Patent ID: 8191689

Claim:
An elevator safety rescue system, comprising: at least one electrically powered drive motor coupled to an elevator transit mechanism, the drive motor having an output shaft, wherein the at least one drive motor comprises a first drive motor and a second drive motor, the first drive motor being disposed above the second drive motor; a positive displacement hydraulic pump rotationally coupled to the output shaft of the drive motor; a hydraulic circuit communicating with the hydraulic pump; an electro-hydraulic flow control valve disposed in the hydraulic circuit in series with the hydraulic pump; a restrictor orifice disposed in the hydraulic circuit in parallel with the electro-hydraulic flow control valve; and a normally operational electric circuit providing electric power to the electro-hydraulic flow control valve during normal elevator operation; wherein the electro-hydraulic flow control valve is maintained in an open condition when electrical power is provided thereto by the normally operational electric circuit, the electro-hydraulic flow control valve closing when electrical power thereto is terminated, thereby routing all hydraulic fluid through the restrictor orifice and restricting hydraulic flow through the hydraulic pump with corresponding reduction in rotational speed thereof and of the drive motor coupled thereto.