Theodolite Basics..
Theodolite Basics..
2. Vertical Circle: rigidly attached to telescope; has graduations from 0-360o or divided into
4 quadrants (measuring 0 – 90o). It is used to measure vertical angles. The line joining zeros is
parallel to the line of sight.
3. A-Frame (Standards): supports trunnion axis of the telescope; Also supports T-frame (or
Index Frame) and vertical circle clamp.
4. Index frame (T-Frame): supports the vernier on the vertical circle. It carries the level
tube called “Altitude Bubble”.
5. Levelling Head: It consists of two parallel triangular plates (called tribrach plates) & three
footscrews. Its uses are
a. To support the main part of the instrument.
b. To attach the theodolite to the tripod.
c. To level the instrument.
6. Spindles: conical arrangements to which upper & lower plates are separately fixed.
7. Lower Plate:
• Attached to outer spindle
• Carries main circular scale for horizontal angle measurements. Therefore, lower
plate is also called Scale plate
• It consists of lower clamp screw (for fixing) and tangent screw (for fine
adjustment)
8. Upper Plate:
• carries two vernier scales at diametrically opposite points.
• Supports A-frame
• consists an upper clamp screw and tangent screws
10. Plate Levels: fixed to upper plate; placed parallel to trunnion axis.
11. Plumb Bob: It is used to center theodolite exactly over the ground station mark.
TECHNICAL TERMS
1. Swinging The Telescope: It means rotating the telescope about its vertical axis in the
horizontal plane. A swing is called right or left according as the telescope is rotated clockwise or
counter clockwise.
• If the telescope is rotated clockwise => Right swing
• If the telescope is rotated anticlockwise => Left swing
2. Transiting the theodolite: Rotating the telescope in the vertical plane, through 180o.
Since Line of sight is reversed in this operation, it is also called “Reversing” or “Plunging”.
3. Horizontal axis (Trunnion axis): axis about which the telescope transits.
4. Vertical axis: axis about which upper & lower plates rotate.
5. Face Left: If face of the vertical circle is to the left side of the observer, then the
observation of the angles taken is known as face left observation.
6. Face Right: If the face of the vertical circle is to the right side of the observation, then the
observation of the angles taken is known as face right observation.
7. Changing Face: It is an operation of bringing the face of the telescope from left to right
and vice-versa.
8. Axis of level tube (Bubble line): Line drawn tangential to the longitudinal curve of the
level tube, at the centre of the bubble. If the bubble is central, then the axis of the level tube is
horizontal.
9. Line of Sight (LOS) or Line of Collimation (LOC): passes through the optic center of
objective lens and intersection of crosshairs of the diaphragm.
10. Axis of the Telescope: It is also known an imaginary line joining the optical center of the
objective lens to the optical center of the eyepiece.
• Set the instrument over “O” and level it. Now set the Vernier to zero and bisect
point A accurately.
• Loose the upper clamp and turn the Telescope clockwise to point B. Bisect B by
using the upper tangent screw. Read both the Verniers, the mean of the Verniers
will give the angles AOB.
• Similarly, bisect successively C, D etc, thus closing the circle. Read both the
Verniers at each bisection.
• Finally sight to A the reading of the vernier should be the same as the original
setting reading. Repeat the steps 02 to 04 with other face i.e. Face Right. The
average of angles measured with Face Left & Face Right is then computed.
• 2nd Method: Set the instrument at B; backsight A; transit the telescope and
establish a point C in the line of sight. Similarly shift the instrument to C and
backsight B; transit the Theodolite to establish point D. Repeat the process.
Note: If the instrument is in permanent adjustment, points B, C, D, …… will be in
the straight line. Otherwise, the points established shall be C’, D’,….. which shall
not be in straight line.
3) To measure deflection angles
• Deflection angle = angle which a survey line makes with the prolongation of the
preceding line. Range from 0-180o.
• It is designated as Left(L) or Right(R), depending on whether the angle is
measured anti-clockwise or clockwise.
• Here, the prolongation of line is performed as above and the horizontal angle is
measured from this to the adjacent surveyline.