Abstract: A stretched, elastic sleeve for enclosing a joint between a pair of interconnected electric cables, or an end of such a cable, is mounted on a tubular supporting body formed by a helically wound tape with contiguous turns. The tape has transversely extending notches to improve the bendability of the tape. After the assembly of the sleeve and the body is disposed around the joint or cable end, the tape is pulled out of the sleeve permitting the sleeve to contract and engage the cable.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for inserting a rigid support in a contractible sleeve used to enclose a joint between a pair of electric cables. The support has an outer diameter greater than the unstretched inner diameter of the sleeve. The sleeve is enclosed in a pair of separable half-shells having radially movable pressure elements extending radially inwardly therefrom and engageable with the outer surface of the sleeve. The pressure elements are urged inwardly by compression springs, and the pressure applied to the sleeve by the pressure elements increases with radially outward movmeent thereof. One end of the support is inserted in one end of the sleeve and the support is pulled axially into the sleeve while axial movement and shortening and buckling of the sleeve is opposed by the pressure elements.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying an elastic sleeve to a joint between a pair of electric cables including a tubular cylindrical plastic support with an internal bore larger than the diameters of the cables and on which the elastic sleeve in its stretched state is mounted. A pair of openable mobile elements surround the support, and the element farther from an end of the sleeve is releasably secured to the support, such as by pins extending from the element through openings in the support and engageable with the outer surface of one of the cables. The other element is slidable on the support and can be moved toward the end of the sleeve. A screw mechanism acting between the elements moves them away from each other causing the support to be pulled out of the sleeve. With the apparatus positioned with the support and sleeve around the joint, the removal of the support permits the sleeve to contract around the joint.

Abstract: A process for surrounding joined cable ends with an elastic, monolithic sleeve which comprises expanding the bore of the sleeve, positioning the sleeve around the joined ends and then, permitting the bore to contract elastically, radially and progressively from one end of the sleeve toward the other. Also, apparatus for performing the process which comprises a rigid tube having a bore larger than the exterior size of the joined ends, having an ogive at one end, having a collar secured to the tube at the other end and at least two rigid, annular bodies mounted on the tube, one of annular bodies being engageable with an end of the sleeve and being slidable on the tube and the other annular body engaging the collar, and having threaded rods engaging the annular bodies through rotatable, threaded bushings for forcing the annular bodies apart in the axial direction of the tube to remove the tube from the sleeve.