Patent ID: 9738491
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: B66B

Claim:
1. A hydraulic-boosted rail brake for use with an elevator having a guide rail, comprising: a braking plate having friction material, the braking plate being selectively movable relative to the guide rail; a spring package in communication with the braking plate, the spring package biasing the friction material to interact with the guide rail whereby causing braking; a hydraulic cylinder; a piston housed at least partially inside the hydraulic cylinder, the piston being in communication with the braking plate and selectively: (a) movable in a release direction to diminish or overcome force from the spring package; and (b) movable in an engage direction to supplement the force from the spring package; and a brake controller selectively causing the piston to move in the release direction and in the engage direction; wherein the brake controller selectively deactivates the piston such that the force from the spring package is neither overcome nor enhanced by the piston.