Telescope and Bubble

CHAPTER 2 - OUTCOMES

After studying this chapter, you should:

 Be able to identify all the parts of a: telescope, diaphragm, bubble, collimation

line

 Be able to explain what a collimation line is.

 Be able to define parallax, detect it and be able to remove it.

 Be able explain the function of a bubble and know the factors that influence
the sensitivity of the bubble.

 Be familiar with the construction and operation of the telescope of a survey

instrument.

 Be able to identify the different types of staff patterns and should be able to
read the staff.

 Know what a footplate look like and how it is used.

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CHAPTER 2 – Telescope and bubble

2.1 THE SURVEYING TELESCOPE

The basic surveying telescope consists of the components shown in the

sketch below.

2.2 THE DIAPHRAGM

The diaphragm consists of a glass plate with the cross-hairs engraved on

it. Different types of cross-hairs are used in different types of instruments.

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2.2.1 Different types of cross-hairs

2.3 THE COLLIMATION LINE

This is the line passing through the optical centre of the object lens,
through the telescope, through the eye piece and enters the eye. It is a
very specific line defined by the cross-hairs.

2.4 PARALLAX

1. It is very important to note that the focus of the object and the focus of the
cross-hairs are two completely independent operations.

2. If the image of the object does not focus on the plane of the cross-hairs,
then there is parallax present in the telescope.

3. Parallax can easily be detected in the instrument by moving the head

slightly from side to side in front of the telescope. If it seems that the
position of the image of the object is changing its position, then one can
be certain that there is parallax present in the instrument.

4. The correct procedure to focus the cross-hairs is as follows:

Turn the focus screw of the instrument to infinity or hold a piece of white
paper in front of the telescope. Focus the cross-hairs by turning the eye
piece until single black lines appears. The image of the object must now
be focused by means of the focus screw. For any one person, it should
not be necessary to focus the cross-hairs again.

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2.5 THE BUBBLE

Nearly all surveys are done in a horizontal or vertical plane. It is therefore

necessary to have a method by which these planes are indicated. The
spirit bubble is the most convenient and accurate method to achieve this.
It is based on the fact that the surface of a liquid at rest is a level surface.

The bubble tube is nearly filled with a liquid such as alcohol, ether or
chloroform. To determine whether the bubble is in the central position, a
number of small lines are engraved on the bubble tube, normally about 1
or 2 mm apart. The axis of the bubble is an imaginary line tangent to the
inner surface at the centre of the bubble tube.

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2.5.1 Sensitivity of the bubble

By this is meant the ability of the tube to indicate small deviations from the
horizontal.

The sensitivity is determined by the factors listed below:

 The radius of the inner surface of the tube. The larger the radius, the
higher the sensitivity.
 The sensitivity is increased if the diameter of the tube is increased.
 The length of the air bubble.
 The viscosity of the fluid.
 The smoothness of the inner surface of the tube.

The sensitivity of the bubble is expressed in terms of the angle through

which the tube must be tilted before the bubble moves through one
division.

2.6 THE AUTOMATIC SURVEYOR'S LEVEL

NOTE: Other types of levels previously manufactured and very

seldom in use, are the Dumpy level and the Tilting type. We
do not cover these levels any longer in this course. Refer to
the Owners Manual of the specific instrument should you be
required to use one of them.

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1. The level is an instrument designed to provide a horizontal collimation line.

It consists of a telescope to which a bubble is attached. The axis of the
bubble and the collimation line is parallel.

2. The level has a standing (vertical axis) around which the telescope rotates
allowing observations to various points. The vertical axis fits into the
tribrach fitted with three foot screws that is used to level the pond bubble
and hence make the collimation line level.

3. In an automatic level, the collimation line is automatically made normal

(within limits) to the direction of gravity by means of a compensator. This
compensator consists of a system of prisms and lenses fitted between the
objective lens and eye piece.

4. A portion of this compensator, which takes different forms for different

makes of instruments, is freely suspended under gravity in such a way
that the image seen against the horizontal cross-hairs of the diaphragm
always corresponds to the horizontal line passing through a particular
point in the telescope.

5. The optical system is so designed that this fixed point, which lies at the
intersection of the vertical axis of the instrument and the longitudinal axis
of the telescope, is also at the analectic point, i.e. the point at which the
angular relationships between the object and the image seen are correct.

6. All that is necessary for use is that the observer levels the instrument by
means of the foot screws and the pond bubble that is attached to the
instrument.

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2.7 STAVES

1. The staves used in levelling can be seen as scales or tapes standing

upright. The graduations on these staves are basically in two patterns
namely:

1. The cm pattern
2. The "E" Pattern

In pattern A (in the sketch above), every alternative 5 cm is painted in the

"E" pattern.

On the staff shown on the right (staff B), every black graduation is
exactly 1 cm (10 mm) high and the spacing between the graduations is
also 1 cm.

2.7.2 To have the staff absolutely vertical at the moment of observation, two
methods may be employed:

1. A small circular bubble is attached to the staff or a loose bubble may be

held against the staff.

2. The staff is swung slowly to and from the level just past the vertical and
the lowest reading is taken. This method can only be used if the observer
is competent in taking accurate readings on the staff.

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2.8 CHANGE POINTS (FOOTPLATES)

1. A footplate consists of a heavy triangular metal plate, with three sturdy,

sharpened pegs for feet, and a fourth, rounded peg (that is with a dome
head), in the centre of the upper side on which the staff is held. This peg
is normally about 2 cm high, to ensure that the staff does not rest on the
plate itself when working on slopes. A handle to carry the plate is
desirable.

2. The plate is placed on the ground, preferably where it is firm and level and
well settled into position by treading upon it. Provided the plate is large
enough, it may be used on quite loose surfaces, and is also excellent for
all hardened surfaces.

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