The Da Vinci Model

   

Leonardo Da Vinci invented several catapults, but in our experiment we tested the most commonly known one. The catapult is powered by a large wooden leaf spring, which serves as an accumulator. Though no record of this catapult being built during Leonardo's lifetime exist, lifesize replicas have been constructed by contemporary enthusiasts.

The Da Vinci model is loaded by turning a winding mechanism that turns a drum. That drum is connected to the catapult armature and pulls on the springs connected to the bow of the leaf spring, where tension builds up. When the winding mechanism is disengaged from the drum, the tension on the bowstrings is released, causing them to pull back to their original placement, and pulling the gear and armature with them.

The Da Vinci Model was one of Leonardo Da Vinci's various inventions in his notebook that were never made during his lifetime. Da Vinci designed his catapult to be able to launch projectiles over great distances with great speed. But it did not have a usual trajectory such as that of the trebuchet and mangonel. The Da Vinci Model was not made to launch projectiles low and fast, or high and powerful. Because it was loaded by winding the crank, one person can launch the Da Vinci Model alone.