Force application assembly, elevator and method of elevator rescue

A force application assembly provided for applying a force to an elevator car when the elevator car and a counterweight are in a balanced state, the force application assembly comprising:

• a first attachment portion, which is configured to be removably attached to an elevator hoistway;
• a second attachment portion, one end of which is removably fixed relative to the elevator car or the counterweight, and which is configured to be at least partially elastic;
• an actuation portion connected between the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion, wherein the first attachment portion is configured to be fixed relative to the actuation portion, and the second attachment portion is configured to be movable relative to the actuation portion;
• and
• an operation portion, which is associated with the actuation portion and is operable to move the second attachment portion away from or close to the actuation portion;
• wherein the actuation portion applies a force to the second attachment portion, and the force is stored as elastic potential energy in the second attachment portion before the balanced state of the elevator car and the counterweight is broken.