Governor assembly for an elevator

A method of operating a safety brake in an elevator system (10), the safety brake moveable between a first position where the safety brake is not in engagement with a guide rail (14) and a second position where the safety brake is engaged with a guide rail (14),

• the elevator system (10) comprising an elevator car (12) driven to move along at least one guide rail (14), and a governor assembly (100) comprising:
• a sheave (102) configured to rotate about a central axis (X-X) thereof and connected to the elevator car (12) by a rope (22;
• 104) configured to drive rotation of the sheave (102) at a speed related to the speed of movement of the elevator car (12);
• a plurality of masses (106) mounted to the sheave (102) for rotation therewith about the central axis (X-X) and configured to move from a first radial position to a second radial position, radially outward of the first radial position, when a speed of rotation of the sheave (102) meets or exceeds a set speed;
• a sensor (112) configured to detect that the plurality of masses (106) have reached the second radial position;
• and
• a brake (200;
• 300) moveable from a non-braking position in which the sheave (102) is free to rotate to a braking position in which the brake (200;
• 300) contacts the sheave (102) so as to slow or stop rotation of the sheave (102),
• wherein the brake (200;
• 300) is configured to be moved from the non-braking position to the braking position when the sensor (112) detects that the plurality of masses (106) have reached the second radial position,
• the method comprising:
• operating the brake (200;
• 300) in the non-braking position when the sensor (112) does not detect that the plurality of masses (106) have reached the second radial position;
• and
• when the sensor (112) detects that the plurality of masses (106) have reached the second radial position, moving the brake (200;
• 300) into the braking position so as to slow rotation of the sheave (102) relative to the speed of movement of the elevator car (12) and to cause the safety brake to be moved into the second position.