An elevator brake (20) has at least one brake disc (30) comprising a metal matrix composite, the metal matrix composite including at least an aluminum alloy and silicon carbide. The metal matrix composite in particular comprises Aluminum 6061, silicon carbide and redmud.

A hoist system includes a hook; a cable connected to the hook; a motor configured to move the hook and the cable; an overload protection device (OLPD) configured to limit loads imparted on one or more of the hook, the cable, and the motor. The hoist system further includes an emergency brake system configured to stop movement of at least the cable, where the emergency brake system is configured to operate in response to a manual control or automatically in response to a controller.

An overspeed brake system for use in an elevator powerhead is provided. A brake rotor is attachable to a cable drum to rotate with a cable drum. A brake member selectively engages the brake rotor upon transition of an actuation lever from a first position to a second position. A biasing member acts on the actuation lever to bias the actuation lever from the first position towards the second position. A latch arrangement has a first orientation maintaining the actuation lever in the first position and a second orientation releasing the actuation lever for transitioning from the first position to the second position. The latch arrangement transitions from the first orientation to the second orientation when a speed sensing arrangement senses that the rotational speed of the cable drum is at least a predetermined rotational speed.

An elevator brake monitoring system includes a car (12); a machine (18) configured to actuate movement of the car; and a brake (32) configured to decelerate the car; wherein the system is configured to operate the machine to move the car at a pre-determined speed, engage the brake, measure a braking parameter and compare the measured braking parameter to a reference braking parameter.

An elevator brake monitoring system includes a car (12); a machine (18) configured to actuate movement of the car; and a brake (32) configured to decelerate the car; wherein the system is configured to operate the machine to move the car at a pre-determined speed, engage the brake, measure a braking parameter and compare the measured braking parameter to a reference braking parameter.

An elevator system (10) is comprised of a car (22), and a shaft (46) operatively connected to the car and configured to rotate for movement of the car through the elevator system. A brake assembly (44) is comprised of a disk (56) connected to and configured to rotate along with the shaft. Movable plates (60, 62) are placed on respective opposite sides of the disk and configured to move axially toward and away from the disk. Electromagnets are configured to respectively move the movable plates away from the disk. Elastic elements (64, 66) are configured to respectively move the movable plates toward the disk. The disk is free to move axially, and is designed to stop the movement of the car by stopping the rotation of the shaft when the rotation of the disk is stopped by friction from contact of the movable plates with the disk when the elastic elements move the movable plates toward the disk.

Brake release sensors for an elevator can be replaced by an arrangement wherein the brake release is determined from the force caused by the brake. This is achieved by providing measuring device for measuring the weight of an elevator car between the brake and the motor body so that the weight of the elevator car is measured only when the brake is on.

Brake release sensors for an elevator can be replaced by an arrangement wherein the brake release is determined from the force caused by the brake. This is achieved by providing measuring device for measuring the weight of an elevator car between the brake and the motor body so that the weight of the elevator car is measured only when the brake is on.

A brake includes a frame part; an armature part supported by the frame part in a manner that allows movement; an electromagnet for opening the brake; and also a damping arrangement for damping the noise of the brake. The damping arrangement is made to be conductive to magnetic flux, and the damping arrangement is fitted on the pathway of the magnetic flux of the electromagnet of the brake.

A brake includes a frame part; an armature part supported by the frame part in a manner that allows movement; an electromagnet for opening the brake; and also a damping arrangement for damping the noise of the brake. The damping arrangement is made to be conductive to magnetic flux, and the damping arrangement is fitted on the pathway of the magnetic flux of the electromagnet of the brake.