Leaf Chain Information
Leaf chains are a unique class of chain that is composed of a specific set of side plates and pins. Leaf chains play a crucial role in a wide range of applications, with a history that dates back to 1452. The simplistic yet instrumental design provides users with a high-strength chain that has a minimal form factor and is available at an economical price point for chains serving various functions. Here at USA Roller Chain, we’ve been providing leaf chains to multiple industry types over the years, and we only offer high-quality leaf chains due to the critical nature of typical application needs. Partnering up with the right suppliers, our superior leaf chain selection includes ANSI and ISO Metric series leaf chains made from top-tier materials and utilizing state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques to provide users with a high-end performance product, ready for some of the harshest applications on earth.
Leaf Chain Series
There are four primary leaf chain series that utilize different lettering to designate the series (AL, BL, LL, and LH).
- AL Series Leaf Chain – This series is an American Standard (ANSI) leaf chain, designed for light-duty applications. AL series leaf chains are very common on older equipment and in applications that are dimensionally restricted.
- BL Series Leaf Chain – BL series chains are also manufactured in accordance with American ANSI Standards and are considered heavy-duty leaf chains. This is by far the most commonly used series of leaf chains in today’s market and is designed for maximum tensile loads.
- LL Series Leaf Chain – LL series chains are a British Standard metric series of leaf chains commonly found on equipment from Europe. As one of the less common chain series, availability may be limited, but we do stock the most common sizes of LL series chains. This series is considered a light-duty chain.
- LH Series Leaf Chain – This series of chain is also manufactured to British Standards and is slightly more common than the LL type. It is considered a heavy-duty chain and dimensionally conforms to BL series chains. Contact us today to interchange your LH series chain for a BL series chain!
Leaf Chain Applications
Our leaf chains are utilized in a broad range of applications. These hardworking chains provide various industries with a perfect solution due to their simple construction and high tensile strength, making them a key contender for light, medium, and heavy-duty applications worldwide.
- Forklifts and Lift Trucks – Perhaps the most common leaf chain application, the chain is used within the masts of forklifts to lift and lower heavy loads. Our leaf chains utilize specific hardened pins to improve lifespan and reduce elongation or premature failures in constant applications like this.
- Cranes and Hoisting Equipment – leaf chain is the primary lifting mechanism in gantry cranes, overhead cranes, boom trucks, and telehandlers, along with a wide variety of hoisting equipment.
- Industrial Doors – Leaf chains are often used in large door applications as a counterweight to manage the weight of a large door, or as the mechanical transmission chain paired with a crank or electric motor.
- Construction & Mining Equipment – Due to the high durability factor of leaf chains, they are commonly seen in bulldozers, loaders, and other pieces of heavy-duty equipment. Furthermore, leaf chains are often used in various mining and metal applications as a type of transport chain in high-load, high-stress, and abrasive environments.
Leaf Chain Components
Leaf chains consist of only two components, the pin and the link plates. Although it seems simplistic to have a chain consisting of only two components, the complexity in terms of strength and performance across other manufacturers varies significantly.
- Pin – This is a solid cylindrical component that passes through the link plates, connecting them and allowing for the articulation of the plates. Several factors can increase the strength and overall lifespan of the pin, such as the hardened or heat-treatment method used, the material the pin is made from, and the precision of the pin.
- Link Plates – These are the main structural elements that form the actual leaf chain links. Since the plates are placed in a lacing pattern, there are outer links (which are the link plates physically riveted to the pins) and inner links. As with the pins, several factors can be applied to the leaf chain pins to increase not only load capacity but as lifespan.
Leaf Chain Selection
At USA Roller Chain, we pride ourselves on having an extensive selection of leaf chains. Offering ANSI BL & AL series with a pitch range of 0.375” up to 2.500” and Metric LL & LH series with a pitch range of 12.7mm to 63.5mm, our superior selection of leaf chains is why so many companies all around the world partner with us for their leaf chain needs. Explore the categories below for more detailed information on our leaf chain selection. If you’re unsure of what leaf chain you have, check out our helpful How to Identify Leaf Chain page!
Most Common Leaf Chain Sizes
The product pages below list the most common leaf chain sizes currently in use. Primarily consisting of the ANSI BL series, as the earlier created AL series of leaf chains has become obsolete, but is still readily available. Contact our customer service team today for any questions regarding leaf chains or to get a quote!
Leaf Chain History
The timeline below provides an in-depth look at the history of the leaf chain. This education section provides a basic timeline and fundamentals of the key steps taken over time to explain how we arrived at the modern era of leaf chains today. Naming a single party or inventor solely responsible for the creation of the contemporary leaf chain is challenging, but some notable contributors deserve mention.
Timeline
1452 – 1519
Interestingly enough, this modern chain type has a history dating back to Leonardo da Vinci, who created early sketches of a chain composed of metal plates and pins, like modern leaf chain; however, due to the lapse in historical records, there is no real proof that these sketches were ever used in a real-world application at that time.
1771
In 1771, the world’s oldest continuously published encyclopedia (Encyclopædia Britannica) features a type of chain used on a quadruple pump mill for raising water. Speculation suggests that this chain was likely a variation of the modern leaf chain.
1829
This was the year that the first patent for a modern leaf or tooth chain was created, awarded to French engraver André Galle. Interestingly enough, Galle chains became a staple throughout the Industrial Revolution and are still found in many applications requiring a low-speed, heavy-duty chain capable of bidirectional movement.
1939
The first commercial forklift to use a leaf chain was the Utilitruc, a heavy-duty internal combustion forklift that was used mainly in metal fabricating and the stevedoring industries. This lift remained in production for 25 years up until 1964.
1971
This was the year that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) established a standard (B29.8) for dimensional requirements, followed by the International Organization for Standards, which was standard ISO 4347/ ISO606 in the same year. These standards covered both the American AL series and the European LL/ EL series leaf chains.
1975
In 1975, ANSI and ISO standards were revised to incorporate the heavier-duty ANSI BL series and ISO/European series LH leaf chains. Standardization of leaf chains became essential due to the growing demand for lifting equipment. These standards ensure that leaf chains are manufactured to particular specifications that meet safety requirements and ensure interchangeability with those of other manufacturers.
Current Times
Since the 1970s, manufacturers worldwide have adopted the manufacture of leaf chains, along with improved methods for individual components and manufacturing techniques that enhance leaf chain performance, lifespan, and load capacity. Additionally, here at USA Roller Chain, we supply unique variations of standard leaf chain sizes in stainless steel materials, as well as corrosion-resistant coated options, to service the broadest range of applications.
Leaf Chain from USA Roller Chain
As an industry leader for high-quality American ANSI and Metric ISO leaf chains, USA Roller Chain is the trusted source for many. Contact our customer service team today to receive a quote or for further information.
Article Written By: Connor Eversen
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