Automatic choke assembly

Claim 1

In an automatic choke assembly for an internal combustion engine having intake and exhaust manifolds, at least one carburetor having a conduit therein adapted for supplying air and fuel to said engine, a valving means for controlling the ratio of said air and fuel within said conduit, and an alternator for supplying electrical energy to said engine, wherein said choke assembly comprises a housing member defining first and second chambers, means for supplying heat indicative of the temperature of said engine to said first chamber, a bimetallic spring member positioned within said first chamber and operatively connected to said valving means, a heating means thermally connected to said bimetallic spring member, and a terminal contact member electrically connected to said alternator, the improvement comprising: a thermally responsive and electrically conductive member positioned within said second chamber, said thermally responsive and electrically conductive member having at least one arm portion thermally and electrically connected to said heating means and at least one tongue portion adapted for moving in a snap-action manner to engage said terminal contact member when the temperature surrounding said thermally responsive and electrically conductive member exceeds a predetermined level whereby said heating means is energized during operation of said engine, said tongue portion comprising a pair of spacedly positioned lateral strip members and a contact strip member positioned substantially therebetween, said central strip member separated from each of said lateral strip members by a longitudinal slot.