US 7,029,039 B2Granted

Method for actuating a pawl in a lock with a rotary latch for a motor vehicle

AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft

InventorsKlaus-Peter Rathmann, Axel Schaefer

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Abstract

According to the inventive method, a pawl which in a normal mode of operation is rotatably mounted about a point of rotation when it is in a closed position can be rotated by means of a first actuator, which is controlled by a main power supply and by means of a toothed gearwheel segment which is also rotatably mounted about said point of rotation and which can run freely in relation to the pawl, until an open position is obtained. In the event of an emergency, the pawl can be rotated by means of a second self-inhibiting actuator, which is controlled by the emergency power supply, by means of another rotatably mounted toothed gearwheel segment which comprises a toothed gearwheel having a smaller diameter and which engages with the toothed wheel segment, until an open position is obtained. The emergency power supply is then interrupted and the pawl is maintained in an open position.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A method for actuating a pawl in a lock with a rotary latch for a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

rotating the pawl, until the open position is reached, by a first actuator which is activated by a main power supply and by a gearwheel segment, the pawl arranged such that in a normal situation the pawl is in a closed position and mounted rotatably about a pivot, and the gearwheel segment is mounted rotatably about the pivot so as to run freely in relation to the pawl, or
in the event of an emergency, causing the pawl to rotate by a second, self-locking actuator, which is activated by an emergency power supply, via a further, rotatably mounted gearwheel segment which bears a gearwheel having a smaller diameter and which engages in the gearwheel segment until the open position is reached and then the emergency power supply is interrupted so that the pawl remains in the open position, and
wherein the emergency power supply is effected by means of a capacitor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/030,984Filed 10 Jan 2005 · continuation
Priority: DE 102 51 3821 Nov 2002
Published: US 2005/0145740 A17 Jul 2005
Granted: 18 Apr 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

E05B 81/14
Characterised by the function or purpose of the powered actuators: operating on bolt detents, e.g. for unlatching the bolt
E05B 81/66
Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors: the bolt position, i.e. the latching status
E05B 81/80
Electrical circuits: characterised by the power supply; Emergency power operation
E05B 81/86
Characterised by the power supply; Emergency power operation: using capacitors