Required tension in the governor rope to ensure reliable overspeed detection.
Full Definition
Governor rope tension refers to the minimum tension that must be maintained in the speed governor rope to ensure it reliably drives the governor sheave and activates the safety gear at overspeed. Insufficient tension can cause rope slip on the governor sheave, preventing safety gear activation. EN 81-20 requires that the governor rope be tensioned by a tensioning device (usually a weighted sheave in the pit) and that the rope tension be sufficient to trip the safety gear under worst-case conditions. Tension is checked during commissioning and annual inspections.
