Minor Instruments 2019

MINOR INSTRUMENTS:
ABNEY LEVEL (ABNEY CLINOMETER): Abney level is one of the various forms of clinometers
used for the measurement of slopes, taking cross-sections, tracing contours, setting grades and all
other rough levelling operations. It is light, compact and hand instrument with low precision as
compared to engineer’s level.

The Abney level can be used for (i) measuring vertical angles, (ii) measuring slope of the ground,
and (iii) tracing grade contour.
(i) Measuring vertical angle:
(a) Keep the instrument at eye level and direct it to the object till the line of sight passes
through it.
(b) Since the line of sight is inclined, the bubble will go out of centre. Bring the bubble to
the centre of its run by the middle-screw. When the bubble is central, the line of sight
must pass through the object.
(c) Read the angle on the arc by means of the vernier.
(ii) Measurement of slope of the ground:
(a) Take a target, having cross-marks, at observer’s eye height and keep it at the other
end of the line
(b) Hold the instrument at one end and direct the instrument towards the target till the
horizontal wire coincides with the horizontal line of the target
(c) Bring the bubble in the centre of its run.
(d) Read the angle on the arc by means of the vernier.

TESTING AND ADJUSTMENT OF ABNEY LEVEL:

(a) Fix two rods, having marks at equal heights h (preferably at the height of observer’s
eye), at two points P and Q, about 20 to 50 metres apart.
(b) Keep the Abney level at the point A against the rod at P and measure the angle of
elevation α1 towards the point B of the rod Q.
(c) Shift the instrument to Q, hold it against B and sight A. Measure the angle of
depression α2
(d) If α1 and α2 are equal, the instrument is in adjustment i.e., the line of sight is parallel to
the axis of the bubble tube when it is central and when vernier reads zero
(e) If not, turn the screw so that the vernier reads the mean reading ((α1+ α2)/2). The
bubble will no longer be central.
Bring the bubble to the centre of its run by means of its adjusting screws. Repeat the
test till correct.

Fig: 5.1 Abney Level

Note: If the adjustment is not done, the index error, equal ((α1- α2)/2), may be noted and the
correction may be applied to all the observed readings.

INDIAN PATTERN CLINOMETER (TANGENT CLINOMETER)

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Indian pattern clinometer is used for determining difference in elevation between points and is
specially adopted to plane tabling. The clinometer consists of the following:
(1) A base plate carrying a small bubble tube and a levelling screw. Thus, the clinometers can be
accurately levelled.
(2) The eye vane carrying a peep hole. The eye vane is hinged at its lower end to the base plate.
(3) The object vane having graduations in degrees at one side and tangent of the angles to the
other side of the central opening. The object vane is also hinged at its lower end to the base
plate. A slide, provided with a small window and horizontal wire in its middle, can be moved
up and down the object vane by a rack and pinion fitted with a milled head. The line of sight
is defined by the line joining the peep hole and the horizontal wire of the slide.
Use of Indian pattern Clinometer with Plane Table
(1) Set the plane table over the station and keep the Indian pattern clinometers on it.
(2) Level the clinometers with the help of the levelling screw.
(3) Looking through the peep hole, move the slide of the object vane till it bisects the signal at the
other point to be sighted. It is preferable to use a signal of the same height as that of the peep
hole above the level of the plane table station.
(4) Note the reading, i.e.,tangent of the angle, against the wire. Thus, the difference in elevations
between the eye and the object = distance X tangent of vertical angle = d tan α.
The distance d between the plane table station and the object can be found from the plan. The
reduced level of the object can thus be calculated if the reduced level of the plane table station is
known.

Fig: 5.2 Clinometer

CEYLON GHAT TRACER:

It is a very useful instrument for setting out gradients. It essentially consists of long circular
tube having a peep hole at one end and cross-wires at the other ends. The tube is supported by a
A-frame having a hole at its top to fix the instrument to a straight rod or stand. The tube is also
engraved to give readings of gradients. A heavy weight slides along the tube by a suitable rack
and pinion arrangement. The weight, at its top, contains one beveled edge which slides along the
graduations of the bar, and serves as an index. The line of sight is defined by the line joining the
hole to the intersection of the cross-wires and its prolongation. When the beveled edge of the
weight is against the zero reading, the line of sight is horizontal. For the elevated gradients, the
weight is slided towards the observer. For falling gradients, the weight is slided away from the
observer.
(a) To measure a slope
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1. Fix the instrument on to the stand and hold it to one end of the line. Keep the target at the
other end.
2. Looking through the eye hole, move the sliding weight till the line of sight passes through the
cross mark of the sight vane.
3. The reading against the bevelled edge of the weight will give the gradient of the line
(b) To set out a gradient
1. Hold the instrument at one end.
2. Send the assistant at the other end with the target.
3. Slide the weight to set it to the given gradient, say 1 in n
4. Direct the assistant to raise or lower the target till it is bisected.
Drive a peg at the other end so that the top of the peg is at the same level as that the bottom of the
target.

Fig : 5.3 Ceylon Ghat Tracer

THE PANTAGRAPH:
A pantagraph is an instrument used for reproducing, enlarging or reducing the maps. It is
based on the principle of similar triangles.
It consists of two long bars AB and AD hinged together at A and supported on castors or
rollers at B and D. Two short arms EF and GF are hinged together at F and are connected to AD
and AB at E and G respectively. Thus AGEF is a parallelogram of equal sides for all positions of
the instrument. The long bar AD carries a movable tubular frame which can be slided along it.
The sliding frame carries an index and also a heavy weight Q which forms the vertical axis of the
instrument; the whole instrument moves about the point Q. The bar EF carries a pencil point P
attached to a carrier which can also be set to a desired reading on the bar EF. The longer arm AB
carries tracing point at the end B. For any setting of the instrument, the point B,P and Q are in a
straight line. The original map is kept at B and is traced. Correspondingly, the pencil point P also
moves, but the point Q remains fixed in position. Thus, if B is moved straight by an amount BBl
the point P moves to Pl the ratio between BBl and PPl being equal to the ration of reduction. For
any position of the tracing point, the points Bl, Pl and Q are always in a straight line.

