John Crane Inc., headquartered in Morton Grove, Illinois, was one of the leading manufacturers of mechanical shaft seals, compression valve packing, and fluid sealing products for industrial and marine applications — including products specified and used throughout the US Navy surface ship and submarine fleet. John Crane’s Type 1 and Type 2 mechanical seals appeared as standard equipment in Navy centrifugal pump specifications, and John Crane compression packing was used in valve stuffing boxes and pump glands throughout engineering plants aboard Navy vessels and in shore facilities.

Asbestos in John Crane Mechanical Seals and Packing

John Crane’s sealing products used asbestos as a core material component:

  • Mechanical seal face materials — early John Crane mechanical seals used asbestos-containing seal face components in the stationary seat element of the seal assembly. Machinist’s Mates replacing worn or failed John Crane mechanical seals in Navy centrifugal pumps handled asbestos-containing seal face components at each seal replacement, with seal disassembly releasing fibers from the deteriorated asbestos face material
  • Compression packing with asbestos fiber — John Crane’s compressed valve and pump packing products used asbestos fiber as the primary sealing component, with John Crane Style 1000, 2000, and similar packing grades used in Navy steam service valve and pump gland maintenance. Hull Technicians and Machinist’s Mates cutting John Crane packing rings to fit valve stuffing boxes generated asbestos fiber at each cut and disturbed old packing at each repacking operation
  • Flexible graphite and asbestos combination packing — John Crane packing grades combining graphite and asbestos fiber in braided packing constructions were used in high-temperature steam service valve stuffing boxes throughout Navy engineering plants

John Crane products appeared in maintenance of virtually all centrifugal pump and valve types throughout the Navy fleet:

  • Main feed pump mechanical seals — the high-pressure main boiler feed pumps aboard steam-powered surface ships used mechanical seals with John Crane and similar manufacturer components, with Machinist’s Mates performing seal replacement at each pump overhaul interval
  • Steam system valve packing — John Crane compression packing was used to repack steam stop valves, globe valves, and control valves throughout Navy main steam, auxiliary steam, and feedwater systems
  • Seawater system pump seals — the seawater cooling pumps and fire main booster pumps aboard Navy surface ships used centrifugal pump mechanical seals including John Crane products, maintained by engineering ratings performing pump maintenance

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to John Crane Inc. Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from mechanical seal and packing maintenance in Navy engineering plants. Engineering ratings who performed maintenance using John Crane and other mechanical seal and packing manufacturers’ products with asbestos-containing materials and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.