Scheuerle Fahrzeugfabrik GmbH

"Beaver" - a new transport system for tunnel construction by SCHEUERLE

For application in tunnel construction SCHEUERLE, the Pfedelbach based company for special vehicle manufacturing, has developed a transport system that constitutes a novelty on the in the market. With this development of construction site logistics SCHEUERLE, which is part of the "TII" company group (TRANSPORTER INDUSTRY INTERNATIONAL) of the Heilbronn industrialist Otto Rettenmaier and which is considered the leading global

manufacturer for special transport vehicles, has opened completely new possibilities in tunnel construction and has once again proved its competence.



With this development of a transport system for tunnel construction, SCHEUERLE has ventured into a new transport area. The "Beaver" is the realization of a high performance appliance that truly comprises a lot: Pure technology for a demanding transport task that was so far restricted to track-dependent transport systems. Scheuerle’s "Beaver" is designed to take pre-fabricated concrete shells, so-called "tubbing", into the tunnel, transporting them to the drilling site. There, the components are installed to line and stabilize the tunnel tube. The reason why tunnel construction engineers are inclined to use wheeled vehicles for this transport task is a more flexible utilization of the driveway inside the tunnel construction site. This way it is possible to have other transport vehicles drive on the same track, and on the other hand to be able to react flexibly to modifying measures of the transport roads during the construction stage. Rail tracks cannot fulfill these requirements.



The transport system consists of a total of five vehicle combinations, each of which is a combination of two vehicle units. Both those vehicle units are mechanically/electronically connected with each other by means of an "intelligent” towing and pushing rod. Through its integral measuring technology, the connecting rod recognizes the force relations of the two vehicles and acts as a regulator if deviations occur. This ensures that the vehicle driving ahead always remains as "master” in towing position, and that the following "slave” remains in towed position, in spite of equal drive power. This way, high driving stability of the multiunit vehicle is achieved, which is an important safety aspect at speeds of up to 30 km/h inside narrow tunnel tubes.



Each vehicle unit is equipped with a Diesel engine, powered with 127 Kw at 2000 Upm. Each Diesel engine drives a hydraulic pump, which in turn drives hydraulic motors in the vehicle axles. This type of hydrostatic drive provides very sensitive and precise driving, and, on the other hand, equal speed in both directions. This is chief requisite, as vehicles cannot turn inside the tunnel. High application safety is ensured by the redundant drive, which makes it possible that each vehicle can take over drive and controls of the other one, if one drive motor should fail.



The system also ensures safety for the operating personnel. The cab is constantly under excess pressure, so that if smoke develops inside the tunnel the cab remains smoke-free. The driver this way stays in a position to safely control his vehicle in emergencies. The low-exhaust emission Diesel engines are equipped with a special air conduit and filter system that prevents accumulation of pollutants inside the tunnel.



The vehicles are equipped with an electronic all-wheel steering, which are an especial advantage when docking at the loading and unloading stations. The wheels can be stirred in "dog’s walk position", which allows driving the overall vehicle combination transversely. To achieve as much application flexibility as possible, the transport vehicles are designed in a way that they can be driven as single vehicle, as well as a combine of two or even several vehicles.



With a total weight of about 130 tons at an empty weight of ca. 30 tons a combine of two coupled vehicles has a safe carrying capacity of 100 tons.



With this transport system, Scheuerle has established itself in a new transport sector. The vehicle concept was roughly specified by the tunnel constructing companies. Development and realization has been executed by the vehicle-engineering specialists in Pfedelbach, who have been able to use their extensive expertise for the solution of this task.





Additional information

The vehicles are utilized in the construction and expansion of the high-speed rail track between Karlsruhe and Basel. With two tubes of 9.3 kilometers each, the Katzenbergtunnel north of Basel is the biggest single construction of the new rail track. The project is realized by a team, ARGE Katzenbergtunnel.



Picture attachment:

"Beaver", the new tunnel construction truck by Scheuerle, Pfedelbach, with 100 tons of safe carrying capacity in multiunit vehicle. The hydrostatic drive, which allows equal driving in both directions, makes for a vehicle speed up to 30 km/h. The vehicle’s name is derived from its mammal namesake. The beaver is powerful and full of energy, able to carry heavy "components" for the construction of his home through narrow tubes and tunnels.



Press contact:

Lothar Riesenegger

SCHEUERLE Fahrzeugfabrik GmbH

Öhringer Str. 16

D-74629 Pfedelbach

Tel. ++49 (0) 7941 – 6 91 0

Cell phone ++49 (0) 171 – 8 73 09 16





SCHEUERLE Fahrzeugfabrik GmbH

Transporters by SCHEUERLE are available worldwide for top technology and special product quality. Reliability in daily application, load-bearing capacity and long service life make the vehicles an important part of modern logistics. The history of vehicle technology for heavy goods vehicles is closely connected with the name SCHEUERLE. SCHEUERLE links tradition and innovation and is, along with KAMAG Transporttechnik in Ulm and NICOLAS Industries in Champs-sur-Yonne, France, part of the company group of the Heilbronn industrialist Otto Rettenmaier. Within this group the heavy duty sector "TII –Transporter Industry International" is the global leader on the heavy duty sector.