Fitting for receiving an insulated lead and a method for assembly thereof

A kit for forming a hot-cold junction, a hot-hot junction, a cold-cold junction, or a combination thereof, the kit comprising:

• a fitting for electrically connecting a first insulated lead to a second insulated lead in a heat trace cable, the fitting comprising:
• an elongate member comprising an open first end, an open second end, and an interior surface defining an elongate cavity;
• a first sleeve, a second sleeve, and a third sleeve, each sleeve configured to receive at least one of the insulated leads, wherein at least one of the first open end and the second open end is configured to receive the first sleeve, the second sleeve, and the third sleeve, wherein at least two of the sleeves are different sizes;
• a first collar configured to compress at least one of the sleeves onto the first insulated lead to form a seal between the first insulated lead and the elongate member;
• a second collar configured to compress at least one of the sleeves onto the second insulated lead to form a seal between the second insulated lead and the elongate member;
• and
• a connector configured to be received by elongate cavity, the connector configured to electrically connect an inner conductor of the first insulated lead with an inner conductor of the second insulated lead;
• a first insulator configured to inhibit electrical contact between the interior surface of the elongate member and one or more of the connector, the inner conductor of the first insulated lead, and the inner conductor of the second insulation lead.

A method comprising:

• disposing a first insulated lead of a heat trace cable into a sleeve cavity of a first sleeve of a fitting and a second insulated lead of the heat trace cable into a sleeve cavity of a second sleeve of the fitting, the fitting comprising:
• an elongate member comprising a first end, a second end, and an interior surface defining an elongate cavity, wherein the first end and second end are open;
• the first sleeve and the second sleeve;
• and
• a first collar and a second collar, wherein the fitting is configured to operate at a temperature greater than 700 degrees Fahrenheit;
• electrically connecting an inner conductor of the first insulated lead and an inner conductor of the second insulated lead utilizing a connector;
• disposing the connector into the elongate cavity of the fitting;
• positioning a first insulator intermediate the connector the interior surface;
• compressing the first sleeve onto the first insulated lead with the first collar to form a seal between the first insulated lead and the elongate member;
• and
• compressing the second sleeve onto the second insulated lead with the second collar to form a seal between the second insulated lead and the elongate member, thereby forming a hot-hot junction, a hot-cold junction, or a cold-cold junction.

A fitting for electrically connecting a first insulated lead to a second insulated lead in a heat trace cable, the fitting comprising:

• an elongate member comprising an open first end, an open second end, and an interior surface defining an elongate cavity;
• a first sleeve integral with the elongate member and configured to receive the first insulated lead, wherein the first end is configured to receive the first sleeve;
• a second sleeve integral with the elongate member and configured to receive the second insulated lead, wherein the second end is configured to receive the second sleeve;
• a first collar configured to compress the first sleeve onto the first insulated lead to form a seal between the first insulated lead and the elongate member;
• a second collar configured to compress the second sleeve onto the second insulated lead to form a seal between the second insulated lead and the elongate member;
• a connector configured to be received by elongate cavity, the connector configured to electrically connect an inner conductor of the first insulated lead with an inner conductor of the second insulated lead;
• and
• a first insulator configured to inhibit electrical contact between the interior surface of the elongate member and one or more of the connector, the inner conductor of the first insulated lead, and the inner conductor of the second insulation lead.