Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the length of rolled steel shapes and the like comprises means for directing light onto the steel shape to produce a shadow up to an end of its length. A light receiver is provided for measuring this length. It comprises a cylindrical stationary element and a cylindrical rotatable element, one inside the other and both having apertures for forming a resulting aperture which has at least a movable portion. The apparatus also comprises a photo-electric transducer provided for example by a light-guiding rod inside the elements of the light receiver, for exposure of the rod to the shadow, through the resulting aperture. Photosensitive elements are provided at the ends of the rod.

Abstract: A patient-lifting stretcher comprises a movable flexible frame formed of two closed longitudinal slideways between which there are movably mounted two parallel support sheets staggered with respect to each other which have one end in common provided with a reversing roller and two separate ends each having a reversing roller. Over these rollers and sheets there slide two cloths whose common end is connected to a fixed point and whose other ends, after passing over the rollers, are each firmly connected with a separate fixed point so that when the stretcher is displaced, one of the cloths moves under the body of the patient while the other, below this one, moves over the mattress or other surface which has until then directly sustained the body.