Patent ID: 7900529

Claim:
A startup torque transmitting mechanism of an internal combustion engine, comprising: a one-way clutch which both transmits torque generated by a starter motor to a crankshaft side in one direction and prevents the transmission of torque in the other direction; a race connecting member which is provided separately from a flywheel or a drive plate, is mounted to the crankshaft side, not via the flywheel or the drive plate, so as to rotate in conjunction with a crankshaft, and is connected to one race of the one-way clutch, the race connecting member is fastened to a crankshaft end surface while being sandwiched between the crankshaft end surface and the flywheel or the drive plate; and a ring gear which rotates upon receiving torque from the starter motor and is connected to another race of the one-way clutch, and a first load relieving portion which prevents deformation of the race connecting member that occurs due to pressure from the flywheel side or the drive plate side is formed on a flat surface side of the race connecting member on which the flywheel or the drive plate is arranged, wherein the first load relieving portion is formed as a separated surface region in which a surface of the race connecting member is separated from the flywheel or the drive plate.