Emergent Purchasing Blog

When you step onto an aircraft runway, or simply gaze at a plane soaring through the sky, it is easy to lose yourself in the marvel of its engineering and seamless coordination of various systems and assemblies. Among the many intricacies hidden within an aircraft's design, one often overlooked, but crucial component is the cowl flaps. These unassuming panels, located within the engine compartment, play a pivotal role in maintaining the optimal temperature of an aircraft's engine during flight. Throughout this blog, we will explore cowl flaps, their function, and how they prevent engine overheating.

When discussing electronics and their functionality, managing heat is crucial to the performance and longevity of various components. This is where heat sinks come into play, serving as crucial aspects of thermal management. Whether you are dealing with transistors, power devices, operational amplifiers, or other heat-generating components, heat sinks play a vital role in dissipating excess heat and promoting smooth operation. In this blog, we will provide an overview of everything you should know about heat sinks while exploring their wide-ranging applications.

Flying in an aircraft involves much more than just reaching your destination. In fact, the onboard experience plays a crucial role in ensuring a comfortable and safe journey for passengers. Aircraft seats, in particular, are an essential part of making air travel enjoyable. In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about aircraft seats, including their various types, material composition, and selection criteria.

Without realizing it, every aircraft passenger has benefitted from a lesser-known system called the Preconditioned Air (PCA) unit. These devices are responsible for providing a comfortable and safe onboard environment to commuters and aircrew during ground operations by circulating fresh air throughout the cabin. Of course, airplanes operate in a wide variety of conditions, and simply pushing ambient air inside the vessel would be ineffective or dangerous in most situations. As such, the PCA unit is responsible for modulating the pressure, humidity, and temperature of the air as it is introduced to the interior. In this blog, we will discuss the composition, operating principles, and other nuances associated with PCA units.

While aircraft designs primarily focus on flight capabilities, it is essential that such vehicles are also able to operate safely on the ground as required. For example, if an aircraft operates in and around an airport, they must be able to safely traverse runways and hangers, as well as be able to efficiently come to a stop during the landing process. In order to effectively do all of this, many aircraft feature brake assemblies on their wheels, the disc brake being the most common type. In this blog, we will discuss aircraft disc brakes in more detail, allowing you to have a general understanding of their design and functionality.

Connectors are enclosures or shells that are utilized to house contacts and wires within electrical wiring harnesses. Each connector plug features an insert that is specifically-designed for a mating socket (receptacle), either being soldered or crimped into place and being easily removed using a special tool. The inserts in each connector must be oriented properly in order to achieve correct mating.

There are several different types of fire detections systems used to detect engine fires on aircraft. Two of the most common types used are spot detectors and continuous loop systems. Spot detector systems use individual sensors to monitor places in which fire could occur. Some examples include the thermal switch system, the thermocouple system, the optical fire detection system, and the pneumatic-based thermal fire detection system. By contrast, continuous loop systems provide more completed fire detection coverage by using several loop-type sensors. As such, they are more often used on transport-type aircraft that require greater supervision.

There are countless different types of electrical connectors, each of which has their own unique features to accommodate a wide range of applications. Connectors find use in many sectors, from home and work to industrial automation, medical technology, military, and aerospace industries. To better understand the versatility and complexity of these electromechanical devices, this blog will outline how they are manufactured.

From preventing leakage in transit to keeping a tight seal on a junction long-term, O-rings are an important item for sealing equipment in machinery of all kinds. Depending on what application you need them for, it is crucial that you choose the right material for your O-ring to suit whatever fluid or gas is being contained. In this blog, we will discuss the various options of materials available for O-rings, as well as give several key factors on how to choose the right O-ring distributor fit for your operations.

Of the many tools used in electrical work, very few are used more than the crimping tool. Crimping, which refers to the act of terminating stranded wire, confers several benefits to the electrical connection that cannot be achieved through alternative means such as soldering and wire wrapping. Namely, the connection will be protected against corrosion due to the gas-tight nature of the crimp. Crimped connections may also be scaled up or down depending on the needs of the application, giving the user more flexibility with their tools. However, in order to derive these benefits, the person performing the crimping must follow the correct procedure. In this blog, we will discuss the best practices on how to crimp an electrical connection.

Actuators play a central role in the function of many automated machine systems and have been a staple in the aerospace industry for years. These devices control the movement of nearby machine elements by using one of several methods. In order to fully gain an understanding of how actuators are used in automation and other machines, it is necessary to learn the operating principles behind the various actuator types. In this blog, we will cover all the different variants of mechanical actuation, including linear, electric, magnetic, pneumatic, and others.   

Bearings are an essential element in a wide variety of machines and moving structures. Through one or more design strategies, bearings work to reduce friction in order to increase the associated component’s lifespan and improve functionality. With extensive implementation in aerospace, electrical motors, and other industrial equipment, bearings are important components to understand for anyone interested in engineering of aerospace. In this blog, we will discuss roller bearings, which are specialized components that find use in supporting rotating or oscillating machines.

The implementation of computerized systems within aircraft has radically changed how flights are conducted, allowing for ample safety and efficiency as complicated processes are automated, and important flight information is conveyed to pilots in a more efficient way. The introduction of the glass cockpit marked the turning point for the design of aircraft, and computer technology was first implemented for flight instruments. With the jump from mechanical gauges to electronic sensors and instruments, flight information could then be displayed on screens in front of pilots while also providing for customization and other features. The flight instrument display system in the cockpit that conveys data is known as the electronic flight instrument system (EFIS), and it comprises a number of components and displays. To help you better understand the EFIS, we will describe its design and functionality in brief detail.

Pilots use several controls in conjunction to move an aircraft in its three axes of flight. Between the throttle, rudder pedals, and yoke, the pilot has direct control over the aircraft's primary control surfaces. Of these control instruments, the yoke is most likely to vary in design and function between aircraft. In this blog, we will discuss how the yoke functions to control the aircraft and how it may differ among designs.