Connector for lanyard attachment of seismic node to cable

A method of attaching seismic data acquisition units 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 via a pin that extends through the first member and the second member, the first member configured to pivot about an axis formed by the pin;
• a cavity formed by interlocking the first member and the second member, the cavity to receive a rope that extends through the cavity;
• a first protrusion located on a first portion of the second member, the first protrusion disposed in the cavity;
• a second protrusion located on a second portion of the second member, the second protrusion disposed in the cavity and separated from the first protrusion by a distance;
• a third protrusion located between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, the third protrusion disposed in the cavity at a distance away from an axis formed by the first protrusion and the second protrusion, an arrangement of the first protrusion, the second protrusion and the third protrusion to increase a coefficient of friction between the rope and the mechanical attachment device responsive to an increase in tension on the rope;
• and
• an opening that extends away from a portion of the mechanical attachment device, the opening to receive a lanyard;
• 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,
• 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;
• attaching the mechanical attachment device to the rope;
• coupling the 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.