An apparatus that melts and monitors sleeves for installation onto shielded cables. The apparatus includes a heat source for melting the sleeve, cable supports for supporting the cable during the melting process, a sensor system that is configured to measure a dimension of the sleeve during melting, and a computer that is connected to receive sensor data from the sensor system and send heater control signals to the heat source. The computer is configured to receive dimensional data from the sensor system, monitor that dimensional data by performing a dimensional analysis, and then deactivate or remove the heat source in response to dimensional analysis results indicating that the sleeve is fully melted (in the case of a solder sleeve) or only fully shrunken (in the case of a dead end sleeve) onto the cable.

An automated system for processing an end of a cable. The system includes: a cable delivery system; a cable processing module; a pallet supported by the cable delivery system; a drive wheel rotatably coupled to the pallet; a motor operatively coupled for driving rotation of the drive wheel; and an idler wheel rotatably coupled to the pallet and forming a nip with the drive wheel. The cable processing module includes cable processing equipment and a computer system. The computer system is configured to: (a) cause the drive wheel to rotate in a cable pushing direction to cause a specified length of cable to be inserted into the cable processing equipment; (b) activate the cable processing equipment to operate on the cable end; and (c) cause the drive wheel to rotate in a cable pulling direction to cause the length of cable to be removed from the cable processing equipment.

An installation tool and methods for installing a splice kit for a heating cable is provided. The installation tool includes a body, a first channel, and a first cavity. The first channel is defined in the body and configured to retain a first insulating tubing of the splice kit. The first cavity is within the first channel and configured to retain a first connector of the splice kit. The body is configured to retain the first insulating tubing and the first connector in a predetermined formation during installation of the first insulating tubing and the first connector to the heating cable, and the body is further configured to be removed from the first insulating tubing and the first connector following installation of the first insulating tubing and the first connector to the heating cable.

An installation tool and methods for installing a splice kit for a heating cable is provided. The installation tool includes a body, a first channel, and a first cavity. The first channel is defined in the body and configured to retain a first insulating tubing of the splice kit. The first cavity is within the first channel and configured to retain a first connector of the splice kit. The body is configured to retain the first insulating tubing and the first connector in a predetermined formation during installation of the first insulating tubing and the first connector to the heating cable, and the body is further configured to be removed from the first insulating tubing and the first connector following installation of the first insulating tubing and the first connector to the heating cable.

A terminal equipped electric wire includes an electric wire including: a conductor and an insulating sheath covering the conductor, a part of the conductor extending out of an end portion of the insulating sheath being an exposed portion, a terminal fitting having an electric wire connection portion at a rear side of the terminal fitting, the electric wire connection portion being connected to the exposed portion, a water stop shrinkable tube covering the electric wire connection portion connected to the exposed portion in a watertight manner, a sensor disposed on an outer surface of the water stop shrinkable tube, the sensor contacting the outer surface of the water stop shrinkable tube and a sensor fixing shrinkable tube covering and fixing the sensor on the outer surface of the water stop shrinkable tube.

A terminal equipped electric wire includes an electric wire including: a conductor and an insulating sheath covering the conductor, a part of the conductor extending out of an end portion of the insulating sheath being an exposed portion, a terminal fitting having an electric wire connection portion at a rear side of the terminal fitting, the electric wire connection portion being connected to the exposed portion, a water stop shrinkable tube covering the electric wire connection portion connected to the exposed portion in a watertight manner, a sensor disposed on an outer surface of the water stop shrinkable tube, the sensor contacting the outer surface of the water stop shrinkable tube and a sensor fixing shrinkable tube covering and fixing the sensor on the outer surface of the water stop shrinkable tube.

A cable joint includes a cable joint body, a conductive connector disposed within the cable joint body and electrically connecting a first cable to a second cable, and a first conductive element electrically connecting a first shielding layer of the first cable to a second shielding layer of the second cable. The cable joint body includes a first insulating sleeve and a re-jacketing sleeve at least partly encompassing the first insulating sleeve. The re-jacketing sleeve forms a channel along a longitudinal axis of the first insulating sleeve. The first conductive element is disposed within the channel. The channel is collapsed after heat shrinking the first insulating sleeve and the re-jacketing sleeve.

A heat-shrinkable tube according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a base layer that is tubular and that covers outer peripheries of a plurality of electric wires, and a plurality of ridges that are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the base layer and that extend in an axial direction of the base layer.

A heat-shrinkable tube according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a base layer that is tubular and that covers outer peripheries of a plurality of electric wires, and a plurality of ridges that are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the base layer and that extend in an axial direction of the base layer.

Various implementations include a method of connecting wire to conductive fabric. The method includes (1) providing a conductive fabric having a main portion and a protrusion extending along a protrusion central axis from the main portion, the protrusion having a distal edge spaced apart from the main portion along the central axis and side edges that extend between the main portion and the distal edge; (2) placing a wire along at least a portion of the protrusion, the wire having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; (3) folding the distal edge of the protrusion over the wire one or more times to form a folded portion of the protrusion; and (4) after folding the distal edge, securing the folded portion of the protrusion with a securing device.