One-piece link chains, circular springs, and raising water
Chains made and unmade without breaking, a spring that closes evenly, and drawing water to a castle
A dense study sheet of flexible transmission and spring elements: several kinds of link chain, a coiled band, and small drums. Leonardo notes a counterweight cord made so it never overlaps itself yet pulls hard, and marvels at a chain M whose links are each of a single piece, able to be assembled and taken apart without being broken. Other notes describe a spring tempered to close and widen evenly in as perfect a circle as possible, a small device for drawing water up to a castle, and 'square drums'.
On this page
Chain M of one-piece links
The chain marked M has links each made of a single piece, yet it can be assembled and taken apart without breaking any link (they need only sit somewhat wider). Leonardo remarks that it seems to state something impossible in nature and yet works in practice.
Spring that closes and opens evenly in a circle
A spring is designed to squeeze together and spread apart uniformly around a circle. It is tempered into the most perfect circular form that can be achieved.
Counterweight cord that does not overlap and pulls strongly
A heading describes how to make the cord for a counterweight so that it never rides over itself and still pulls hard. It introduces the wound bands and drums drawn on the sheet.
Drawing water up to the castle
A small figure is captioned as a device for drawing water up to a castle, paired with a note on 'square drums'. It applies the wound-band and drum mechanisms of the page to lifting water.