The First Book of Mechanical Mathematical Instruments

THE FOUNDATION HAVING BEEN LAID, ANY WEIGHT WHATSOEVER MAY BE RAISED BY A GIVEN WEIGHT

1

A mechanical diagram illustrates the principle of the wheel and axle. It features a large spoked wheel with a central axle. One rope, carrying a rectangular weight, is wound around the axle. A second rope, carrying an identical weight, hangs from the outer circumference of the wheel. To the left is a geometrical diagram consisting of a large dotted circle and a smaller solid circle centered on a horizontal line marked with the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4, representing mathematical proportions of leverage.

A DIFFERENT DEMONSTRATION OF THE TRISPASTUS original: "Trispasti" OF ARCHIMEDES, BY WHICH HE WISHED TO RAISE A GIVEN WEIGHT WITH GIVEN FORCES.

2

Two separate mechanical illustrations of gear-based lifting machines. The illustration on the left shows a system of two interlocking circular wheels or pulleys mounted on a frame, with ropes and a hook for lifting. The illustration on the right shows a worm-gear endless screw a mechanical device for converting rotational motion into linear motion mechanism; a horizontal screw-threaded rod is turned to rotate a large vertical toothed gear, which has a rope and hook attached to its central axle to lift heavy loads.