A bearing and seal assembly for supporting and sealing end portions of a rotatable
paddle shaft in the end walls of a mortar mixer or the like. Each bearing and seal
assembly includes a bearing and seal housing removably attached to an end wall
of the mixer drum by bolts to facilitate replacement of the bearings and seals
as becomes necessary during use. The outside wall of the housing includes a peripheral
ring or shoulder for engagement with a conventional bearing puller to facilitate
removal of the housing, bearings and seals as a single unit. Preassembled housing,
bearing and seal units can then be used as replacements. The bearings and seals
are also spaced longitudinally to provide a space for abrasive materials that may
migrate past the seals to extend the life expectancy of the bearings by decreasing
exposure to contamination. The housing also includes an opening in the lower portion
thereof communicating with the space between the bearings and seals to enable material
which migrates past the seals to fall through the opening onto the ground thereby
further protecting the bearings from contamination and indicating to the mixer
operator that the seals are becoming worn or have failed so that prompt maintenance
or replacement may be undertaken.