Shape memory hose connector

A hose connector structure comprising:

• a joint pipe having first and second insertion portions made of a shape memory alloy that have a memorized shape;
• first and second flexible hoses each having an interior diameter defined by an interior wall and an outer diameter defined by the interior diameter;
• the insertion portions located on a first and a second end of the joint pipe and each insertion portion having an outer diameter smaller than an the interior diameter of each of the pair of first and second flexible hoses in a martensitic state that allows the insertion portion of the first end to be accepted into the interior diameter of the first flexible hose and the insertion portion of the second end to be accepted into the interior diameter of the second flexible hose;
• recovering the memorized shape of the first and second insertion portions to the austenitic state with the application of heat, wherein the outer diameter of each of the first and second insertion portions act on the interior wall of its respective first and second flexible hose to expand the outer diameter of each of the first and second flexible hoses to a diameter greater than the diameter that each hose had prior to assembly with its respective insertion portion, so as to form a hermetic closure between each insertion portion with its respective first and second flexible hose.

A method for connecting a flexible hose having an interior diameter defined by an interior wall and an outer diameter defined by the interior diameter to a hose connector, the method comprising:

• constructing a tubular insertion portion on at least one end of the hose connector from a shape memory alloy that has a memorized shape;
• deforming the insertion portion to an outer diameter smaller than an interior diameter of the flexible hose;
• inserting the insertion portion into the interior diameter of the flexible hose;
• and applying heat to recover the memorized shape causing the outer diameter of the insertion portion to act against the interior wall of the hose to expand the outer diameter of the flexible hose to a diameter greater than the diameter that the hose had prior to assembly with the insertion portion, so as to form a hermetic closure between the insertion portion and the hose.