Leonardo da Vinci studied a screw jack for raising heavy loads.
A screw jack converts rotational motion into a slow, powerful vertical movement. Turning the screw advances a threaded component, allowing a relatively small input force to lift or support a heavier object over a short distance.
Leonardo’s mechanical drawings include screw-based lifting devices among his studies of machines, construction, and workshop equipment. Such mechanisms were useful for positioning heavy materials precisely, where a simple rope lift might provide less control.
A screw jack is not the same as a winch. A winch winds a rope or cable around a drum, while a screw jack relies on the mechanical advantage of a threaded screw. Leonardo’s sketches show the principle, but they should not be treated as evidence that he invented every modern form of jack.