A brake (200) comprising a braking surface (202); a brake lever (206) arranged to move between a retracted position and an engaged position; a brake lining (210) and at least one non-contact sensor (212). The brake lining is disposed between the braking surface and the brake lever such that when the brake lever is in the engaged position the brake lining is in contact with the braking surface. The at least one non-contact sensor is arranged to output a signal dependent on the distance between the non-contact sensor and the braking surface.

According to an aspect, there is provided a method for condition monitoring of inductive braking device of an elevator car in an elevator shaft, the method including determining that the elevator car is empty; determining that doors of the elevator car are closed; causing electromechanical brakes to hold the elevator car stationary in the elevator shaft; causing actuation of a braking condition for the elevator car with the inductive braking device; causing the electromechanical brakes to lift while the inductive braking device is in the braking condition; determining a value associated with the inductive braking device in response to causing the electromechanical brakes to lift while the inductive braking device is actuated; and determining an operating condition of the inductive braking device based on the value.

A method of testing elevator car braking distance includes verifying that an elevator car is empty. The method also includes initiating a test procedure. The method further includes triggering a safety actuation device to actuate at least one safety brake to stop an elevator car. The method yet further includes recording braking data during a braking period. The method also includes recording braking data with at least one piece of elevator car equipment. The method further includes generating a braking data report that includes at least one of braking distance and braking deceleration of the elevator car.

In an elevator system, whether an emergency stopper thereof operates normally can be confirmed by letting a driving sheave run idle even in a case where the driving force of a hoisting machine is not large enough, the elevator system includes a main rope to suspend an elevator car and a counterweight, the emergency stopper to prevent the elevator car from dropping, the driving sheave, with the main rope wound around, to drive the main rope by a frictional force therebetween, the hoisting machine to rotate the driving sheave, and an elevator controller to drive the hoisting machine, wherein the elevator controller drives the hoisting machine, with the emergency stopper kept in operation, to let the driving sheave run idle by exciting vertical natural period vibration of the counterweight.

A control arrangement of an elevator includes a safety gear, an over speed governor with a rope which is connected to the safety gear, a stopping device for generating an actuating force to the safety gear, and a drive unit for driving the elevator apparatus. In order to facilitate easy and efficient maintenance, the control arrangement includes a controller for controlling a triggered sequence to involve activating of the stopping device for braking with the safety gear, and controlling the drive unit to drive the elevator apparatus during braking with the safety gear until the safety gear stops the elevator apparatus.

A safety circuit for an elevator system includes a plurality of switch contacts, at least one first switch contact, and a control unit. The at least one first switch contact can be switched electronically and can be bridged using a conductive bridging element, in particular for maintenance or testing purposes. Additionally, the control unit is directly or indirectly connected to the safety circuit. The at least one first switch contact can be switched on the basis of instructions of the control unit in order to change the state of the safety circuit. In the process, the at least one control unit detects the absence of the state change of the safety circuit, in particular when the at least one first switch contact is being bridged by the bridging element.

A method for testing operation of an elevator including an elevator car includes starting movement of the elevator car; and thereafter starting a stopping sequence for stopping movement of the elevator car; and monitoring movement of the elevator car, the monitoring preferably including monitoring acceleration of the elevator car; and detecting a predefined response in movement of the elevator car, the predefined response preferably being cease of acceleration of the elevator car; and determining time elapsed between the starting a stopping sequence and the detected predefined response in movement of the elevator car, wherein the response is preferably cease of acceleration, for thereby determining reaction time of the elevator; and comparing the time elapsed with at least one reference, such as with at least one predefined threshold. An elevator is provided for implementing the method.

According to an aspect, there is provided a method for condition monitoring of inductive braking device of an elevator car in an elevator shaft, the method including determining that the elevator car is empty; determining that doors of the elevator car are closed; causing electromechanical brakes to hold the elevator car stationary in the elevator shaft; causing actuation of a braking condition for the elevator car with the inductive braking device; causing the electromechanical brakes to lift while the inductive braking device is in the braking condition; determining a value associated with the inductive braking device in response to causing the electromechanical brakes to lift while the inductive braking device is actuated; and determining an operating condition of the inductive braking device based on the value.

Elevator safety brake and/or safety actuator health monitoring systems and methods including an elevator car moveable within an elevator shaft along a guide rail, and a first safety brake assembly arranged on the elevator car and configured to engage with the guide rail to provide emergency braking to the elevator car. The first brake assembly includes a first safety brake and an electronic safety actuator operably connected to the first safety brake. A health monitoring element is in communication with the electronic safety actuator. The health monitoring element is configured to record information associated with operation of the first safety brake assembly, compare the recorded information against at least one predetermined threshold, and when the recorded information exceeds the at least one predetermined threshold, generate a notification that maintenance is required.

A condition monitoring system for performing a transformation of mixed elevator data is provided. The condition monitoring system includes a computer sub-system. The computer sub-system includes a memory storing transformation software and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor executes the transformation software to cause the condition monitoring system to acquire quantitative and qualitative information and transform the quantitative and qualitative information to produce transformed information. The processor executes the transformation software to further cause the condition monitoring system to execute analytics on the transformed information and generate predictions based on the analytics of the transformed information.