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Injuries in side impact collisions constitute one fourth of the serious or fatal injuries sustained by occupants in ordinary passenger cars. The Volvo Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) provides a substantially enhanced protection for car occupants in side collisions. The protection level of the SIPS system has been further increased by the addition of the Sipsbag, a quick-deploying side impact airbag system integrated in the seat backrest. The design of the non-electrical Sipsbag system is explained, as well as the advantages with a completely seat-integrated system. The process to industrialise the side airbag concept is summarised. Laboratory test results are discussed. Using methodology to correlate laboratory test data with accident data, an estimate of the injury-reducing effectiveness of the SIPS and Sipsbag system is made.

The V160 engine development activity has been underway for 17 years. Today. Stirling Power Systems Corporation (“SPS”) is planning the mass commercialization of systems based on the long development of its now highly successful and time proven V160 engine. The engine has been operating in field environments since 1982, supporting military and civilian requirements in applications including: Auxiliary Power Units Heat Pumps Military and Civilian Cogeneration Units Military Generator Sets Solar Under the SPS development program, the engine has accumulated over 350,000 test hours with over 25,000 hours logged on one unit operating in daily commercial service. Through 1987, SPS has built over 130 engines and will deliver approximately 30 more in 1988. The first mass-produced V160 engine will be delivered during 1989 when the production assembly operation will be underway.

The special attributes of the modern gas-fired V160 Stirling engine, from Stirling Power Systems Corporation, are discussed, and its advantages as a heat pump drive presented. The program, aimed at the light commercial market in the 10 ton range, is sponsored by the Gas Research Institute. The main subsystems of the V160 external combustion Stirling engine are discussed and performance data are included. Contractor activities are listed and preliminary results are given of a computer based heat pump performance model, comparing a gas furnace, an electric motor driven heat pump and a V160 engine driven heat pump.

The purpose of this paper is to outline how a small Stirling Engine is utilized as a power source in a Total Energy System for recreational vehicles. The system provides electricity, heat and air-conditioning at a higher comfort level. The system also provides simplicity of operation.