Patent ID: 7387710

Claim:
A shoe press for applying pressure to a fibrous web, the shoe press comprising: a concave press shoe arranged to be juxtaposed with a backing member to define a nip therebetween such that the web can be carried through the nip, the press shoe extending in a cross-machine direction along substantially a full width of the web; a support supporting the press shoe, wherein the press shoe is mounted for movement on the support in a loading direction toward the backing member so that the shoe can apply pressure to the web passing through the nip; a plurality of articulated hydraulic actuators spaced apart in the cross-machine direction along the press shoe, at least one actuator including a first cylinder connected to the press shoe, a second cylinder connected to the support and a piston member having a first end received within the first cylinder and a second end received within the second cylinder wherein the piston ends have convex spherical surfaces and the cylinders have portions defining concave spherical surfaces forming seats arranged to cooperate with the convex spherical surfaces of the piston ends so that the piston is inclinable relative to the loading direction even at full cylinder stroke and wherein the convex spherical surfaces and the concave spherical surfaces cooperate to prevent the piston from leaving the cylinders, wherein the piston comprises two parts which can be connected and disconnected from each other.