Leonardo da Vinci created a chain pump design for raising water with a chain of buckets.
A chain pump lifts water by moving a continuous chain fitted with disks, plates, or small containers through a vertical pipe or channel. As the chain rises, it carries water upward. Leonardo studied versions of this mechanism as part of his extensive work on hydraulics and water management.
The principle was valuable for irrigation, drainage, and supplying water to buildings or worksites. Because the moving chain could be powered by people, animals, or mechanical systems, the pump was adaptable to different settings. Leonardo’s drawings show how gears and chains could coordinate the lifting motion.
The chain pump is different from the helical screw design often associated with Leonardo. A screw pump raises water through a rotating spiral surface, while a chain pump uses linked elements moving through a lift. Leonardo’s hydraulic studies also included canals, locks, fountains, and water wheels, showing that his interest extended well beyond a single machine.