Ingersoll-Rand Company, a major manufacturer of industrial compressed air equipment, steam turbines, and industrial machinery, supplied air compressors, air-driven tools, and industrial turbine equipment for US Navy shipboard and shore facility applications throughout the WWII and Cold War era. Ingersoll-Rand’s shipboard air compressor products — used for starting air for diesel engines, torpedo ejection, and general ship’s service compressed air — incorporated asbestos-containing gasket and valve materials in the compressor construction. Navy Machinist’s Mates performing air compressor overhaul operations — including cylinder head removals and valve plate replacements — worked with asbestos-containing gasket materials in Ingersoll-Rand compressor maintenance.

Asbestos in Ingersoll-Rand Products

Ingersoll-Rand’s compressed air equipment used asbestos in sealing components:

  • Air compressor cylinder head gaskets — the cylinder head gaskets in Ingersoll-Rand reciprocating air compressors used asbestos-containing compressed fiber gasket materials to seal the cylinder heads to the compressor block at the high-pressure compression chambers. Machinist’s Mates removing cylinder heads from Ingersoll-Rand compressors during overhaul operations encountered asbestos fiber from the compressed and deteriorated head gasket materials during removal, with new gasket installation releasing fiber from the replacement gasket material
  • Compressor valve plate gaskets — the valve plate assemblies in Ingersoll-Rand compressors used asbestos-containing gasket materials to seal the valve plates in the compressor valve ports. Valve plate removal during compressor maintenance released asbestos fiber from the valve gasket material at each service interval
  • Compressor discharge and suction connection gaskets — the connections between Ingersoll-Rand compressors and the ship’s compressed air distribution system used asbestos-containing pipe flange gaskets for sealing the high-pressure air connections

Ingersoll-Rand compressors appeared in Navy ship compressed air systems:

  • Ship’s service air system compressors — Navy surface ships and submarines maintained ship’s service compressed air systems for ship’s service applications, with Ingersoll-Rand and competitor compressors supplying the compressed air plants in these systems
  • Starting air compressors — diesel-powered ships and diesel generators aboard steam ships used compressed air starting systems with air compressors from Ingersoll-Rand and competitor manufacturers supplying starting air to diesel engine starting systems

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Ingersoll-Rand 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 and engineering ratings who performed air compressor overhauls using Ingersoll-Rand products with asbestos gasket materials and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.