Abstract: The present invention includes a counter top unit for dispensing the partially frozen beverage and, at one or more locations remote from that unit, two syrup supply canisters, a source of CO.sub.2, and a condenser and compressor unit that provides refrigeration coolant to the counter top unit. Supply and return lines carry the refrigeration coolant between the counter top unit and the compressor/condenser unit. The counter top unit includes a compact housing that is adapted to be set on the counter top. Inside the counter top unit is a pair of cooling chambers. Each cooling chamber produces, holds and dispenses a partially frozen beverages. The cooling chamber includes agitators, that mix the partially frozen beverage, and cooling coils, that are coupled to the refrigerant supply and return lines, which cool the interior of the cooling chamber. Two pumps in the counter top unit mix the water and the syrups and the resulting mixtures are fed, along with a predetermined amount of CO.sub.

Abstract: The present invention includes a rear seal assembly that holds and seals a rotatable shaft extending through the cooling chamber and extending axially outboard through a rear wall in the cooling chamber. In the interior of the cooling chamber, the seal assembly includes a first resilient seal having a coupling section fitted about the shaft and a radially protruding lip section at the base of the coupling section. At the axially outboard end portion of the seal housing, an axially outboard male threaded extension protrudes from a wall abutment surface of the seal housing. The outboardly extending male threaded extension of the seal housing mates with complementary threads in the hole through the rear wall of the cooling chamber. A retaining ring, that is metal in the preferred embodiment, is threaded from the outside of the chamber onto the outwardly extending male threaded extension of the seal housing. The retaining ring has a threaded outer circumference.