Agitator and a method of replacing a shaft seal of an agitator

An agitator comprising

• a) a drive unit (2) coupled by means of a coupling (16) to a first end of a second drive shaft (18),
• b) a propeller (8) attached to a second end of the second drive shaft (18),
• c) the drive unit (2) being attached to a mounting flange (22) adapted for fastening the agitator to a wall of a mixing vessel,
• d) the agitator further comprising a support housing (6) having at least a tubular support frame (24) with a first end and a second end,
• e) the first end of the tubular support frame (24) being attached to the mounting flange (22),
• f) the second end of the tubular support frame (24) being provided with a support bearing (30) for supporting the second end of the second drive shaft (18), the support bearing (30) being a slide bearing,
• g) a shaft seal (20) arranged at the first end of the tubular support frame (24), the shaft seal (20) being provided with means for locking the shaft seal (20) on the second drive shaft, and the shaft seal (20) being fastened either to the mounting flange (22) or to the first end of the tubular support frame (24),
• h) sealing means (32) arranged in connection with the second end of both the second drive shaft (18) and the tubular support frame (24), the sealing means comprising a sealing member (44) and a counter surface (46), and
• i) an intermediate frame (4) between the drive unit (2) and the mounting flange (22) comprising an opening or window,
• wherein a carrier is provided at one of the mounting flange (22) and the first end of the tubular support frame (24) adapted for locking the second drive shaft (18) immobile in both axial and circumferential directions for the maintenance of the shaft seal (20).