US Patent 7015419 Detecting element for a welding device

The invention describes a welding apparatus (1), which has a current source (2) for supplying electrical power to at least one electrode at a welding torch (10) and a control system (4) co-operating with the current source (2), linked to an input device (22) for entering settings for different welding parameters, several sensing means being provided for detecting various actual values of a welding process. At least one measuring device or system for sensing mechanical motion, in particular a welding wire displacement and/or a welding torch displacement or similar, is provided, which detects a surface structure of an object.