A bucket elevator, also called a grain leg, is a mechanism for hauling flowable bulk materials (most often grain or fertilizer) vertically.

The machine has the advantages of big conveying capacity, high hoisting height, stable and reliable running and long service life. Performance and parameter are in accord with JB3926—85 'Vertical Bucket Elevator', which consults the international standard and advanced foreign standard, and the towing circle chain is in accord with MT36—80 'High-Strength Circle Chain for Mine'. The machine is applicable for conveying the power, grain and block materials, such as coal, cement, block, sand, clay and ore. The bucket elevator is allowed to convey materials with high temperature when armed with special circle chain structure.

In general, most free flowing materials and many materials with poor flow characteristics can be successfully handled with a bucket elevator. The rate can be elevated depending on many factors in addition to the obvious effects of bucket design, capacity and speed. In particular, attention has to be paid to material charge.