Abstract: A load sensor which has an elongate hollow body 11, preferably formed as a metal extrusion, and which forms a first capacitative plate 21. A second parallel capacitative plate 15 is formed on an insulating body which is held in place relative to the extrusion by a resilient support 16. Application of a load to the extrusion causes variation in the gap between the plates of the capacitor, thus affecting the capacitance in a manner which is measured and processed to provide an output signal which is directly proportional to the applied load.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the thickness of a workpiece (34) at a plurality of predetermined points separated one from another along a predetermined measurement line. A caliper has first and second opposed jaws (20, 22) mounted on a support (19), which is biased to maintain the first jaw (20) in contact with a first surface of the workpiece. The second jaw is biased relative to the support to maintain the second jaw in contact with a second, opposite, surface of the workpiece. A transducer (24a) is controlled by the second jaw to produce an output signal representative of workpiece thickness. The workpiece is mounted for relative movement between the workpiece and the caliper so that the predetermined measurement line passes between the jaws of the caliper. The output signal is sampled as the predetermined points pass between the jaws of the caliper, and the sample signals are processed to provide thickness measurements at the predetermined points.