Bearing unit of thin section

A bearing unit of thin section having a central axis of rotation, the bearing unit comprising:

• an inner ring having an outer raceway radially on the outside, the inner ring having, axially on the outside for each side of the bearing unit, a shaped groove extending predominantly axially,
• an outer ring that defines a cylindrical gap with the inner ring and is provided, radially on the inside, with an outer raceway and, axially on the inside, for each side of the bearing unit, with a shaped groove extending predominantly radially,
• a plurality of rolling elements disposed inside the gap and interposed between the inner ring and the outer ring to enable the relative rotation thereof about the axis, and
• a sealing device that is mounted on both sides of the bearing unit to protect the gap from contaminants and pollutants, and to prevent the lubricating grease inside the gap from leaking out, is anchored to the outer ring and defines a multi-stage labyrinth seal, with the shaped groove for each side of the bearing unit, the sealing device including, for each side of the bearing unit:
• two sealing lips disposed inside the groove,
• a flexible support arm for the two sealing lips, and
• intrinsic control means to control the bending of the arm to individually and specifically control both the flexibility of the arm and a friction force that a contacting sealing lip of the two sealing lips exerts on the inner ring.