Liukukevä

Liukukevä is a term found in some Finnish engineering texts to describe a mechanism that combines sliding motion with spring force. The word is a compound of Finnish roots, with 'liuku' meaning sliding; usage and precise meaning vary between sources, and it is not a standardized term in international mechanical engineering.

In typical constructions, a carriage or slug slides along a guide, while a spring element is arranged to be compressed or extended by the sliding motion. The design may use a coil spring, leaf spring, or elastomer element, paired with stops or guides to define travel. The resulting force-displacement profile blends frictional behavior with spring force, often producing non-linear stiffness and energy storage during movement. Wear, lubrication, and thermal effects influence performance.

Applications include linear actuators, vibration isolation mounts, dampers, and precision positioning stages in machine tools or automation systems. In practice, liukukevä devices are chosen for compactness and tunable stiffness, but require attention to wear, stick-slip, and maintenance.

The term is primarily encountered in Finnish technical literature; internationally, similar concepts are described using terms such as sliding spring, spring-damper, or energy-storage actuator.