What hydraulic machine did Leonardo da Vinci design to raise water using twin pistons?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a double-action hydraulic pump that used two pistons to raise water.

In a double-action arrangement, movement in both directions of the piston can contribute to pumping, making the flow more continuous than in a simple single-stroke pump. Leonardo’s hydraulic studies explored valves, cylinders, and the controlled movement of water for engineering and construction.

The design belongs to a long history of water pumps rather than representing the invention of hydraulic pumping itself. Ancient engineers, including Ctesibius, developed earlier pump mechanisms, and the Archimedes’ screw used a different method for lifting water. Leonardo’s contribution was his detailed mechanical analysis and refinement of pumping arrangements in his notebooks.