Abstract:
Locking device ( 1 ) comprising at least one locking mechanism ( 2 ) having a catch ( 3 ) and a pivotal first pawl ( 4 ), the operating lever ( 7 ) being movable so that during its movement the operating lever ( 7 ) interacts with a drive pin ( 20 ) of the first pawl ( 4 ) and a lateral pawl spring ( 35 ) acts between the drive pin ( 20 ) and the operating lever ( 7 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a National Stage Application of International Patent Application No. PCT/DE2009/000740, with an international filing date of May 26, 2009, which is based on German Patent Application No. 10 2008 028 256.1, filed Jun. 13, 2008 and on German Patent Application No. 10 2008 039 240.5, filed Aug. 22, 2008. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a locking device comprising at least one locking mechanism with a catch and a pivotable first pawl, wherein an operating lever is movable such that the operating lever cooperates during its movement with a drive pin of the first pawl. Thus, the invention relates in particular to a locking system with a preferably electrically-openable locking mechanism comprising a catch and at least two pawls, preferably for locking and unlocking movable doors, hatches, or back rests in motor vehicles. 
     2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
     In such a locking mechanism, it is common for the catch and/or the pivotable pawl with a spring to be so biased that they are always returned safely to their normal position. A spring element serves in the context, for example, to move the catch into its open position. It is also customary to provide for the catch-arresting pawl a pawl spring that moves the pawl toward a position in which the catch-arresting pawl cooperates with the catch in a movement-blocking manner. It is common to position the catch spring on the rotational axis of the pawl itself to achieve a stacked position of the pawl spring and the first pawl. 
     Known are locks for motor vehicle doors in which a first locking pawl (and often also a second pawl) is blocked or supported by a so-called blocking lever. At the same time, the blocking lever has usually the purpose of increasing the safety of the lock against accidental opening or intrusion. In other locking mechanisms with two pawls, the main focus is on providing a low-audible noise opening (avoiding of a so-called audible opening snap). Especially by activating the latch using (separate) operating levers, it is important that during the opening and/or closing movement, the catch is guided as precisely as possible. To this end, the pawl can be implemented with stops, which are brought into contact with the operating lever (and/or with the second pawl) to initiate the opening movement. 
     Such locking devices have usually very narrow installation space conditions. Especially for locking mechanisms designed with more than one pawl, there exists the need not to enlarge the installation space for the locking device to allow, where necessary, for retrofitting systems with one pawl. The functionality of the locking device is to be further improved. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     On this basis, it is the task of the present invention to solve the prior art problems, at least partially. 
     These tasks are achieved with a locking device having the features as in claim  1 . Advantageous embodiments of the locking device are given in the dependent claims. It should be noted that in the claims, individually listed features can be combined in any technologically sensible way and to show further embodiments of the invention. The description, especially taken together with the figures, gives more details of the invention and the particularly preferred embodiments. 
     The inventive locking device comprises at least a locking mechanism with a catch and a pivotable first pawl, wherein an operating lever is movable in a way that during its movement the operating lever interacts with a drive pin of the first pawl and a lateral pawl spring acts between the drive pin and the operating lever. 
     The operating lever can be a separate component that is (directly) connected with an operating lever of the inner door handle and/or outer door handle. Similarly, the operating lever can also be a further pawl. It is particularly preferred to apply the invention to locking mechanisms with two pawls, as described, for example, in the (yet unpublished) application DE 10 2008 028 256. With regard to the design of such a locking device, the description of DE 10 2008 028 256 is incorporated herein by reference. 
     The drive pin is preferably shaped as a bolt disposed on a lateral surface of the first pawl, wherein possibly also several drive pins and/or other forms of a driver can be selected. A pawl spring is arranged laterally with respect to the first pawl, thus, in particular, not on a common axis of rotation with the first pawl. In other words, it is also preferred that the pawl and the pawl spring are arranged substantially in one plane. The pawl spring acts on the first pawl when the drive pin cooperates with the operating lever, whereby the action of the pawl spring is such that a safe coming together of the drive pin and operating lever is realized during the joint motion. Thus, it is possible to position other pawls and/or the operating lever on the rotational axis of the first pawl while not overly increasing the construction height along this axis. 
     In addition, it is considered advantageous that the operating lever and the pawl spring provide forced guidance for the first pawl. In other words, this means also that the operating lever exerts a force on the pawl in the direction of the open position and the pawl spring exerts a force on the first pawl in the direction of the closed position. This minimizes the range of motion of the first pawl so that a safe and controlled movement of the pawl is ensured, even taking into account vibrations and/or tolerances in the locking device. 
     In addition, it is preferred that the pawl spring is received in a seat of the first pawl. In other words, this means also that the pawl spring is hinged outside of the pivoting range of the first pawl and a portion of the pawl spring extends into the pivoting range, and this portion is received in the seat of the first pawl. The seat is preferably formed in the manner of a side recess at the bottom side of the first pawl. This seat is preferably so large that free play is possible. It is also preferred that the seat is several times wider than the pawl spring or the portion thereof that is disposed therein. 
     Precisely in this context, it is considered advantageous that the drive pin of the first pawl and the seat are formed opposite to one another. In other words, for example, the drive pin is formed on an upper side surface of one leg of the first pawl, and the seat is formed of the same leg side but on the lower side surface. The drive pin and the seat are preferably disposed on a portion of the first pawl, which is formed opposite to the locking surface of the first pawl. 
