Apparatus for maintaining adequate overhead space for car top mechanics in elevator systems

An apparatus for maintaining adequate overhead space while a worker is performing maintenance work on a roof of an elevator car within a hoistway, comprising:

• a car drive mechanism that disengages at a predetermined load;
• a brace mounted to the elevator car, said brace extending above the car and being capable of withstanding a compressive load that is greater than the predetermined load, whereby when upward movement of the elevator car moves said brace into contact with an overhead structure in the hoistway the brace prevents further upward movement of the elevator car and causes the drive mechanism to disengage, wherein said brace is a structural column;
• and
• a vertically disposed sleeve mounted atop the car for slidably retaining said column in an upright position.

An apparatus for maintaining adequate overhead space while a worker is performing maintenance work on a roof of an elevator car within a hoistway, comprising:

• a car drive mechanism that disengages at a predetermined load;
• a brace mounted to the elevator car, said brace extending above the car and being capable of withstanding a compressive load that is greater than the predetermined load, whereby when upward movement of the elevator car moves said brace into contact with an overhead structure in the hoistway the brace prevents further upward movement of the elevator car and causes the drive mechanism to disengage,
• wherein said brace is movable between an upright position and a lowered position;
• an inspection box mounted above the roof of the elevator car and containing circuit means for controlling the elevator car during inspection;
• and
• a switch that is actuated when said brace is in the upright position, enabling said circuit means to permit upward movement of the car during inspection only when said brace is in the upright position.