Description
Portable Optical Plumb Line Readout System
The Encardio-rite normal and inverted plumb line systems are simple, precise, and reliable instruments used for high-accuracy long-base rotation, tilt, and relative displacement measurements in dams, high-rise buildings, nuclear plants, and other large civil engineering structures.
They are especially valuable in concrete and masonry dams for determining relative displacements between:
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Dam crest and base, and
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Base and foundation rock
The Portable Optical Readout System provides a robust manual solution for field observation of plumb line movement, offering high precision and repeatability without the need for complex electronic equipment.
System Overview
The optical readout system utilizes two travelling telescopes, mounted at right angles to each other, allowing independent measurement along the X and Y axes.
This arrangement eliminates the need to reposition or realign the telescope, plumb line, and reference plumb for each axis, significantly reducing observation time and minimizing potential alignment errors.
One of the telescopes is fitted with a right-angle prism positioned before the objective lens, enabling both X and Y observations to be made from the same operator position — a major advantage when working in confined or sensitive locations such as dam galleries.
The travelling telescopes are precision-engineered for smooth motion and high measurement accuracy, ensuring reliable readings even over long observation baselines.
Specifications
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Instrument Name | Portable Optical Plumb Line Readout System |
| Measurement Principle | Dual-axis optical observation (X and Y) |
| Applications | Dams, tall structures, nuclear plants, foundations |
| Measurement Axes | Two (orthogonal) – X and Y |
| Optical Setup | Two telescopes mounted at right angles |
| Observation Feature | One telescope fitted with right-angle prism |
| Accuracy | Sub-millimeter precision depending on baseline |
| Mounting | Portable optical stand system for field deployment |
| Operation | Manual visual observation and recording |
| Environment | Suitable for dam galleries and controlled indoor environments |


