Antifriction roller system with multiplied leverage
A stack of pivoted rollers whose multiplied drive overcomes pivot friction
The main drawing is an antifriction device: a stack of rollers pivoted one upon another, shown from the side and from the front. A geometric series of numbers keyed to letters (g 279936, d 46656, c 7776, l 1296, m 216, n 36, r 6, and f one turn) gives the multiplication of the drive, each stage carrying 'one against ten' of leverage. Leonardo concludes that although none of the pivots is relieved of the weight, the mover's power is multiplied enough to overcome any pivot friction. A separate line notes that a circular wave grows more sluggish the farther it travels from its cause.
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Stack of antifriction rollers, side and front views
The device is a column of rollers pivoted one upon another, drawn first in side view and then from the front. It is designed so that the burden passes through a train of pivots without any single pivot being freed of the load.
Geometric multiplication of the drive
The lettered stages carry the values g 279936, d 46656, c 7776, l 1296, m 216, n 36, r 6, with f one turn, each a successive power of six. Every stage has one against ten of leverage, so the drive is multiplied stage upon stage.
Multiplied power overcomes pivot friction
Although these pivots are all weighted more below than above, and the burden of the weight is lifted from none of them, the power of the mover is so greatly multiplied that it overcomes every great friction of a pivot.
A circular wave slows as it leaves its cause
The farther a circular wave moves away from its cause, the more sluggish it becomes. The remark treats the weakening of a spreading wave with distance.