Abstract: A method and brake monitoring device check a current functional state of a brake for an elevator installation traction sheave. The brake has a stationary part and a rotatable part rotationally fixedly coupled to the sheave. A braking mechanism has a displaceable braking element, a biasing mechanism and a release mechanism arranged on the stationary part. The biasing mechanism mechanically biases the braking element with an elastic biasing force toward a braking configuration. The release mechanism has an electrical actuator producing a force acting on the braking element and counteracting the elastic biasing force. The method includes: varying electrical power to the actuator; measuring a release power value that, when exceeded, causes the braking element to switch between the braking configuration and a released configuration; comparing the release power value with a predetermined reference power value; and determining the current functional state of the brake based the comparison result.

Abstract: An elevator drive has a traction sheave over which ropes are passed to move an elevator car and a counterweight up and down in an elevator hoistway. An elevator control in a control cabinet on a landing is connected with another elevator control in the hoistway and with the elevator car, and controls how the elevator car moves. The control cabinet also has a handle that is part of a Bowden cable acting on a brake of the elevator drive. The handle can be used to manually release the brake which permits the elevator car to move up or down depending on the difference in weight between the elevator car and the counterweight. The position of the elevator car in the hoistway is of significance to the elevator control. A tensioned toothed belt spanning the height of the hoistway is in contact with an encoder that detects the absolute position of the elevator car for the elevator control. For evacuation, a signal device is provided which allows evacuation of the car without looking into the elevator hoistway.

Abstract: An elevator drive has a traction sheave over which ropes are passed to move an elevator car and a counterweight up and down in an elevator hoistway. An elevator control in a control cabinet on a landing is connected with another elevator control in the hoistway and with the elevator car, and controls how the elevator car moves. The control cabinet also has a handle that is part of a Bowden cable acting on a brake of the elevator drive. The handle can be used to manually release the brake which permits the elevator car to move up or down depending on the difference in weight between the elevator car and the counterweight. The position of the elevator car in the hoistway is of significance to the elevator control. A tensioned toothed belt spanning the height of the hoistway is in contact with an encoder that detects the absolute position of the elevator car for the elevator control. For evacuation, a signal device is provided which allows evacuation of the car without looking into the elevator hoistway.