Maxim Silencer Company, headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut, manufactured exhaust silencers, engine mufflers, and exhaust system components for diesel engines in industrial, marine, and military service. Maxim exhaust silencers were used in the exhaust systems of diesel-powered Navy vessels — diesel-electric submarines, diesel auxiliary vessels, landing craft, and small combatants — where exhaust noise reduction was required and where engine exhaust systems required thermal insulation to protect personnel from contact burns and to manage heat radiation in confined engine spaces.

Asbestos in Maxim Exhaust System Components

Maxim exhaust silencers and engine exhaust components used asbestos insulation:

  • Exhaust silencer casing insulation — Maxim exhaust silencers operating in the hot exhaust gas stream used asbestos blanket or block insulation on the exterior of the silencer casing to reduce surface temperature and heat radiation. Maintenance requiring removal of silencer insulation — for silencer inspection, internal baffle replacement, or housing repair — disturbed asbestos insulation at the silencer casing
  • Exhaust pipe insulation — exhaust piping connecting diesel engines to exhaust silencers and to the exhaust stack used asbestos pipe covering and asbestos wrap insulation throughout exhaust runs in diesel engine rooms. Machinist’s Mates and Enginemen performing exhaust system maintenance removed and reinstalled asbestos pipe covering from exhaust piping runs
  • Expansion joint insulation — exhaust expansion joints accommodating thermal growth in the exhaust system used asbestos-containing materials at the expansion joint faces and in the joint packing
  • Access port gaskets — inspection ports and cleanout access ports on Maxim silencers used asbestos gaskets at the access cover faces

Diesel-Powered Vessel Applications

Maxim exhaust silencers appeared on diesel-powered Navy vessels:

  • Diesel submarine exhaust systems — diesel-electric submarines (fleet-type and GUPPY conversions) used exhaust silencers on their diesel main engines and auxiliary diesel generators, with Maxim and similar manufacturers’ silencers on diesel exhaust systems maintained by Machinist’s Mates and Electrician’s Mates during engineering department maintenance
  • Auxiliary vessel diesel generators — diesel generator sets aboard all vessel types used exhaust silencers on the generator diesel engines, with silencer maintenance as a regular generator set maintenance task
  • Diesel auxiliary vessels and small combatants — diesel-powered minesweepers, patrol craft, and auxiliary vessels used diesel exhaust silencers throughout their propulsion diesel exhaust systems

VA Claims

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from diesel engine exhaust system maintenance in Navy service. Engineering ratings who performed exhaust silencer and exhaust piping maintenance involving Maxim and other manufacturers’ asbestos-insulated exhaust components and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.