Support assembly for moveable shafts

A support assembly comprising:

• a casing comprising an internal mounting seat;
• a bearing unit mounted on the internal mounting seat of the casing and having an axis of rotation, the bearing unit comprising:
• a radially inner ring;
• a radially outer ring;
• a plurality of rolling elements between the radially outer ring and radially inner ring;
• wherein the casing has an axially inner end and an opposite axially outer end spaced apart along the axis of rotation;
• and
• a first sealing device comprising:
• a first shield fixed to the radially outer ring;
• a second shield fixed to the radially inner ring and positioned axially internal with respect to the first shield, wherein the first shield and the second shield define between them a first labyrinth seal;
• and
• a protective shield interference fit on a cylindrical seat of the casing and positioned axially internal relative to the second shield;
• wherein the protective shield and the second shield define between them a second labyrinth seal;
• and
• the protective shield extends axially inward within an axial boundary of the casing defined at the cylindrical seat of the casing.