compressor cylinder heads incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the cylinder head-to-cylinder barrel joint faces. Machinist’s Mates removing Hardie-Tynes compressor cylinder heads for valve plate inspection and replacement, cylinder inspection, or piston ring replacement encountered and disturbed the asbestos-containing cylinder head gasket material during each cylinder head removal operation
  • Valve cover flange gaskets — the valve cover access flanges on Hardie-Tynes compressor cylinder heads incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the valve cover joint faces. Machinist’s Mates performing compressor valve maintenance — removing valve covers for suction and discharge valve plate inspection and replacement — encountered asbestos gasket materials at the valve cover joint faces during compressor valve maintenance operations
  • Intercooler and aftercooler connection gaskets — the intercooler and aftercooler heat exchangers serving multi-stage Hardie-Tynes compressors incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at cooler connection flanges. Machinist’s Mates performing compressor cooling system maintenance encountered asbestos gasket materials at intercooler and aftercooler connection flanges during compressor cooling system service

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Hardie-Tynes Products

VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Machinist’s Mates who performed air compressor maintenance on Hardie-Tynes installations in naval vessel engineering spaces and torpedo spaces and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.