Permanent Adjustments of a Dumpy Level:

In a dumpy level, there are only two adjustments as the telescope is rigidly fixed to the
spindle.

1. The axis of the bubble tube should be perpendicular to the vertical axis.

2. The line of collimation should be parallel to the axis of the bubble tube.

First Adjustment:

To make the axis of the bubble tube perpendicular to the vertical axis.

Object:

The object of this adjustment is to ensure that if the instrument is once levelled up, the
bubble remains in the centre of its run for all positions of the telescope.

Necessity:

The adjustment is made only for the convenience of taking readings quickly. Since it is
necessary that the bubble should be central while taking any reading, much time is wasted
if this adjustment is not made as in that case the bubble has to be brought in centre every
time for each pointing of the telescope.

Test:

(i) Set-up the level on firm ground and level it carefully by tripod-legs and foot-screws. The
bubble will now be central in two positions at right angles to each other, one being parallel
to a pair of foot-screw and the other over the third foot-screw.

(ii) Bring the telescope over a pair of foot-screws or over the third foot-screw and turn it
through 180 in the horizontal plane. If the bubble still remains central, the adjustment is
correct.

Adjustment:

(i) If the bubble does not remain in the centre, note down the deviations of the bubble from
the centre, say it is ‘2n’ division over the bubble half way back i.e., ‘n’ divisions by raising or
lowering end of the bubble tube by means of capstan headed must and the remaining half
with the pair of foot-screws beneath the telescope at its present position.

(ii) Turn the telescope through 90° so that it lies over the single foot- screw below the
telescope or parallel to a pair of this screw or pair of foot -screws and bring the bubble in the
centre of its run by means of this screw pair of foot-screws.
(iii) Rotate the telescope and see if the bubble remains central for all positions of the
telescope. If not repeat the whole process until the adjustment is correct.

Second Adjustment:

To make the Line of collimation parallel to the axis of the bubble tube.

Object:

The object of this adjustment is to set the line of collimation parallel to the bubble axis so
that when the bubble is centered, the line of collimation should become exactly horizontal
and not remain inclined as otherwise it would be.

Necessity:

The whole function of a level is to furnish a horizontal line of collimation, which is possible
only if the above condition is satisfied.

Test and Adjustments:

The collimation error may be tested by any of the following three methods and then
the necessary adjustments are made:

First Method (Two-Peg Method.):

Test:

(i) Drive two pegs A and B at a distance of (D) metres say 60 to 100 metres on a fairly level
ground. Drive another peg at O exactly midway between A and B (Fig. 7.36)

(ii) Set up and level the instrument at O and take the staff readings on A and B. The bubble
must be in the centre while the readings are being taken. Let the staff readings on A and B,
be a and b respectively.
(iii) Shift the level and set it up a point O1, d metres away from A (or B) and along the same
line BA (Fig. 7.37). levels the instrument accurately and take staff readings on A and B with
the bubble central. Let the readings be a1 and b1 respectively. (The level may also be set up
at a point between A and B, d metres away from A or B (Fig. 7.38).

(iv) Find the difference between the staff readings a and b, and that between the staff
readings a1 and b1. The difference of staff readings a and b gives the true difference in
elevation between A and B as the instrument was set up exactly midway between A and B
and that the back and for sight distances were exactly difference, whereas the difference
between a1 and b1 gives the apparent difference. If the two differences are equal, the line of
collimation is in adjustment; otherwise it is inclined and needs adjustment.

Adjustment:

(i) Find out whether the difference is a rise or a fall from the peg A to B. If a is greater than
b, the peg A is lower than peg B and the ground is rising from A to B. If b is greater than a,
the ground is falling from A to B.

(ii) Find out the reading on the far peg B at the same level are of a1 by adding the true
difference to a1 if it is a fall, or by subtracting the true difference from a1 if it is a rise. Let the
reading be b2.
(iii) If b1 is greater than b2, the line of collimation is Inclined upwards and if b1 is smaller than
b2, the line of collimation is inclined downwards. b1 – b2 (difference of b1 and b2) is the
collimation error in the distance “D”.

∴ The collimation error for unit distance:

(iv) The corrections to be applied for readings on the pegs A and B may be found out
as under:

These corrections are additive if the of collimation is inclined downward and subtractive if
the same is inclined upwards.

Remember:

The difference between the corrected readings will be equal to true differences of level.

Alternative method for finding the correct staff readings is given as under:

(a) Let α be the angle of inclination of the of collimation to the horizontal and suppose that
line of collimation is inclined upwards (Fig .7.37) and the peg B is lower than peg A

Then ef= d tan α, and gh = (D+d) tan α

Correct staff reading on peg A=AF-ef= d1-d tan α,

B=Bh – gh
= b1-(D+d) tan α (The true differences in elevation between)

A and B= [{b1-D+d) tan α} – {α1-d tan α}]

This differences is equal to the differences (b-a):

... [Σ [{b1-D +d) tan α } – {α1-d tan α }] = b-a

(b) Find the value of tan from the above equation.

