Elevator drive

An elevator drive comprising:

• a motor;
• a traction sheave driven by the motor for engaging with an elongate load bearing member supporting an elevator car;
• and
• a pressure applicator arranged to exert normal force on the elongate load bearing member towards the traction sheave, wherein one of the traction sheave and the pressure applicator is mounted on a lever rotatable about a fulcrum and is thereby displaceable relative to another of the traction sheave and the pressure applicator, and whereby a tension in the elongate load bearing member biases the lever about the fulcrum when the traction sheave engages the elongate load bearing member.

A counterweight-less elevator installation comprising:

• an elevator car;
• an elongate load bearing member supporting the elevator car;
• and
• elevator drive comprising,
• a motor,
• a traction sheave driven by the motor engaging with the elongate load bearing member, and
• a pressure applicator exerting normal force on the elongate load bearing member towards the traction sheave, wherein one of the traction sheave and the pressure applicator is mounted on a lever rotatable about a fulcrum and is thereby displaceable relative to another of the traction sheave and the pressure applicator, and whereby a tension in the elongate load bearing member biases the lever about the fulcrum.

A method for driving a counterweight-less elevator comprising the steps of:

• driving a traction sheave;
• supporting an elevator car on an elongate load bearing member engaging the traction sheave;
• and
• exerting a normal force on a portion of the elongate load bearing member passing over the traction sheave and varying the normal force in accordance with changes in a tension in the elongate load bearing member.