Automatic choke for an engine

An automatic choke apparatus coupled to an internal combustion engine, the automatic choke apparatus comprising:

• a choke valve;
• a thermally conductive assembly in direct contact with exhaust gases produced by the engine;
• a thermally responsive member in thermal communication with the thermally conductive assembly such that the thermally conductive assembly transfers heat from the exhaust gases to the thermally responsive member;
• and
• a mechanism that moves in response to the thermally responsive member to cause the choke valve to remain in at least a partially open position during engine starting when the thermally responsive member senses a temperature above a predetermined temperature.

A method of operating a choke in an internal combustion engine using exhaust heat, the internal combustion engine having a choke valve operable by a choke operating device in response to the speed of the engine, the method comprising:

• placing a thermally conductive assembly in direct contact with exhaust gases produced by the engine;
• transmitting heat from the exhaust gases to the thermally conductive assembly through a solid material;
• transmitting heat from the thermally conductive assembly to a thermally responsive member in thermal contact with the thermally conductive assembly;
• providing a linkage between the thermally responsive member and the choke operating device;
• and
• preventing the choke valve from closing completely during restarts of the engine when the thermally responsive member senses that the temperature of the engine has reached a predetermined temperature.