Elevator assembly with counterweight blocking stop

An elevator assembly (1), comprising:

• an elevator car (2) arranged to move in an elevator shaft (6);
• a counterweight (4) coupled to the elevator car (2) and arranged to move upwards and downwards in the elevator shaft (6);
• a safety device (8) located on a roof (9) of the elevator car (2) and moveable between a deployed position, in which it extends away from the roof (9) of the elevator car (2), and an undeployed position in which it is stowed on the roof (9) of the elevator car;
• a locking handle (10) positioned within the elevator shaft (6), and connected to a first end (12a) of a tension member (12;
• 212a, 212b);
• a blocking stop (14;
• 214a, 214b), which is connected to a second end (12b) of the tension member (12;
• 212a, 212b), and which is moveable between an inactive state, in which the tension member (12;
• 212a, 212b) holds the blocking stop (14;
• 214a, 214b) in a position in which it does not limit downwards movement of the counterweight (4), and an active state, in which tension in the tension member (12;
• 212a, 212b) is reduced to allow the blocking stop (14;
• 214a, 214b) to move to a position in which it limits downwards movement of the counterweight (4);
• and
• a safety switch (11) arranged such that, when the safety device (8) is in the deployed position, the safety switch (11) is triggered and thereby causes the locking handle (10) to move so as to reduce tension in the tension member (12;
• 212a, 212b), thereby allowing the blocking stop (14;
• 214a, 214b) to move into the active state.