Leonardo da Vinci designed a canal lock using miter gates that meet at an angle.
A canal lock raises or lowers boats between water levels. Leonardo worked on canal engineering in Milan, where improved navigation routes were important for transporting goods and connecting waterways. His lock designs addressed the challenge of controlling water while allowing vessels to pass through changing elevations.
Miter gates form a V-shaped barrier pointing toward the higher water. Water pressure pushes the gates together, helping them seal when the chamber is closed. This principle remains fundamental in many canal locks.
Leonardo did not invent the entire idea of canal locks, and earlier lock systems existed in Europe. His importance lies in refining and documenting hydraulic and mechanical solutions, including practical gate arrangements for navigation canals.