Methodical Purchasing Blog

A flange, often called a pipe flange or flange gasket, is a type of mechanical element used to join two pipes together, or serves as a provisional seal for the end of a single pipe. These round disks contain holes for bolts around the rim and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, diameters, and materials. As such, some are utilized for blocking high-pressure pipes while others are used to attach two pipes of differing materials. In this blog, we will be covering the different types of flanges and their uses, as well as the materials and shapes they come in so that you can better understand what kind of flange your application requires.

Bearings are highly beneficial components to countless systems, minimizing friction between moving surfaces while constraining motion as needed. In order for bearings to optimally perform over long periods of time, bearing seals must be used. With the use of bearing seals, bearing components may be protected from contamination and a loss of lubrication. With such abilities, bearings can have their service lives extended for cost savings and efficient operations. Depending upon one’s particular needs, there are multiple types of bearing seal components that may be used. In this blog, we will discuss the most common bearing seal variations and their applications.

While the aviation industry is continuously seeking new ways to create the propulsion needed for flight, an overwhelming majority of currently operating aircraft rely on the combustion of fuel and air mixtures. In order to achieve optimal combustion properties for efficient flight operations, the proper amount of fuel and air must be measured and mixed together. While there are a number of systems that may provide for such needs, the carburetor is a device that commonly serves general aviation aircraft. For its basic operation, the carburetor ensures that intake air is properly measured and mixed with an optimal amount of fuel, providing the resulting mixture to the cylinder intake for combustion. To better understand why such devices are crucial for the flight capabilities of many aircraft, we will discuss their design and operations in more detail.

A gasket is a common component to countless assemblies, coming in the form of a mechanical seal which may take up the space between two or more mating surfaces while under compression. As a component that may come in many diverse types, gaskets may be flexible materials that are constructed from rubber, paper, cork, or countless other substances. While featuring numerous grades that may benefit different applications, gaskets are most commonly compressed between surfaces for the means of preventing leaks, reducing noise, mitigating vibration, providing mounting support, and much more. In this blog, we will discuss gaskets and their working principles more in detail, also providing common types that may be used for varying applications.

For an electrical circuit to properly manage current for various components, there are often times in which current needs to be restricted. Generally, current restriction is achievable through increasing the resistance of a circuit, or one may simply reduce the amount of voltage flowing through it. With a device known as a rheostat, the flow of current within an electrical circuit may be controlled through the means of increasing or decreasing resistance.

Throughout the aerospace industry, flared or flareless fittings are used to attach sections of tubing. The SAE Aerospace Standards, commonly known as AS Standards, establish the requirements for fittings used in fluid systems throughout many types of aircraft. There are six common thread styles and connections used in aerospace fittings: AN 24 fittings, AN 37 fittings, O-ring bosses (ORBs), National Pipe Thread (NPT), hose barbs, and hose clamps. In this blog, we will discuss each type.

A constant speed propeller is a variable pitch propeller that automatically adjusts the pitch of the propeller to maintain a desired RPM. Unlike fixed-pitch propellers, which only operate at maximum efficiency during a single stage of flight, constant speed propellers are able to adjust to provide peak performance during each phase. Excessive pitch in a propeller creates drag and hinders power, while too little pitch causes the engine to work harder to reach the desired speed. Constant speed propellers eliminate this problem by partially rotating along their longest axis to alter its pitch, thereby increasing or decreasing its exposure to the air depending on airspeed. The vast majority of high-performance propeller-driven aircraft use constant speed propellers to help protect their powerful engines from excessive wear.

Rigid fluid lines are used throughout aircraft for fuel, oil, coolant, oxygen, instrument, and hydraulic lines. They are used in stationary applications where long and relatively straight runs are possible. To function properly, rigid fluid lines utilize a wide range of fittings. These include AN flared fittings, MS flareless fittings, swaged fittings, and cryofit fittings. In this blog, we will discuss each type of fitting and their unique characteristics.

When determining the altitude, altitude trend, or airspeed of a given aircraft, pilots rely on measurements that have been gathered from the capturing of atmospheric air and flight deck instruments. With a device known as the pitot tube, ram air pressure can be measured by instruments in order to attain flight pertinent information that benefits safety and efficiency. To understand how instruments such as the airspeed or altitude indicator function, one must first be knowledgeable of the pitot tube and its operations.

When operating assemblies with moving parts, bearings serve as crucial components that facilitate motion, transfer loads, and provide lubrication to mitigate friction. When designed for use in aircraft, such bearings are made to be highly robust in order to withstand the extreme conditions of flight. As such, aerospace bearings are manufactured to meet military specifications as dictated by the United States government and are often capable of withstanding forces such as corrosion, extreme temperatures, and shock. Depending on the needs of a particular assembly, various types of bearings may be used with different sizes, weights, and load capacity requirements.