Conductor cover applicator

An applicator for applying a dielectric conductor cover to a cable, the dielectric conductor cover being tubular and split longitudinally to define a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the applicator comprising:

• a separator having jaws and defining a passage for a cable to, in operation, move axially through the separator along a cable travel axis defined by the passage;
• the jaws being shaped to contact, in operation of the applicator, an interior surface of the dielectric conductor cover to spread open the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge along a portion of the dielectric conductor cover to allow the portion of the dielectric conductor cover to be applied to a cable positioned in operation within the passage,
• the jaws being structured to vary a separation distance between the jaws to open and close a mouth, defined between the jaws, through which the cable is permitted to move in a radial direction relative to the cable travel axis to enter the passage, wherein each jaw has:
• an inner part whose outward-facing surfaces are located to contact the interior surface of the dielectric conductor cover in operation to spread open the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge;
• and
• an outer part, which is spaced from the inner part to define a dielectric conductor cover-receiving channel, and whose inward-facing surfaces are located to contact an exterior surface of the dielectric conductor cover to press the dielectric conductor cover against the inner part.

A method of applying a dielectric conductor cover to a cable, the dielectric conductor cover being tubular and split longitudinally to define a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the method comprising:

• opening jaws of a separator to open a mouth to a passage defined by the separator;
• moving a cable in a radial direction through the mouth;
• closing the jaws about the cable in the passage to close the mouth;
• spreading open and closing the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of a portion of the dielectric conductor cover with the separator, the separator having a first portion contacting an interior surface of the dielectric conductor cover and a second portion contacting an exterior surface of the dielectric conductor cover;
• and
• moving the separator in a longitudinal direction to apply a length of the dielectric conductor cover to the cable through the separator.

An applicator for applying a dielectric conductor cover to a cable, the dielectric conductor cover being tubular and split longitudinally to define a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the applicator comprising:

• a separator that defines a passage for a cable to, in operation, move axially through the separator along a cable travel axis defined by the passage;
• the separator having a pair of separating elements arranged at respective angular positions about the passage relative to the cable travel axis;
• the pair of separating elements, in at least one configuration, being spaced to define a mouth through which the cable is permitted to move in a radial direction relative to the cable travel axis to enter the passage;
• and
• the pair of separating elements having outward-facing external surfaces and inward-facing internal surfaces being spaced from one another to define a dielectric conductor cover-receiving channel therebetween,
• wherein the outward-facing external surfaces contact, in operation of the applicator, an interior surface of an arcuate portion of the dielectric conductor cover, the arcuate portion being defined perpendicular to a conductor cover axis, to spread open the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge along the arcuate portion, with the arcuate portion bridging the mouth, to allow the dielectric conductor cover to be applied to a cable positioned in operation within the passage, and
• wherein the inward-facing internal surfaces contact, in operation of the applicator, an exterior surface of the dielectric conductor cover to vary the spread between the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the dielectric conductor cover.