An elevator includes a car, a counterweight, and a hoisting member connecting the car with the counterweight over a traction sheave. A free fall protection system includes a free fall protection controller, a free fall protection member connecting the car with the counterweight over the traction sheave or over a separate free fall sheave. The car and the counterweight are supported by the hoisting member in normal operation and by the free fall protection member only in a situation in which the hoisting member support fails. At least one free fall protection brake is arranged to stop the movement of the free fall protection member and thereby also the movement of the car and/or the counterweight, when being activated by the free fall protection controller.

An elevator includes a car, a counterweight, and a hoisting member connecting the car with the counterweight over a traction sheave. A free fall protection system includes a free fall protection controller, a free fall protection member connecting the car with the counterweight over the traction sheave or over a separate free fall sheave. The car and the counterweight are supported by the hoisting member in normal operation and by the free fall protection member only in a situation in which the hoisting member support fails. At least one free fall protection brake is arranged to stop the movement of the free fall protection member and thereby also the movement of the car and/or the counterweight, when being activated by the free fall protection controller.

A safety device for an elevator system, and an elevator system. The elevator system includes a guide rope arranged in a hoistway to be used as a guide rail and a running device running along the guide rope, and the safety device includes a body which is connected to the running device, and a first component and a second component which are provided on the body and define a passage for the guide rope to pass through freely when the running device is in normal operation, the first and second components are configured for clamping the guide rope in the passage when a running speed of the running device exceeds a threshold, to restrict the speed of the running device or stop the running device.

A safety device for an elevator system, and an elevator system. The elevator system includes a guide rope arranged in a hoistway to be used as a guide rail and a running device running along the guide rope, and the safety device includes a body which is connected to the running device, and a first component and a second component which are provided on the body and define a passage for the guide rope to pass through freely when the running device is in normal operation, the first and second components are configured for clamping the guide rope in the passage when a running speed of the running device exceeds a threshold, to restrict the speed of the running device or stop the running device.

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes an elevator car, a counterweight, roping coupling the elevator car and the counterweight, the roping supporting a load of the elevator car and the counterweight, and a plurality of safeties. The plurality of safeties includes a plurality of elevator car safeties supported for movement with the elevator car that are selectively actuated to engage a stationary surface to prevent movement of the elevator car. The plurality of safeties also includes a plurality of counterweight safeties supported for movement with the counterweight that are selectively actuated to engage a stationary surface to prevent movement of the counterweight. The safeties are configured for wireless communication causing essentially simultaneous actuation of the elevator car safeties and the counterweight safeties.

A braking system resetting mechanism for a hoisted structure includes a guide rail (14) and a brake member (10). Also included is a brake member actuation mechanism (12) operatively coupled to the brake member and configured to magnetically engage the guide rail to actuate the brake member from a non-braking position to a braking position. Further included is an outer structure having a slot (64) configured to guide the brake member actuation mechanism, wherein the slot includes a first angled region and a second angled region that intersect at an outer location. Also included is a spring loaded lever (202) operatively coupled to the outer structure and configured to engage the brake member actuation mechanism during a resetting operation, wherein the spring loaded lever biases the brake member actuation mechanism toward the outer location of the slot of the outer structure to disengage the brake member actuation mechanism from the guide rail.

A braking system resetting mechanism for a hoisted structure includes a guide rail (14) and a brake member (10). Also included is a brake member actuation mechanism (12) operatively coupled to the brake member and configured to magnetically engage the guide rail to actuate the brake member from a non-braking position to a braking position. Further included is an outer structure having a slot (64) configured to guide the brake member actuation mechanism, wherein the slot includes a first angled region and a second angled region that intersect at an outer location. Also included is a spring loaded lever (202) operatively coupled to the outer structure and configured to engage the brake member actuation mechanism during a resetting operation, wherein the spring loaded lever biases the brake member actuation mechanism toward the outer location of the slot of the outer structure to disengage the brake member actuation mechanism from the guide rail.

This invention is directed to a self-propelled elevator system having multiple motors or one motor, and methods for synchronizing said multiple motors. This invention is also directed to an elevator brake system to be used in said self-propelled elevator system or other types of elevators to increase their level of safety.

This invention is directed to a self-propelled elevator system having multiple motors or one motor, and methods for synchronizing said multiple motors. This invention is also directed to an elevator brake system to be used in said self-propelled elevator system or other types of elevators to increase their level of safety.

An elevator and a method for testing an operating condition of two or more elevator car brakes are provided, each of the car brakes including an actuator to control the car brake and each of the car brakes mounted to elevator car and fitted to selectively engage against a guide rail of an elevator car to stop movement of an elevator car or to open to enable movement of an elevator car. The method includes an empty car is kept at a standstill by providing a driving force upwards with all the N movers mounted to the elevator car, and total current Lot of all N movers is determined. One of the car brakes is applied while the others are kept open. The driving current of each of the movers is gradually decreased, and movement of elevator car is observed. When movement of elevator car is detected, the driving current at the moment movement started is recorded, and the recorded current is compared to a reference value, and if the recorded current is higher than the reference value, safety measures with the elevator are performed.