Heated air bleed idle needle

An adjustable idle needle valve assembly for controlling the aspiration of idling fuel into the throat of an internal combustion engine carburetor at a zone downstream of the throttle valve, said assembly comprising a threaded metal needle valve, an elongate tubular metal housing, inner metallic plug means for said tubular housing connected to the outer end of said needle valve, outer metallic plug means for said housing, means for insulating one of said plug means from the housing, a tubular electric insulating sleeve within said housing, a helical heating coil of resistance wire within said insulating sleeve connected between said outer and inner plug means, and means for providing an electrical connection to said outer plug means for energizing said coil;

• the improvement wherein said needle valve has an air bleed passage extending axially from its outer end to a transverse passage at its inner end, an axial air passage in said inner plug means communicating with said needle valve passage, an air inlet passage in said outer plug means, an air conducting shield tube extending between said outer and inner plug means and communicating with the air passages therein, said coil of resistance wire providing the sole electrical connection between said outer and inner plug means, and an air line connection on said outer plug means for selectively connecting said plug means to an air inlet vapor trap.