The invention provides a chain transmission, which exhibits the advantages of a silent chain as well as those of a
roller chain, which can avoid wear elongation and reduction of strength, and which also achieves
noise reduction and weight reduction. A
hybrid chain comprises a chain having toothed link plates 2, 6, located on either sides of bushings 9, wherein the toothed link plates mesh 2, 6, with first 13 and second sets 13 of teeth on a
sprocket while the bushings 9 engage a third set 14 of teeth on the
sprocket located between the first and second sets. The bushings ideally have rollers 10 mounted thereon. When meshing with the
sprocket, a rear flank 11a of a tooth of a link plate 2, 6 engages the forward flank of a sprocket tooth 13. Once the rollers / bushings 8 become seated between the teeth of the third set 14, the flank of the link plate is spaced away (clearance) from the sprocket tooth. Each link plate may have a
single tooth, or possibly two teeth. All sets of teeth of the sprocket may have the same angular
pitch, with the middle set shifted by half the
pitch angle.