Pump Machinery: Toothed Quadrants, a Wheel-Screw and Conduits
Geared quarter-circles work paired pumps; a screw set in a wheel; a siphon-conduit that shifts its fulcrum
The sheet assembles hydraulic machinery numbered 37, 38 and 43: a detail of a wheel with movable weights, two toothed quarter-circles that raise and lower the pistons of paired pumps, an Archimedean screw set into a wheel, and a caged cone. Turned upside down, the foot of the leaf carries a profile of water conduits: when the water reaches f the lever shifts its fulcrum from b to a, so the water falls from f to d while the water c rises to the height b. The word 'continuo' marks the wheel-and-screw as meant to run continuously.
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Toothed quarter-circles working paired pumps
Two toothed quarter-circles of a circle mesh so as to raise and lower the pistons of two pumps in turn. The alternating action would give a continuous delivery of water.
Siphon-conduit that shifts its fulcrum (drawn inverted)
Read with the book turned upside down, this profile of water conduits shows that when the water is at f the lever shifts its fulcrum from b to a. The water then falls from f to d, while the water c rises to the height b.
Archimedean screw set into a wheel
An Archimedean screw is grafted into a wheel so the two turn together, marked 'continuo' (continuous). It belongs to Leonardo's series of self-driving lifting machines.
Wheel with movable weights
A detail at the upper left shows the working of a wheel fitted with movable weights, exploring how displaced weight might sustain rotation.