Fusible member connection apparatus and method

A connection apparatus comprising:

• a connecting member;
• a piston cylinder;
• a piston translatably seated within said piston cylinder responsive to an axial force;
• a structural member comprised of an alloy capable of transitioning from solid to a liquid when heated and transitioning back to solid when cooled, said structural member in said solid state supported in piston cylinder to oppose said axial force and maintain said piston in an original axial position relative to said piston cylinder;
• latch means for engaging said connecting member to said piston cylinder;
• and
• heating means for heating and transitioning said structural member.

A method of connecting comprising the steps of:

• translatably supporting a carrier mechanism to a housing between an original axial position relative to the housing and a subsequent axial position spaced from the odginal axial position;
• engaging a connecting member to the carrier mechanism;
• providing a fusible material member capable of transitioning from solid to liquid in response to thermal change;
• supporting the fusible material member in the housing in its solid state to oppose axial load on the carrier mechanism to maintain the carrier mechanism in the original axial position;
• applying an axial load to the carrier mechanism to translate the carrier mechanism to the subsequent axial position;
• heating the fusible material to transition it from solid to liquid;
• and
• providing at least one chamber to receive said liquid material forced to flow in response to the axial load;
• the carrier mechanism thus becoming free to translate from the original axial position to the subsequent axial position responsive to the axial load.