Complete Sourcing Solutions Blog

When one is dealing with an application or system that involves the use of fluid flow, there will almost always be some type of valve involved for fluid management. Valves may come in various types depending on the application in question, and flow control valves in particular are a common type that are used to regulate the flow of fluid in hydraulic circuits. By managing the amount of fluid supplied to various sections of a system, hydraulic motor assemblies, cylinders, and other apparatuses may be governed in terms of pressure, temperature, and other flow adjustments.

The propeller of an aircraft is a device with radiating blades attached to a central hub, arranged so that each blade constitutes a part of the overall helical spiral. A propeller generates thrust due to the aerodynamic forces acting upon the blades from the circulating air around it, lending a forward motion to the aircraft. An engine is specifically designed to supply energy to the constantly rotating blades.

The fuselage is one of the most important parts of aircraft, serving as the body that holds passengers and cargo. In fact, for some aircraft, fuselages hold engines as well. While all fuselages feature a shell-like design, they are available in a broad range of types, some of which will be covered in this blog.

While achieving the ability of flight is of the utmost importance for any aircraft, having enough fuel to reach the intended destination can often be just as crucial. As running out of fuel can be an extremely hazardous situation for any aircraft, having fuel gauges and quantity indicators for tracking the current amount of fuel available for the engine is paramount. The fuel gauge or fuel quantity indicator present in an aircraft may vary depending on the application and type of aerial vehicle, and all may differ in their reliability, design, complexity, etc. As understanding how to use fuel gauges and fuel quantity indicators is necessary for any pilot, current or prospective, we will discuss their general design and functionality in this blog.

Solenoid actuators are electromagnetic devices that are used to convert electrical signals or currents into mechanical linear motion. They consist of an adjustable wire-wound coil with an iron core that is connected to an electrical power supply, while a movable metal plunger is attached to a secondary mechanism. When an electric current energizes the coil, a powerful magnetic field is produced, pulling the plunger toward it and as a result, providing ample actuation movement.

Spark plugs are essential for igniting piston engines. Designed to deliver a pulse of electric current from the ignition system to the combustion chamber, internal combustion engines require the use of a spark plug to set alight aerosolized fuel. In aviation, a spark plug is typically housed out of sight at the top of a cylinder head and can easily go unchecked if maintenance is irregular. Resulting in poor engine performance, loss of power, or a critical accident if the component is failing, it is imperative that routine spark plug inspections are not dismissed. To better understand how spark plugs function in aircraft, we will dive into their application types, how each works, and their common errors.

Motor starters are electrical devices used to safely start, stop, and reverse the direction of a motor as well as protect the motor from low voltage and overcurrent. Overcurrent, or electrical overloading as it is often called, can result in the excessive accumulation of heat, posing the risk of fire or damage to assets or equipment. For this reason, if the output current surpasses the safe limit of your starter, the motor starter will deactivate the equipment in question.

Plungers are spring-loaded devices (SLD) that are often used for the positioning of various work pieces. Generally, such components will feature a spring that is located within a threaded body or housing. With this common design feature, various types of plungers can be found, each of which differ in their particular design, application, and characteristics. Ball and spring plungers are both common types that are found in many settings, thus it can be useful to have a general understanding of their designs and functionalities.

While many pilots may be well versed with the various power settings and power principles of piston engines, some may not be familiar with turbine engine power. In general, turbine engines express power in terms of N1 and N2, and power settings relate to the speed limits of engine rotation. This is due to the difference in operations between both engine types, turbine engines producing thrust for flight rather than power. To help you better understand the functionality of turbine engines, we will discuss what N1 and N2 measurements mean.

While the future of aircraft engines is moving towards a full realization of electric power, a majority of current models rely on internal combustion engines for the burning of fuel-and-air mixtures for propulsion generation. Turboprop engine and piston engine types are very common for a number of aircraft, both of which have overlapping flight regimes though still greatly vary in their design and capabilities. As two reliable options that make heavier-than-air flight possible, it can be useful to understand the various differences between each to see which is a better fit for your particular needs and applications.