Bearing unit for applications in adverse operating conditions

A bearing unit for applications in adverse operating conditions, having an axis and comprising:

• an outer ring provided with an inner raceway;
• an inner ring provided with an outer raceway and with two sliding surfaces arranged axially on opposite sides of the outer raceway;
• and
• a sealing assembly which is arranged on both the axially opposite sides of the outer ring so as to sealingly close an annular space between the inner ring and the outer ring, preventing contaminating agents from entering the bearing unit, and which comprises in turn, for each side of the outer ring, a stiffening insert supported by the outer ring itself, and an annular elastic gasket provided with a plurality of sealing lips facing the inner ring and arranged in sliding contact with the sliding surface of the respective side;
• the bearing unit being characterized in that, in combination, the sealing lips comprise respective annular contact edges with diameters decreasing in the axial direction towards the outside of the bearing unit and in that the sliding surfaces are inclined with respect to the axis in a decreasing manner from the outer raceway for control and adjustment of the radial contact pressure of the lips.