Thermostatic regulated air flow controller

A thermostatic air flow controller for controlling the air flow from a source of air to a heated receiving vessel in response to temperature changes of the air flow, said controller comprising:

• a plurality of air passage register plates supported between the source of air and the receiving vessel, at least one of said register plates being movably supported relative to the others, said register plates defining corresponding openings which can be aligned to open a main air passage and which can be realigned to constrict the area of the main air passage and the air flow therethrough, at least one of said register plates also defining a secondary air passage between the air source and the receiving vessel;
• a temperature sensing element mounted in said secondary air passage such that the temperature of the secondary air flow through said secondary air passage will be sensed by said temperature sensing element, said temperature sensing element mounted adjacent to and in operative connection with said movable register plate to constrict said main air passage in response to an increase in the temperature of the air flow through said secondary air passage;
• and
• a heat shield between said temperature sensing element and the heated receiving vessel for shielding said sensing element from the heat of the receiving vessel, said main and secondary air passages uniting in the area surrounding said temperature sensing element such that the flow of air sweeps the surfaces of said heat shield and cools said heat shield.