The Choke reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Choke

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In engineering, a choke is a device for restricting airflow. More generally, a choke point is any constriction in a conduit or transport system, e.g. a narrowing of a road.

Many internal combustion engines used to have a choke valve (activated by a lever or pull handle on the dashboard while starting the engine) that would restrict the air flow in the carburetor so as to enrich the fuel-air mixture. This device fell into disuse after the diffusion of electronic ignition systems, but is still found in motorcycles and other special-purpose engines.

A choke in a firearm is a restriction or narrowing of the barrel.

In electrical engineering and electronics, a choke or choking coil is low-resistance inductor used to block alternating current while passing direct current.

As a verb, to choke generally means to restrict airflow, or to suffer restricted airflow, whether caused by such a device or by accidental obstruction. In medical use, for instance, choking is the blocking of a person's trachea by a foreign object, vomitus, blood or other fluids.

Choke is the name of a novel by Chuck Palahniuk; see Choke (novel).

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