self generating elevator emergency power source with load bank

A counterweight assembly for an elevator system including an elevator cab, a counterweight rail and a power supply, the counterweight assembly comprising:

• a constant counterweight operatively coupled to the counterweight rail;
• a releasable lock electrically coupled to the power supply;
• and
• a detachable counterweight operatively coupled to the counterweight rail and coupled to the constant counterweight by the releasable lock, the releasable lock configured to release the detachable counterweight upon a loss of power from the power supply.

A self-powered emergency descent upgrade package for controlling the descent of an elevator cab of an elevator system, the upgrade package comprising:

• a counterweight assembly operatively coupled to an existing cable coupled to the elevator cab;
• a load bank;
• a generating unit operatively coupled to a drive member and electrically coupled to the load bank, the generating unit driven by the descent of the elevator cab causing the cable to rotate a sheave operatively connected to the generator shaft, wherein the generator produces a current which flows to the load bank and produces a torque that is directed against a torque produced by the descending cab;
• and
• an auxiliary elevator controller including a back-up power source to supply power to an elevator controller, the auxiliary controller electrically coupled to the outside power source, the generating unit, the load bank, the elevator braking device,
• wherein the controller, upon loss of outside power, sends a signal releasing the braking device, the elevator controller configured to detect the speed of descent of the elevator cab and to direct a regulated current from the generator to the load bank, the regulated current producing a regulated generator torque to counteract the torque of the descending elevator cab, controlling the rate of descent of the elevator cab.