A method and apparatus for monitoring an elevator drive brake wherein the method includes the steps of detecting a spring force (F.sub.s-closed) when the brake is closed, detecting a spring force (F.sub.s-open) when the brake is open, determining the difference between the two detected spring forces (F.sub.s), and comparing the difference between the two detected spring forces with at least one preset permissible force differential (F.sub.smin; F.sub.smax) to determine whether the brake is defective. The apparatus includes a force sensor for each brake spring to be monitored, and an electronic monitor that stores at least one preset permissible force differential (F.sub.smin; F.sub.smax) and, during operation, compares the at least one preset permissible force differential with an actual force difference (F.sub.s) between an open spring force (F.sub.s-open) and a closed spring force (F.sub.s-closed) as detected by the force sensor.

A method and apparatus for monitoring an elevator drive brake wherein the method includes the steps of detecting a spring force (F.sub.s-closed) when the brake is closed, detecting a spring force (F.sub.s-open) when the brake is open, determining the difference between the two detected spring forces (F.sub.s), and comparing the difference between the two detected spring forces with at least one preset permissible force differential (F.sub.smin; F.sub.smax) to determine whether the brake is defective. The apparatus includes a force sensor for each brake spring to be monitored, and an electronic monitor that stores at least one preset permissible force differential (F.sub.smin; F.sub.smax) and, during operation, compares the at least one preset permissible force differential with an actual force difference (F.sub.s) between an open spring force (F.sub.s-open) and a closed spring force (F.sub.s-closed) as detected by the force sensor.

An electromechanical actuator (1) includes a motor (3) driving a shaft (4), a piston (5) movable in an axial direction between a low and high positions and an upper sleeve (8) slidably mounted on the shaft (4) below the piston (5). A lower sleeve (7) is attached to the shaft (4) and radially extending arms (9) are attached to the shaft (4) between the sleeves (7, 8). Flyweights (10), elongated in the axial direction, are slidably mounted on the arms (9). Lower and upper ramps (11, 12) contact the axial ends of the flyweights (10) and start from one of the sleeves (7, 8) and extend away from the shaft (4) towards the other sleeve (7, 8) such that the flyweights (10) are interposed between the ramps (11, 12) to maintain the spacing of the sleeves (7, 8). An electromagnet (14) holds the piston (5) in the high position.