Delco Batteries Tool - How was this used?

[LNKMK8]

Came across this interesting tool at an estate sale last month. After looking at it a while, I decided to bring it home just because it seemed unique. Is anyone familiar with the actual use or intent of it? I couldn't find anything by the patent numbers. Model M7-582

 

[RTM]

Both patents say its a torque wrench Second one is not in DATAMP, first says never produced. You might want to send them the picture so they can update the listing.. The bend in the metal defines the torque.

Does the socket fit the nut on an old type battery terminal? Might be to prevent over tightening the nut when replacing the battery?

 

[bonneyman]

I would have snagged that, too! Cool!

 

[d42jeep]

My guess Is that it is for side terminal batteries. I think that those bolts were easy to over tighten.
-Don

 

[RTM]

How new are side terminal batteries? I thought a fairly late change, post 80s. The patent was 1965, so should have been taken off the tool by 1982.

 

[d42jeep]

According to what I see on the internet, they were introduced in ‘69 and In General use by ‘71.
Don

 

[RTM]

According to what I see on the internet, they were introduced in ‘69 and In General use by ‘71.
Don

Damn, call me out of the loop, my ‘69 Chevy, ‘74 fiat did not, my ‘01 RAV4, ‘06 Tacoma and ‘12 Acura don’t, forget what the 5 cars in between had. None made enough of a mental impact apparently. Thanks for clarifying

 

[RTM]

Following up, appears ‘71 to ‘82 were the big years, and a 5/16” wrench was popular

 

[d42jeep]

My daddy’s big ol’ boat of a ‘74 Caprice had a side terminal.
-Don

 

[driftpin]

I recall GM cars of the '70's had them. There was a battery wire harness captive bolt, in a vinyl 'donut' disc, w/a 5/16" bolt on it, that your side-terminal battery made contact with.

 

[chris142]

How new are side terminal batteries? I thought a fairly late change, post 80s. The patent was 1965, so should have been taken off the tool by 1982.

My 70 elcamino had side terminals

 

[Milton Shaw]

They even made a wire brush cleaner for those terminals, you had to remove the bolt to clean them or you would not get much of a connection. The problem that caused that was leakage around the terminal from overtightening the bolts. That is why GM came out with that torque wrench to keep that from happening. Direct acid spills would eat any terminal up pretty quickly.

 

[NHtoolguy]

I have the K-D version of that battery torque wrench. The hook feature allows higher torque to be applied to loosen the terminal bolt. In the opposite direction, the beam deflects to contact the socket when proper torque is reached. The side terminal threads were formed in soft lead material, which stripped out easily. Thus the reason for the tool.