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Fig: 5.4 Pantagraph

If it is desired to enlarge the map, the pencil point is kept at B,the tracing point at P and the
map under the point P. The moving frames at Q and P are set to the same reading equal to the
ratio of enlargement.

THE SEXTANT:
The distinguishing feature of the sextant is the arrangement of mirrors which enables the
observer to sight at two different objects simultaneously, and thus to measure an angle in a single
observation. A sextant may be used to measure vertical angles.
A sextant consists of fixed glass (H) which is silvered to half the height while the upper half
is plain. Another glass (P) is attached to a movable arm which can be operated by means of a milled
head. The movable arm also carries a Vernier at the other end. The operation of the sextant depends
on bringing the image of one point (R) , after suitable reflection in two mirrors, into contact with the
image of a second point (L) which is viewed direct, by moving the movable mirror (P). Since the
Vernier and the movable mirror are attached to the same arm, the movement of the Vernier from the
zero position gives the required angle subtended by the two objects at the instrument station.
The sextant is based on the principle that when a ray of light is reflected successively from
two mirrors, the angle between the first and last directions of the ray is twice the angle between the
planes of the two mirrors. Hence the angle between the mirrors is equal to half the actual angle
between two objects. While constructing the sextant, the plane of mirror P is so adjusted that it is
parallel to the mirror H when the index reads zero. The movement of the mirror P is equal to the
movement of the Vernier. The scale is numbered in values equal to twice the actual angle so that
actual angle between the objects is read directly.
Optical Requirements of the Sextant
1. The two mirrors should be perpendicular to the plane of the graduated arc.
2. When the two mirrors are parallel, the reading on the index should be zero.
3. The optical axis should be parallel to the plane of the graduated arc and pass through the top
of the horizon mirror.

Fig : 5.5 Sextant

OPTICAL SQUARE:
Optical square is somewhat more convenient and accurate instrument than the cross staff for
setting out a line at right angles to another line. It consists of a circular box with three slits at E,F and
G. In line with openings E and G, a glass silvered at the top and unsilvered at the bottom, is fixed

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facing the opening E. Opposite to the opening F, a silvered glass is fixed at A making an angle of 45o
to the previous glass. A ray from the ranging rod at Q passes through the lower unsilvered portion of
the mirror at B, and is seen directly by eye at the slit E. Another ray from the object at P is received by
the mirror at A and is reflected towards the mirror at B which reflects it towards the eye. Thus, the
images of P and Q are visible at B. If both the images are in the same vertical line, the line PD and
QD will be at right angles to each other.

Fig: 5.6 Optical Square

To set a right angle:
To set a right angle on a survey line, the instrument is held on the line with its centre on the
point at which perpendicular is erected. The slits F and G are directed towards the ranging rod fixed at
the end of the line. The surveyor (holding the instrument) then directs person, holding a ranging rod
and stationing in a direction roughly perpendicular to the line, to move till the two images coincide.

PLANIMETER:
A planimeter is an instrument which measures the area of plan of any shape very accurately.
There are two types of planimeter: (1) Amsler Polar Planimeter, and (2) Roller Planimeter. The polar
planimeter is most commonly used and is, therefore discussed here.

Fig: 5.7 shows the essential parts of a polar planimeter. It consists of two arms hinged at a
point known as the pivot point. One of the two arms carries an anchor at its end, and is known as the
anchor arm. The length of anchor arm is also generally fixed, but in some of the planimeters a
variable length of anchor arm is also provided. The other arm carries a tracing point at its end, and is
known as the tracing arm. The length of the tracing arm can be varied by means of a fixed screw and
its corresponding slow motion screw. The tracing point is moved along the boundary of the plan the
area of which is to be determined. The normal displacement of the tracing arm is measured by means
of a wheel whose axis is kept parallel to the tracing arm. The wheel carries a concentric drum which is
divided into 100 divisions. A small vernier attached near the drum reads one-tenth of the drum
division. The complete revolutions of the wheel are read on a disc actuated by a suitable gearing to the
wheel. Thus, each reading is of four digits- the units being read on the disc, the tenths and hundredths
on the drum, and the thousandths on the vernier. In addition to this, a fixed index near the disc can be
utilised to know the number of the times the zero of the disc has crossed the index.

Fig: 5.7 Planimeter

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To find the area of the plan, the anchor point is either placed outside the area (if the area is
small) or it is placed inside the area (if the area is large). A point is then marked on the boundary of
area and tracing point kept exactly over it. The initial reading of the wheel is then taken. The tracing
point is now moved clock-wise along the boundary till it comes to the starting point. The final reading
of the drum is taken. The area of the figure is then calculated from the following formula:
Area = M ( F – I +10N + C )
Where, F = Final Reading;
I = Initial Reading
N = The number of times the zero mark of the dial passes the fixed index mark. Use + sign if
the zero mark of the dial passes the index mark in a clockwise direction and – sign when it passes in
the anti-clockwise direction
M = A multiplying constant, also sometimes known as the planimeter constant. It is equal to
the area per revolution of the roller
C = Constant of the instrument which when multiplied by M, gives the area of zero circle.
The constant C is to be added only when the anchor point is inside the area.
It is to be noted that the tracing point is to be moved in the clockwise direction only. Proper
sign must be given to N.

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