Cushioned sprocket and improved inverted tooth chain for use with same

A sprocket for an inverted tooth chain, said sprocket comprising:

• a hub;
• a plurality of teeth projecting radially outward from said hub and defining a ring that extends circumferentially around said hub, each of said teeth connected to an adjacent tooth by a root surface and each of said teeth separated from an adjacent tooth by an open tooth space;
• a first one-piece molded elastomeric cushion ring connected to said hub on a first axial side of said ring of teeth, said first cushion ring comprising a first annular base and a plurality of resiliently compressible first compression pads that each project radially outward from said first annular base, each first compression pad located adjacent a first axial face of a respective one of said plurality of teeth between and without interfering with tooth spaces adjacent said respective one of said teeth, each of said first compression pads comprising a first outer face located radially outward relative to said root surface connecting said respective one of said teeth to an adjacent tooth and adapted to engage and be resiliently compressed by guide links of an associated inverted tooth chain;
• and
• a second one-piece molded elastomeric cushion ring connected to said hub on a second axial side of said ring of teeth, said second cushion ring comprising a second annular base and a plurality of resiliently compressible second compression pads that each project radially outward from said second annular base, each second compression pad located adjacent a second axial face of a respective one of said plurality of teeth between and without interfering with tooth spaces adjacent said respective one of said teeth, each of said second compression pads comprising a second outer face located radially outward relative to said root surface connecting said respective one of said teeth to an adjacent tooth and adapted to engage and be resiliently compressed by guide links of the associated inverted tooth chain,
• wherein said first compression pads of said first cushion ring are non-adhered to said respective first axial tooth faces to allow radial and circumferential movement of each of said first compression pads relative to said first axial tooth face;
• and,
• wherein said second compression pads of said second cushion ring are non-adhered to said respective second axial tooth faces to allow radial and circumferential movement of each of said second compression pads relative to said second axial tooth face.