Pot PTFE bearing consists of a metal piston supported by a disc of unreinforced elastomer that is confined within a metal cylinder for allowing rotational movement about an axis in the horizontal plane and to bear and to bear and transmit vertical load. Pot bearings may be provided with sliding assembly (with or without restraint in the form of a guide along the desired direction to bear and transmit horizontal force) comprising of stainless steel plate attached to metal backing plate sliding in a horizontal plane over sliding material confined in recess(s) on the piston which shall be termed as sliding/Guided Pot bearings. Depending on the desired degree of freedom Pot bearings may be of three types as follows:
A Guided Pot Bearing can bear the vertical loads and transfers the horizontal force in one direction only and allows movement perpendicular to that direction and as well as allowing rotation along any axis in the horizontal plane. Further the same bearing is classified as slide guide longitudinal and a slide guide transverse bearing I as per the Load system.