Apparatus for the peeling of surfaces, including nonplanar surfaces

An apparatus for peeling a layer from a surface, including a nonplanar surface, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a substantially cylindrical support, said substantially cylindrical support being axially rotatable;
• (b) a first annular guiding element circumferentially surrounding a first end of said substantially cylindrical support and a second annular guiding element circumferentially surrounding a second end of said substantially cylindrical support, wherein said first and second annual guiding elements have different diameters;
• (c) at least two peeling knives projecting from an outer surface of said substantially cylindrical support and extending along the outer surface of said substantially cylindrical support between said first and second annular guiding elements wherein each of said at least two peeling knives are parallel to each other and are spaced unequally around a circumference of said substantially cylindrical support;
• (d) driving means for axially rotating said substantially cylindrical support;
• and
• (e) support means for supporting said substantially cylindrical support against the surface to be peeled, said support means comprising:
• (i) a first arm connected at an upper end thereof to said substantially cylindrical support such that said substantially cylindrical support is axially rotatable independent of said first arm;
• (ii) a second arm connected at an upper end thereof to a lower end of said first arm, a lower end of said second arm rotatably connected to a bottom frame;
• and
• (iii) hydraulic or pneumatic control means cooperating with said first arm, said second arm and said bottom frame for controlling movement of said substantially cylindrical support against a surface to be peeled.