Bearing blanket for an extended nip press having laminates of different hardnesses

A bearing blanket (44) for use in an extended nip press (12) in which the blanket (44) and felt (14) and a formed web (16) pass through an extended nip (18) defined by a rotatable press roll (20) and a cooperating hydraulically loaded shoe (22), said blanket (44) comprising in combination:

• a base (46) for imparting inherent rigidity to the blanket (44), said base (46) having a first and a second side (48,50);
• a first laminate (52) extending along said first side (48) of said base (46), said first laminate (52) having an interface (54) disposed contiguous with said first side (48) of said base (46) and a face (56) which cooperated with the hydraulically loaded shoe (22) of the extended nip press (12);
• a second laminate (58) extending along said second side (50) of said base (46), said second laminate (58) having a surface (60) disposed contiguous with said second side (50) of said base (46), said second laminate (58) defining a boundary (62) such that said boundary (62) cooperates with the felt (14) of the extended nip press (12), said second laminate (58) defining a plurality of recesses (64,66) extending from said boundary (62) towards said base (46) for channeling fluid flow (68) from the felt (14) during passage of the blanket (44), felt (14) and web (16) through the extended nip (18);
• and
• said laminates (52,58) having a hardness differential relative to each other, said first laminate (52) having a hardness within the range 80 to 93 Shore"A" for permitting flexing of said first laminate (52) during said passage through said extended nip (18), said second laminate (58) having a hardness of at least 99 Shore"A" such that crushing of said recesses (64,66) during said passage through said extended nip (18) is inhibited so that said fluid flow (68) is unimpeded.