Method and Apparatus for Joining a Pair of Electric Cables

A method of splicing at least one pair of cables, each cable including at least one conductor, the method comprising:

• providing an elastic tubular sleeve supported in a radially expanded condition on at least one supporting element;
• arranging the tubular sleeve, in engagement with the at least one supporting element, in a substantially coaxial position around one of the cables;
• connecting each conductor of the at least one pair of cables to obtain a splicing region between the cables;
• positioning the tubular sleeve in engagement with the at least one supporting element around the splicing region;
• axially moving the at least one supporting element relative to the tubular sleeve so as to cause a radial elastic shrinkage of the tubular sleeve capable of inducing an axial ejection thrust on the at least one supporting element;
• counteracting the axial ejection thrust induced by the elastic shrinkage of the tubular sleeve;
• and
• adjusting an axial movement speed of the at least one supporting element so as to adapt the axial movement speed to an elastic shrinkage speed of the tubular sleeve.