Patent ID: 8919008

Claim:
In a Yankee dryer ( 1 ) made of steel with a cylindrical shell ( 2 ) that is connected to coaxial first and second end covers ( 3 , 4 ), where the end covers ( 3 , 4 ) each have a circular opening ( 5 , 6 ) centered on the cylinder axis, the improvement comprising a one-piece rotatable central shaft ( 7 ) extending coaxially through the shell with a first and a second connecting flange ( 8 , 9 ) respectively joining the central shaft ( 7 ) to the first and second end covers ( 3 , 4 ) for rotating the cylindrical shell, wherein the first connecting flange ( 8 ) has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the opening ( 6 ) in the second end cover ( 4 ) such that the central shaft ( 7 ) can pass through the opening ( 6 ) in the second end cover.