Free-fall protection assembly for elevator system and method of operation thereof

An elevator assembly, comprising:

• an elevator car;
• a magnetic element positioned underneath the elevator car, to generate a first magnetic field;
• and
• a copper bucket positioned in an elevator pit to generate a second magnetic field in response to an eddy current induced therein, wherein the eddy current is induced in response to a passage of the first magnetic field through the copper bucket as the magnetic element of the elevator car moves relative to the copper bucket in the elevator pit,
• wherein the second magnetic field repels the first magnetic field to reduce a descent speed of the elevator car under a free-fall condition, thereby preventing a free-fall of the elevator car.

A method of preventing free-fall of an elevator car, the method comprising:

• generating, by a magnetic element positioned underneath the elevator car, a first magnetic field;
• generating, by a copper bucket positioned in an elevator pit, a second magnetic field, wherein the second magnetic field is generated in response to an eddy current in the copper bucket, wherein the eddy current is induced in response to a passage of the first magnetic field through the copper bucket as the magnetic element of the elevator car moves relative to the copper bucket in the elevator pit;
• and
• reducing a descent speed of the elevator car to prevent the free-fall of the elevator car, based on a repulsion of the first magnetic field by the second magnetic field.