Tool for fixing a textile sleeve about an elongate member to be protected and method of fixing a protective textile sleeve about an elongate member

A tool for fixing a textile sleeve about an elongate member disposed therein, comprising:

• a clamp assembly having opposed clamp members pivotal about an axis between open and closed states, each of said clamp members having a clamp surface extending lengthwise along a first axis away from said pivot axis to a free end of said clamp members, said clamp surfaces being configured for clamping abutment with the textile sleeve disposed lengthwise along a second axis, transverse to said first axis, across a width of said clamp surface, each of said clamp surfaces include a plurality of heating members operably connected to a source of power to be selectively heated, said heating members being supported for independent movement relative to one another to allow said clamp surfaces to automatically conform to an outer peripheral shape of a portion of the protective textile sleeve disposed between said clamp members.