Abstract: A lift sheave arrangement is disclosed which includes a static shaft and a sheave mounted for rotation about the static shaft. The sheave has a first portion for receiving a cable which is to be connected to a lift car and a second portion which includes a brake on its inner circumference. A motor, the brake and second portion for driving the sheave about the static shaft are arranged in the same plane normal to the shaft. The motor has a plurality of movable magnets and a plurality of stationary magnets. The brake drum of the brake includes part of the magnetic circuit between adjacent magnetic elements in the movable magnetic elements.A magnetic actuator is arranged for allowing movement of the brake to apply the brakes and a sensor is provided for sensing the magnetic flux in the actuator when the actuator is actuated to move the brake so that a control circuit can vary the voltage applied to the actuator to enable the brake to move smoothly under the influence of the actuator.