Conductor cover applicator with spool

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

• positioning a spool adjacent the cable, the spool containing conductor cover locked in a pre-application state where the conductor cover is wrapped one or more times around the spool with the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the conductor cover spread open and perpendicular to a spool axis;
• unlocking the conductor cover;
• applying the conductor cover to the cable by rotating the spool relative to a structural element connected to the spool, and
• in which the structural element comprises or is connected to a hot stick, and unlocking further comprises unlocking a lock by operating an actuator from a user end of the hot stick.

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

• a structural element, in which the structural element comprises or is connected to a hot stick;
• a spool connected to rotate relative to the structural element, the spool being sized to store the conductor cover in a pre-application state where the conductor cover is wrapped one or more times around the spool with the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the conductor cover spread open and perpendicular to a spool axis;
• a lock for holding the conductor cover in the pre-application state;
• and
• an actuator connected to operate the lock from a user end of the hot stick.

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

• a spool sized to store the conductor cover in a pre-application state where the conductor cover is wrapped one or more times around the spool with the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the conductor cover spread open and perpendicular to a spool axis;
• a hot stick connected to the spool;
• a lock for holding the conductor cover in the pre-application state;
• and
• an actuator connected to operate the lock from a user end of the hot stick.

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

• a structural element, in which the structural element comprises or is connected to a hot stick;
• a spool connected to rotate relative to the structural element, the spool being sized to store the conductor cover in a pre-application state where the conductor cover is wrapped one or more times around the spool with the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the conductor cover spread open and perpendicular to a spool axis;
• a lock for holding the conductor cover in the pre-application state;
• and
• a brake between the spool and the structural element for partially inhibiting relative rotation.

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

• a structural element;
• a spool connected to rotate relative to the structural element, the spool being sized to store the conductor cover in a pre-application state where the conductor cover is wrapped one or more times around the spool with the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the conductor cover spread open and perpendicular to a spool axis;
• a lock for holding the conductor cover in the pre-application state;
• and
• in which the lock comprises a clamp adapted to be independently operated by a hot stick.

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

• a structural element;
• a spool connected to rotate relative to the structural element, the spool being sized to store the conductor cover in a pre-application state where the conductor cover is wrapped one or more times around the spool with the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge of the conductor cover spread open and perpendicular to a spool axis;
• a lock for holding the conductor cover in the pre-application state;
• and
• in which the lock comprises a gripper plate with a width, parallel to the spool axis in use, sufficient to restrict premature curling of the first longitudinal edge and the second longitudinal edge.