Direct cranking starter device

A starter drive device to interconnect a starting motor and the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine for starting the internal combustion engine, said starter drive device comprising:

• driving means to be operating connected to the starting motor and to be rotatably driven by the starting motor;
• an overrunning clutch mounted coaxial with said driving means, said overrunning clutch comprising:
• a cam body connected to said crankshaft of the engine for rotation therewith;
• a bearing race mounted coaxial with said cam body, said bearing race having one end portion and an opposite end portion, said one end portion mounted to said crankshaft intermediate said cam body and said crankshaft;
• and
• means for bearing disposed between said cam body and said first portion of the bearing race, said bearing means interconnecting said cam body and said first portion of the bearing race to selectively engage said cam body to said bearing race when said internal combustion engine is operated below a predetermined speed;
• means interconnecting said driving means and said overrunning clutch interposed said driving means and said overrunning clutch for communicating the rotatable movement of said driving means to said crankshaft of the engine, said interconnecting means further comprising:
• a ring member coaxially disposed with said crankshaft of the engine, said ring member interconnecting said driving means and said opposite end portion of the bearing race, said ring member being axially and rotatably movable with respect to said crankshaft;
• and
• resilient means disposed adjacent to said ring member and coaxial with said crankshaft such that as said ring member moves axially upon rotation of said driving means said ring member abuts said resilient means whereby said resilient means absorbs the starting torque shock loads and subsequent rebound action of the crankshaft generated by the rotation of the crankshaft of the engine by the driving means.