Thread: Shutter grille for Land Rover

Originally Posted by VladTepes

I think it would be pretty cool, given the design of various land rover grilles (esp the Defender one) to have a 'shutter' system to use when fording waterways etc - instead of having to use a blind, for example.

It shouldn't be THAT hard to make one, I thought, but on consideration first looked to see if any were commercially available.

I didn't find any BUT it does look as if someone has obtained (or at least applied for) a patent on a generic system, of sorts.

SHUTTER SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE GRILLE - SRG GLOBAL, INC.

Hmmm....

Radiator shutters have been around since the year dot. Normally used in severely cold climates to maintain operating temperature. They have virtually disappeared from the Australian market being replaced decades ago by fan clutches on heavy truck engines.

I think it would be pretty easy to make something like this for teh defender, My brother works for a blinds company. . maybe i can ahve them knock something up out of alloy as a prototype.

been thinking about how to fit one of those roll down ones from Mulgo while still keeping my A frame and lights.

Witchdoctor I think it was on here made a custom grill for his defender, maybe worth contacting him about a possible joint venture for the pair of you?

Leroy

Radiator shutters were commonplace from Edwardian times, but were largely superseded by thermostats by the 1930s. Retained for heavy vehicles in cold climates into at least the 1960s.

I am not clear what is special about this one that a patent is viable.

The problem with them on an offroad vehicle would be that the multiplicity of pivot points would be likely to generate a lot of rattles after a few hundred kilometres of corrugations!

John

Get your mate onto it !

Simple one to to try. Get a pair of louvre window mechanisms. Replace glass with what ever you want. Job done.
Cheers Hall

Louvres are a bit wide though !

Here you go - only 88mm wide
Series 417 LouvreMASTER™ | Architectural Series | Our Products | Elevate™ Aluminium Systems | AWS

I have always thought about having a Z shaped aluminium extrusion made where the extensions were rather short and could be made to overlap.

In each corner there would be a pivot point, the trailing edge close to the body would be fixed "hinges" attached to the body. The leading edges would be connected together, probably by flat bars to make the edge of the grill, these would be drilled to connect to the pivot points behind the leaning edge.

The bars would have a natural open state in the up position, possibly by springs. Then there would be some sort of actuator either a bowden cable or solenoid that would pull the bar down so it would arc in and lock into the slat below making a barrier to the water.