An Overview of Eaton’s Leading Hydraulic, Fuel, Electrical, and Mechanical Aerospace Parts

Eaton is a global power management company with an express goal of helping customers across commercial sectors more efficiently and sustainably manage electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical power. Its aerospace division represents a specialized extension of these capabilities, delivering high-performance components and assemblies that are developed to meet stringent aviation standards employed by major aircraft companies like Embraer, Boeing, and Airbus. In this blog, we will explore a few of Eaton’s most prominent hydraulic, fuel, electrical, and mechanical product offerings, helping you understand why these solutions are trusted by multiple aircraft platforms.

Fuel System Assemblies

Eaton’s approach to aerospace fuel systems is focused on integrated, end-to-end solutions, encompassing fuel quantity measurement hardware, pumps, distribution lines, valves, fuel tank inerting systems, and more. By designing these elements to operate cohesively, Eaton allows aircraft OEMs to achieve significant weight reductions and improved efficiency characteristics that are often more difficult to achieve with individual component upgrades. According to Eaton, their systems can yield weight reductions up to 46%, with reliability improvements up to six times better when compared to legacy configurations.
Eaton's Digital Fuel Quantity Measurement System (DFQMS) exemplifies the company’s prioritization of superior accuracy and substantial weight reduction in fuel assemblies. Some standout features of this system include:
Lightweight carbon epoxy probe tubes, which replace traditional aluminum to achieve significant weight savings while displaying great stiffness and durability.
Simplified, unshielded wiring harnesses that replace bulky analog harnesses by operating over a standard, four-wire digital bus, simplifying installation and achieving up to 60% in weight reduction.
Integrated temperature sensing and calibration data storage for each probe in the system, allowing the component to achieve more precise measurement with real-time compensation for variations in fuel temperature and tank attitude.

Hydraulic System Parts

Integral to primary and secondary flight controls, landing gear actuation, braking, and numerous utility functions, Eaton manufactures an array of hydraulic components and integrated assemblies that are refined to strike a balance between efficient power generation and reduced system weight. Their selection covers items like hydraulic valves, regulators, and control modules that collectively and accurately maintain stable system pressure, manage flow distribution, and protect circuits from overpressure.

Pumps are a standout offering of theirs in this area, with two popular options including:

Engine-Driven Pumps (EDPs): Serving as the primary source of hydraulic power for major aircraft systems, Eaton’s EDPs are available in versatile inline, bent-axis, fixed, and variable displacement models. These compact units are optimized to keep the flow of fluid consistent throughout a range of engine speeds and operating conditions while operating at pressure ranges from 1,000 to 8,000 psi.
Electric Motor-Driven Pumps (EMDPs): Meant for ground operation and redundant or emergency backup purposes, these pumps generate hydraulic pressure independently of the main engines or Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). Supporting the shift to hybrid hydraulic-electric architectures, Eaton manufactures EMDPs for a wide range of power inputs, such as 115 VAC fixed/variable frequency and 28 VDC to 270 VDC power sources.

Fluid Conveyance Technologies

Fluid conveyance technologies are the physical pathways for fuel and hydraulic power, with Eaton supplying hoses, tubes, ducts, fittings, and complete assemblies that are developed in parallel with their proprietary fuel and hydraulic systems. Across all of these products, the company boasts light constructions that still offer strength in the face of pressure cycling, vibration, and thermal extremes, as well as are compatible with applicable aviation fuels, hydraulic fluids, and lubricants.

Many of Eaton’s conveyance solutions are intentionally compatible with both fuel and hydraulic architectures. For instance, they present two main categories of hose assemblies to meet different installation needs:

Flexible Non-Metallic Hose Assemblies: Eaton’s nonmetal hose assembly solutions usually feature PTFE and high-performance elastomer constructions, finding their use in lower-pressure fuel and utility lines where flexibility and reduced weight are priorities.
High-Pressure Metallic Hose Assemblies: For high-pressure hydraulic circuits and engine-zone fuel applications, Eaton supplies metal hose assembly configurations reinforced with stainless steel or titanium braiding for enhanced durability, fire resistance, and vibration tolerance.

Electrical and Electromechanical Components

Drawing upon decades of experience in global electrical markets, Eaton applies their proven power management principles to aerospace-specific weight constraints, thermal control, environmental exposure, and other such challenges. They supply a broad range of electrical and electromechanical parts to deliver stable and resilient power, with a pointed goal of enabling OEMs to design systems that are easily maintainable and scalable for conventional and next-generation platforms alike.

Supporting everything from power distribution to electrically driven motion and control, some of the many product categories Eaton creates in this area are:

High-Power-Density Propulsion Inverters: Propulsion inverters from Eaton are able to convert and manage electricity in compact packaging, while still presenting high power density and advanced thermal management. As such, they can handle sustained electrical loads while accommodating the increasing demand for reduced size and weight in aircraft architectures.
Advanced Power Distribution Units (PDUs): Eaton’s PDUs combine circuit protection, redundancy, and thermal control into a single unit, limiting wiring complexity and supporting zonal electrical architectures that are being adopted on newer aircraft platforms.
Electromechanical Actuation and Control Parts: Eaton supplies diverse electromechanical components that translate electrical power into controlled mechanical motion for valve actuation, utility system control, and electrically driven subsystems. In general, these products are designed to fit into existing architectures and offer high power density and precise positioning.
Connectors, Backshells, and Cable Assemblies: Complementing their electrical and electromechanical hardware, Eaton provides a comprehensive range of aerospace-grade connectivity solutions that collectively enable secure mechanical retention and environmental sealing to protect against moisture, debris, and electromagnetic interference.

Explore In-Demand Eaton Aerospace Parts on AOG Purchasing

In summary, Eaton’s aerospace portfolio covers a vast range of technologies that share similar principles dedicated to achieving favorable power-to-weight ratios. With this in mind, they are sure to see continued employment, even as aircraft manufacturers strive for more high-performance, compact setups. The items we covered today only represent a small portion of Eato’s vast selection, so if you are seeking a source for various authentic Eaton aerospace components, we invite you to check out our inventory on AOG Purchasing.

As a platform owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, a globally recognized distributor of aircraft parts, you can expect to only encounter options from trustworthy manufacturers like Eaton when you shop on AOG Purchasing. In addition to supplying thousands of aviation components, those who shop with us are always supported by competitive, swift procurement solutions that are curated to their needs. To learn more about our products and services, be sure to peruse our website and connect with our helpful team members at your earliest convenience.