Brake device and brake system for an elevator, elevator and method of operating an elevator

A brake device for an elevator car or a hoisting machinery of an elevator, the brake device being configured to cooperate with a guide rail of the elevator or with a brake disc of the hoisting machinery for applying a brake force to said guide rail or brake disc when actuated, the brake device comprising

• a frame that is configured to be rigidly attached to the elevator car or to a stationary body part of the hoisting machinery,
• a brake caliper slidably mounted to the frame,
• at least one brake element that is mounted to the brake caliper and moveable between a braking position and a retracted position,
• brake actuation means and brake release means for moving said at least one brake element between the braking position and the retracted position,
• a fluid chamber and a piston having a first piston surface delimiting said fluid chamber, wherein one of the fluid chamber and the piston is configured to move with the brake caliper and the other is configured to move with the frame such that a brake force applied to the guide rail or to the brake disc by means of the brake device strives to move the piston and the fluid chamber relative to each other.