If it is positive, the assumption is correct and the line of collimation is inclined upwards; if
negative it is inclined downwards.

(v) The adjustment is made by adjusting the diagram by the diagram-screws so that the
correct staff readings are obtained when the staff is held on the pegs A and B. The
adjustment is usually made by keeping the staff on the far peg and checked on the near
peg.

To apply the correction, keep the staff on the far peg and see whether the correct staff
reading is seen above or below the horizontal hair. If the correct reading is less than the
observed one (b1), this will be seen above the horizontal hair when seen through the
telescope and the cross-hair has to be raised from its true position. To do this, loosen the
lower screw and tighten the upper one till the intersection coincides with the correct staff
reading. But if the correct reading is greater than the observed one (b1), this will be seen
below the horizontal hair, the cross-hair has to be lowered.

To do this, loosed the upper screw and tighten the lower one.

It may be noted that the cross-hair moves towards that screw which is being tightened.

Remember the rule of three Ls, Less Loose Lower i.e. if the reading seen through the
telescope is to be lessened, then loosen the lower screw and tighten the upper one and vice
versa.

(vi) Now place the staff on the near peg (A) and take the staff reading. If the adjustment is
correct, this reading should agree with the calculated correct reading on the peg A,
otherwise repeat the adjustment until perfect.

Second Method:

(i) The first two steps are the same as in the two- peg method.

(ii) Find the true difference in elevation (a – b) between A and B. If a is greater than b there
is a rise from A to B, and if b is greater than a there is a fall from A to B.

(iii) Shift the instrument and set it up and level very near to A (or B). Observe the staff
readings a and b on A and B respectively. The reading a (or b) on the near peg A 1 (or B1)
shall have to be taken by looking through the object-glass. The reading a1 is the correct staff
reading on A as the instrument is set up just by the side of the peg A.

(iv) Find out the correct staff reading at the far peg B at the same level as of a 1 by adding
the true difference to if the ground is falling from A to B or by subtracting the true difference
from a1if the ground is rising from A to B.

... Correct staff reading on the peg B = a1 ± true difference, use plus sign, if it is fall from A to
B and minus sign, if it is rise from to B.

(v) If the observed staff reading b1 on peg B is equal to the calculated correct reading, the
line of collimation is in adjustment. If b1 is greater than the calculated staff reading, the line
of collimation is inclined upwards and if b1 is less than the calculated staff reading, the line
of collimation is inclined downwards.

Adjustment:

The adjustment on the far peg B is made in the same way as explained in the two-peg
method.

Third Method:

In this method, the principle of reciprocal levelling is made use to determine the true
difference of level between the pegs A and B. Having determined the true difference of level
between A and B obtain the correct staff readings on A and B as in the second method. The
adjustment is then made as described in the two- peg method.

Permanent Adjustments of a Tilting Level:

There are two types of the tilting level:

(2) Non-Reversible.

In the reversible type, the telescope along with the main bubble tube can be rotated about
its longitudinal axis through 180 whereas in non-reversible type, the telescope cannot be
rotated as above.

Adjustment:
To make the axis of the bubble tube parallel to the line of collimation:
(1) Reversible Type:
Necessity:
Same as for second adjustment of the dumpy level.

Test:
(i) Set up the level such that the main level tube is on the left face of the instrument. Level it
approximately by foot-screw. Hold the staff at a distance of about 100 m.

(ii) Bring the main bubble exactly to the centre of its run by using the tilting-screw and take
the staff reading. Let the reading be a1.
(iii) Rotate the telescope about its longitudinal axis through 180° so that the main bubble
tube is now on the right face of the instrument.

(iv) After making the bubble exactly central, again read the staff.

Let the reading be a2. If the two readings agree, the adjustment is correct.
Method of Adjustment:
(i) If the two readings disagree rotate the telescope to the original position so that the
bubble tube is again on the left face of the instrument and then set the telescope to the
mean of the above readings by turning the tilting screw. The line of collimation is now
horizontal but the bubble becomes out of centre.

(ii) Bring the bubble exactly to the centre of its run by means of the screws attached with the
bubble tube.

(iii) Repeat the procedure until correct.

(2) Non-Reversible Type:

Test:
Same as the two-peg test for the second adjustment of the dumpy level.

Method of Adjustment:
(i) If the apparent and true differences of level are not equal, find the correct staff readings
on the two pegs.

(ii) Hold the staff at the far peg B and set the telescope to the corrected staff reading by
means of the tilting-screw. The bubble is divided from its central position.

(iii) Bring the bubble to the centre of its run by means of bubble adjusting screws.

(iv) Repeat the operation until correct.