Patent ID: 7096831

Claim:
A thermostatic valve ( 30 ) for a cooling system of an internal combustion engine, having an inlet connection ( 32 ) for communication with a coolant return line ( 20 ) from an internal combustion engine ( 12 ); a first outlet connection ( 34 a ) for communication with a coolant radiator line ( 22 ) leading to a radiator ( 24 ); a second outlet connection ( 34 b ) for communication with a coolant bypass line ( 28 ) leading to the internal combustion engine; a first valve element ( 48 ; 60 ′, 57 ) for closing and opening a first passage between the inlet connection and the first outlet connection; and a second valve element ( 49 ; 60 ′, 58 ) for closing and opening a second passage between the inlet connection and the second outlet connection, and at least two wax cartridge thermostats ( 46 , 47 ; 64 , 66 ) for activating the valve elements ( 48 , 49 ; 60 ′, 57 , 58 ), at least one of the wax cartridge thermostat ( 46 , 47 ; 64 , 66 ) being connected to an electric heating element ( 54 , 55 ) in order to influence the temperature acting on the respective wax cartridge thermostat, and the thermostatic valve ( 30 ) also including a coolant bypass passage ( 56 ) between the inlet connection ( 32 ) and the second outlet connection ( 34 b ) leading to the coolant bypass line ( 28 ).