What Leonardo da Vinci machine was designed to raise water using a continuous screw?

Leonardo da Vinci studied and designed a water-raising machine based on Archimedes’ screw.

An Archimedes’ screw consists of a helical surface or blade inside a tube or cylinder. As the screw turns, water is carried upward along the spiral. Leonardo drew versions of the device while investigating hydraulics, canals, pumps, and the movement of water.

The machine was not Leonardo’s original invention. The basic screw is traditionally associated with Archimedes of Syracuse, who is usually dated to the 3rd century BC. Leonardo’s contribution was to study, refine, and apply hydraulic machinery within his broader engineering work.

This device is also easily confused with Leonardo’s aerial screw. The two share a spiral form, but the Archimedes’ screw raises water and the aerial screw was proposed as a flying machine. Their purposes and operating environments were completely different.