Abstract: Method for performing an elevator rescue run in an emergency situation, the elevator comprising and elevator car, a counter weight, a rope suspending the car and the counterweight, a drive motor, an emergency brake for stopping the car in an emergency situation, and a motor drive unit for supplying drive power to and for controlling the drive motor, having the following rescue run sequence steps: (a) operating the motor drive unit in a zero speed demand mode for holding the car at its present position; (b) lifting the brake, while holding the car in the zero speed demand mode; (c) determining the preferred movement direction of the car based on the power data as obtained by the motor drive unit; and (d) performing the rescue run in the direction of the determined preferred movement direction.

Abstract: Elevator (2) comprising a car (4), a counterweight (6), a hoisting rope (8) for suspending the car (4) and the counterweight (6), a drive motor (10), a motor drive unit (26) for supplying the power to the drive motor (10), and a brake (18) for stopping the movement of the car (4) in an emergency situation, the elevator (2) further comprising an elevator rescue system (40), comprising an emergency power supply (42), an emergency brake switch (44) for connecting and disconnecting the power of the emergency power supply (42) to the brake (18), and an emergency drive switch (46) for connecting and disconnecting the power of the emergency power supply (42) to the drive motor (10), characterised in that the elevator rescue system (40) further comprises the motor drive unit (26) and a power line (74) connecting the emergency power supply (42) with the motor drive unit (26) and including the emergency drive switch (46).

Abstract: Method for performing an elevator rescue run in an emergency situation, the elevator comprising and elevator car, a counter weight, a rope suspending the car and the counterweight, a drive motor, an emergency brake for stopping the car in an emergency situation, and a motor drive unit for supplying drive power to and for controlling the drive motor, having the following rescue run sequence steps: (a) operating the motor drive unit in a zero speed demand mode for holding the car at its present position; (b) lifting the brake, while holding the car in the zero speed demand mode; (c) determining the preferred movement direction of the car based on the power data as obtained by the motor drive unit; and (d) performing the rescue run in the direction of the determined preferred movement direction.