Patent ID: 7029039

Claim:
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.