The Design of a Steam Powered Paratransit Vehicle

The design of a new concept in urban transportation, the steam powered paratransit vehicle (PTV), is described. The vehicle incorporates the following features: an external combustion engine (ECE) power system, a unique aluminum chassis and body structure whose primary elements are bonded honeycomb sandwich panels, an automatic passenger door and loading ramp system capable of accommodating a wheel chair seated passenger without assistance, a roof-mounted condenser system, an all-independent suspension system incorporating torsion bar springs and self-leveling shock absorbers, and a near-center driver's station isolated from passengers by a bullet resistant partition. The steam PTV is expected to satisfy the maximum emissions levels prescribed by the 1977-78 Federal Standards, operating on a wide variety of petroleum and non-petroleum fuels, with fuel mileage comparable to existing taxicabs.