     The invention and the technical background are explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the figures show particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, but the invention is not limited to these embodiments. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a locking device in a plan view in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  shows the locking device of  FIG. 1  in a side view; 
         FIG. 3  shows a further locking device in an open position; and 
         FIG. 4  shows a further embodiment of the locking device in a bottom view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a locking device  1 , in which a locking mechanism  2  is implemented with a catch  3  and two pivoting pawls, namely the first pawl  4  and the second pawl  5 . These three components are rotatably fixed on a base plate of the housing  27 . Shown here is a plan view of a locking device  1 , wherein the cover has been omitted. In the housing  27 , an inlet  25  can be seen, which can receive the latch pin  26 . In the locked position, the latch pin  26  is enclosed by the rotatable catch  3  so that the latch pin can no longer leave the inlet  25 . The catch  3  is biased by the spring element  28  and, therefore, seeks to swing back (here clockwise) into the open position. In addition, it should be noted that seat cushions, seals, and the like are usually found between the locking device and the component to be locked so that the latch pin  26  also exerts a reset force on the catch  3 . 
       FIG. 1  shows a locking device  1 , in which a locking mechanism  2  is implemented with a rotary latch  3  and two pivoting pawls, namely, the first pawl  4  and the second pawl  5 . These three components are rotatably fixed on a base plate of the housing  27 . Shown here is a plan view of a locking device  1 , wherein the cover has been omitted. In the housing  27 , an inlet  25  can be seen on the left, which can receive the latch pin  26 . In the locked position, the latch pin  26  is enclosed by the rotatable catch  3  so that the latch pin can no longer leave the inlet  25 . The catch  3  is biased by the spring element  28  and, therefore, seeks to swing back (here clockwise) into the open position. 
     A pawl  4  is provided in order to prevent the catch  3  from pivoting back to the open position. The pawl  4  partially engages the catch  3  and blocks the catch with respect to its opening movement. The first pawl  4  is mounted on the bearing  11  on the housing  27 . On the side of the first pawl  4 , opposite the catch  3 , is positioned a second pawl  5 . The second pawl  5  is partially covered by the electric motor  8 , which lies above it. The electric motor  8  is a part of the actuator  6 . The interaction among the catch  3 , the first pawl  4 , and the second pawl  5  will be explained in detail below. 
     An operating lever  7  is provided at the bearing  11  above the first pawl  4 . The function thereof is described in detail below. Also attached to this bearing  11  is a drive wheel  10  of the actuator  6 , which is located above the operating lever  7 . The electric motor  6  comprises an output shaft  9  in the form of a worm pinion, which cooperates with the toothing on the periphery of the drive wheel  10 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of the locking device  1  shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the figure shows three levels starting from the bottom of the housing  27 . Near the housing  27  is first shown the first level  17 , in which the locking mechanism  2  is arranged and comprises the two pawls  4  and  5 , and the catch  3 . In the second level  18 , which lies above the first level is arranged the operating lever  7 . Further up is the third level, marked  19 , which accommodates members of the actuator  6 . The left side of  FIG. 2  shows that a single common bearing  11  is provided for the first pawl  4 , the operating lever  7 , and the drive wheel  10 . The drive wheel  10  and the operating lever  7  are also (partially) movably-connected with one another by a drive pin  20 , as is the case for the operating lever  7  and the second pawl  5 . 
     The lower part of  FIG. 3  shows the position of the locking mechanism, in which the first pawl  4  is moved by the operating lever  7  into the desired position as the operating lever  7  is pivoted by the drive wheel  10  (not shown here). This occurs because the operating lever  7  is brought into contact with the drive pin  20  of the first pawl  4 , and, in this way, the first pawl  4  is pivoted by the drive pin  20  due to the driven movement of the operating lever  7  (which is provided with a damping material). In the version shown here, the operating lever  7  steers both the first pawl  4  and the second pawl  5  toward the end of the opening movement, in which the movement of the first pawl  4  occurs later in time. 
       FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of a locking device  1 , in which only a bottom view of the locking mechanism  2  is shown. The locking mechanism  2  is shown here in the closed position, such that the first pawl  7  is blocked by the second pawl  5 . The operating lever  7  is mounted here on the same axis as the first pawl  4 . In this rear view, it is easily seen that the first pawl  4  forms a seat  33 , into which the laterally arranged pawl spring  35  encroaches. During the process, the pawl spring  35  engages and exerts a force on the first pawl  4  so that the first pawl  4  rests securely with its drive pin (not shown here) against the operating lever  7 . This allows for the direct and immediate control of the first pawl  4 , and, in particular, the play (tolerance) is balanced by means of the pawl spring  35 . In addition, shown is here a micro switch  34  for detecting the position of the first pawl  4 . 
     Although the invention has been described and explained herein in connection with the figures with respect to a specific design of the locking device comprising two pawls, it can equally be implemented favorably for different locking devices. 
     REFERENCE LIST 
     
         
           1 . Locking device 
           2 . Locking mechanism 
           3 . Catch 
           4 . First pawl 
           5 . Second pawl 
           6 . Actuator 
           7 . Operating lever 
           8 . Electric motor 
           9 . Output shaft 
           10 . Drive wheel 
           11 . Bearing 
           12 . 
           13 . 
           14 . 
           15 . 
           16 . 
           17 . First level 
           18 . Second level 
           19 . Third level 
           20 . Drive pin 
           21 . 
           22 . 
           23 . 
           24 . 
           25 . 
           26 . Latch pin 
           27 . Housing 
           28 . Spring element 
           29 . 
           30 . 
           31 . 
           32 . 
           33 . Seat 
           34 . Micro switch 
           35 . Pawl spring