Abstract: Improved apparatus for manually releasing and controlling an elevator hoist brake having a solenoid with a vertically-actuated, flanged plunger operable to drive the brake shoes apart in opposition to brake springs which normally urge the brake shoes into the locking position, said apparatus comprising a bar having one end insertable between said solenoid and the flange of said plunger and engageable therewith, a handle having an enlarged portion projecting downwardly adjacent the forward end which is pivotally secured to said bar at a point spaced from said one end of said bar, a lever pivotally attached to said bar and having a forward end located adjacent said one end of said bar and dimensioned to be insertable between said solenoid and said flange of said plunger and engageable therewith, a link member pivotally connected to said bar at a point spaced from the forward end of said link and from said one end of said bar and having said forward end of said link pivotally connected adjacent the rear end of s

Abstract: Improved means for manually and controllably releasing elevator hoist brakes having brake shoes urgeable into locking position by brake springs, said apparatus comprising a support bar, a first arm mounted adjacent one end of said support bar and carrying first brake release means engageable with one end of said brake springs, a second arm located adjacent the opposite end of said support bar, a compound lever which is generally V-shaped having one elongated leg and one short leg with the short leg being pivotally mounted on said second arm, and a generally L-shaped member having a short leg pivotally mounted adjacent the free end of said second arm and having a long leg pivotally connected to the long leg of said lever, and second brake release means pivotally mounted adjacent the intersection of the legs of said L-shaped member and engageable with the opposite end of said brake springs so that movement of said lever will drive said brake release means toward each other to accomplish controlled movement of s

Abstract: Apparatus (20) is provided to enable a single operator to effect a controlled release of an elevator hoist brake (32) thus allowing "drifting" of the elevator car to the nearest floor and quick safe rescue of trapped passengers during an electrical outage. Other apparatus (120, 130) is provided which may be combined with elements of the apparatus 20 to release brakes on special types of elevators. An additional arrangement (20') of the apparatus 20 is provided to release brakes on still other special types of elevators. An observer having the elevator car in view may communicate (e.g. by hand held transceiver) desired car movements to the operator who is typically located in the machine room atop the elevator shaft.