Skinner Engine Company, headquartered in Erie, Pennsylvania, was a manufacturer of Uniflow reciprocating steam engines, diesel engines, and diesel-electric generating sets for marine, industrial, and naval applications. Skinner supplied the United States Navy with auxiliary diesel generators, diesel-driven service pumps, and Uniflow reciprocating steam engines for ship’s service electrical generation and auxiliary machinery applications throughout the mid-20th century. Skinner Uniflow steam engines — a type of reciprocating steam engine with uniflow steam admission and exhaust — were used for auxiliary ship’s service applications aboard naval vessels where reciprocating steam machinery provided advantages in partial-load efficiency and redundancy. Skinner diesel engines and diesel generators provided auxiliary electrical generation and emergency power generation capability aboard naval vessels. Both Skinner steam and diesel engine products incorporated asbestos-containing materials in exhaust system gaskets, cylinder head gaskets, and exhaust manifold insulation, with Machinist’s Mates maintaining Skinner engines in naval auxiliary machinery spaces encountering asbestos gasket and insulation materials during routine engine maintenance operations.

Diesel Engine Exhaust and Head Gasket Asbestos

Skinner diesel engines incorporated asbestos-containing gasket materials:

  • Cylinder head gaskets — Skinner diesel engines used in Navy auxiliary service incorporated asbestos-containing compressed cylinder head gaskets sealing the cylinder head-to-block joint against combustion gas leakage. Machinist’s Mates performing cylinder head removal for valve grinding, valve replacement, or cylinder inspection on Skinner diesel engines removed and replaced asbestos cylinder head gasket materials during each cylinder head maintenance operation, with the gasket removal and scraping from the head and block mating faces releasing asbestos fiber from the compressed asbestos head gasket material
  • Exhaust manifold gaskets — Skinner diesel engine exhaust manifold-to-cylinder block joint faces used asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials, providing exhaust gas sealing at the manifold connections. Machinist’s Mates removing exhaust manifolds for maintenance or repair encountered and disturbed asbestos-containing exhaust manifold gasket materials at the manifold flange faces during the manifold removal and reinstallation process
  • Diesel exhaust system insulation — the exhaust piping and muffler systems for Skinner diesel auxiliary generators in naval auxiliary machinery spaces incorporated asbestos-containing thermal insulation on exhaust components. Machinist’s Mates working in the auxiliary machinery spaces where Skinner diesel generators operated accumulated background asbestos exposure from the asbestos exhaust system insulation in the vicinity of the operating diesel equipment

Uniflow Steam Engine Gasket and Packing Asbestos

Skinner Uniflow steam engines incorporated asbestos in sealing materials:

  • Steam cylinder and valve chest gaskets — Skinner Uniflow steam engines used asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials in steam cylinder cover joints, valve chest cover joints, and steam admission flange connections. Machinist’s Mates performing maintenance on Skinner Uniflow engines requiring cylinder cover or valve chest disassembly encountered and replaced asbestos-containing gasket materials at the disassembled joint faces
  • Piston rod and valve stem packing — Skinner Uniflow steam engines incorporated asbestos-containing braided packing in piston rod stuffing boxes and slide valve stem glands. Machinist’s Mates repacking piston rod and valve stem glands on Skinner steam engines removed and replaced asbestos braided packing in the stuffing box assemblies during routine maintenance operations

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Skinner Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy auxiliary machinery maintenance. Machinist’s Mates and engineering ratings who maintained Skinner Engine Company diesel engines and steam engines in naval vessel auxiliary machinery spaces and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.