Patent ID: 8136795

Claim:
An assembly for controlling movement of an elevator car, comprising: a sheave that is configured to rotate about a sheave axis of rotation at a velocity related to a velocity of the elevator car; a first mass attached to the sheave at a first mass pivot point radially spaced from the sheave axis of rotation; a second mass attached to the sheave at a second mass pivot point radially spaced from the sheave axis of rotation; and a releasable non-elastic connection between the first and second masses that is configured to prevent pivotal movement of the first and second masses at sheave angular velocities less than a first velocity and to permit pivotal movement of the first and second masses at velocities greater than or equal to the first velocity, wherein the releasable non-elastic connection comprises: a magnetic coupler having a first element carried by the first mass and a second element carried by the second mass.