Self-moving wheel driven by lead balls and a screw
A wheel of 36 rings and 12 spokes; balls raised to the hub by a screw fall back as counterweights
The leaf gives a design for a self-moving wheel worked by shifting lead balls. Leonardo directs that the lead balls rise to the centre m by a screw, as shown at n f, then fall as counterweights along the line m b and stop at point b. He specifies that the wheel have 36 rings and be divided into 12 spokes. The drawing shows a fan-shaped sector of many concentric arcs beneath a long horizontal beam weighted at each end.
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Wheel of 36 rings and 12 spokes
Leonardo specifies that the said wheel have 36 concentric rings (circuli) and be divided into 12 spokes (razzi). A screw carries the lead balls inward to the hub m, the mechanism that is meant to keep the wheel turning.
Lead balls raised then falling as counterweight
The lead balls are to rise to the centre m by the screw, as appears at n f; then they fall as counterweight along the line m b and stop at the point b. The scheme relies on shifting weights to seek perpetual motion.
Weighted horizontal beam
Above the sector of arcs a long horizontal beam is drawn with a weight at each end, spanning the full width of the sheet like a balance arm associated with the wheel.