Abstract: A drive pinion disengaging device for use in rack and pinion hoists includes an outer section of rack having toothed portions above and below, an at least potentially toothless portion, and a bridging rack section adapted to be removed at the toothless portion by the drive pinion when under a predetermined load to permit the latter to disengage the rack in case of malfunction. This permits the large rotational inertia to be dissipated without injury to the drive mechanism. The point of disengagement is such as to occur preferably only when the hoist is engaged by the safety landing buffers (since the drive pinion is normally the only effective support for the hoist).