Provided is a linear-motion bearing, including: an outer cylinder member made of a synthetic resin, the outer cylinder member having a plurality of endless steel ball circulation paths each including an outer-peripheral-side steel ball circulation path and an inner-peripheral-side steel ball circulation path, and having sheet-like spaces in regions that are opposed to the endless steel ball circulation paths, respectively; a plurality of steel balls accommodated and arrayed in the endless steel ball circulation paths; and a synthetic resin plate, which has an arc cross section, and is fitted to each of the sheet-like spaces, the synthetic resin plate including a metal piece at a position at which the synthetic resin plate is held in contact with a steel ball row in the inner-peripheral-side steel ball circulation path, the metal piece having an elongated shape in a direction along the steel ball row in the inner-peripheral-side steel ball circulation path, in which the elongated metal piece is curved so as to protrude toward an inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder member in the direction along the steel ball row in the inner-peripheral-side steel ball circulation path.

A buoyancy-enhanced loop drive system includes upper and lower gears, a helical drive loop extending around and rotatably engaging the upper and lower gears, and a tank configured to retain a liquid medium. An ascending side of the drive loop extends through the tank. In some embodiments, the drive loop includes a plurality of sections, and adjacent sections are rotatable with respect to each other about an axis normal to an end face of the sections. Additionally or alternatively, the ascending side of the drive loop advances through an inlet seal via an exit port defined in an exit wall oriented perpendicular to the exit direction. Additionally or alternatively, an intermediate plate is coupled to an inlet housing for rotation about a vertical axis, and to a stationary support structure for bi-directional translation.

An intermediate steering shaft for a motor vehicle includes a profile element inserted into a hollow profile shaft to form a circulating device. The profile element includes a second peripheral track segment associated, respectively, to a plurality of guide arrangements.

A linear-motion bearing is disclosed including: an outer cylinder member having a plurality of endless steel ball circulation paths each including an outer-peripheral-side steel ball circulation path and an inner-peripheral-side steel ball circulation path, and having planar spaces in regions that are opposed to the endless steel ball circulation paths, respectively; a plurality of steel balls accommodated and arrayed in the endless steel ball circulation paths: and a synthetic resin plate including a metal piece at which the synthetic resin plate is held in contact with a steel ball row, the metal piece having an elongated shape in a direction along the steel ball row in the inner-peripheral-side steel ball circulation path, in which the elongated metal piece is curved so as to protrude toward an inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder member in the direction along the steel ball row in the inner-peripheral-side steel ball circulation path.

A buoyancy-enhanced loop drive system includes upper and lower gears, a helical drive loop extending around and rotatably engaging the upper and lower gears, and a tank configured to retain a liquid medium. An ascending side of the drive loop extends through the tank. In some embodiments, the drive loop includes a plurality of sections, and adjacent sections are rotatable with respect to each other about an axis normal to an end face of the sections. Additionally or alternatively, the ascending side of the drive loop advances through an inlet seal via an exit port defined in an exit wall oriented perpendicular to the exit direction. Additionally or alternatively, an intermediate plate is coupled to an inlet housing for rotation about a vertical axis, and to a stationary support structure for bi-directional translation.