Leaf Chain is the most simple of steel chains, consisting only of link plates and pins. This chain generally has greater tensile strength than roller chains and runs over sheaves rather than sprockets. They are suitable for hanging, balancing or motion transmitting applications. Leaf chains are often used as counterweight chains for machine tools, elevator and oven doors, fork lift truck masts, spinning frames and similar lifting or balancing applications.

• Plates are connected by pins and hold the tension loaded onto the chain
• Pins are to resist the shear force from tension loading applied by the link plates and to withstand abrasion from the middle plate holes when the chain articulates