The tunnel rescue vehicle "MERKUR" TRV ZE 1
The tunnel rescue vehicle TRV ZE1 "Mercury" was designed and produced by the Ziegler Group headquartered in Giengen, Germany.
This vehicle is an absolute world innovation. Taking into account the European standards and regulations and in accordance with the quality standards of the Ziegler Group this vehicle offers modern technical solutions for old problems.
Primary purpose of the Ziegler "Mercury" is the rescue and evacuation of victims from tunnel fire scenarios. Various studies and world-wide experience have shown that there are two main issues, the tunnel fires so dangerous for the intervention teams in the rescue attempts. At first the lack of oxygen in the tunnel, where the fire is to be carried.
Second, it is very difficult to turn the already narrow tunnel for the rescue vehicle. Ziegler, one of the world's leading companies in the field of fire technology, has taken on these two issues and designed a new vehicle and developed. The goal was to design a vehicle that guarantees maximum protection and security for the mission team as well as the victims. The rescue team and the victim to be evacuated are fully protected against dangers from the outside in an ergonomic zone. Outside, escape routes are clearly marked on the vehicle. The "Mercury" is equipped with a dual drive system, so that the vehicle can also work, if one of the two engines fails.
- 2 x 76.6 kW nominal (max. 2 x 95 kW)
- Maximum speed: 60 km/h (limited)
- Stand-alone operation: 4 hours (mixed condition)
- Turning circle: 14 m
2 x water-cooling electric engines
The electric 4 x 4 drive consists of two water-cooling electric engines with a nominal output of 2 x 76.6 kW (max. 2 x 95 kW) - a motor for each axle. The operation of the vehicle is easy. There are no conventional gear. The driver selects only "forward", "backward" or "neutral". The power supply of the vehicle is from two battery packs with a capacity of each 180 Ah. Each pack consists of 90 LiFePo battery cells. Battery charger is mounted in the vehicle. Limited top speed is 60 km/h. Stand-alone operation for four hours in mixed conditions. The full turning circle is 14 m. The vehicle is equipped with a pneumatic braking system.
L x W X H: 6.600 x 2.310 x 3.100 mm
- Two driver cabins
- Driver's seat: PA-seat
- Passenger seats: 8
- Passenger standing space: 4
- Crew: 2
- Number of inputs: 2 pneumatic doors, 2 emergency doors
- Interior light: LED
- Two cabs
- PA-seat
- ALPAS-C, compact superstructure
- 2 pneumatic doors, 2 emergency doors
- LED
ALPAS-C, compact superstructure
Ziegler-MERKUR can go in two directions. With only a driver's cab (driving position) is active. When a driver’s cab including control panel and thermal imaging camera is activated, the other driver’s cab is switched off automatically, as well as the drive under the disabled driver's cab. Also the whole traffic lighting changes automatically according to the drive direction. So the driver doesn’t have to worry what happens in the other cab, or in which position the steering wheel was left over there. No matter in which position the steering wheel is, when the a cab is enabled, the steering wheel in the other driver's cab is hydraulically automatically placed in central position and the steering axle locked.
Ziegler high-pressure air storage unit
The Ziegler high-pressure air storage unit (300 bar) consists of 2 x 7 bottles. Each bottle has a volume of 50 l. The compressed air of storage facility is reduced from 300 bar to 8 bar and on the hoods of the rescue and the cabin pressure relief valve. A VarioGard central unit with two oxygen sensors to monitor the level of oxygen is installed in the vehicle (a sensor inside and a sensor outside). The data are collected from a computer in the central system and processed. The compressed air system can be switched on by the driver automatically or manually. Stand-alone operation for five hours with all 12 rescued people.
- Capacity: 210,000 l (8 bar)
- Compressed air bottles: 14 x 50 l, 300 bar
- Rescue hoods: 16
Battery packs
- Power: 2 x 180 Ah
- Batteries: 2 x 90 LiFe Po 416
Self-protection:
The underbody of the vehicle is equipped with a complete heat shield. It is equipped with a water-protection system. A total of 10 jets of protection against fire; 6 nozzles located on the roof and 4 nozzles on the bottom. Emergency run-flat tyres are fitted on the vehicle.
Self protection nozzles: 10