Reconstruction of a SELF-BLOCKING MECHANISM, based upon a drawing by Leonardo Da Vinci; Madrid Codex I, folio 12 r. In his pursuit of finding new solutions to practical problems, such as those caused by lifting heavy objects on construction sites, Leonardo designed this unique Self-blocking Mechanism, which was then used on a large scale, to ensure that lifting could be done gradually and safely. By fitting the pulley with a toothed wheel, it could be easily blocked with a pole, which would then prevent it from turning backwards. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian artist and polymath

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Photo credit: © World History Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -blocking, -construction, archival, archive, artist, based, codex, da, drawing, dynamics, engineering, friction, historical, history, italian, leonardo, lifting, machine, madrid, mechanics, mechanism, motion, polymath, reconstruction, vinci