Patent ID: 6941916

Claim:
An auto-enrichener for an engine, comprising: an enriching conduit for carrying fuel and air to the engine; a valve disposed in said conduit, said valve being adjustable between at least an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein in said open configuration passage of fuel and air through said conduit is enabled, and in said closed configuration passage of fuel and air through said conduit is not enabled; a thermal expansion element in communication with said valve, wherein said thermal expansion element expands with increasing temperature and contracts with decreasing temperature, said thermal expansion element actuating said valve such that when said thermal expansion element is at a first temperature said valve is in said open configuration, and when said thermal expansion element is at a second temperature greater than said first temperature said valve is in said closed configuration, said thermal expansion element comprising a liquid portion disposed within a flexible solid portion, wherein said liquid portion expands with increasing temperature and contracts with decreasing temperature; and a heater in thermal communication with said thermal expansion element.