Connector for lanyard attachment of seismic node to cable

Abstract

Systems and methods of deploying seismic data acquisition units from a marine vessel are disclosed. The system can include a mechanical attachment device comprising a cavity formed by interlocking a first member and a second member. Protrusions located on the first member and second member can increase the coefficient of friction between a rope and the mechanical attachment device responsive to an increase in tension on the rope. A lanyard can couple a seismic data acquisition unit to the mechanical attachment device.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system to deploy seismic data acquisition units off a vessel to perform a seismic survey in an aqueous environment with the seismic data acquisition units coupled with an ocean bottom, comprising:
 a mechanical attachment device comprising:
 a first member coupled with a second member; 
 a cavity formed by the first member and the second member; 
 a first protrusion located on a first portion of the second member; 
 a second protrusion located on a second portion of the second member; 
 a third protrusion located between the first protrusion and the second protrusion; 
 an opening that extends away from a portion of the mechanical attachment device; 
   a lanyard to couple a seismic data acquisition unit to the mechanical attachment device via the opening; and   the mechanical attachment device configured to move freely along a rope responsive to tension in the rope being less than a threshold, and the mechanical attachment device further configured to lock to the rope responsive to the tension in the rope being greater than or equal to the threshold; and   the tension in the rope being greater than or equal to the threshold causes an increase in a coefficient of friction between the first protrusion, the second protrusion, and the third protrusion and the rope such that the mechanical attachment device grips onto the rope and prevents the mechanical attachment device from sliding relative to the rope.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a pin to extend through the first member and the second member, the first member configured to pivot about an axis formed by the pin.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , comprising:
 the cavity to receive a rope that extends through the cavity.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , comprising:
 the first protrusion disposed in the cavity; and   the second protrusion disposed in the cavity and separated from the first protrusion by a distance; and   the third protrusion disposed in the cavity at a distance away from an axis formed by the first protrusion and the second protrusion.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , comprising:
 the first protrusion, the second protrusion and the third protrusion arranged to increase a coefficient of friction between the rope and the mechanical attachment device responsive to an increase in tension in the rope.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , comprising:
 the opening configured to receive a lanyard.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the rope lacks an attachment feature on the rope. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a machine configured to thread the rope through the mechanical attachment device.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a first locking member at an end of the first member; and   a second locking member at an end of the second member, the second locking configured to interlock with the first locking member.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the first locking member and the second locking member are semi-permanently interlocked. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first member is coupled with the second member via a pin, comprising:
 a slot to receive the pin;   wherein a first position of the pin in the slot locks the first member to the second member of the mechanical attachment device; and   wherein a second position of the pin in the slot releases the first member from the second member of the mechanical attachment device.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a device on the vessel to reduce tension on the rope, the device configured to close the mechanical attachment device, wherein the tension on the rope increases subsequent to an interlock between the first member and the second member to lock the mechanical attachment device at a desired location on the rope.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mechanical attachment device is attached to the rope prior to deployment of the seismic acquisition device. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the mechanical attachment device is removed from the rope subsequent to retrieval of the seismic acquisition device. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a back deck on the vessel, the back deck including a spool of rope,   wherein the mechanical attachment device is attached to the rope as the rope is reeled out.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the seismic data acquisition unit is deployed off the vessel and into an aqueous medium to couple with the ocean bottom. 
     
     
         37 . A method of attaching seismic data acquisition units that couple with an ocean bottom to a rope aboard a vessel to perform a seismic survey in an aqueous environment, comprising:
 providing a mechanical attachment device, the mechanical attachment device comprising:
 a first member coupled to a second member; 
 a cavity formed by the first member and the second member; 
 a first protrusion located on a first portion of the second member; 
 a second protrusion located on a second portion of the second member; 
 a third protrusion located between the first protrusion and the second protrusion; 
 an opening that extends away from a portion of the mechanical attachment device; 
 the mechanical attachment device configured to move freely along the rope responsive to the tension in the rope being less than a threshold, and the mechanical attachment device further configured to lock to the rope responsive to the tension in the rope being greater than or equal to the threshold; and 
 the tension in the rope being greater than or equal to the threshold causes an increase in the coefficient of friction between the first protrusion, the second protrusion, and the third protrusion and the rope such that the mechanical attachment device grips onto the rope and prevents the mechanical attachment device from sliding relative to the rope. 
   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising:
 attaching the mechanical attachment device to the rope;   coupling a lanyard to the mechanical attachment device via the opening of the mechanical attachment device;   attaching a seismic data acquisition unit to the lanyard; and   deploying the seismic data acquisition unit into the aqueous environment to couple with the ocean bottom.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising:
 providing a first locking member at an end of the first member; and   providing a second locking member at an end of the second member, the second locking member configured to interlock with the first locking member.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising:
 moving the a to a first position in a slot to lock the first member to the second member of the mechanical attachment device; and   moving the pin to a second position in the slot to release the first member from the second member of the mechanical attachment device.