A flexible seal element with a reinforced drain labyrinth is disclosed for use on the outer seal ring of a seal assembly located between a roll end face and a bearing chock in a rolling mill, particularly the bearing chocks of the upper backup roll and the work rolls in a four-high mill. The seal element has a circular body portion adapted to tightly surround the outer seal ring. A first circular lip extends outwardly away from the body portion at an angle relative to the axis thereof to frictionally contact the roll end face. The seal body has a drain opening which is arranged to be aligned radially with a drainage port in the outer seal ring. The drain opening is protected by a second lip which extends outwardly from the seal body in a direction opposite to that of the first mentioned lip. A relatively stiff baffle member is attached to the seal body at a location spaced radially inwardly from the second lip. The baffle member and the second lip cooperate in providing a reinforced drain labyrinth which effectively prevents cooling water, mill scale, etc. from being centrifugally directed upwardly into the bearing from the rotating surfaces of underlying rolls.
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