Patterson Kelley — Asbestos in Navy Heat Exchangers and Process Equipment
By Rights Watch Media Group LLC
•June 24, 2026
•
2 min read
Patterson-Kelley Company, headquartered in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, manufactured shell-and-tube heat exchangers, lube oil coolers, and heat transfer equipment for industrial steam power plant and naval propulsion plant applications throughout the mid-twentieth century. Patterson-Kelley heat exchanger assemblies were installed in United States Navy steam propulsion plants as lube oil coolers for main propulsion turbine bearing oil systems, as feedwater heaters in the feedwater heating train, and as process heat exchangers in the auxiliary systems of destroyers, cruisers, and auxiliary ships. According to asbestos litigation records, Patterson-Kelley heat exchanger assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at heat exchanger channel cover flanges and at tube sheet connection faces, creating exposure for Machinist’s Mates who performed heat exchanger maintenance operations in naval vessel engineering spaces.
Patterson-Kelley Heat Exchanger Asbestos
Patterson-Kelley heat exchanger assemblies incorporated asbestos in cover and connection sealing:
- Channel cover and bonnet gaskets — Patterson-Kelley shell-and-tube heat exchangers incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the heat exchanger channel cover or bonnet flanges sealing the tube bundle ends. Machinist’s Mates removing Patterson-Kelley heat exchanger channel covers for tube cleaning, tube inspection, or tube bundle removal encountered and replaced the asbestos-containing channel cover gasket materials during each heat exchanger maintenance access
- Tube sheet and shell flange gaskets — the tube sheet connection flanges and shell-to-channel flange faces on Patterson-Kelley heat exchangers incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the heat exchanger shell and channel connection faces. Machinist’s Mates performing heat exchanger disassembly for tube bundle removal or internal inspection encountered asbestos-containing shell and channel flange gasket materials
- Heat exchanger inlet and outlet nozzle gaskets — the inlet and outlet nozzle connections on Patterson-Kelley heat exchangers incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the nozzle flange faces where the heat exchanger connected to the shell-side and tube-side process piping. Machinist’s Mates disconnecting Patterson-Kelley heat exchangers from the process piping system encountered asbestos-containing nozzle flange gasket materials during heat exchanger removal
VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Patterson-Kelley 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 maintained Patterson-Kelley heat exchanger 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.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this site. References to ships, shipyards, companies, products, and asbestos-containing materials are drawn from public VA records, NARA archives, EPA/OSHA databases, and public litigation records. All references reflect what has been documented or alleged in publicly filed records. Consult a licensed physician for medical guidance and a qualified attorney for legal advice regarding your specific situation.
Connect With a Navy Asbestos & Mesothelioma Attorney
Navy veterans and civilian shipyard workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may have grounds for a civil claim against the asbestos product manufacturers whose materials were installed aboard. O'Brien Law Firm represents veterans and their families in the civil track at no upfront cost — separate from any VA disability benefits you may be eligible for.
Living with a diagnosis?
If you were diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, a filing deadline may already be running. You may have a legal claim now — and claims can often be pursued even if the company is out of business.
Lost a loved one to mesothelioma?
Surviving spouses and children may pursue a wrongful-death claim and asbestos-trust recovery on a loved one's behalf — a separate deadline that can run from the date of passing.
- Free case evaluation — no obligation to hire
- No attorney fee unless we make a financial recovery
- Personal-injury and wrongful-death claims both evaluated
- Civil claims against asbestos manufacturers & bankruptcy trust funds
- Maritime statute of limitations: 3 years from diagnosis (46 U.S.C. § 30106)
- Runs in parallel with VA benefits — civil recovery does not reduce VA disability compensation
O'Brien Law Firm
Civil mesothelioma & asbestos litigation — veterans and their families.
VA disability benefits are a separate government process. To file a VA disability claim for asbestos exposure, visit VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or contact a Veterans Service Organization (DAV, VFW, American Legion) for free claim assistance.
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