thousandths of an inch less than the diameter of the central portion 52 the laterally outer shoulder 54 of the central portion of the drum 52 is provided with a radiused corner or tapering reduction in diameter to eliminate excessive concentration of pressure and resulted wear in that area of the belt 16 alternatively and with respect to fig4 there is illustrated a further means for relieving the inner action between the belt 116 and the drum 112 as before a felt 132 carries a web to be dewatered through the press area in this particular embodiment a reduced thickness portion 140 is provided by relieving the side 152 adjacent the drum 112 throughout the laterally outer portion which extends laterally outwardly with respect to the pressure shoe 126 this step off 154 should be between 80 and 160 thousandths of an inch and again would be provided with a gradual change in thickness in the area 156 adjacent the laterally outer edge of the pressure shoe 126 in yet a further embodiment of the invention illustrated in fig5 a web 234 to be dewatered is sandwiched between a bolt 216 and felt 232 as it passes between a drum 212 and a pressure shoe 226 the laterally outer portions 250 of the drum 212 and 252 of the belt 216 are relieved on the mutually facing surfaces thereof the total of the step off in the laterally outer portion 250 of the drum 212 and the laterally outer portion 252.