What mechanical device did Leonardo da Vinci design to lift water from one level to another?

Leonardo da Vinci studied and designed versions of the Archimedes' screw, a device that lifts water through a rotating spiral.

The machine consists of a helical surface inside a tube or around a central shaft. As the screw turns, pockets of water move upward along the spiral. Leonardo included screw-based water-lifting machinery in his engineering studies and explored ways to use it in canals, drainage, and construction.

The device is named after Archimedes, the ancient Greek mathematician traditionally credited with its invention. It predates Leonardo by many centuries, so Leonardo did not invent the underlying principle. His contribution was to study, adapt, and draw mechanical versions as part of his broader investigations into hydraulics.

An Archimedes' screw differs from a water wheel. A water wheel is powered by moving water, while the screw usually requires rotational power to move water upward. Modern versions still operate in irrigation and wastewater treatment.