Shape memory hose connector

A hose connector structure comprising:

• a joint pipe arranged for joining a pair of flexible hoses and having first and second insertion portions made of an SMA or other shape memory material that has a memorized shape;
• 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 interior diameter of the pair of flexible hoses in a martensite state that allows the insertion portion of the first end to be accepted into the interior diameter of a first flexible hose and the insertion portion of the second end to be accepted into the interior diameter of the second flexible hose;
• and
• recovering the memorized shape with the application of heat, wherein the outer diameter of the first and second insertion portions become larger than the outer diameter of the first and second flexible hoses sealing the outer diameter of each insertion portion against the interior diameter of its respective flexible hose.

A method for connecting a flexible hose to a hose connector comprising:

• constructing a tubular insertion portion on at least one end of the hose connector from an SMA or other shape memory material 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 an end of the flexible hose;
• and
• applying heat to recover the memorized shape, wherein the outer diameter of the insertion portion becomes larger than the outer diameter of the flexible hose sealing the outer diameter of the insertion portion against the interior diameter of the flexible hose.