Thermostatic element for controlling a solenoid operated carburetor choke

An apparatus for controlling an air-fuel mixture produced by a carburetor of an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising:

• a choke valve located in a passage of the carburetor and having an extreme open position and an extreme closed position;
• a spring coupled to bias the choke valve toward one of the extreme open and extreme closed positions;
• a solenoid having a moveable plunger rod coupled to the choke valve to move the choke valve between the extreme open and extreme closed positions;
• a stop fixed to the plunger rod of said solenoid;
• a bimetallic element which changes shape in response to changes in temperature, wherein below a given temperature said stop strikes said bimetallic element which thereby restricts movement of the plunger rod to prevent said choke valve from reaching the extreme open position, and above the given temperature said bimetallic element has changed shape to avoid being struck by said stop thereby allowing the choke valve to reach the extreme open position;
• and
• an heater which warms said bimetallic element.